Cozomo de' Medici Explained: The Grand Patron of the Digital Arts

When NFTs boomed in 2021, millions of enthusiasts around the world took to collecting NFT art. A celebrated few were lauded as NFT art curators – only one is known as grand patron of the digital arts. That person is Cozomo de’ Medici.

Taking their name from the patriarch of the powerful 15th century Medici family – a banker and politician that was highly-regarded as a patron of the arts in his time – their presence, purchases and donations have been analysed, discussed and praised in equal measure, leaving an undeniable mark on the modern art world.

NFT art is all the better for their activity – but what exactly has Cozomo de’ Medici accomplished, why are they so revered, and what could their future hold?

Master the topic, as we explain the past, present and future of Cozomo de’ Medici.

Key Insights

Pseudonymous art collector, named after Italian art patron Cosimo de’ Medici
First emerged in July 2021, purchasing CryptoPunk #3831
Acquired many rare 1-of-1 NFTs from XCOPY, Sam Spratt, Claire Silver and more
Donated 22 works to LACMA in February 2023
Revered by many as the most notorious NFT art patron in the world

Who is Cozomo de’ Medici?

Cozomo de’ Medici is a significant figure in the digital art world, renowned as a collector, angel investor, and influencer within the NFT community.

Adopting the moniker of the famous Florentine banker Cosimo de’ Medici, they position themselves as a modern patron of digital arts. Medici has built an impressive and diverse collection of blockchain-based artworks – stylising these as part of The Cozomo de’ Medici Collection – featuring works from some of the most celebrated NFT artists in the world.

Medici remains active on X. With over 300,000 followers, Cozomo shares their insights on the digital art market, breakthrough creators and their personal experiences – expanding on these through the Medici Minutes newsletter. These updates offer a glimpse into the evolving world of digital art, covering market trends, artist highlights, and their personal journey as a collector.

Alongside accumulating art, Medici is involved in promoting digital art by organising both virtual and physical exhibitions. Utilizing platforms like Deca and OnCyber, they showcase their collection around the world, bringing digital art to the masses in a way that makes it more accessible and engaging than ever before.

Medici continues to emphasise that anyone can become an art collector, no matter your financial limits. They’re also an advocate of bringing digital art into the home, investing in technologies that further this aim, transforming art appreciation from a privilege of the few to a true universal experience.

The history of Cozomo de’ Medici

Cozomo de’ Medici first emerged in the NFT art space with their purchase of CryptoPunk #3831 – known as ‘CoZom’ – in July 2021. That nickname inspired them to adopt the alias Cozomo de’ Medici, labelling their purchases as The Medici Collection – immediately becoming a big name in NFT art circles.

Soon after, rumours surfaced that Medici could be famous American rapper Snoop Dogg. In response to these rumours, Medici posted a tweet stating that they’d reveal themselves on their personal account. Shortly after, Snoop Dogg did indeed tweet “I am @CozomoMedici“.

This seemed to all-but-confirm the person behind the account – but other evidence and investigations would suggest this was just a publicity stunt, and that Snoop got involved to leverage his own growing prominence in the industry. To this day, Medici is yet to truly reveal verifiable their real identity, and has remained as an alias.

Originally intending to make just one significant NFT purchase, Medici soon found themselves drawn further into the world of digital art. They explored generative art on platforms like Art Blocks, captivated by the algorithmic beauty and technical innovation on display.

Inspired by other collectors and online galleries in the space, Medici began to curate a diverse collection of NFTs that spanned various styles and mediums. This would include multiple CryptoPunks, Fidenza by Tyler Hobbs, and works from the likes of XCOPY, DeeKay, Claire Silver and many more.

Through enriching their collection and supporting a diverse community of talented artists, Medici not only contributed to the rapidly-growing NFT art movement, but became one of the most popular and prominent names in the digital art world.

Medici has used their status and collection to promote digital art to mainstream audiences. They’ve played a hand in organising many physical exhibitions around the world, as well as investing into companies that have developed tech-forward digital art displays, with the aim to bridge the gap between physical and digital art.

What NFTs has Cozomo de’ Medici purchased?

Cozomo de’ Medici has acquired a rich and varied array of NFT art from some of the most renowned creatives in the industry. Some of the most notable artists within their collection include:

XCOPY. A trailblazing artist known for dark, glitchy animations. XCOPY’s work embodies the edgy, avant-garde side of crypto art – and Medici is one of his most avid collectors.
Sam Spratt. Medici discovered Sam Spratt through artist FEWOCiOUS, who was bidding on Spratt’s work. They’ve since acquired significant pieces like “I. Birth of Luci” and “VII. Wormfood,” increasing their engagement with Spratt’s artistic vision.
DeeKay. An animator that brings stories to life through motion graphics. DeeKay’s animated NFTs offer a unique, dynamic experience, and Medici’s support has helped to further spotlight his work.
Claire Silver. An AI-generated art pioneer, Silver creates pieces that challenge traditional ideas of creativity and authorship by blending human input with machine learning.
Yam Karkai. A co-founder of the World of Women NFT collection, which focuses on empowering women. Her work promotes diversity and inclusivity – a cause that Medici has aligned themselves with.
Vissyarts. A Malaysian artist who overcame rejection from traditional galleries by turning to the NFT space. Medici’s support has been instrumental in bringing her work to audiences across the globe.

In addition to artists themselves, Medici invests in platforms and companies that serve to enhance the digital art experience. This includes PIP Labs, Fountain, Spaceport and more.

Which NFTs has Cozomo de’ Medici donated?

In February 2023, Medici announced a donation of 22 blockchain artworks to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). This marked both “the first donation of on-chain art from a collector to a museum,” and “the largest [tokenized] digital fine art collection to enter a museum.”

This generous gift – the largest of its kind to an American museum – consisted of 22 individual works from 13 separate international artists, created between 2017 and 2022. The styles of the works ranged from AI and generative digital art to books, videos, sculptures, photos and more – and marked a significant moment in the history of NFT art.

By making this donation, Medici hoped for these pieces to “sit in one of the greatest art collections in human history” – with LACMA holding works from the likes of Rembrant, Picasso, Monet and many more.

Medici would further express a desire for this donation to “forever cement the on-chain art movement in the canon of art history,” and communicate his hope that world-renowned museums could “hold the greatest digital works alongside the greatest physical [works].”

Cozomo de’ Medici continues to influence the digital art world through their high-profile acquisitions, the prominence of their extensive collection, and their ongoing philanthropic efforts.

Their activities support not just individual artists but the NFT art movement as a whole, and have helped contribute to the broader acceptance of both NFT art and digital art as a legitimate, valuable form of artistic expression.

Medici has already make a massive impact on the digital art world – and as his efforts continue, he could play a crucial role in shaping its future too.