NFTs, which stand for non-fungible tokens, are one-of-a-kind assets that can't be replicated or exchanged. While the NFT surge in 2021 and their soaring prices might ring a bell, the creators behind them remain largely unknown to most.
Although the NFT scene has lost some of its 2024 momentum, artists are still producing works in this field. The community is optimistic, viewing the current slowdown as a temporary phase, with non-fungible tokens expected to rise in popularity again.
Let’s look back at the trailblazers of the past, who are still capable of driving the future trends in NFTs.
Pak, the enigmatic NFT creator: What is his story and why is he so well-known?
Murat Pak, commonly known as Pak, made his name by creating Archillect (a fusion of "archive" and "intellect"), an AI designed to discover and distribute visually appealing content on social media. This AI generates images and other media by tracking user interactions with content shared across different platforms.
Among Pak’s other accomplishments are Burn — a platform designed for burning NFTs with ASH tokens as rewards, and the NFT collection “The Merge.” Released in December 2021, “The Merge” set a new record by earning Pak an impressive $91.8 million.
NFT "The Merge". Source: barrons.com
Pak is both anonymous and highly secretive: he rarely publishes anything (his last tweet was in July 2024), with the majority of his posts focused on his artwork. Catching him at a public event is virtually impossible.
Pak’s whereabouts and current projects are unknown. Given the decreased attention towards NFTs, it’s doubtful that new works from him will appear anytime soon. He seems to be concentrating on his media studio UNDREAM, which is referenced in the bio of his X profile.
Beeple: The legendary artist who poured 13 years into his "Everydays"!
Mike Winkelmann, who goes by Beeple, became a renowned NFT artist for his work on "Everydays." He dedicated 13 years to the project, starting on May 1, 2007, and finishing on January 7, 2021. Winkelmann crafted one NFT every single day, eventually combining them into a large photo collage.
NFT "Everydays: the First 5000 Days": A fragment. Source: christies.com
Beeple made history in the NFT space when his collage "Everydays: the First 5000 Days" was sold at Christie's for $69 million. It remains the second-highest priced NFT, following Murat Pak's "The Merge."
The artist enjoys widespread popularity, not only within the NFT community but also in the broader Web3 industry. As of September 2024, his X account has around 800,000 followers, with posts regularly reaching about 250,000 views.
Beeple keeps producing daily NFTs, often reflecting the most captivating events in the space. Notable examples include his take on Donald Trump’s NFT collection launch, the shared incarceration of rapper Diddy and scammer SBF, and the community's obsession with the meme pygmy hippo, Moo Deng.
Beeple's newest pieces, highlighting what's happening in Web3. Source: x.com
People keep an eye on Beeple's creations not just for the art, but also for potential benefits. Beeple’s works often influence the community greatly—if Winkelmann highlights something in an NFT, it’s a signal that it’s important.
A prime example is the meme coin Pepe. While it’s hard to say definitively if Beeple was the trigger for its price surge, he certainly played a large part, with multiple posts about the project on X.
XCOPY: Uncovering the identity behind the famous pseudonym
XCOPY, an anonymous NFT artist from London, creates glitch art with a strong focus on dystopian, depressing themes, portraying the Web3 world in a gloomy, indifferent light.
His standout piece, "All-Time High in the City," features dark red colors and depicts Death as a ferryman steering a trader to Hell. The NFT was minted in 2018 and was sold in 2022 for 1,630 ETH, equivalent to roughly $6 million at the time.
NXCOPY’s most famous NFT — “All-Time High in the City.” Source: superrare.com
XCOPY’s creations have attracted attention beyond NFT traders and collectors, even drawing in pop culture figures. In 2021, rapper Snoop Dogg purchased two of his NFTs: “Some Asshole” for $4 million and “Right Click and Save As Guy” for $7 million.
Although the identity of XCOPY is still a mystery, rumors suggest he is 45 years old and resides in London. His first works appeared on Tumblr in 2010, while his debut NFTs were minted in 2018.
Snowfro — the trailblazer of generative NFT art.
Erick Calderon, better known as Snowfro, is a pioneer in the NFT scene and a Web3 enthusiast with a deep love for CryptoPunks. In 2020, he created the Chromie Squiggle collection and founded the Art Blocks platform, marking a major milestone in the NFT industry.
His influence was crucial in advancing NFT artists and cementing generative art as an important part of the Web3 industry.
Some pieces from the "Chromie Squiggle" NFT collection. Source: opensea.io
Before getting into NFTs, Snowfro was… running a tile business! In his free time, he delved into coding and image creation. It would be several years before Eric could fully dedicate himself to a career in Web3.
At the time of this article’s publication, the artist remains committed to developing the generative art niche. He continues to support Chromie Squiggle, oversees a specialized fund, and actively participates in charitable efforts.
FEWOCiOUS: A youthful talent making waves in the NFT space
Victor Langlois, better known as FEWOCiOUS, is an American painter who grew up in a troubled household with an abusive father. During his teenage years, he lived with his grandparents and left home at 18, buying a one-way ticket to Seattle to pursue his art. By the age of 19, he had gained recognition in the NFT community.
Langlois collaborated with the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, worked with Billboard magazine, launched a collaboration with Adidas, and his NFT from the "Bowie on the Blockchain" collection sold for $127,000.
FEWOCiOUS' works are filled with vibrant, rainbow-like colors, exaggerated cartoonish characters, and elements of psychedelic design. His first major success in this style was the NFT "The EverLasting Beautiful," which sold for $550,000.
The NFT “The EverLasting Beautiful” created by FEWOCiOUS. Source: niftygateway.com
There’s always a real person behind every painting: with their own story, struggles, and feelings. FEWOCiOUS wasn’t an exception—in fact, he showed how an artist’s personal battles can strongly influence their work.
His NFT collection “Hello, I’m Victor (FEWOCiOUS) and This Is My Life.” details Langlois' challenging childhood and gender transition. The collection became both a coming-out narrative and a moment of artistic celebration. The public’s interest was so intense that Christie’s auction was delayed by two days due to technical difficulties.
