Jack Butcher's 'Self Checkout' Project Launches at Art Basel Miami with $74,211 Initial Deficit

Miami, FL – Renowned artist Jack Butcher, creator of the Visualize Value brand and the "Checks" NFT series, has launched a new art installation titled "Self Checkout" at Art Basel Miami Beach. The project, which opened on December 3, 2025, aims to demystify the often-opaque economics of the art market by transparently displaying its profit and loss (PNL) in real-time. Butcher self-funded the installation with an initial investment of $74,211, which is publicly displayed as a starting deficit.

"Self Checkout" features three interactive kiosks where collectors can purchase art. Each transaction generates a thermal receipt whose length corresponds to the amount paid, and includes a seed phrase for a non-transferable NFT. The installation also includes a transparent online orders kiosk and a dynamic split-flap display that continuously updates the project's financial status, starting from the -$74,211 figure.

According to the project's whitepaper, the initiative seeks to expose "valuation pressure, social influence, and economic engagement inside the art market—no folklore, only evidence." The project's unique approach challenges traditional gallery models by eliminating intermediaries and allowing the market to collectively determine the value, with the artist's financial stake openly presented. The initial deficit covers booth fees, fabrication, hardware, and operational costs for the Art Basel exhibition.

Butcher, known for his work that often explores concepts of value and ownership in the digital age, positions "Self Checkout" as both an artwork and a business model. The project's "soulbound NFTs" prevent trading, while the printed seed phrases offer a physical component to ownership. This blend of digital and physical elements, coupled with radical transparency, marks a significant commentary on the contemporary art ecosystem.

The installation also includes a parallel no-reserve auction for the physical split-flap display itself, which will track its own PNL throughout the fair. This additional layer allows collectors to bid on the final ledger document, further integrating economic participation into the artistic experience. The project is expected to run for the duration of Art Basel Miami Beach, inviting ongoing engagement and discussion from attendees.