Whether or not you like and/or understand it, the world of visual culture and crypto art situated on the blockchain – which is backed by NFTs – has fast become the thing everyone is talking about ever since the Covid era began. Artists stand to gain much from this, such as economic stewardship, enshrined authorship, and a reach that covers a global audience.
Pretty much the same representational issues that plague the rest of culture are also found in this strange new world. The cryptoverse is riddled with a lack of female and non-white and non-binary voices, which has made society fall flat whether it’s in terms of music, art, tech, science, TV/film, politics, food, fashion, architecture, or even the whole of the internet.
Since the start, a bunch of dedicated and insightful artists as well as curators have preemptively worked to keep the tech-bro patriarchy (think Beeple and Bored Apes) from being the staple of Web3. Their work aims to ensure that the future of the cryptoverse is female. Amid this wave, you may have noticed a rise in the number of women-helmed NFT communities which also make use of derivative/generative Bored Apes format, and position it with respect to their own purposes, in community building and art-making. This structure has artists creating a kind of database with “traits”, such as patterns and background colors, career or profession props, animals, lips, skin tones, eyes, hair, clothing and accessories, badges, trees and flowers, and lots more. Up to thousands of these elements have been set up, and when a buyer acquired a work from any series, they get a randomly generated combination that is unique, or at the very least rare. This then becomes their own NFT.
Following is a relatively short list of the women-led NFT communities which are the logical go-to for anyone looking to attain gender balance in their timeline, consciousness, or collection. If not, these can be a way to experience eccentric, energized, and optimistic art works which stand for the many-colored diversity as well as feminine power from across the globe. Each of these series is serious about community-building activism, and many offer fund collection, onboard training, storytelling platforms, and amplification support for female creators and investors alike.
Women Rise
This comprises a collection containing 10k randomly generated as well as unique NFT art pieces, assembled from around 450 traits hand-drawn by artist Maliha Abidi. The collection stands for diversity among global women, which transcends skin color. Abidi’s art and activism have always revolved around celebrating the artists, activists, coders, scientists, and others trying to turn the world into a better place. The project earmarked over 7% of its proceeds to organizations on the international level which advocate gender equity, women’s rights, and girls’ education. Collectors have the option to join the many virtual and live “clubs” focused on activism, science, and sustainability.
BFF
Created by Jaime Schmidt and Brit Morin – who describe themselves as serial entrepreneurs – BFF is their means of embracing a mission towards helping women achieve their full potential. The launch of this project was supported by over 100 females and non-binary persons hailing from the world of tech, crypto, business and design. They were drawn by the creation of a wide-based community comprising of tech-heads and novices capable of not just creating celeb-coveted NFT avatars, but also pursuing a much wider vision towards building business, art, and advocacy collaborations all throughout Web3. The open-access community assists women as well as non-binary people achieve education, connections, onboarding, and empowerment, within a decentralized yet tightly-knit community.
Crypto Chicks
This reproducible art collection consists of women of different backgrounds and focuses on funny, quirky, and subversive personalities. It remains watchful of the need to bring up more women into the leadership of Web3, and through it to all of the world’s industries. Crypto Chicks focuses on scalable and sustainable programs in design, digital art, and beauty, devoting itself to elevating stories alongside the teaching of newly necessary skills. The Women Artist Fund is one distinguished core component of this model, and consists of a platform which supports emerging artists who are women, through Ethereum and exposure. A large portion of their funds is used to buy unique pieces which then get showcased as well as distributed throughout the community.
World Of Women
With 10,000 unique as well as diverse avatars that are completely female, this model conceived by Yam Karkai aims to bring change into the wider NFT arena. Wow has a vision to erect an inclusive Web3 space through its collection, which is in response to the November 2021 statistic which showed that only 5% of NFT art sales in the past two years were by women. Karkai says, “Together, we can create opportunities for anyone around the world to be owners, creators and contributors in this new era of the web.” There is also a presence maintained in the education of non-NFT and non-art worlds, with emphasis on recruitment of natural allies from around the globe, covering many economies and cultures.
Boss Beauties
The collection managed by boss beauties contains 10,000 varied female avatars whose depiction takes place in the foreground of empowering roles such as astronauts, doctors, mothers, presidents, artists, soldiers, athletes, executives, and others. This is in keeping with their motto that “A woman can be everything she wants.” The Boss Beauties marketing and branding company’s mission for the past decade, has been to edify and empower new generations of females; the NFT collection is something they consider an extension of pretty much the same goals. The medium has potential to capture the dreams and voices of thousands of strong and independent women. Holders get utilities like exclusive music event tickets, early NFT drop access, and finally, access to the Boss Beauties partner collaborations.
