Journal · 2026-10-08
What is a sealed artwork? Provenance for African art in the age of AI
AI can copy any style in seconds. A sealed artwork carries a public, dated record of who made it, checkable in ten seconds, and a certificate on OpenSea.
In 2026, an AI tool can produce a convincing "Nigerian painting" in twenty seconds. That's why provenance, the record of who made a work and where it has been, now matters to buyers of contemporary African art as much as it does at auction.
How sealing works
The artist photographs the finished work and seals it. That creates a record with their name, their own words about the work, the date, and a fingerprint of the photo. The record is locked to every record before it, so changing any of them breaks the chain in public, and it's anchored on the Polygon blockchain, so nobody can quietly rewrite it.
The artist gets three words, like stone · kiln · anchor. Anyone can type them at artmiaboseal.art/check and see the record in ten seconds.
The certificate on OpenSea
Each sealed work also has a public certificate in the AMIAF 2026 collection on OpenSea. It shows the work, the artist's statement and the seal, and it links to the original. When you collect the artwork, the certificate passes to you, like the papers that travel with a diamond.
Can AI art be sealed?
No. Only work an artist made can be sealed. At the festival, the room was shown a real painting by Art Miabo next to an AI imitation; 24 of 30 people picked the real one. The seal exists so buyers who aren't in the room can be just as sure.
Sealed works you can collect
₦2,000,000 $1,504
I painted a faceted market woman balancing baskets and silence, each angled plane catching light and memory to hold a busy day within a single calm face.Collect it →
₦1,700,000 $1,278
This piece explores how the people around us shape who we become. The two forms are separate, but they are also moving towards each other. To me, they represent human connection.…Collect it →
₦1,300,000 $977
This piece focuses on ANCESTRY AND CUSTODIANSHIP. The elder figure becomes a symbolic carrier of memory. One who bridges the gap between history and today’s modern world. He lives…Collect it →
₦1,500,000 $1,128
Aura is a contemporary exploration of feminine presence. In this work, I wanted to capture the quiet power a woman carries without needing words. The exaggerated afro, the elongate…Collect it →
Questions buyers ask
Is a seal a legal certificate of authenticity?
No. It's a dated, public record made by the artist and locked against change: strong evidence of who made a work and when, not a legal certificate on its own.
What do I get when I buy?
The original artwork, shipped to you, and its public certificate, transferred to you.
Do I need crypto to buy?
No. You pay by card, bank transfer or USSD on the work's page.