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The founder of DeviantArt is making a $22,000 display for digital art | TechCrunch

Jun 05, 2025 - techcrunch.com
Angelo Sotira, co-founder of DeviantArt, has launched a new venture called Layer, a high-end digital art display designed to showcase digital art in the best quality possible. Unlike consumer products like Samsung's The Frame TV, Layer is a premium product priced at $22,000, aimed at displaying generative AI art that changes over time. The display requires significant computing power to render these artworks, which are created by artists writing their own software. Layer is designed to be self-sustaining, automatically sequencing art without the need for constant updates.

The startup, which raised $5.7 million in funding from investors including Expa Ventures and Twitter co-founder Evan Williams, offers more than just hardware. Owners of a Layer canvas gain subscription access to a curated collection of digital art, with artists receiving royalties based on the display time of their works. Sotira emphasizes that the core mission of Layer is to prioritize artists, providing a platform that supports and compensates them for their contributions.

Key takeaways:

  • Angelo Sotira, founder of DeviantArt, has launched a new venture called Layer, a high-end screen designed to display digital art in the best quality possible.
  • Layer is not a consumer product and is priced at $22,000, targeting a niche market that values premium digital art displays.
  • The screen is designed to showcase generative AI art, which requires significant computing power, and offers a self-sustaining experience by sequencing art automatically.
  • Layer has raised $5.7 million in funding and offers a subscription service for art, paying artists royalties based on the display time of their works.
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