Jack Butcher, visionary creator behind some of the most recognizable NFT projects in recent memory. Along with groundbreaking onchain experiments, he’s helping to redefine how community engagement and digital art can transcend borders, platforms and industries. Butcher’s art speaks volumes about the convergence of art, technology and internet culture. It includes beautiful artwork from The Almanack of Naval Ravikant as well as innovative NFT projects such as [Checks] and [Opepen].
Butcher’s foray into the world of digital art started well before his success with NFTs. Prior to crypto, he honed his skills as a commercial designer in London and New York agencies, where he felt confined by the limitations of traditional client work. It was his first experience with crypto, back in 2017. It wasn’t until March 2021 that he minted his first NFT on Foundation, a move that would prove to be a watershed moment in his career.
From Commercial Design to Crypto Art Pioneer
In a previous life outside of the crypto world, Butcher ran his own communication agency. He found himself limited by the traditional model of client work. These very limitations became the catalyst that inspired him to explore new artistic avenues. This ambition eventually led him down the exhilarating path of NFTs and blockchain technology.
Butcher's visual work is instantly recognizable, with notable examples including his contribution to Eric Jorgenson's The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. His illustrations include a visual representation of Naval Ravikant's quote:
"Be the best in the world at what you do. Keep redefining what you do until this is true." - Naval Ravikant
Yet another more familiar piece to many is his Genesis 1 of 1 NFT entitled [Six Marilyns]. This NFT consists of an Andy Warhol-inspired portrait of six female CryptoPunks.
"It massively changed my life. I’m still grateful that I stumbled upon those ideas and credit those frameworks for a lot of the massive inflection points in my personal journey and how I thought about putting work out into the world." - Jack Butcher
The [Checks] Phenomenon and the Power of Community
Of all Butcher’s projects, perhaps the most recognized one is [Checks] — which started as a 24-hour, open edition mint at $8. The project experienced an incredible 16,031 mints in the first day alone. The installation consists of 80 oversized, three-foot-tall multicolored checkmarks, similarly aligned in a gridlike pattern as the survey. The project initially appeared rudimentary, but it gained immediate traction with the NFT community. It led to engaging discussions across the board around artistic value and ownership in the digital realm. Butcher’s vision for [Checks] extended beyond the desire to craft an iconic aesthetic – she wanted to cultivate a community-centered experience.
Butcher’s approach to [Checks] wasn’t just about creating a world-class in-game image but about creating more of a community-oriented experience. To him, that community building aspect is the real art.
"There’s thousands of hours and thousands of tweets that sort of contribute to the evolution of this thing. From the outside, all you see is the image. But the real artwork is the network effect, the conversation, the collective authorship." - Jack Butcher
Butcher’s pitch was to introduce a new opt-in model for holders. This will help them gain buy-in from the community and build an enthusiasm that carries over to subsequent “sets.”
[Opepen] and Redefining Value in Digital Art
Butcher has just released another major revolutionary project, this one by the name of [Opepen]. It has already broken through 87,000 ETH — that’s around $240 million at today’s prices. Like a lot of onchain art [Opepen] has not only been an experiment in code, but in extending the definition of what digital art is. Butcher intentionally designed a project that would be participatory and focused on open discussion.
Butcher’s view on the value of digital art goes further than these specific works. This directness, unfiltered by the curatorial eye, affronts gatekeeper culture and hallowed institutions, making the experience of accessibility its own sacred end.
"I think the other thing that’s generally underappreciated about digital art is people selling $1 worth, $10 worth, $100 worth. Most people who ever make art, ever put it out into the world, sell nothing. Zero." - Jack Butcher
Butcher’s work centers around empowerment of the artist and creating a more fair and accessible art world.
Royalties and the Future of Art
This is not the first time Butcher has taken a public stance against NFT royalties. He identifies the issue that for such artists, royalties should be six degrees from the main thing.
"A lot of people ended up in these golden handcuffs, where the focus switches to how do I get the artwork that’s already out there to change hands without making new artwork." - Jack Butcher
He advises artists to spend all their time making more work. They need to establish a sustainable practice rather than relying solely on secondary sales to survive. Butcher implores artists to not settle on just producing any work, but rather to create intentional work that touches the lives of their audiences.
"Expect to get paid for the work you make, price reasonably, and keep building. The people who don’t need royalties get them. The people who need them don’t. It’s just a power law." - Jack Butcher
He seeks a future where artists are empowered to be independent online. Yet, they will be supported by engaged constituencies and innovative private markets.
"People building consensus from the ground up, making a name for themselves, having a commercially viable art practice independently on the internet without needing a gallery or representation. I hope in a hundred years, that’s a thousand times more true than it is today." - Jack Butcher
