Yes, Playboy Supports Emerging and LGBTQ+ Artists

Art included in this article is from Playboy's previous NFT project on David Bowie. Playboy x Shantell Martin (Collection: Bowie 1976). Additional Credits: Ben Sheppee / Observatory, Graphic Design / Animation; Andrew Kent, Photographer, 1976 Playboy Interview

Playboy and Sevens Foundation today announce a first-of-its-kind partnership that brings a new four-part NFT grant-exhibition series focusing on Playboy's core editorial themes of Speech, Equality, Gender and Sexuality and Pleasure to life. This collaboration will provide underrepresented digital artists with the opportunity to mint and sell their work in the metaverse through a new grant in partnership with Sevens Foundation. Playboy and Sevens recognize how the fight for equality and representation that continues to define the art world at large is particularly urgent in the fast-moving world of NFTs, a primarily cis-male dominated space. As such, the first installment of the series, The Art of Gender and Sexuality, encourages applicants to unapologetically celebrate the power of diverse identities.

Since its inception in 1953, Playboy has fought to create a culture where all people can pursue pleasure. In doing so, Playboy has lent their platform to revolutionary voices and ideas, committed resources and rallied their audiences on civil rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality, cannabis law reform, and other crucial social justice causes in an effort to push society forward. Today, Playboy is inspired to carry on this legacy and continue to push the envelope on new forms of art and technology, including the world of NFTs, as they have done with their recent debuts of the Liquid Summer Collection and Miami Beach Art Collection. As part of their ongoing work to elevate artists and creators, The Art of Gender and Sexuality is the first of four grant-exhibitions from Playboy and Sevens, and will provide members of the digital art community with a platform to use their creative talents to evolve the concepts of gender and sexuality beyond their traditional boundaries.

"Playboy has been a cultural curator for nearly seven decades both on and off the pages of the magazine--from the art, writing and photography that appeared in the print publication, to the music performed on the stages of the Playboy Clubs, to the clothes that people continue to wear today," says Liz Suman, Vice President of Art Curation and Editorial at Playboy. "As a woman working at Playboy, and as a female curator working in the digital art space, one of the things I'm most excited about is the opportunity to build on that legacy by working with more female artists and diverse voices. I can't name an organization more dedicated to amplifying underrepresented digital artists than Sevens."

"Sevens Foundation works to ensure social issues amidst new digital opportunities remain integral and fair for all participants of the global promise of blockchain," says Tim Kang, Sevens Developer. "We seek out partners and relationships who represent and align with our goals to discuss important social topics and we are incredibly excited to work together with Playboy to uplift and highlight artists in the community who also value cultural progress and integrity through creative expression and digital works. It is an important goal for us to elevate women and LGBTQ+ voices, and it is critical to do so within this burgeoning industry ensuring past cultures of cis-male pervasiveness is broken and creating healthy equality and understanding across a global scale is achieved."

The submission period begins today, September 1, 2021 and runs until October 1, 2021. Playboy will mint and return recipients' artwork to them as an NFT, with Playboy and Sevens taking 0% of the profits. Fifty recipients will be chosen to receive the grant and will have their work showcased at a Playboy x Sevens activation during the NFT NYC conference in November. Playboy and Sevens will also support the chosen artists by showcasing their work across all of @Playboy and @SevensGrant social media channels and digital platforms, which have a collective reach totaling more than 25 million followers. Recipients will be selected by Playboy's curatorial panel, comprised of industry thought leaders and artists, including Liz Suman (Vice President of Art Curation and Editorial at Playboy), Erica Lowery (Creative Director at Playboy), Shantell Martin (Artist), and IX Shells (Artist).

About Playboy Art

For the past 67 years, Playboy has provided a platform for artists, writers, and photographers to express themselves with total freedom. From Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali to Keith Haring and Andy Warhol to Kinuko Kraft and LeRoy Neiman, Playboy has served as a creative incubator for some of the world's most legendary artists long before they became household names. Playboy's contemporary arts program continues to build on that legacy by serving as a platform for more female artists and diverse voices, including recent collaborations with some of today's most exciting creatives, such as Marilyn Minter, Hank Willis Thomas, JR, Nick Cave, Betty Tompkins and many more. At the core of this evolution is a continued desire to push the boundaries of storytelling, to marry high and low sensibilities, and to champion artists who are igniting important conversations surrounding censorship, sexuality, and freedom of expression.

About Sevens Foundation

Sevens is a non-profit organization dedicated to elevating artists. We provide a framework for curators and organizations to connect through art exhibitions and grants with charitable or benevolent intentions. We empower emerging artists by highlighting them, operating pro-bono, taking 0% profits, and providing a unique and innovative tool for collaboration.

How to participate?

Visit the Sevens Arts/Playboy Grant link.
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