Angelo Sotira, the founder of DeviantArt, has returned to the forefront of digital creativity he kickstarted in the early 200s.
However, this time, he is not building a platform but crafting a canvas. Sotira’s new venture, called ‘Layer‘, is a high-end screen built specifically to display digital art.
Layer is designed to showcase dynamic, generative works at the highest possible quality.
This product is not aimed at the everyday consumer. It costs $22,000. Yet, for that price, Layer promises to deliver what Sotira calls the “best way to display digital art on a wall.”
From Teenage Visionary To Art Tech Pioneer
Sotira began building DeviantArt as a teenager. Over the years, he helped millions of digital artists find community and inspiration online.
Now, 25 years later, he wants to change not how we make digital art, but how we experience it.
A Display Designed For Living Digital Art
Layer is a different kind of digital display option. It is not a digital picture frame. It is a dedicated canvas for living, evolving artworks created by code.
Layer works with a network of digital artists, many of whom specialize in generative AI. These are not mass-produced images but unique works, often created by artists who write their own code.
Their art evolves, and as the code runs, it directs each pixel on the screen, creating visuals that are never quite the same twice.
This process requires considerable computing power and that need, in part, justifies the device’s high cost.
Why Layer Costs So Much
According to Sotira, Layer’s display does not rely on standard compression methods. Every pixel is rendered live on a powerful GPU.
That level of detail, he says, sets it apart from any other display on the market.
Many digital canvases have been pitched before, especially during Sotira’s time at DeviantArt. He saw them all, yet none fully addressed the core problem.
The novelty often faded quickly, and owners grew tired of manually uploading and curating content. In the end, Sotira’s solution was to create something self-sustaining.
Art That Curates Itself
With Layer, users can plug it in, turn it on, and let the system do the rest. It automatically sequences artworks from a curated catalog.
The idea is to integrate art into everyday life without the hassle. The display learns how to adapt, rotate, and manage content over time.
It becomes part of the room, and is made to be admired but not managed.
Sotira believes this seamless integration is critical. Digital art, in his view, should not feel like a gadget.
It should feel like a part of the home, something you can live with for years, without maintenance. That design principle drove every decision during the development of Layer.
Investors Bet On A New Art Ecosystem
Though niche, Layer has already attracted attention from investors. While operating in stealth mode, the company raised $5.7 million.
Backers include Expa Ventures, Human Ventures, and Slauson & Co., along with individual investors like Twitter co-founder Evan Williams and Behance co-founder Scott Belsky.
Artists Get Paid
Layer also includes a subscription model for buyers to gain access to a rotating collection of digital artworks, sourced from the artists partnered with Layer.
This will properly compensate art creators for their efforts, as they will receive royalties based on the display time their work receives. In the long run, this will take out the risk of legal battles as seen in the case of AI image generators.
