BEHIND THE APE: After Losing His Artist Father, BAYC Member Crowey Found Support Around The Swamp And Shared His Dad’s Work With The World

Behind every Ape PFP is a real person celebrating life’s highs and navigating its lows as best they can. One of those people is Bored Ape Yacht Club member Crowey. This holiday season, Crowey suffered a sudden and heartbreaking loss when his father passed away. But in the midst of grief, he found support from his online community and discovered a way to give his father a legacy that will live onchain.

 

“This is the hardest post I’ve ever written. Two weeks ago, my father passed away,” Crowey tweeted. “He was an artist, painted oil works for over 40 years and was always my teacher when it came to art.”

 

With his passing, Crowey and his mother were left facing not only an emotional loss, but also an unexpected financial burden.

 

“In Germany, if you’re not insured beforehand, expenses can quickly add up to near five figures, including the funeral, a grave plot for 20 years, and the gravestone,” Crowey said. “We weren’t aware of this at all, and there was a moment when I was close to selling my Yuga assets to cover those costs.”

 

But he didn’t sell his Ape.

 

Instead, he chose to honor his father’s life and work by taking one of his paintings, titled Storm Spiral, tokenizing it, and auctioning it onchain. The auction also included the physical painting and a statue on the Otherside.

 

“Bringing art onto the blockchain felt like the most modern and meaningful way to continue my father’s legacy. My father painted oil works for over 40 years: surrealism, still lifes, landscapes and wildlife, nearly 250 pieces in total. Almost all oil paintings are signed. Painting was never a business to him; it was his language, his refuge, his universe.”

 

The piece was purchased by Yuga Labs CEO Garga for 1.07 ETH, or roughly $3,033 USD.

 

“Thanks to Garga, roughly one third of these costs have now been covered — something that means more to our family than words can express,” Crowey said. “That makes Garga the first collector of a posthumous work by my father, who passed away three weeks ago. Nothing could make me happier right now than knowing this very first piece goes to him.”

 

After the purchase, Garga took to the timeline to offer his condolences and encouraged Crowey to hold onto the physical painting.

“I am very happy to collect this NFT and admire how you've chosen to honor your father,” Garga said. “Please hold onto the original painting. The things our parents made with their hands are so valuable to us, and you should be the one to have it. I will enjoy and vault the NFT.”

 

Looking ahead, Crowey told the Gazette that he plans to auction additional pieces from his father’s collection to help with remaining funeral expenses, while continuing to build an onchain legacy that will live not only on Ethereum, but also on the Otherside.

 

“I’m continuing to expand his website so people can already explore his art there,” he said. “Beyond that, I’ve already purchased a deed where I plan to build a dedicated art museum for him, showcasing his work and preserving his legacy long-term.”

 

The Gazette is praying for Crowey and his family during this difficult time and will continue to follow his journey as he works to share his father’s art with the world.