We will introduce you to some of the most influential artists of this movement and how they are using blockchain technology to give their works additional value and meaning.

Primer to Glitch Art

Glitch art has been around since the 1970s, with artists exploring errors in computer codes, cameras, and television signals using digital and analog methods to corrupt the outputs. From magnets and double exposure to pixelation and flashing effects, these artists have pushed technology to its limits, elevating errors to an art form and retaining only the philosophical essence.

While glitches are generally unwelcome user experiences, glitch artists have explored what would happen if the glitch did not fix itself. What would be the aesthetic value of this visual annoyance? The deeper concepts behind the glitch movement embrace the idea of distortion, decay, and pushing technology beyond its functional use.

Recently, glitch art has gained popularity with the advent of NFTs. Though the aesthetics of NFT art are varied, glitch art is emblematic of the NFT style. Many artists who entered the NFT space back in 2017-2018 were already exploring glitch art, including XCOPY, Sky Goodman, Neurocolor, ROBNESS, Patrick Amadon, and Max Osiris.

However, the history of glitch art would be misrepresented without the inclusion of female, trans, and LGBTQIA+ artists. The recent Sotheby's Glitch Art Sale was a prime example of this, with the auction house putting together a poorly curated sale in March 2023 featuring 17 all-male artists. The community's reaction was so strong that Sotheby's decided to pause the sale and relaunch it with a more diverse (and much more interesting) roster of artists, curated by Dawnia Darkstone (letsglitchit) and prefaced by glitch art expert Rosa Menkman. This misadventure gave the perfect prompt that the first Sotheby’s Glitch Art sale was an actual glitch!

Glitch artists intentionally provoke disruptions, both in the analog and digital realms, for various forms of political and identity expression. As Rosa Menkman beautifully puts it, "An MP3 might skip or crackle, a preview window might briefly show shards instead of an image, and a website might hiccup on load and scramble its contents. While these occurrences are rarely anticipated and usually unwelcome, glitch artists may in fact intentionally provoke them."

7 Female Glitch Artists to Follow

We hope you will take the time to discover the inspiring glitch artists I like below.

Cyber Shakti: Cyber Shakti is a visual artist and designer from India who creates glitch art, digital collages, and animations. Her work is at the intersection of meditation and spirituality and technology. Follow her on Twitter: @cybershakti.

Dawnia darkstone (letsglitchit): Dawnia Darkstone is a glitch artist and curator who explores the boundaries of digital art, sound, and technology. She are the founder of the "let's glitch it" community, which has become a hub for glitch artists and enthusiasts. Follow her on Twitter: @letsglitchit.

Empress Trash: Empress Trash is a glitch artist and designer who creates surreal and abstract works using digital and analog techniques. Their work explores themes of identity, gender, and sexuality. Follow them on Twitter: @EmpressTrash.

Kate the Cursed: Kate the Cursed is a digital artist and illustrator who creates glitch art, surreal illustrations, and animations. Her work often explores themes of horror, fantasy, and the macabre. Follow her on Twitter: @katecursed.

Sarah Zucker: Sarah Zucker is a multimedia artist and writer who creates glitch art, videos, and animations. Her work often explores themes of technology, nostalgia, and the uncanny. Follow her on Twitter: @thesarahshow.

tu.ukz’s is a glitch artist who creates surreal and abstract works using digital and analog techniques. Their work often explores themes of identity, gender, and sexuality. Follow them on Twitter: @tuukzs

Wondermundo: Wondermundo is a glitch artist and graphic designer who creates colorful and abstract works using digital and analog techniques both on Tezos and Ethereum. Her work often features organic shapes and patterns, and explores themes of nature, spirituality, and transformation. Follow her on Twitter: @wondermundo.

Image credit:

Cyber Shakti, Regal Rajasthan (2021). Link here. [Accessed 07/08/2023]