CONCEPT
500ARTISTS is a large-scale art project that brings together 500 artists on a single canvas measuring 74 x 116.5 inches. Each work is a 2.5 x 3.5 inch miniature (ACEO format), executed in a horizontal orientation.
Main Idea
The project showcases a variety of artistic styles and techniques, creating a unique collective work of art. It combines traditional and digital formats, offering a new way of interaction between artists, collectors and the art market.
Stages of implementation
1. Collecting artists (until January 2026)
• Forming a waiting list of artists.
• Finding three galleries in Chicago, each of which will present a canvas with a certain medium (oil, acrylic, watercolor).
• Interacting with partners and potential collectors.
2. Creating a canvas (from January 2026)
• Buying out miniatures from artists:
– Each work is purchased by a curator with exclusive rights (physical and digital reproduction, sale, NFT).
• Compiling a provenance (ownership history) for each canvas, recording the origin of all works.
• Forming a catalog with information about the artists, their works and contacts.
• The authenticity of each work is confirmed by:
– A holographic sticker with a unique identifier.
– An NFC tag leading to an NFT certificate of authenticity.
• Creating a time capsule:
– Each participating artist submits answers to three reflective questions.
– Texts are published in two languages (EN + artist's native language) and form a collective statement of a generation.
– This capsule becomes part of the final archive and legacy of the project.
3. Exhibition and auction
• Three canvases will be presented in Chicago galleries.
• Opening of preliminary bids so that collectors can express their interest in purchasing in advance.
• An auction where the entire physical painting can be purchased.
1. Physical canvas + NFT certificate of authenticity
The flagship lot includes the original large-scale canvas, an NFT certificate verifying its authenticity, and an accompanying catalog — available in both print and digital formats. The catalog showcases all 500 artworks and includes a special time capsule section: a collection of personal reflections from the participating artists, offering a collective voice of this creative generation.
Part of the proceeds from this lot will support nonprofit organizations and foundations dedicated to contemporary art and emerging talents.
2. 1500 individual NFTs — one per miniature
Each of the 500 miniature artworks will be tokenized as three unique digital editions (1/1/1), allowing collectors to own a specific piece as a standalone NFT, independent of the physical canvas.
3. Digital canvas NFT
A high-resolution digital replica of the complete canvas will be minted as a single NFT, preserving the entire composition as one unified digital artwork.
A share of the revenue from this sale will also be directed to support artistic initiatives and foundations championing visual art and young creators.
Artists
• Guaranteed purchase of the work.
• Digital certificate of participation in the global project.
• Inclusion in the catalog of artists available to collectors.
• Participation in the international art project.
• Promotion on a project scale:
• The project will be actively promoted by galleries, curators and the participants themselves, creating a networking effect.
• This will allow each artist to increase their audience and increase recognition.
• Representation at the exhibition in Chicago.
• The opportunity to be part of the digital art market through NFT.
Galleries
• Attracting a new audience:
• The project will create a flow of new visitors, including collectors, investors and art enthusiasts.
• Media support:
• Galleries will receive wide coverage in the media, social networks and among the art community of the project.
• Exclusivity:
• The opportunity to become one of three galleries participating in a unique international art project.
• Holding a prestigious auction:
• Galleries will become a platform for the final sale of the painting, attracting VIP collectors.
• Collaboration with new artists:
• Opportunity to establish contacts with 500 artists participating in the project.
Collectors
• Opportunity to purchase a unique piece:
• Purchase of a physical painting with 500 original miniatures.
• Investment value:
• The painting will be accompanied by a provenance confirming its uniqueness and history of ownership.
• NFT assets:
• Opportunity to purchase digital versions of the painting or individual NFT works.
• Access to the artists' catalog:
• Collectors will receive contacts and information about all the authors represented on the painting.
• Exclusive status:
• The buyer of the painting receives not only the work, but also symbolic ownership of a part of the global art movement.
Project visualization
• Provenance for each canvas, which increases its value for collectors.
• A catalog of artists with their works and contacts, which will become part of the project history and a tool for promoting participants.
• A limited-edition catalog featuring all participating artists, their artworks, and contact details — serving both as a historical document of the project and a promotional tool for the artists. The catalog also includes the time capsule — a collection of personal reflections from the artists, offering a glimpse into the mindset and aspirations of this creative generation.
• Authenticity verification system:
• Each work will be equipped with a holographic sticker and an NFC tag leading to an NFT certificate, which guarantees the authenticity of the work.