Rhizome Celebrates 30 Years with Record-Setting Benefit in New York

Digital art nonprofit Rhizome marked its 30th anniversary with a benefit at Capitale in New York City on September 23, raising more than $438,000 to support its work preserving digital art, its expanding education program, and its commissions and microgrants. The evening honored Indigenous futurist artist Skawennati and Art Blocks founder Erick Calderon, with presentations by artist Leo Villareal, curator Candice Hopkins, and the executive director of Rhizome, Michael Connor. A live auction of five artist-donated works, led by former Sotheby’s auctioneer Jehan Chu, brought in $110,000, with every lot exceeding its estimate. Casey Reas’ "Century 2052 #39" opened at $6,000 and closed at $38,000, while Evil Biscuit’s "Card NFT 2" set an auction record for the artist at $26,000. Works by Tyler Hobbs, Jennifer and Kevin McCoy, and LoVid rounded out the sale.