Digital Art is taking up space with augmented reality
Art is firmly embedded in the digital revolution, with emerging technologies quickly adopted for creative expression. Augmented reality (AR) has become a powerful ally, enhancing all forms of art while helping preserve their original value.
AR brings artworks to life through fully immersive experiences. By overlaying virtual content onto physical environments, it transforms what audiences see, hear, and feel—shifting their perception of reality. This immersive layer makes storytelling more vivid and emotionally engaging.
Today, tech companies derive more value from artists than ever before, partnering in research and innovation to unlock new creative potential.
What is New Media Art?
New media art includes artworks created or altered using digital technologies—spanning digital painting, computer animation, virtual installations, interactive pieces, 3D printing, video games, and cyborg art. AR has recently emerged as a major connector between physical and virtual spaces.
These artworks range from conceptual digital performances to interactive installations. As the movement grows, more universities and art schools offer dedicated new media programs. Interactivity is a key element, often fueled by internet culture and connectivity.
New Media Art EU
Digital art is fluid and offers vast creative freedom. Initially, digital tools were simply used to produce traditional art objects—like sculptures, prints, and photos. But a shift occurred: technology became the art itself.
Artists began exploring the digital medium for its own creative potential. Computable art—born, stored, and shared digitally—emerged as a genre of its own.
Behance
Some artists use digital tools to enhance traditional mediums, while others rely on them entirely, making technology inseparable from the creative process. By 2021, digital art had also found a new connection—with cryptocurrency.
NFTs and digital art: the ultimate combo?
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are unique entries on a blockchain, representing exclusive digital ownership. Unlike fungible tokens like Bitcoin, NFTs are one-of-a-kind—even if identical versions exist, only one is the original.
NFTs are accelerating the evolution of art collecting, both digital and physical. They can serve as proof of ownership for real-world assets, offering traceability and authenticity on the blockchain. Whether for fine art or luxury items, NFTs create a bridge between the tangible and virtual.
« Everyday » NFT
Artists such as Ben Elliot use digital art to explore contemporary issues—emerging tech, digital economies, and shifting values. He is developing his own token and cryptocurrency, $BET, which can be traded or used to acquire physical artworks. His platform will also host online exhibitions and exclusive content, reflecting modern economic trends through the lens of contemporary art.
Ben Elliot
Ben Elliot’s practice blends forward-thinking subjects, brands, and technologies. His goal: to explore the cultural and financial value embedded in today’s digital world. His upcoming ecosystem will let users interact with his art both financially and creatively.
Digital Art Platforms: a recognition of digital artists?
As new media art grows, traditional galleries often struggle to accommodate it—especially digital formats like video art, which historically were difficult to exhibit and sell.
New platforms such as Foundation, Nifty Gateway, Zora Protocol, OpenSea, MakerPlaces, and CADAF are giving digital artists a stage. This marks an important shift in recognizing a generation of creators working entirely in digital media. While ethical concerns about blockchain’s environmental impact remain, this progress is a promising start.
Augmented reality also holds a unique space in new media, and CADAF is one of the first organizations to spotlight it. Their #DigitalArtMonth festival curates AR and video works accessible via QR codes, scattered across major cities like New York, Miami, and Paris—turning the city into an interactive digital art gallery.