Digital art and collectibles get a lot of pushback for a myriad of reasons. Some are valid, others less so. One common point of contention is the lack of tangibility and ways of displaying and enjoying digital artworks.
I completely understand this question and empathize with people who don’t see the value in owning digital art for this reason. That being said, digital art collectors, myself included, have found plenty of ways to display and enjoy their most cherished pieces.
Your options run the gamut of basic to sophisticated, in the digital as well as the analog world. It’s all a matter of taste, how much you’re willing to invest, and what suits your lifestyle.
Thus, I can comfortably say that displaying your digital art and collectibles shouldn’t be seen as a limitation of the digital medium. You’ve got options. Here are eight of your best ones.
1 Profile pictures & covers
There’s an extremely popular trend in the NFT space of using your most valued NFT avatar as your profile picture on social media. This is in fact the norm on Twitter and Discord, the two go-to places for all things NFTs, to the point where a regular selfie will easily make you seem like an outsider.
These NFT avatars are literally used as metaverse identities, on platforms we spend so much of our time and attention on. They’re not only seen by our friends and direct connections, but by thousands of people online.
Because of the reach and the direct tie to the owner’s identity, I see this as the most profound and impactful way that collectors are showcasing their digital collectibles. Twitter has even made NFT avatars a built-in feature.
And while this trend is clearly centered around NFT avatars, some people are thinking outside the box and adopting artworks or other collectibles as their profile pictures. Many also utilize their cover photos to display their favorite art pieces, collectibles, or secondary avatars.
2 Social media galleries
Profile pictures and cover photos obviously aren’t the only ways to display things on social media. Many collectors of digital art and collectibles use it to share their newest purchases. Some use it very deliberately to curate and showcase their favorite pieces.
All Facebook and Instagram users in the US can now share NFTs, cross-post between both apps
Instagram, with its focus on visuals, seems to be the most popular of the mainstream platforms. With its increased dedication to digital collectibles, it will likely continue to grow in popularity among artists and collectors.
While most NFT chatter happens on Twitter, it’s not a great place for visual showcasing. An NFT Gallery on your Twitter profile would be a killer feature. Just saying, in case someone from Twitter is reading this…
3 Device wallpapers
Another popular trend is to use your digital artwork or avatar as the wallpaper on your smartwatch, smartphone, laptop, or tablet. It’s also one of my own go-to ways to enjoy and display my favorite NFTs.
Rareboy makes it easy to turn your NFT avatar into a wallpaper for your phone or smartwatch
Some like to create their own custom wallpapers for themselves and their fellow collectors. Others use some of the handy tools that have popped up during the NFT boom. Rareboy is one of the most popular and supports ~50 different NFT avatar collections with new ones added every Monday.
4 Virtual galleries
In the traditional art world, only the biggest collectors, artists, and exhibitors have their own galleries. In the digital world, it’s a lot more accessible. A few NFT native options have already emerged.
One of the simplest and most popular services is called Gallery.so. Just connect your wallet to the site and arrange your Ethereum and Tezos NFTs on the page to create your own minimalistic 2D gallery. Take a look at mine to get an idea about the outcome.
From The Vincent Van Dough Gallery and Justin Aversano’s Twin Flames in Oncyber
If you want to take it a step further, Oncyber lets you create your very own virtual 3D gallery. Simply pick one of the five gallery “bases” and arrange your NFT art on the virtual walls by connecting your wallet to the site. Premium bases can be purchased as NFTs.
Lastly, there’s also the option of buying a piece of land in a virtual world like Decentraland and building out your own gallery from scratch. This isn’t nearly as beginner-friendly as the options above though, but rather a whole project in and of itself.
5 Digital frames
Still digital-native but moving into the physical space, we’ve got the digital frame solution. Your easiest and cheapest option here is to simply buy the kind of digital frame you would normally use for your family photos.
If you’re serious about your NFT art, however, you need to get an actual NFT display. Not only are these screens optimized for digital art, but you can also manage which of your NFTs are displayed, and how they’re shown, by connecting your wallet directly to the frame.
I don’t own any of these myself but have listed some of the most popular ones below. They all have their own unique designs, added features, native apps, and price points. Check them out and read some reviews (like this, this, or this) to find the perfect one for you.
- TokenFrame
- Nifted Displays
- Canvia Digital Art Canvas
- Meural Canvas II by NETGEAR
- The Frame by Samsung
- Infinite Objects
- NiFTy Displays
- TokenCast
- MetaSill
- LAGO
6 Physical prints
For as much as we love the digital medium and everything it has enabled for artists and their creative expressions, it’s no substitute for the tactile in a physical piece of art. Thus, it’s no surprise that many collectors choose to have their favorite pieces printed, framed, and hung on their walls.
Many collectors have their favorite pieces framed and hung at home (photo: klavius.eth on Twitter)
I’m a big fan of this option myself and have a custom black-and-white edition of my Moonbird hanging in my apartment. I used a regular online print shop where I could pick the exact size, poster material and finish, and a frame to suit my needs and interior style.
Fidenza by @tylerxhobbs. Looking great in the living room.
Really, one of my favorite side effects of NFTs is that generative art got the attention it deserved. We dreamed about this in the 90s demo scene. pic.twitter.com/hsMfHrHLy9
— tobi lutke (@tobi) October 4, 2022
You’ve also got a few NFT native services to choose from. Sites like Level Frames, NFTY INK, and Peak NFT Printing let you connect your crypto wallet and create a custom print of any of your NFTs.
7 Clothing and other items
We really can’t talk about NFTs without talking about swag. Many NFT projects have their own limited edition lines of socks, caps, t-shirts, and hoodies. Very few of them let you buy these items with your own avatar on them though. For that, you need to put in a little work yourself.
Pixels.com makes it easy to get your NFT printed on a variety of items
Despite the required effort and money, it’s a rather popular option among collectors. Plenty of sites let you order a variety of clothing, stationery, and other items with your own custom print on them. Sites like Pixels.com even have an NFT-native option.
8 Tattoos
Last but certainly not least, we’ve got one for the true fans. For when a wall display or branded hoodie just isn’t enough. If you truly love that NFT avatar or digital artwork… Why not take it with you wherever you go in the form of a tattoo?
A collector who got a tattoo of their Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT (photo: ayyomico.eth on Twitter)
Believe it or not, I know of several collectors who have done this. And it’s especially common with NFT avatars. As I described earlier, these often become part of their owners’ identities and also create a lot of meaningful experiences and a strong sense of community around them.
Thus, it’s not surprising to me that so many people have chosen to get their NFTs and everything they stand for commemorated as tattoos. I’ll be sure to share on Twitter if I ever do the same.
Key takeaways
Collectors of digital art and collectibles have found multiple ways to enjoy, share, and showcase their prized possessions. Many people use their NFT avatars on social media. Some frame and hang their favorite pieces of art at home. A few even get them tattooed on their bodies.
It’s clear that NFT collectors truly care about the pieces they collect. It’s not all hype and speculation. It’s also clear that the digital medium hasn’t killed the analog by any stretch of the imagination. Even digital natives see the value in bringing their NFTs into the physical world.
I’m excited to see the evolution of digital art and collectibles in the coming years, as well as how we display and enjoy them. I’m sure we’ll get better ways to do this in the metaverse, but I’m also convinced that NFTs will always have a place in our analog lives.
