Artverse, Paris's Premier Cultural Hub for Digital Art and Web3, Announces Its Opening in the Marais District

Co-founded by Sebastien Borget and Arthur Madrid of The Sandbox, and directed by Grida, a pioneering figure in digital and crypto art, ArtVerse serves as a bridge between the digital and physical worlds.

Artverse, a new cultural hub in Paris dedicated to digital art and Web3, opened its doors in the Marais district. A few months after launching, Artverse achieved remarkable success with the 24-hour sell-out of A Thousand Layers and One Thousand More, the latest collection by artist YUYU on the Tezos blockchain.

The Only Gallery in Paris Dedicated to Digital Art and Web3

Co-founded by Sebastien Borget and Arthur Madrid of The Sandbox and directed by Grida, a pioneering figure in digital and crypto art, ArtVerse serves as a bridge between the digital and physical worlds.

Sebastien Borget, the gallery Co-Founder, is also the Co-founder and COO of The Sandbox, a virtual platform where players can create, play, own, govern and monetize their experiences using NFTs & SAND, the main utility token of the platform. In addition to his role at The Sandbox, Sébastien also serves as the President of the Blockchain Game Alliance in 2020, a non-profit organization comprising 600 key members within the industry. His contributions to the crypto and blockchain space have garnered significant recognition, including being ranked #4 on CoinTelegraph’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Crypto for 2022

Grida, the gallery director, served as the director of Europe’s first NFT gallery and has curated significant exhibitions, including the first CryptoPunk digital art show and a crypto art exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery. She has also introduced digital art at the World Knowledge Forum, Seoul National University, the Vatican, and the Medici Villa, continuing her efforts to establish digital art as a significant part of art history.

Artverse offers a platform where artists, project leaders, and members of the Web3 community can meet, exchange ideas, and exhibit their work. The name ‘ArtVerse’ merges ‘art’ and ‘verse’ to represent the multiple dimensions of artistic expression, embodying the vision of connecting digital and physical realms through the concept of “URL to IRL.”

“ArtVerse aims to become an iconic venue in France and worldwide for the cultural and technological scene,” describes Sébastien Borget, co-founder of ArtVerse. “Open to everyone, anyone can explore Web3 through artistic and cultural projects such as music, dance, fashion, design, learning about blockchain technology, and meeting artists through communities, workshops, panel discussions, seminars, etc. We help people acquire their first digital artworks and NFTs with regular exhibitions and international artists.”

Sold-Out Exhibition of YUYU’s Genesis Tezos Collection, “A Thousand Layers and One Thousand More”

Dedicated to showcasing the fusion of digital art and Web3, ArtVerse has hosted regular exhibitions for renowned digital artists such as Foodmasku and brands such as Chanel. This time, it presents a solo exhibition of YUYU, running from November 8 through November 18. The exhibition invites visitors into an immersive journey through YUYU’s exploration of memory, time, and the layers of experience that shape human perception.

YUYU, a digital artist known for reinterpreting art history through contemporary and digital lenses, often uses his work to highlight marginalized narratives and postcolonial themes. The exhibition’s centerpiece, an installation of six asymmetrically hung translucent polyester fabrics, dynamically captures YUYU’s artistic vision, transforming the gallery space and inviting viewers to reflect on the interplay of light, transparency, and form. Surrounding this installation theme, YUYU has launched his genesis collection on the Tezos blockchain, consisting of 15 animated digital art pieces.

Timed with an opening celebration at ArtVerse, the collection launch was met with immediate demand. All artworks in the collection were sold within 24 hours following the inaugural opening night, signaling the strong appeal of YUYU’s work in both of the digital and physical art worlds, and the draw of ArtVerse’s curatorial approach. This achievement affirms ArtVerse’s commitment to fostering the convergence of technology and art, serving as a bridge between digital and physical experiences under its ‘URL to IRL’ philosophy.

“Having curated YUYU’s first solo exhibition in Paris in 2022, I wanted this second exhibition to emphasize a new artistic direction for the artist. This exhibition was experimental in various ways, pushing beyond the boundaries of YUYU’s previous work. Notably, it featured his genesis collection on the Tezos blockchain, adding a layer of significance to the show.

Philosopher Gilles Deleuze once said, ‘Art is the creation of difference within established norms.’ YUYU did not confine himself to his established style but boldly explored new territory. While many artists hesitate to step out of their comfort zones, YUYU embraced this challenge. This was also the first time his digital-only works were showcased in a physical space, enriching the experience.

Moreover, this exhibition went beyond mere artistic experimentation. It occurred at a time when the art world was anticipating the end