NFT Sale Electrifies Artist Morgan Jesse Lappin ahead of Digital Debut High on Collage with Trigonal Gallery

    NEW YORK, NY, March 31, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Ahead of the March 22nd opening of his new show High on Collage, artist Morgan Jesse Lappin celebrates a milestone with the creation and sale of his first non-fungible token (NFT) piece, "Dracula's Bitches in Night Time Snow."

The art world has been rocked by recent developments in NFTs, cryptocurrency units on the blockchain which, when created as art pieces, certify permanent assets for buyers. In working with NFT, Lappin joins the ranks of digital artist Beeple, whose works in the medium sold in the millions through auction house Christie's. Lappin, called "the master of contemporary collage art," is a Brooklyn-based creator known for eye-popping collages that use nostalgic 1980s materials to comprise paper worlds with a sense of comedy and chaos. As the founder of the Brooklyn Collage Collective (BCC), the first internationally-recognized assemblage of collage artists, Lappin has formed an indelible presence in the global art, music, entertainment and fashion communities. Adding NFT to his repertoire is just the kind of pioneering move one would expect from this forward thinker.

On Sunday, March 7, 2021, Lappin and Trigonal Gallery founder Jonathan Goodman held a Clubhouse session discussing the importance of NFT to contemporary art sales, and the sale of "Dracula's Bitches in Night Time Snow", which sold within the first 48 hours of launch. It is the first of a weekly series, "The Art of Art Business" which discusses NFTs' effects on the art world. The premiere session was so well attended that it went overtime and featured multiple audience interactions. Lappin created the original "Dracula's Bitches" collage in 2007; it has become one of his most iconic pieces with over 500 stickers posted throughout the streets of Brooklyn. In this unique handmade work, Dracula is protected by his lion security, allowing him to survive sunlight. Now, in Spring 2021, Dracula and his Bitches will return in new scenarios through NFTs, each work a distinctive digital remix of the original. Fans can rejoice as Lappin plans to release new NFTs regularly, including the Dracula's Bitches series and the viral sensation "Sushi Monster", currently on sale at OpenSea.io for 1 ETH ($1,791.43).

"As an artist, my life has gone through great changes due to the Covid pandemic," Lappin said. "This need to survive pushed me to look for new and innovative ways to create revenue. A combination of timing, necessity, and hard work pushed me to publish my first NFT."

Lappin's new show High on Collage premiered March 22nd 2021, as the first exhibit for Trigonal, an innovative digital gallery dedicated to supporting working artists in the wake of the pandemic. Lappin's debut with Trigonal centers on "Back At Home," an extensive piece picturing a complex and colorful world. "Back At Home'' was part of a two-man show in Australia at the height of the pandemic in 2020, where it sold prior to the exhibition's opening. Trigonal has released 14 prints of "Back At Home" at 30" x 40" (76.2cm x 101.6cm), each signed and numbered by the artist, for $500 unframed. Each sold piece will have a unique NFT (non-fungible token) attached, available exclusively with purchase of the print.

"This is a limited print of an original analog collage paired with NFTs," Lappin said. "'Back At Home' shows a place you always wanted to visit, but only exists within your mind. It's a map to adventure, where there are no rules and the vibrant beauty goes on into infinity. This world has elements from children's books, encyclopedias, magazines, and other strange vintage publications. These limited-edition hand-signed prints are a portal into a vast and beautiful world."

Additionally, every piece in Trigonal's Artsy.net Viewing Room for High on Collage is now available to see in person at the Strictly CBD store at 394 Communipaw Ave Jersey City, New Jersey. Strictly CBD, founded by Jeffrey Devine, is one of New Jersey's most pioneering CBD and hemp retail stores. It provides not only a vast array of premium locally-grown hemp-based products such as CBD oil tinctures, infused coffee, chocolate, skincare and petcare goods, but also works to educate consumers about the plant's health benefits, best dosing methods, and current legislation. The Strictly CBD-Trigonal partnership is an ideal match for Lappin's show, as the artist has long been an active advocate in the cannabis community.

In the coming months, Trigonal will launch continuous art shows focused on emerging and classic artists (including Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Joan Miro and more), as well as a celebration of World Collage Day in May.

High on Collage's Trigonal Gallery opening reception will take place live on Instagram March 22nd 2021 at 8pm. Learn more at https://www.artsy.net/trigonal or @TrigonalGallery on social media.

# # #