Most pre-teens have their minds on tons of things but building an empire as a digital architect may not be one of them. As previously reported by AfroTech, at age 12, Nyla Hayes created the Long Neckie Collection — a non-fungible token (NFT) collection worth about $3.4 million in digital currency. She is also TIMEPiece’s First Artist-In-Residence and the founder of NFT Children’s Day, an initiative launched to encourage more youth to get involved in tech. For Hayes, her first introduction to tech and the metaverse started with Roblox. Hayes has had a love for art since an early age. She started drawing at the tender age of four and the rest has truly been history. AfroTech sat down with the young artist to discuss her collection, making money doing what she loves, and what the future holds.

The iconic art of Jean-Michel Basquiat is heading to the digital space. On Dec. 3, rare images of Basquiat turned into non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will be auctioned in Miami, according to a press release. The “Our Friend, Jean” NFT Auction will take place on the Trillernfts.com marketplace — a first-of-its-kind company. The NFTs are set to be released during Basquiat’s historic week-long exhibition — curated by The Bishop Gallery and hosted by Triller — at Art Basel from Nov. 29 through Dec. 4. The event will feature photos of Basquiat that were taken by co-curator Alexis Adler, the artist’s close friend and roommate. Some of Basquiat’s earliest artwork will be highlighted during the digital curated experience. The artworks will be on loan from collectors who were friends of Basquiat including Adler, Al Diaz — Co-Creator of SAMO — Jane Diaz, Hilary Jaeger, Katie Taylor and Lucy Sante. Courtesy Photo Their rare photographs collection aims to give the artist’s fans insight into more...