KENNY SCHACHTER

Schachter is internationally recognised for his pioneering engagement with digital art and NFTs, as well as for his critical writing and curatorial projects that challenge conventions in contemporary art. As highlighted in Ocula Magazine, Schachter’s ‘irreverent approach and willingness to question the status quo have made him one of the most distinctive voices in art today’, a perspective that has drawn both acclaim and controversy.

Early Years

Born in New York City in 1961, Schachter studied philosophy and political science at George Washington University before completing law studies at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York. He has lived and worked in New York for much of his career, with periods spent in London and extensive travel for exhibitions, teaching, and writing. Schachter’s early exposure to the art market and his background in law and philosophy have informed his critical and multifaceted approach to art.

Kenny Schachter Artworks

Schachter’s contemporary art practice is defined by his exploration of the intersections between art, technology, and commerce. His works span digital art, painting, sculpture, video, and installation, frequently addressing the commodification of art and the evolving role of the artist in the digital age.

Digital and NFT Art

In the 1990s, Schachter was among the first artists to experiment with digital media, later becoming a key advocate for NFTs and blockchain art. He coined and trademarked the term ‘NFTism’ and has curated landmark NFT exhibitions, including BREADCRUMBS: ART IN THE AGE OF NFTISM at Galerie Nagel Draxler, Cologne.

Robotic and AI-Generated Art

Schachter’s recent projects include Art in the Age of Robotic Reproduction (Jupiter Gallery, New York), where he used robotic systems to create oil paintings, reflecting on the legacy of mechanical reproduction and the shifting meaning of originality in art.

Meta-Art and Institutional Critique

Throughout his career, Schachter has produced works and exhibitions that comment on the structures of the art world, often using humour and self-reflexivity to expose its contradictions and absurdities.

Exhibitions

Kenny Schachter has both been the subject of, and curated exhibitions. Below is a selection of exhibitions.

Solo Exhibitions

• Art in the Age of Robotic Reproduction, Jupiter Gallery, New York
• Phone Face, Galerie Nagel Draxler, Cologne
• I Object, Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, CA
• Retrospective, Rental Gallery, New York

Group Exhibitions

• BREADCRUMBS: ART IN THE AGE OF NFTISM, Galerie Nagel Draxler, Cologne
• Paul Thek: Paintings 1965–1988 (co-curated), Thomas Dane Gallery, London
• Simon Lee Gallery, London
• Charim Gallery, Vienna

Website and Instagram

Kenny Schachter’s website can be found here, and his Instagram can be found here.

More Reading

Schachter’s practice has been featured in leading magazines, including Ocula Magazine. In a recent Ocula article, Schachter’s approach is described as ‘irreverent and questioning’, with the artist stating, ‘Some artists are just born whole, fully formed, and you can see it in everything they do’.

Kenny Schachter FAQs

Louisa Mahoney | Ocula | 2025