For the 19th episode of "Reading the Art World," host Megan Fox Kelly speaks with Amy Whitaker and Nora Burnett Abrams, authors of the new book, “The Story of NFTs: Artists, Technology, and Democracy,” published by Rizzoli Electa and the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver.

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, exploded into the art space last year, raising curiosity, conversation, creativity and confusion. The authors explore the basic concepts of NFTs and the underlying technology of blockchain, including their origins, their surprising connections to the history of artmaking and art collecting, and their potential to radically reshape the art world.

In addition to the authors’ extensive knowledge, the book draws on a wide range of interviews with leading contributors to the NFT story. The many intersecting stories of NFTs in this book — knowledge stories, artist stories, democracy stories — center how we know what is true in an age of digital records and how we build collaborative and equitable structures for the future.

Amy Whitaker is an Associate Professor of Visual Arts Administration at NYU's Steinhardt School. Amy is a prolific writer, speaker, and thinker who is focused on the relationship between art and markets and the impact that emerging technologies are having on the art market. Amy holds a BA from Williams College with honors in political science and art, an MFA in painting, an MBA, and a PhD in political economy.

Nora Burnett Abrams is the Mark G. Falcone Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. She's among the youngest museum directors in the country, coming to that role after nearly a decade as the museum's lead Curator and Director of Planning, organizing over 30 exhibitions. She's written and spoken about the relationship between NFTs and conceptual art in the 1960s and '70s. Nora earned her BA at Stanford University, her MA at Columbia, and her PhD at NYU's Institute of Fine Arts.

"Reading the Art World" is a live interview and podcast series with leading art world authors hosted by art advisor Megan Fox Kelly. The conversations explore timely subjects in the world of art, design, architecture, artists and the art market, and are an opportunity to engage further with the minds behind these insightful new publications. Megan Fox Kelly is an art advisor and former President of the Association of Professional Art Advisors who works with collectors, estates and foundations.

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Purchase "The Story of NFTs" at Rizzoli USA or at MCA Denver.

Music composed by Bob Golden.

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"Reading the Art World" is a podcast featuring live interviews with leading authors and writers on important new art books. Megan Fox Kelly is an art advisor and past President of the Association of Professional Art Advisors who works with collectors, estates and foundations.

Music composed by Bob Golden