Artist Alec Monopoly will be unveiling a full collection of never-before-seen original works during a live exhibition at Eden Gallery, his exclusive distributor, this Sunday, April 11th from 11:00am in SoHo. The exclusive works will be available to collectors who register via Eden Gallery’s website, and are available only through the use of cryptocurrency, both online and in person.
The artist, whose work has been internationally recognized, will be in attendance. The introduction of cryptocurrencies as the exclusive method of payment throughout the exhibition is a first for the artist and is a symbolic return to his roots, with his famed Mr. Monopoly mascot having been inspired by the stockbroker Bernie Madoff and his work being a blatant criticism of the billion-dollar bailouts and deregulation associated with major banks.
The disruptions being caused by the arrival of cryptocurrency to traditional financial systems and institutions are consistent with many of the themes found within Monopoly’s work. The use of ‘crypto’ as the exclusive form of payment for his new collection is a natural extension of Monopoly’s intention to criticize the systems his work targets and explore new forms of self-autonomy. In his own words, Monopoly has declared that “Crypto is a modern way of doing business. It connects people around the world by allowing them to bypass antiquated financial systems that no longer serve them, or never served them at all. For me, it’s the way forward.” Cathia Klimovsky, owner of Eden Gallery, has expressed her support for this new direction: “We have always loved Alec’s work. With its provocative, colorful imagery, Alec provides an incredible commentary about modern society. By making this collection available exclusively through the use of cryptocurrencies, he’s sending a strong message about the direction financial transactions are going in, especially in the art world. It also gives incredible access to a broad range of new collectors who may not have had access previously.” The collection will be available to collectors in person and online from the 11th of April onwards.
