It must have been sometime in early 2016 when a good friend approached me with an intriguing proposition: to become the custos of the paintings of the late fluorescent artist Felix Stoever. At the time, I was unfamiliar with the paintings and had no real understanding of fluorescent art. Since then, I have written extensively about the story of this extraordinary artist. In brief, Felix Stoever passed away the month of November 2010, and since his death, his paintings had been stored in the attic of his parents’ home—untouched for six years. By 2016, there was an urgent need to address the fate of the artworks.

When I was approached, I presented a plan that involved taking deliberate and cautious steps to preserve and document Felix’ work. I began by categorizing and documenting the paintings in detail. Researchers from the Art Department at the University of Leuven advised to wrap the paintings in linen for better archival protection. It was, in essence, the classic work of an art historian.

One of the significant challenges, was finding a way to make Felix’s art more visible and accessible. The virtual space seemed like a natural medium for expanding the narrative. Yet, I did not want to simply upload photos onto the internet. I vividly remember discussing with friends how incredible it would be to attach the paintings to some sort of token, but in 2016—and even as late as 2017—NFT platforms were virtually nonexistent.

It wasn’t until early 2022, that the tools and galleries needed for such a NFT project became widely available. I sought out a virtual gallery that could showcase the fluorescent nature of the paintings against a dark backdrop, enhancing their unique character. The first gallery that captured my attention was the “Coal” Gallery, designed by 494Jax.

From that point on, I began closely monitoring the NFT gallery market while simultaneously diving deeper into the “rabbit hole” of trying to understand the potential of NFTs.

When asked about my interest in the NFT market, I would explain that I was searching for suitable Cybergalleries to create an authentic atmosphere for Felix Stoever paintings. My interest was a practical response to a specific problem: to create a digital memorial where Felix’s family, friends, and fans could explore his work in interactive environments, ensuring long-term accessibility and authenticity.

In retrospect, its wonderful to know that passion and love were the drivers behind the collection of #Cybergalleries.

                                                                                                                             July 2025