GM

Welcome to the 10 people who joined yesterday.

Vibes have been good recently. We’re back baby!*

^{*Disclaimer: This phrase is intended for entertainment purposes only. “We’re Back” is a metaphorical construct and not to be taken literally. We may or may not actually be back. Our belief that we are back is subject to change at any time, and without notice. Please enjoy hopium responsibly.}

In today’s edition:

• Whales will buy these NFTs next

• Updated NFT rankings

• Some interesting new drops

More info on Mint/Watch lists HERE.

Whales will buy these NFTs next

Lately, NFTs have been a tale of two cities

On one side, you have PFPs, memes and roadmap collections. Outside of a few notable projects, this category in general has had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad start to the year.

On the other side, you have art, which is in full swing and enjoying a very good moment.

Specifically, we’ve had a series of high-profile art drops completely minting out recently. And even though we’re short of the Everything Is Awesome euphoria that Art Blocks saw in 2021, it’s safe to say that whales are starting to come back to the scene in numbers.

Today we’ll share the next round of highly anticipated art drops.

But first, a look at some of the most hyped events in the last few weeks

• Broken Keys by Alpha Centauri Kid (May 9). Sells out 48 individual 1/1s for 730 ETH.

• Sotheby’s 3AC Auction (May 19). Sotheby’s completes a $2.4 million auction of high-end NFTs from the (now bankrupt) Three Arrows Capital’s collection, including a $1 million Fidenza sale.

• Squiggles (May 24). Ten unminted squiggles auction for 186 ETH.

• Art Blocks: Human Unreadable (May 24). Sells out 398 pieces at a price of 0.88 ETH.

• Check Elements by Jack Butcher (May 23-25). Sells out 152 Checks NFTs that came with physical prints for over 400 ETH.

• Escape by Iskra Velitchkova (May 25). Sells out 325 pieces at a price of 0.25 eth or higher.

• Art Blocks: Memories of Digital Data (May 25). Sells out 448 NFTs at a price of 0.158 ETH.

• Doppelganger (May 26). An open edition selling 256 NFTs for 1 eth each. First covered here.

Even more impressive, all of these mints are currently trading above their mint price.

What’s next?

Here are 4 upcoming art drops we think are likely to mint out

• SIGHTSEERS | PERIMITER TOWN by Norman Harman (June 2nd). An AI glitch art drop that follows up on Norman’s successful SIGHTSEERS collection.

• World Flag by John Gerrard (June 21). An Art Blocks X Pace Gallery collab from an artist with a strong track record in the space.

• Glacier Dreams by Refik Anadol (Est June). An innovative AI collection from a popular artist with prior showings at the MoMa and other top institutions.

• Quasi Dragons by Harvey Rayner (Est. July). Generative art collection from a successful artist using an innovative mechanic where collectors can combine multiple NFTs to form new ones.

Fun weeks ahead 👀

NOTE: These drops are lightly curated. Our only requirement is that they have recognizable founders. As usual, DYOR. To learn more go here.

Red Bull Doodle Art Collection

Red Bull and Doodles artist Burnt Toast have partnered for this new release, which started minting at 8 AM EDT today on Nifty Gateway for $5 per piece (0.002 ETH approx.).

This 30-hour open edition celebrates the 61 winners of the Red Bull Doodle Art 2023 contest, who have each created a unique art piece for this release with mentorship provided by Toast.

Buying 61 editions ensures you receive the complete set, including the winning design colored by Burnt Toast.

Speak To Me by Lisa Orth

Long-time generative artist Lisa Orth makes her Art Blocks debut next Thursday with Speak To Me, an AB Presents collection that explores the sentience of art.

The Dutch auction begins at 1 PM EDT, with the price ranging from 2 to 0.08 ETH.

If you’re a fan of the artist’s previous fxhash work, then this one might be up your alley.

Vs. by Paul Pfeiffer

American artist Paul Pfeiffer, known for his critiques of mass media and celebrity culture, is launching his debut NFT collection, Vs., on Artwrld.

The collection features 150 pieces showcasing modified video footage of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, with his opponents erased to create an illusion of him fighting ghosts.

The allowlist mint is set for 10 AM EDT on June 7th at 0.25 ETH per piece, followed by a public mint 24 hours later at 0.35 ETH each.

Tony Babel x Typical Friends

Popular NFT artist Tony Babel is bringing his trippy 30s style cartoons to a Typical Friends limited edition mint coming soon near you.

New work from Tony doesn’t come by often, but when it does, it usually bangs. For that reason we’ve…

✨ Added to Watch List ✨

THE MINT LIST

1. Project Animus. RTFKT's biggest launch since Clone-X.

2. Symbiogenesis. Square Enix's upcoming gaming NFT.

3. FewoWorld. New PFP by Fewocious, a rising star in the art world.

4. 10KTF PFP. Drop from a team that includes Yuga and Beeple.

5. Ether. Anime PFP collection by viii, an artist with a cult following.

6. Dimensionals - EVE. Free gaming PFP from doxxed studio.

7. Garbage Friends. New PFP from the creator of Invisible Friends.

8. 6529 Meme Card by Jack Butcher. Two big NFT names team up.

9. Glacier Dreams by Refik Anadol. AI art from the MoMA exhibitor.

10. SIGHTSEERS l PERIMETER TOWN. Glitch art follow-up on sovrn.art.