Artists in Residence

Digital art is too often reduced to JPEGs. In 2023, the digital arts world faced a new challenge: AI had entered the conversation. So we knew the brief: Introduce Solana Artists human-first. At Artists in Residence at Art Basel Miami Beach, we invited audiences to step directly into the studios of three artists. The residency featured Sleepr, an anonymous digital artist; Eko33, a pioneering generative artist; and Lisanne Haack, a mixed-media oil painter. We worked with them to curate mini studios where Art Basel patrons could watch, interact, chat and explore. At Sleepr's studio, patrons picked up a phone to speak to him privately. At Eko33's studio, patrons interacted with a theremin device and watched as generative art Eko coded changed before their eyes. At Lisanne's studio, patrons watched her move seamlessly between 3D modeling and oil painting. They demonstrated three distinct ways of working with Solana technology as a creative collaborator—using it to establish provenance and reach new audiences, share works in progress, and preserve identity through anonymity. Ultimately, together we created an experience that blended the human and the digital to show how technology can amplify the artistic experience and connection with an audience.