MAPS Raises Nearly $1.6 Million in Christie’s NFT Auction
Historic Curated “Cartography of the Mind: A Curated NFT Sale” Auction is the First Time MAPS has Raised Money Using NFTs
Beeple’s PILGRIMAGE
Price Realized: $252,000
- Digital art, inspired by personal experience and the potential of psychedelic healing, was donated by leading digital artists including Beeple, David Choe, and Alex Grey
- Cartography of the Mind represented the single-largest sale of art to benefit MAPS in its 30+ year history of philanthropic art sales
- Select pieces will be exhibited at Psychedelic Science 2023, marking the first time digital art will be exhibited in the extensive Psychedelic Science galleries and exhibits
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has announced that the recent curated digital art NFT sale – Cartography of the Mind: A Curated NFT Sale– raised $1,569,960. Proceeds of the auction, presented by Christie’s in collaboration with Ryan Zurrer, founder of Dialectic and Vine Ventures, will benefit MAPS.
On the heels of NFT.NYC, we were absolutely thrilled with the successful results of Cartography of the Mind: A Curated Sale to Benefit MAPS. Throughout the week, the physical exhibition at Christie’s new gallery on 6th Avenue drew impressive crowds of enthusiastic visitors. With competitive bidding, the sale realized over $1.5 million. It was 100% sold, and 130% sold hammer over low estimate. This is a true testament to the continued strength and vibrancy of the digital art market.
Nicole Sales, Christie’s Business Director of Digital Art
Digital artists from all over the world, including Beeple, David Choe, Alex Grey, Sarah Meyohas, Refik Anadol, Mad Dog Jones, and IX Shells, donated their art to support MAPS. The 501(c)(3) non-profit research, education, and advocacy organization was founded in 1986 and remains the leading body at the vanguard of research into potentially life-saving psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Psychedelic Healing is an artistic interpretation of the MAPS logo by renowned psychedelic artist Alex Grey. It was purchased by Ryan Zurrer, who donated it back to MAPS for the organization’s use and additional fundraising. Grey painted the original artwork to celebrate MAPS’ 35th anniversary in 2021; it is also available as a poster with proceeds benefiting MAPS and Grey’s Chapel of Sacred Mirrors.
As a not-for-profit, we are always looking for innovative ways to fundraise, and working with this digital art community has truly been eye-opening. We are overwhelmed by the generosity and support from Ryan, Christie’s, and especially these incredible artists who put forth their art in support of our work in advancing psychedelic medicine. We have seen a significant overlap amongst people who have a passion for NFTs, blockchain, and psychedelics. All speak to the decentralized nature of experience, and we look forward to continuing to explore the intersection of both communities.
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., MAPS Founder and Executive Director
For those interested in seeing the art in person, it will be on display at Psychedelic Science 2023, the largest psychedelic gathering happening on June 17-25, 2023, in Denver. For those interested in learning more, contributing art or general participation, please visit psychedelicscience.org/participate
ABOUT MAPS
Founded in 1986, MAPS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. MAPS is sponsoring the most advanced psychedelic therapy research in the world: Phase 3 clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Since MAPS was founded, philanthropic donors and grantors have given more than $130 million for psychedelic and marijuana research and education. MAPS has earned both the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency and a 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator.
Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business. Renowned and trusted for its expert live and online auctions, as well as its bespoke private sales, Christie’s offers a full portfolio of global services to its clients, including art appraisal, art financing, international real estate and education. Christie’s has a physical presence in 46 countries, throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, with flagship international sales hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva. It also is the only international auction house authorized to hold sales in mainland China (Shanghai).
Christie’s auctions span more than 80 art and luxury categories, at price points ranging from $200 to over $100 million. In recent years, Christie’s has achieved the world record price for an artwork at auction (Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, 2017), for a 20th century artwork (Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, 2022) and for a work by a living artist (Jeff Koons’ Rabbit, 2019). Christie’s is also recognised as a reference for prestigious single owner collections, having auctioned 8 of the 10 most important collections in history.
Christie’s Private Sales offers a seamless service for buying and selling art, jewellery and watches outside of the auction calendar, working exclusively with Christie’s specialists at a client’s individual pace.
Recent innovations at Christie’s include groundbreaking sale of the first NFT for a digital work of art ever offered at a major auction house (Beeple’s Everydays, March 2021), with the unprecedented acceptance of cryptocurrency as a means of payment. As an industry leader in digital innovation, Christie’s also continues to pioneer new technologies that are redefining the business of art, including the use of hologram technology to tour life-size 3D objects around the world, and the creation of viewing and bidding experiences that integrate augmented reality, global livestreaming, buy-now channels, and hybrid sales formats.
Christie’s is dedicated to advancing responsible culture throughout its business and communities worldwide, including achieving sustainability through net zero carbon emissions by 2030, and actively using its platform in the art world to amplify under-represented voices and support positive change.
Browse, bid, discover, and join us for the best of art and luxury at: www.christies.com or by downloading Christie’s apps.
*Please note when quoting estimates above that other fees will apply in addition to the hammer price – see Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of the sale catalogue.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and are reported net of applicable fees.