Michael Bouhanna | VP, Head of Digital Art, Sotheby's | “For us it's a whole new venture” | BBW 2024

Risk warning: Virtual Asset prices can be extremely volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may lose some or all of the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions. Binance is not liable for any trading losses you may incur and your investment does not benefit from any form of financial protection. Michael Bouhanna joined Sotheby’s London as a Contemporary Art Specialist in 2017, assuming a leading role on the Contemporary Art Day auction team after previously heading the Contemporary Art auction in Paris. A specialist in the market for work by young and emerging artists, Bouhanna drove Sotheby’s first foray into the digital art market in 2021 and was appointed head of Digital Art the same year. Under Michael’s stewardship, Sotheby’s was recognized by Forbes' Blockchain 50 and TIME100 Most Influential Companies of 2022 for its innovation in and expansion of the Digital Art market. In June 2021, Michael spearheaded the company’s first curated Digital Art auction, "Natively Digital," a showcase of leading artists in this space. The auction series recorded some of the highest single-lot sale prices in the history of digital art, such as the sale of a rare Cryptopunk for $11 million, 101 Bored Apes Yacht Club for $24 million, and a generative work by Dmitri Cherniak for close to $6.5 million. In 2023, Michael conceived, launched, and curated Sotheby’s Gen Art Program, a new innovative sale format offering long-form generative art series from the most sought-after artists. Michael is also a leader in educating traditional art collectors and introducing a wider audience to the contemporary digital art landscape, such as by contextualizing digital artists who define different Contemporary Digital Art movements and sharing his passion for this new medium at global international fairs and conferences. Michael Bouhanna shares insights into the evolution of digital art and NFTs within a traditionally analog institution. Since 2021, Sotheby’s has pioneered digital art auctions, bridging traditional art expertise with blockchain innovation. Michael notes a younger, tech-savvy audience driving this market, with new collectors entering the space through NFTs and digital works. He sees events like Binance Blockchain Week as essential for introducing crypto enthusiasts to digital art, helping them appreciate its place within the broader art landscape and potentially sparking interest in traditional pieces.