The Future of Digital Art: A Conversation with Ben Roy

NorCal and Shill

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Ben Roy takes us deep into the evolving landscape of digital art collecting, offering refreshingly nuanced perspectives that challenge conventional Web3 wisdom. Beginning with his early fascination with Decentraland in 2019, Ben shares his journey from Pokemon card collector to thoughtful NFT observer, revealing how his collecting philosophy centers more on artistic innovation than blockchain specifications.
The conversation explores what makes Web3 special – its relative meritocracy compared to traditional industries, offering greater opportunities for those willing to put in the work. Ben likens it to "playing in the European basketball league versus the NBA," where the less professionalized environment creates higher upside for dedicated participants. This accessibility represents one of the space's most promising aspects, potentially democratizing opportunities for creators and collectors alike.
We dive into Ben's vision for digital art's future, where collecting becomes normalized at accessible price points, with intuitive display options both online and physically. However, he candidly acknowledges the challenges posed by lingering expectations from the 2021 hype cycle, when astronomical returns created unrealistic financial standards that the space is still reconciling.
Most compelling is Ben's perspective on the untapped potential of community building through networked collections. Unlike traditional art collecting's solitary experience, digital art enables community formation among collectors who appreciate the same creator – a fundamental differentiator that could reshape artist-collector relationships. His thoughtful examination of supply considerations, pricing mechanisms, and the overemphasis on blockchain provenance provides collectors with frameworks for evaluating digital art beyond technical specifications.
Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that balances practical collecting wisdom with forward-thinking optimism about digital art's potential to build meaningful connections between artists and their audiences. Follow Ben's work on his Liquid Culture podcast and monthly newsletter, where he continues exploring the fascinating intersection of technology, ownership, and creative expression.

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Chapters

1. Episode Introduction and Guest Welcome (00:00:00)

2. Ben's First Experience with NFTs (00:02:10)

3. Meritocracy and Benefits of Web3 (00:05:44)

4. Future Vision for Digital Art (00:09:03)

5. Supply, Editions and Community Building (00:15:10)

6. Personal Philosophy and Favorite Quote (00:22:36)

7. Ben's Personal Fun Facts (00:28:03)

8. Memes, Music NFTs and Beyond Art (00:36:22)

9. Thoughts on AI Art and Hot Takes (00:44:54)

10. Liquid Culture Podcast and Closing (00:45:53)