A lot of firsts are taking place at Slate Asset Management's One Delisle. Not only will the residential condominium be the first project in Canada designed by Studio Gang Architects of Chicago, it has just been announced that a digital art collection has been commissioned by Slate, with one work going to each of the eight suites in its Penthouse Collection. This is the first non-fungible token (NFT) commission by a real estate developer for condominium purchasers.

An NFT is a digital token that allows for transparency when buying and selling unique items such as drawings, songs or animated GIFs on a blockchain. Because the transactions exist on a decentralized blockchain, chain of ownership and authenticity can be traced back to the original source. Over recent months, art-related NFTs have gained momentum and are increasing in popularity amongst collectors, providing artists with new opportunities to share and sell their work around the world. 

Model of One Delisle next to one of eight digital artworks by Petra Cortright, image by Téana Graziani

Each purchaser of a penthouse residence at the condo will be the sole owner of a digital artwork created by Petra Cortright, in the form of an NFT. Cortright is a contemporary artist whose work comes from creating and manipulating digital files. A pioneer in the world of digital media, Cortright has had her artwork featured as permanent collections in prestigious museums all over the world, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, LACMA in Los Angeles, and Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, to name a few. 

One of eight digital artworks by Petra Cortright, image courtesy of Slate Asset Management

The eight digital pieces created for One Delisle embrace Cortright’s signature technique of making and playing with digital files, layer by layer. The commissioned artworks feature the various textures and brushstroke elements which she has become known for. The collection is further enhanced with the benefit of existing in digital form, where the animation can more easily show every layer of each piece, an element that cannot exist if the art were to have been created in a more traditional medium. 

One of eight digital artworks by Petra Cortright, image courtesy of Slate Asset Management

The Los Angeles-based artist has fostered a global collecting audience for her digital artwork. Her inaugural NFT was first sold in March 2021 for $28,000 USD, and resold in August 2021 for $60,000 USD. 

Set on floors 45 to 47, each distinct penthouse will span one-third or one-half of the 16-sided building, and will be given a unique piece of Cortright's digital artwork, which can be projected from their digital wallet onto any form of screen that they choose.

Additional information and images can be found in our Database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment below.

* * *

UrbanToronto has a new way you can track projects through the planning process on a daily basis. Sign up for a free trial of our New Development Insider here.

Related Companies:  Grounded Engineering Inc., Janet Rosenberg & Studio, MGI Construction Corp., Norris Fire Consulting Inc, Rad Marketing, Rebar Enterprises Inc, RWDI Climate and Performance Engineering, Urban Strategies Inc., WZMH Architects