Michael Bouhanna: Curating Digital Auctions with Sothebys

Collectors Call

Michael Bouhanna is Vice-President, Contemporary Art Specialist & Head of Digital Art and NFTs with Sotheby's. Michael led Sotheby's entry into the NFT market in 2021, including the company’s first curated NFT auction. He is a leader in educating traditional art collectors and introducing a wider audience to the contemporary digital art landscape.

Recorded on February 2, 2024 as a Space on X.
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:31) Starting a Career in the Art World
(03:30) Viewing NFTs as a Serious Art Form
(05:55) Maintaining a Work-Life Balance in Web3
(07:05) Creating the First Natively Digital Auction for Sotheby's
(09:57) Engaging with the NFT Community
(11:54) Success of Natively Digital Bitcoin Ordinals Sale
(15:43) Choosing whether to Sell a Work at Auction or by Private Sale
(18:49) Sotheby's Sale of Dmitri Cherniak's Ringer #879, the Goose
(22:06) Upcoming Changes for Sotheby's Auctions
(25:08) Sotheby's Approach to Creator's Royalties
(28:35) Collaborating with Vera Molnár for Sotheby's Gen Art Program
(32:47) Auctioning a Claim Card for a Lost Robbie by Robbie Barrat
(34:33) Creating a Sense of Excitement for an Auction
(37:34) Ensuring Diversity & Representation when Curating an Auction
(41:47) Future of NFT Art Market and Sotheby's Plans to Remain Relevant
(44:27) Fostering Relationships with Collectors & Artists
(45:40) Presenting NFTs to Traditional Art Collectors
(48:10) Tyler Hobbs Physical Artwork in Michael's Collection
(50:22) Collecting an Early Generative Artwork by Vera Molnár
(52:50) Closing thoughts from Michael Bouhanna
(53:33) Outro