When NFTs noticed their reputation explode in 2021, a rush of newcomers started to gather NFT artwork. A couple of of those people had been praised as NFT artwork curators – however just one grew to become often known as the grand patron of the digital arts. That particular person is Cozomo de’ Medici.

Taking their identify from a number one member of the fifteenth century Medici household, their actions, acquisitions and donations have been praised far and broad, leaving an enduring legacy on the artwork world.

NFT artwork is stronger at present due to them – however what precisely has Cozomo de’ Medici achieved, why are they so revered, and what may we see from Cozomo in future?

Right here’s our full information to Cozomo de’ Medici.

Key Insights

• A pseudonymous digital artwork collector, named after fifteenth century artwork patron Cosimo de’ Medici
• Emerged in July 2021 by buying CryptoPunk #3831
• Has acquired many 1-of-1 NFTs from the likes of XCOPY, Sam Spratt, Claire Silver and extra
• Donated 22 influential works to LACMA in February 2023
• Extensively thought-about to be one of many world’s main NFT artwork patrons

Who’s Cozomo de’ Medici?

Cozomo de’ Medici is a digital artwork collector, angel investor, and in style determine within the NFT neighborhood.

Named after fifteenth century Florentine banker Cosimo de’ Medici, they regard themselves as a patron of digital artwork. Medici has constructed a notable assortment of blockchain-based artworks – often known as the Cozomo de’ Medici Assortment – which options works from lots of the most celebrated NFT artists on the earth.

Cozomo shares their insights on digital artwork, upcoming artists and life experiences with over 300,000 followers on X – sharing much more through the Medici Minutes publication. These updates provide a peek into the world of digital artwork, masking market traits, breakthrough artists, and their journey as a collector.

On prime of buying artwork, Medici promotes digital artwork by way of each digital and bodily exhibitions. Utilizing main platforms corresponding to Deca and OnCyber, Cozomo shows their assortment to artwork followers internationally, serving to to deliver digital artwork to the lots.

Medici is an advocate for the concept anybody can turn into an artwork collector, regardless of your disposable earnings. They champion the concept of bringing digital artwork into the house, and have invested in applied sciences that assist to do that in an effort to make high quality artwork one thing that’s inside attain for a wider viewers.

What has Cozomo de’ Medici performed up to now?

Cozomo de’ Medici emerged within the NFT business by way of the acquisition CryptoPunk #3831 – often known as ‘CoZom’ – in July 2021. That nickname impressed the adoption of the Cozomo de’ Medici alias, and the naming of their purchases as The Medici Assortment – which rapidly grew to become a infamous assortment in NFT artwork circles.

Rumours over Medici’s true id rapidly started to swirl. In response, Medici posted a tweet stating that they’d reveal themselves on their private account. Shortly after, Snoop Dogg tweeted “I’m @CozomoMedici“.

This appeared to verify their id – however subsequent investigations prompt that this was a publicity stunt, with Snoop getting concerned to develop his personal presence within the business. To this present day, Medici is but to disclose their true id, and has remained as an alias ever since.

Although Medici initially supposed to solely make a single NFT buy, they quickly discovered themselves buying extra. Impressed by different collectors and digital artwork galleries, Medici started to curate a set of NFTs that spanned a wide range of kinds and mediums. This included a number of CryptoPunks, Fidenza by Tyler Hobbs, and notable works from XCOPY, DeeKay, Claire Silver and extra.

By constructing this assortment – and in flip supporting numerous high-profile artists – Medici not solely grew to become a key determine within the rising NFT artwork motion, but additionally one of many world’s main NFT artwork collectors.

Medici has used this standing to assist promote digital artwork to mass market viewers. They’ve helped to organise many bodily exhibitions internationally, in addition to investing into corporations that develop digital artwork shows for the house.

What NFTs has Cozomo de’ Medici bought?

Medici has acquired a wide selection of NFT artwork from among the largest names within the business. This contains works from the likes of:

• XCOPY: Recognized for punk-inspired works, XCOPY‘s artwork embodies the extra outspoken aspect of crypto artwork
• Sam Spratt: Found by way of FEWOCiOUS, Medici owns “I. Start of Luci”, “VII. Wormfood” and lots of others
• DeeKay: A movement graphics specialist, DeeKay’s NFTs are dynamic, polished and fluid
• Claire Silver: An AI artwork pioneer, Silver’s work blends human enter with breakthrough machine studying ideas
• Yam Karkai: Co-founder of World of Ladies, her work promotes range and inclusivity – a trigger that’s near Medici’s coronary heart
• Vissyarts: A Malaysian artist who moved from conventional artwork to the NFT area, Medici’s help has been important in her work discovering a brand new legion of followers

Along with supporting artists, Medici invests in corporations that improve the digital artwork expertise – together with PIP Labs, Fountain, Spaceport and extra.

What NFTs has Cozomo de’ Medici donated?

In February 2023, Cozomo de’ Medici introduced a donation of 22 NFT artworks to the Los Angeles County Museum of Artwork (LACMA). This was each “the primary donation of on-chain artwork from a collector to a museum,” and “the most important [tokenized] digital high-quality artwork assortment to enter a museum.”

These 22 items represented the work of 13 separate artists, with all items created between 2017 and 2022. Kinds ranged from AI and generative artwork to books, movies, sculptures, photographs and extra, and the donation was rapidly seen as a major second in NFT artwork historical past.

Medici’s intentions with this donation was for this NFT artwork to “sit in one of many biggest artwork collections in human historical past” – with LACMA additionally in possession of world-renowned artworks from Rembrant, Picasso, Monet and lots of extra.

Moreover, Medici desired for this donation to “endlessly cement the on-chain artwork motion within the canon of artwork historical past,” and serve to advertise his hope that world-renowned museums may “maintain the best digital works alongside the best bodily [works].”

What’s subsequent for Cozomo de’ Medici?

Cozomo de’ Medici continues to be a serious identify in NFT artwork, gathering notable items on a weekly foundation, persevering with to organise and promote digital artwork, and supporting worthwhile causes.

Their help of not simply particular person artists, however NFT artwork as an entire, has been important in each NFT artwork and digital artwork discovering elevated acceptance within the conventional artwork world as a worthwhile type of inventive expression, and one that’s worthy of equal benefit in some ways.

Medici has made an unimaginable affect on digital artwork up to now – and as their actions proceed, count on Medici to play a key position in the way forward for digital artwork too.