NFTs opened a whole new world for KidEight. Art houses and galleries aren’t exactly knocking down the doors or even paying attention to graphic artists like KightEight. Well, that is at least not before the popularity of NFTs. With the entrance of NFTs to the marketplace, we are actually witnessing a metamorphosis of the art industry, which once was ultra-exclusive and even haughty. Artists like KidEight had never before been taken very seriously as contenders as it relates to high-value art. Then came Beeple. Digital artist Mike Winklemann, AKA Beeple had been posting to social media art he created every day for over 13 years amassing a collection of over 5000 pieces of digital art. A photo collage of those 5000 pieces minted as an NFT sold at a Christie’s auction in March of 2021 for $69 Million. With that sale, the art world and those that held the keys had to sit up and take notice. Now the flood gates have opened, and there is opportunity for all kinds of artists from all disciplines like never before.

The best thing about this is that although it might be exciting to have your art listed at a Christie’s auction, with NFTs it’s no longer necessary. As evidenced in the case of KidEight and many others, it is possible to make both an impact and money with NFTs.  It also in most cases cuts out the middleman and allows the artists to deal directly with the collectors peep-to-peer. NFTs have managed to break all the conventional rules of the stereotypical art scene, and represent an art renaissance that is shaking up the art world.  Plus the upside is that through NFTs a whole new sector of people are being onboarding and introduced to art and becoming collectors. 

This was the appeal and the case for KidEight. For one of his first projects, minted 50 one-on-one’s of his EVOL charter which incidentally marked the first time Rarible (known for rarity) has been used for a 50 piece drop. EVOL is a 2000-year-old cupid-like cherub character that doesn’t age. He is adored in tattoos, grillz, razor blades, and dons a ski mask, among other things that do not belong to a baby. According to KidEight the concept for EVOL who is in a state of arrested development signifies childhood trauma and duality mixed into one character who just looks like a toddler in a ski mask. My history and lifelong obsession with hip-hop culture drive the aesthetic of the character. He is rooted in the culture, say’s KidEight.  The collection, rich with saturated color, intricate details, and attitude, was a hit with the NFT community. 

However, as the community of collectors grew, KidEight found that model unsustainable as many of his loyal fans were getting priced out. The solution for this was to switch to generative art similar to projects like CryptoPunks and BoredApe YachtClub. This made the art more attainable and allowed for more collectors to be able to participate and get in on the fun. The first generative project was called D’EVOLS and was an offshoot EVOL character for season two in the growing series. The series of 8000 pieces sold out in two minutes and officially the living legend that is EVOL had arrived.

From that point until now, KidEight having only joined Twitter (where the NFT community communicates) in March of 2021 has grown from zero followers to over 37K, with collectors feverishly clamoring in anticipation of the next EVOL dro. Along the way KidEight and EVOL have managed to ink deals with several platforms for drops and his highly sought after drops can be found on several platforms including Nifty Gateway (who denied him access initially), OpenSea, and SuperRare, and of course Raribal his original genesis NFT home among others.