Beeples

Beeples refers to the online persona and artistic output of Mike Winkelmann, a digital artist and animator. Born in 1981, Winkelmann began creating short, abstract videos and animations on a daily basis in 2007, a practice he continues to this day and labels "Everydays." These daily creations form the foundation of his prolific digital art career.

His work often explores themes of political commentary, dystopian futures, pop culture references, and surreal imagery. Winkelmann's distinctive style is characterized by its vibrant colors, often grotesque or unsettling subject matter, and a blend of photorealism with fantastical elements. He utilizes a variety of digital tools and software to produce his art.

Beeples gained significant mainstream attention in March 2021 when his digital artwork "Everydays: The First 5000 Days" was sold at Christie's auction house for $69.3 million. This marked a landmark event in the art world, particularly as the artwork was an NFT (Non-Fungible Token), a digital certificate of ownership for a unique digital asset. The sale brought NFTs and the broader digital art market into wider public consciousness. Since then, Beeples has continued to release new digital artworks and NFTs, solidifying his position as a prominent figure in contemporary digital art.