In a world where rapid change is the norm, the concept of Kaizen, or “continuous improvement,” is more relevant than ever. In Japanese, “Kai” means change and “Zen” signifies good, encapsulating a philosophy that aims for constant, incremental betterment. In the fast-paced Web3 ecosystem, SuperRare is embodying this principle to provide an unparalleled user experience (UX).

The Genesis of SuperRare and NFTs

Before diving into SuperRare’s approach to continual improvement, it’s essential to understand the platform’s origin and the broader NFT landscape. SuperRare is a high-end platform for digital art, empowered by blockchain technology. It allows artists and collectors to create, buy, and sell unique, single-edition digital artworks. Each art piece is tokenized as a non-fungible token (NFT), providing proof of ownership and provenance on the Ethereum blockchain.

Non-fungible tokens have been a game-changer in the art world. Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, which are fungible and can be exchanged on a one-to-one basis, NFTs are unique. Each token has distinct information or attributes that make it different from all other tokens. This uniqueness makes NFTs the perfect solution for tokenizing one-of-a-kind assets like art, collectibles, and even real estate.

Continuous Improvement: The SuperRare Way

Recently, SuperRare’s CEO, known as SuperRare John on social media, outlined a series of updates aimed at enhancing the platform’s UX. The first step was to simplify the navigation and directly link to curated sections, such as “Features” and “Spaces.” These sections offer a more streamlined experience, making it easier for users to find content that aligns with their interests.

The second update was a significant one for digital artists: increasing the artwork upload limit to 250MB. This change allows for higher-quality digital art, providing artists with the freedom to create more intricate and detailed works. Such a move not only benefits artists but also offers collectors higher-value assets.

According to SuperRare John, improving site performance and UX is their number one priority, and they are committed to daily improvements. This iterative approach aligns perfectly with the Kaizen philosophy. It’s not about a one-time overhaul but consistent, incremental changes that collectively make a significant impact over time.

exciting updates all around lets gooo @SuperRare https://t.co/8FwVcOEKX2

— Paloma Rodriguez (@PalomarRo) October 11, 2023

The Future is $RARE

SuperRare is well aware that the Web3 space is continually evolving, and they are committed to evolving with it. By embracing the Kaizen philosophy, they signal to their community that they are in it for the long haul. With such a dedication to improvement, users and potential investors can look forward to a platform that only gets better with time, offering a user experience that is as unique as the art it hosts.

TL;DR

SuperRare is revolutionizing the Web3 space by embracing the Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement. They recently simplified their platform’s navigation and increased the artwork upload limit to 250MB, all in an effort to enhance user experience. SuperRare continues to innovate, promising a future that is, in their own words, “$RARE.”

The post The Kaizen Philosophy: How SuperRare is Revolutionizing UX in Web3 appeared first on NFT CULTURE.

Sares, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us! Why don’t we start with where you are from.

I was born in Argentina and that is where I live. But I believe that we are more than where we live, because the experiences that form and feed us are outside of our comfort zone. Taking this into account, it was that at the age of 21 I decided to give my life a radical change and venture to break with the borders. That is why I moved to Colombia and I was there for 2 and a half years.

Although I always had an inclination for art, I think that’s where my career changed completely. At first everything was shining, but over time the situation got a little more intense. Due to the need to move on, I gave up my career as a photographer, a difficult but necessary decision to continue, since I had to sell my camera in order to pay the rent. They say that the most complex moments are where the best ideas come from, and that’s how it was. Because after going through several jobs as an assistant, sales manager for an image bank, photography teacher and assistant on a farm; I started, thanks to a friend, to learn about Art Direction. After a while I returned to Argentina, but I must say that I had two unforgettable things: a career that allowed me to grow and a friend whom I still consider today the older brother I never had.

At the beginning it was strange to be back in my country, but thanks to the effort, perseverance and hard work, I got my first job as a creative and art director in an advertising agency. I must say that it was quite a personal achievement since all my education was self-taught.

Today I still live in Argentina, but my sights are set on breaking the borders again thanks to art.

Can you tell us about your background and what lead you down the path to becoming an artist and ultimately experimenting with NFTs?

Following the line of those that I told you before, my life is divided into two great moments: Before and after my departure from Argentina.

If we talk about before, I must say that since I was a child I have had an inclination and appreciation for art, something that I am really grateful to my family since they encouraged me to look beyond what is seen, and thus also to defend my ideas and values. Without going too far, there is a story that my relatives always tell that since I was a year and a half old I sat looking at a book that was in my grandmother’s house where there were some reproductions of works by Rembrandt. Also that my aunt taught me the colors with pencils. This is how the need to create and express myself was born in me, thanks also to my parents who supported all my artistic hobbies: drawing, painting, miniature painting, etc.

Already as a teenager, around the age of 15, I began to take this more seriously. I spent hours drawing, because at that age I grabbed my first spray can and went out into the streets. Although graffiti is something that I find fantastic, it had much more connection with the portraits using the aerosol as a technique. That’s where I found a passion and a direct link to art, making me choose to major in Art within my school studies.

Having spent a few years and after leaving the fashion designer career (I love fashion as a method of communication) was that I began to approach photography. My grandfather gave me my first camera for my 18th birthday, an analog Konica. And with it I began to try self-taught. I liked it so much that I decided to study fashion photography, it combined the two things that I was passionate about and it was something that focused on the human portrait, something that, as I said before, always captured my attention, because I think that people speak without words when they are in front of to a lens.

With publications in Argentina, coverage of Buenos Aires Fashion Week for two consecutive years and editorials in Colombia prior to my trip, it was that I decided to leave.

After my return, and after working with my dad in his construction materials business, I worked and currently work as an art director, at first in advertising agencies, until life put me on the path of the entrepreneur after that I was fired from an agency, causing me to set up my own creative studio: BORK Studio.

I think that there was always a transversal line during more than 10 years of career in the world of advertising: the link between creativity and technology. Something that I always tried to include in my work for clients like L’oreal, Adidas Originals LATAM, Renault, Supervielle, Unilever. That combination is something fantastic and I was able to fully apply it when, thanks to BORK, I got to know and entered the 3D world. It was always my biggest fear, but they say that things happen when we break barriers.

I remember that thanks to a colleague, who one day spoke to me and my wife, Barbi Ares (@barbiares) about NFTs back in 2020, it completely captured my attention and I began to investigate to understand how to enter, there was not much information at that time and Twitter was not very good for me, but I decided to accept the challenge and join. Meanwhile, and taking advantage of the pandemic lockdown, I sat in the chair to learn everything I could in record time. Once again I had chosen the hard path: Learn Houdini and enter a world I was completely unfamiliar with.

At that time we worked together with Barbi under the name of SNTG, until a friend told me: build a strong branding. And by combining Barb’s last name and my first initial, SARES was born. Nowadays everyone manages their own account with their personal style, I run SARES and Barbi under her own name, but we continue to work side by side (Literally, we share the desk in our house hahaha)

” Once again I had chosen the hard path:

 Learn Houdini and enter a world I was

completely unfamiliar with.”

When did you mint your first NFT? What platform did you choose and why? 

On August 22, 2021 to be exact, I still remember the nerves of that first mint.

My genesis was in KnownOrigin, I had been researching other marketplaces but they didn’t quite convince me: Foundation was by invitation, SuperRare was with an application and it felt unattainable, OpenSea didn’t quite convince me for 1/1 art.

The day my friend told me about NFTs, he told me that he was in KO and had very good user support and artist support on social media. It sounded really great for someone just starting out. So I decided to take a risk and send the portfolio I had, days later they contacted me to tell me that I had been selected.

Who is your favorite artist(s) (Non NFT)? What about their style resonates with you? 

If we are talking about an artist who absolutely resonates with everything I do, I must say that Caravaggio is my favorite. The strength of each piece seems fascinating to me, that environment focused on drama and tension; accompanied by the lighting technique and the general concept, they make a mix of elements that generate an atmosphere charged with visual and conceptual intensity. These features, in my opinion, are incredible. Since it loads the canvas with a message that takes the viewer out of their comfort zone, generating that necessary discomfort to reflect, while making them a witness to what happens on the scene.

From a photographic point of view, Tim Walker is an artist who has captivated me since my beginnings as a photographer. His dreamlike scenes and concepts, and how he integrates different aesthetics and attitudes is truly inspiring. I think his pieces speak of the past and future in the present.

And Ale Vidal, an artist that I discovered relatively recently and it was a connection at first sight. Her way of working movement, light and atmosphere in each piece has a mix between delicacy and a strong spirit where aesthetics shines in truly exquisite compositions.

And I must also mention Alyssa Thorne and Tanya Gomelskaya, they seem to me to be two artists who take a mix of classic styles to another dimension. Literally speaking, their style and how they carry it out seems to me to be something truly inspiring, really strong, impressive and innovative works in my opinion.

Who is your favourite NFT artist? What makes this artist unique? 

Here I could mention many artists to be honest, although I don’t believe in the distinction between artists and NFT artists, everything is digital art. But focusing on the community, there is an incredible amount of talent, which is why naming just one would be impossible. To name a few, I could tell you:

Billelis

Min Shi

Daria Antypenko

Vittorio Bonapace

Foleee

Beryl Bilici

Barbi Ares

JJ Ribi

Ergin Ishakoglu

Each one of them has a defined and consistent style, be it with the technique, with the composition or with the conceptualization. But what, in my opinion, makes them truly unique is that their works generate the need to see and analyze them in depth, a quantity of details that arouse a thousand emotions when one is immersed in the pieces.

What made you pursue NFT art?

For a few years there has been a need within me to express what I think and feel, although I always put things into words, and sometimes in a somewhat crude way haha, I began to feel that I wanted to break the routine of creating for others and start creating for me. And in this way to be able to give a place to the externalization of those feelings, emotions or situations that at some point in life made a change in me, making me who I am today.

Although I love being part of the world of advertising, for some years now it began to happen to me that I needed to change my perspective and my actions because, day by day, I was mutating to a side where I was not interested in being. And at the moment I decided to become independent as a professional, the need to create without depending on other people’s observations or confusing feedback also arose. A rather big break since I began a new personal search: the construction of a path as an artist. And I say path because I believe that this is not something that has an end, as one develops it mutates, and that is how it becomes something constant; but unlike advertising, this path leads to the construction of a balance between the self and the other, due to the link we generate with our values ​​and ideals.

This duality in constant movement is what leads me to work in 3 times, that is, learning from the past while thinking about the future, but always capturing the present. That fair point of the chaos of the passage of time.

In short, the need to find freedom and a space where I can express the essence of what I believe.

What is the one piece of NFT art you wish you had purchased but missed out on? 

I remember that when Transcendance, by Billelis, came out, I fell completely in love with this piece, it was clearly out of my financial reach, but if I could buy it, I would not have hesitated for a moment.

Transcendance by Billelis: https://superrare.com/0x71017b774639e586628e436fc1091155586c2cbf/transcendence-1

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go? Why this location?

 There are 3 places that I have yet to visit: Armenia and Lebanon. Although I could say Italy is one of my fav European countries, it has a strong culture that marks the aesthetics of what I do. I feel that the link is more tied to identity than the search for roots. And in my case, the countries that I mentioned above define part of my identity, since my family has descendants from both places. A few years ago I began to investigate and learn more about where everything that has been building me since childhood comes from, especially after the loss of my great-grandfather at the age of 18, who left me teachings that really marked me as a person. Both countries have a truly incredible culture and the development of a particular aesthetic; And that is precisely where I am currently searching: finding a point where the aesthetic development that has guided my work since I began and the aesthetics that define my identity as a person come together.

What are your other passions besides art? Why? 

Apart from art, I think there are two great concepts that are my other passions. On the one hand, there is knowledge: I really love constantly learning, it is something I dedicate at least an hour a day to because I think it is the best exercise to keep my mind active and fresh, a key characteristic when creating what be. And on the other hand, I could say that fashion is something that has captivated me for several years, I think it is a great social and artistic expression. And beyond the fact that I materialize it by collecting sneakers, it is real that it captures in garments each cultural moment of society.

Do you make other forms of art? 

Yes, in fact it is what I use as a tool when I have blockages or feel overwhelmed in the head. Writing and putting thoughts into words is something that I find fantastic. The ability to express ourselves and communicate with words is one of the characteristics that defines us as a species. And as an exercise it is really interesting because it helps us develop conceptualization and narrative.

In fact, my inspiration in general terms comes mostly from Rio de la Plata Literature and the lyrics of the rhymes that Spanish hip hop has. It seems exquisite to me, the concise and precise construction that both things have to make daily descriptions in a really beautiful and synthetic way, is something that awakens the imagination in a very particular way.

How did you come up with your specific style? 

I honestly believe that it was a progressive construction that was put together over the years.

As a first general approach, since I was a child that I have been very aware of classical art, as I told you before there was always an art book at the home of a relative. At the same time, I always had a very close link with classical architecture thanks to the fact that my godfather, a very influential person in my life, studied architecture when I was little, so I remember being very connected from that side as well. I remember that he had a painting that was an architectural sketch of Versailles, I always kept looking at it when I passed by.

On the other hand, time is present in my work, this is because over the years I developed a certain appreciation for nostalgia, which in fact is one of the main triggers of the concepts I work on. A connection with those places detained in times of forgotten glory that reflect the passage of time in the crudest possible way, destruction as creation. Above all, because since I was a child I have been curious about how time is freely represented independently. I usually analyze it by looking at the behavior of humidity on objects or the deterioration of fruit, for example.

This developed over time. As the years passed and some of the most important people in my life left, the appreciation for what it was, grew. And that’s when I began to embrace my roots even more, as a way of clinging to the construction of a real identity and keeping the memory alive in one way or another.

Another constructive element of my style is nature, this is where life and beauty come into play in their maximum splendor; I generally make use of flowers that I remember from my childhood, those that were in the garden of my house or that were the favorites of a loved one. The rebirth after chaos, that moment where we begin to rebuild ourselves. This is due to the willpower put in more than once throughout my life to get ahead after complex situations that changed my life in a decisive way. To give you a specific example, the day I ended my relationship with the last agency I worked for, I didn’t see what happened next; 9 months without a job was not an easy situation, especially having to pay rent. But from that moment of bankruptcy where there was not enough money, the independence that I currently have arose, because that was when I was encouraged to jump and undertake. Getting ahead is always a complex task, but when you realize that you are not alone and that you can do it, the situation changes completely.

And finally there is chaos. The present at its best, that moment where destruction is expressed, the disorder of everything that happens in an instant but we do not get to contemplate. I have always been curious about entropy, seeing change and the process that leads to change from state to order to disorder. I owe this to my country, my character and how it was formed throughout my life: I must say that I grew up among people of strong character, firm convictions and an enormous appreciation for values ​​and ideals; This sometimes led to moments of tension, for example, which I understood more as an adult as moments of explosion. People sometimes need to release those thoughts that are usually destructive. The country where I come from is also added here, because as we all know, Argentina is characterized by being constantly unstable, always changing and this leads to life sometimes becoming a stress trigger that leads us to need to express ourselves. This is where the expression of the harshness of the reality that everyday life here comes into play.

How has your style evolved over the years? 

I would tell you that it unfolded as my life developed, as I grew up. For this reason, I believe that it is a constant evolution that will last as long as I last. It is completely based on personal experiences that make use of a combination of classic styles, to give rise to the representation of an instant triggered by the past but that impacts the future carrying a message that adds to whoever witnesses the piece. And I say witness, since I seek to bring an experience that envelops the viewer, a journey towards those deep thoughts that we usually have but do not share, instead of giving them an image to contemplate.

In my beginnings as a photographer I had an essence similar to the current one but I oriented it towards a neat side, towards full splendor, combining it with contemporary themes that were a trend at that time.

After a few years, and executing other types of graphic design and illustration techniques, I began to execute the destruction under a more rustic application, but it was carried out with contemporary aesthetics: new wave, grotezk, etc. Much more contemporary to tell the truth.

And at one point, when one Sunday morning in 2020, I set out to do an introspection job and create a personal branding without looking at any type of reference that comes from the graphic design side. That’s when I found this style that I’ve been working on for 3 years, which organically expresses identity. Although it will continue to mutate for the first time, I feel that in each piece I make, I can express my deepest and most sincere part, my true self. And in this way generate a real interaction with the witness spectator, in order to create a sincere bond.

What is coming for you and your work in the near future? 

For now, there will be a series of drops shared with other artists for the launch of a new selling methodology on one of the marketplace I’m in.

And the launch of two series that I’m working on, which will come out on the dates that I usually mint year after year: one for September and another for the end of the year in December. I don’t usually take many pieces for different reasons, one of them is the production time that 3D has.

And finally, we are in communication with a space brand to be able to do a collaboration between one of its products and its intervention with my style.

If you could collaborate with one artist who would it be? 

It’s a bit difficult for me to just name one, I think I would love to collaborate with Vittorio Bonapace. The way in which he works the compositions, the scenes and the atmosphere that he generates in his pieces seems truly incredible to me.

But here I could not ignore the desire to collaborate with Min Shi or Billelis.

Do you have any upcoming drops? 

Yes, at this precise moment I am working on the post-production of a new series that I plan to launch during August / September, based on the concept of: Tombs of Glory. A series of pieces that talk about how oblivion makes those constructions that were formed generation after generation disappear, and the importance of keeping those memories alive so that we are not the ones who fall there tomorrow.

And I am already working on the conceptualization of a series of pieces that will close 2023 and open 2024. It has not yet been defined because I am debating between two ideas, but I am sure of one thing, I want it to be something big.

Where can collectors find your work? 

Link to Website:

https://sares.eth.co/

Social links: 

https://twitter.com/sares_at

https://instagram.com/sares_at

https://thehug.xyz/artists/sares

https://rc.xyz/sares

NFT marketplace links: 

https://superrare.com/sares_at

https://makersplace.com/sares/gallery/created

https://foundation.app/@sares

https://knownorigin.io/sares 

Biggest piece sold?

My biggest sale was AMARE, my debut piece within SuperRare.

I remember the excitement when Eth.co started the auction on that piece, I really couldn’t believe it.

https://superrare.com/0xa9cf3fb2c4538ac95e0c822758ec745fcfed8360/amare-188

 What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that? 

Since I started, I think I made a thousand mistakes, in fact that is how you learn in my opinion. From hitting our heads against the wall, the best lessons come out.

When I minted my genesis, I had no knowledge of how the pieces were priced. I remember that the gas was 100 usd at that time, I had put the piece in editions. Ten to be precise, at 0.1ETH. Crazy. Until chatting with a friend who was already in space for a long time, he explained to me how I could quote.

On the other hand, I spent shilling the piece instead of creating a place within the community. I remember my feed had completely mutated into tweets that were just Engagement Farming. Until one day a colleague explained to me how to move little by little to start connecting with the community.

I also think I made a mistake that I haven’t been able to fix yet, but it’s something I’m working on. I mean the way and the attention that I give to my social networks, I think they need a little more presence and content to be able to reach more people.

But if we talk about the biggest mistake, I would have to tell you this: when we started with Barbi Ares, we both shared the same wallet. She created a profile in Foundation to be able to develop her own style and I continued in KO; then I put together another wallet since I needed to put together a profile on Foundation as well. But, it turns out that my first sales and collectors look at his Foundation profile. Rookie mistake, very rookie, but that’s how I learned how things work when organizing our channels as artists.

Anything else you’d like to share?

During the last few years, things have happened in my life that I imagined would be possible, and all thanks to having made the decision to change my life and start this path. Exhibiting in NY, Canada, China, Los Angeles and Italy was a great achievement indeed.

There is one more thing that I would love to share, and that is gratitude. Because nothing that has happened in recent years would have been possible without some people who gave me their unconditional support and left me great lessons. For example, if my mom and dad hadn’t taught me the true value of standing up for our ideas and that hard work is what gets results, nothing would be the way it is in my life in general.

All of this is possible thanks to the constant support of my family, to my parents, to my sister, to my wife Barbi Ares, JJRibi, Hernán Ortiz, KRIEZ, Foleee, DDO, The Crypt Gallery and their entire team. And, above all, thanks to each of the collectors who believe in my work.

The post Artist Feature | SARES appeared first on NFT CULTURE.

In a groundbreaking move that merges the digital and physical art realms, curated NFT marketplace SuperRare is set to host a two-month exhibition at the prestigious 0x.17 gallery in New York City. This unique pop-up event seeks to emphasize the significance of bringing non-fungible token (NFT) artwork into immersive, tangible spaces. With an exciting program featuring over 20 talented SuperRare artists, the gallery aims to foster dialogue, interaction, and a renewed sense of human connection within the NFT art community. The exhibition begins on June 1 and kicks off with a captivating solo show by AI artist Claire Silver, titled “Artifacts.”

Collection: https://t.co/WKEAEoYmOs

Virtual Gallery: https://t.co/0xutqe4RCu

— Claire Silver (@ClaireSilver12) May 16, 2023

Rediscovering the Physicality of Art

SuperRare’s initiative to bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds marks a milestone in the evolving landscape of NFT art. Founder John Crain believes that integrating NFT art into shared physical spaces helps humanize the artistic experience, recognizing that true art is rooted in human connection and storytelling. While digital art and NFTs have revolutionized the art world, the essence of artistry and the power of interpersonal engagement cannot be replicated in a purely digital environment.

A Transformational Exhibition

Building upon their successful pop-up gallery in New York’s SoHo neighborhood in 2022, SuperRare’s latest exhibition represents an evolution towards more immersive and interactive art experiences. The upcoming showcase at the 0x.17 gallery seeks to create an environment that encourages conversation, fosters interaction, and cultivates a comfortable space for art enthusiasts to engage with the works on display. This departure from the traditional, minimalist gallery concept aims to inject warmth and vibrancy into the viewing experience, making it more conducive to profound discussions.

This is going to be a jampacked offering featuring the following

• The SuperRare NFT marketplace is launching its Gallery in New York City, offering an immersive environment for digital artists, collectors, and enthusiasts.
• The gallery will run for three months and feature curated exhibitions by the SuperRare team and guest curators.
• The goal of the SuperRare Gallery is to shed light on digital art as a growing medium and create an accessible and welcoming space for art appreciation.
• The gallery aims to foster in-person connections and conversations around digital art, introducing a new audience to the medium.
• SuperRare sees the gallery as a realization of a long-time dream, providing a physical space to showcase and honor digital art masterpieces.
• The debut exhibition, titled “Visions from Remembered Futures,” focuses on sci-fi and cyberpunk landscapes, celebrating the digital art renaissance.
• The exhibition features works by 15 SuperRare artists, highlighting the freedom of artistic expression in the digital realm.
• Future exhibitions include a special showcase for Pride Month and a curated exhibition featuring Black digital artists.
• The SuperRare Gallery represents a bridge between the virtual and physical worlds, reflecting the past year of NFTs while embracing the future of art within Web3.

Exploring the Future of AI Art

At the forefront of SuperRare’s exhibition is AI artist Claire Silver, whose solo exhibition, “Artifacts,” serves as a thought-provoking exploration of our future relationship with artificial intelligence. Through seven distinct mediums, including video, generative art, still imagery, poetry, music, 3D art, and an avatar with an AI voice, Silver’s artworks delve into various philosophical questions surrounding AI’s role in our lives. The exhibition showcases the emergence of AI art as an independent movement within the crypto art space, with its own pioneering artists and a profound impact on our digital existence.

The artists on display during the debut exhibition include

• Alex Ness
• Blake Kathryn
• Botto
• Dangiuz
• David Bianchi
• Federico Clapis
• Fernando Magalhaes
• Idil Dursun
• Alpha Centauri Kid
• Krista Kim
• Mari. K
• Maskarade
• Reuben Wu
• Vintage Mozart
• Xsullo
• Zomax

Embracing Physicality in the Digital World:

Claire Silver’s artistic journey has often blended physical and digital mediums, creating a sensory and emotional experience for art enthusiasts. Combining acrylic abstract paintings with AI portraits, Silver has bridged the gap between the tangible and the virtual. Her innovative approach, exemplified by pieces such as “a feeling i can’t put my finger on,” resonates with those who find it challenging to embrace digital art without a physical counterpart. Notably, Silver’s works have been featured in museum exhibitions, gallery showings, and live multimedia experiences, contributing to the growing recognition and acceptance of crypto art in more traditional art spaces.

A Catalyst for Shifting Perspectives: As NFT art continues to infiltrate traditional art spheres, Silver and her fellow NFT artists aspire to reshape dismissive attitudes toward crypto art. By showcasing their creations in prominent galleries and museums, they strive to shift perceptions and demonstrate the artistic value of digital artworks. The fusion of physical and digital art within SuperRare’s latest exhibition serves as a catalyst for changing the narrative surrounding crypto art, solidifying its position as a legitimate and innovative medium for artistic expression.

SuperRare’s groundbreaking pop-up exhibition at the 0x.17 gallery in New York City signifies a significant step in reconciling the realms of physical and digital art. By creating an environment that nurtures conversation

The post Reviving Human Connection: SuperRare’s NYC Gallery Pop-Up Celebrates NFT Art appeared first on NFT CULTURE.

In this interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Joanne Hollings, an NFT artist, photographer, and model. Originally from New Zealand, Joanne moved to the United States to study engineering and play tennis, but soon discovered her passion for the creative arts. She began creating stunning, emotional pieces, often featuring self-portraits in natural settings, and in 2021, she delved into the world of NFTs. In our conversation, Joanne shares her creative process, her upcoming NFT drop, and her hopes for the future of the art world. Read on to learn more about Joanne Hazel and her unique perspective on NFT art.

Links

• Joanne Holilngs
• Twitter
• Superrare

Can you tell us about your background and how you got into creating NFT art?

So just a little bit about myself. I grew up in New Zealand but took a leap of faith and moved to the United States to study engineering and play tennis. I always had a creative side though growing up. I got into modelling while I was in college and I realised how much I love the whole creative process so in 2019 I picked up a camera and started documenting moments. When the pandemic hit in 2020 I ended up going back to New Zealand and I lost my potential engineering job, I felt so lost and ended up finishing my degree online in New Zealand whilst doing photography and tennis coaching on the side. I discovered NFTS in august 2021 when New Zealand was in a lock down, I met so many cool creatives and after a couple months of figuring out the space I decided to mint my first nft collection.

Who are favorite artists, both in the traditional and NFT space?

That’s a hard one because there’s so much talent. Id say I really look up to artists like Cath Simard, Reuben Wu, Summer Wagner, Jason Charles Hill and Chelsea Kauai

What themes or subjects do you find yourself drawn to in your artwork?

I really enjoy provoking emotion in my work, I think that’s why I’ve found myself drawn to shooting more self portraiture in nature where I can tell more of a story. Being outdoors makes me happy so I will always be drawn to landscapes and how I can create a scene out of my surroundings.

Can you talk about a specific piece of NFT art that you created that you are particularly proud of?

Warrior is a standout favourite for me due to the amount of emotional energy it took to even bring out. It is a story of a woman overcoming shame and insecurity to embrace all that she is.

How do you stay inspired and keep coming up with new ideas for your art?

I never let myself stay stagnant and let my creativity sit in a box. Always trying to expand and find ways to challenge my mind. I find writing notes really helps me put ideas and visions to life.

Can you tell us about your creative process and how you go about bringing your ideas to life?

my creative process is pretty simple for the most part, I start with an idea or a feeling I want to bring to life. From there ill come up with ideas by writing in my journal and creating a moodboard. Then I’ll come up with the look I want, how I want to shoot it and a location. Some shoots are very impromptu and in the moment, and some I have methodical steps put in place to achieving an idea.

How do you think NFTs have changed the art world and what impact do you think it will have in the long term?

NFTS have given artists a voice and opportunity to really showcase who they are. NFTS eliminate the middle man for artists and allows artists to sell their art on their terms rather than through an art dealer or agent. I hope long term this allows artists to truly be able to make a living off their own art.

Where do you see yourself and your work headed in the future and what goals do you have for your NFT art career?

As a full time photographer I just want to keep building towards working with my dream clients, such as tourism companies and outdoor brands. I also want to start doing little short films during my travels and take my self portraiture to the next level. I think where I can stand out is my ability to both model in my photos and photograph them. Not enough credit is given to models as there is such an art to it.

Can you give us a sneak peek into your upcoming NFT drop?

Currently working on building on my current series “Beauty in pain”. “Beauty in Pain” is a phrase that can refer to the idea that there is beauty to be found even in difficult or painful experiences. The phrase suggests that there can be a certain allure or aesthetic to the scars, struggles, and hardships that people face in life, and that these experiences can shape and strengthen a person in ways that ultimately add to their overall beauty and value. The next piece to follow on from Warrior will be a piece quite fiery and dramatic, I can’t say too much yet but its amazing.

What was the inspiration behind the concept for this drop?

This series was born from my own experience with struggling to meet societal standards of beauty and battling with the effects of athletes triad. But, I have realised that my body is a work of art, a testament to my strength and resilience, and a source of pride. This series is not just about me, but also for all the women out there who have been made to feel inadequate in their own skin. It’s time for me to embrace who I am and celebrate my body, scars, and all. Through this series, I hope to inspire and encourage others to do the same.

How do you think this drop stands out from your previous work or other NFT drops in the market?

It is truly unique in that I am combining my love for conceptual art with landscape photography. Previously I mainly focused on landscapes but soon realised that there is so much more to me that just landscape photos. My ability to create thought provoking imagery through my modelling is where I think i’ll stand out moving forward.

We want to extend our sincerest thanks to Joanne Hazel for taking the time to share her insights and creative process with us. Her ability to combine landscape photography with conceptual art and modelling is truly unique and inspiring, and we can’t wait to see where her NFT art career takes her next. Thank you, Joanne, for your generosity and for sharing your passion for creating thought-provoking and emotional art.

The post Joanne Hollings NFT Artist Interview appeared first on NFT CULTURE.

Cibarius, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. For starters, where are you from? 

I am from Italy, specifically from a small town in Tuscany, where I currently reside with my family. I started at an early age to cultivate my creativity by approaching music, first as a drummer and then as a music producer(or bedroom producer….. I hate this term :))It was precisely my activity as a musician that was a strong influence for my becoming a visual artist since every time I prepared a demo ep I would create the covers with the intention of creating a continuum between music and visual art.

Can you tell us about your background and what lead you down the path to becoming an artist and ultimately experimenting with NFTs? 

As I mentioned earlier, my artistic path mainly comes from 20 years of producing electronic music, particularly House and Techno. Whenever I put and stand in front of my instruments I visualize objects, shapes, characters, or scenes and so the most natural result was just to imprint these visions into a handful of pixels. Then in 2021 I found out that a friend had become a well-known artist in the NFT world so I decided, given my familiarity with the blockchain world, to try to create my alter ego in the art field and mine my first piece of photographic manipulation. The funny thing is that “cibarius” the name I chose for my NFT journey, is a mushroom. I chose this name because it honors one of my greatest passions outside of art: mycology

When did you mint your first NFT? What platform did you choose and why?

I minted my first work in November 2021, it was a photo manipulation of a Tuscan landscape that I called “Pinkish.” The piece was an expression of the concept of a bleak and sad countryside that took a pink color palette to emphasize that beauty can sometimes also be a bleak element. Fortunately, I was able to mint it on FND after a very kind Thai photographer invited me inside the platform.

Can you tell us one thing you cannot live without? (and why)

I could not live without my family who support me every day and motivate me in whatever I do. I could not live without the music that has been and will be, trivially, the soundtrack of my life. I could not live without expressing myself in relation to the world and all that set of nuances that are created between what surrounds me and the way in which I interpret it.

Who is your favorite artist(s) (Non-NFT)? What about their style resonates with you?

Honestly, I don’t have an inspirational muse, but clearly, in my artistic background, there are many periods and artists who unintentionally inspired me. From Basquiat to Falero, from Schiele to Schifano, for example. Not to mention the music world, in which I have thousands of artists that I adore and influence me from so many different genres. I firmly believe that in the art world, there is no one way to be influenced, I believe there is a very powerful mix of attitudes afferent to styles, behaviors, and languages, which translate into the artist’s code.

Who is your favorite NFT artist? What makes this artist unique? What made you pursue NFT art?

As soon as I entered Twitter, I remember having mainly approached Italian artists. I remember that I was struck by Vittorio Bonapace for having been able to combine ancient and very modern, futuristic themes in a single concept. He is what I consider a digital artist or at least my acceptance of the digital artist par excellence: someone who manages to keep the artistic legacy alive by giving it a totally new profile and therefore not superimposable on the past. And this motivated me to assign my journey into the world of NFTs: the awareness that there was room for experimentation.

What is the one piece of NFT art you wish you had purchased but missed out on?

I’m not a big collector, so the majority of the pieces I would like to own are out of my reach.
But I have to mention an artist I would say LordNeutron

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go? Why this location?

I probably wouldn’t settle in any country except the one where I live. But I won’t deny that the Asian world particularly attracts me for its centuries-old history, and surely their more spiritual approach to life would be able to convince me that there isn’t just one place worth living.

What are your other passions besides art? Why?

My biggest passion besides art is mycology and in honor of that, I’ve cibarius as my alias. It’s the name of a yellow mushroom that i find special because when the wood is totally brown and dark green, in autumn, it is so visible, it pops out very clearly.
It’s a disruptive thing.

Do you make other forms of art?

I’m a music producer, a synth nerd!

How did you come up with your specific style?

My style is the result of a journey. I started to express my creativity using vector art, to then feel the need to explore a more real environment, so I started taking my first steps in the photo manipulation environment where I created surreal environments. But then I realized that the thing that interested me most was to give voice to all my skills, so I decided to blend vector art. photo manipulation, and photography inside a much bigger container: 3d. In this way I was able to fully satisfy the need to join an ancient dialectic with a modern concept.

How has your style evolved over the years?

Of course. I think that this is my strength and my weakness.
I can’t stick with a strict aesthetical style, but on the conceptual side, I’m always trying to explore the same themes.

What is coming in the near future?

I’m working on my first animated piece where i finally have created a soundtrack……stay tuned!

If you could collaborate with one artist who would it be?

I would like to collaborate with Uyo66 because I’m very very curious about the blend of two completely different staples….and then: how cool is his art????

Do you have any upcoming drops?

The animated piece I’m working on will be minted but at the moment I’m not sure about the release date, because I’m thinking about creating a mini-series.
But like every time what dictates a drop is my heart and not my mind, so who knows?

What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that?

The greatest ones it’s been to give up with my career of musician in 2010.Never give up is not just a sentence pronunciate for the “culture” it’s a state of mind.
But anyway it creates in me the will the change myself to become something different, someone who use a different “vocabulary”.

Where can collectors find your work? 

cibarius.art

https://twitter.com/cibarius_

https://www.instagram.com/cibarius.art/

http://superrare.com/cibarius
https://foundation.app/@cibarius
https://knownorigin.io/cibarius

Biggest piece sold?
0.25 ETH

The post Artist Interview: Cibarius appeared first on NFT CULTURE.

Jonathan Winbush is a multi-award-winning motion graphics artist with over 15 years of experience working in a wide range of mediums from television and movies, to virtual and augmented reality. Over his career, Winbush has done work for Epic Games, Marvel, Netflix, DC, Warner Bros, and Happy Madison, to name a few. Notable works include Iron Man, Lego Batman 2, Lego Harry Potter, Transformers, NFL on FOX, Power Rangers, Fantastic Four, Deadliest Catch, and My Little Pony.

Winbush is also a pioneer in the world of NFTs, being one of the first artists to ever sell NFTs in China, selling out his series there and being collected by top collectors around the world. In the education space, Winbush creates tutorials weekly through YouTube as well as speaks at conferences around the world for shows such as Adobe Max, Siggraph, UnrealFest, and NAB. You can find more information about Winbush at JonathanWinbush.com

In this interview, Winbush shares his background and the path that led him to become an artist and experiment with NFTs. He also talks about his first NFT, minted on SuperRare in March 2021, and the reasons behind his choice of platform. Winbush also shares his thoughts on family, his favorite non-NFT and NFT artists, and what made him pursue NFT art.

Where are you from?

 I’m originally from Pittsburgh, PA but have been living in Southern California for well over a decade and a half now.

Can you tell us about your background and what lead you down the path to becoming an artist and ultimately experimenting with NFTs?

I started off as a motion graphics artist doing a lot of CG and Main title work for various feature films and television shows as well as worked on a few gaming properties as well. I think what really got me to take a serious look into NFTs is talking to Beeple pre NFT and then seeing how fast he was able to adapt to the space that really opened my eyes to the potential to use my skills in this new medium.

When did you mint your first NFT? What platform did you choose and why?

I minted my first ever NFT on SuperRare March 1st 2021 [https://superrare.com/winbush]

I chose SuperRare because at the time it was where all the 1 of 1 NFT artist strived to be and I’m the type that always strives to aim for the top so I put in my application and with a push of the community behind me I was accepted the same day I applied.

Can you tell us one thing you cannot live without?

Pretty obvious it’s my family they are my backbone and why I go so hard in aiming to succeed in everything I go out for. My wife and kids put their complete trust in me no matter when I left my job at Warner Bros to start my own business and even decided to jump into the NFT space they cheered me 100%.

Who is your favorite artist(s) (Non NFT)?

What about their style resonates with you? It will probably have to be Dan Pierse he’s one of my early mentors that helped me navigate the Hollywood motion graphics scene when I was just an intern and I learned a lot just studying under him https://www.behance.net/danpierse

Who is your favorite NFT artist? What makes this artist unique?:

I’ll have to say EJ aka Eyedesyn he does really cool character animations all by hand https://www.superrare.com/eyedesyn

What made you pursue NFT art?

Honestly, in those early days, I liked discovering artists I never knew existed outside of my motion graphics bubble it seemed like I was meeting new artists daily with various styles and that was really exciting. Without NFTs I probably wouldn’t have been introduced to most of the artist in the space.

The post Jonathan Winbush NFT artist interview appeared first on NFT CULTURE.

Icki Artist

Hi, I’m Icki and my work is inspired by reductionist and conceptual themes but subverts the  aesthetics and tropes of both traditions to provide a unique commentary on the world around us. 

I Grew up in London and had the pleasure of becoming friends with some exceptional talents  including the late Amy Winehouse. It was through this friendship that I was given the opportunity to  contribute to her albums “Frank” and “Back to Black,” the foundation of my career. 

Learn More

Please tell us about your background

I Grew up in London and had the pleasure of becoming friends with some exceptional talents  including the late Amy Winehouse. It was through this friendship that I was given the opportunity to  contribute to her albums “Frank” and “Back to Black,” the foundation of my career. 

I have done many things, over the last two decades, within these industries, operating between  creative, art direction and later the live setting.  

I always wanted to be a traditional artist but had to manage my needs. As a digital artist (primarily  3D) there was not much opportunity to take that traditional route. This was why I ended up  following a typically commercial path working with major brands and at one time consulting for art  funds.  

Once I had caught wind of what NFTs were and how the token provided a mechanism for  provenance I was sold. I saw this as an opportunity to finally be that ‘artist’ I wanted to be. My initial  motivations were driven by the opportunity to make some money but that all changed very quickly  as I became more engaged in the twitter NFT community.  

Asymmetry – The Twin

When did you mint your first NFT?

My first mint was for Cancer Research UK. I had been providing some technical workshops and had  created a small fractal animation with the group labelled Cause and cure’. The event was sponsored  and affiliated with CR_UK and so I thought it would be an interesting idea to try and raise money this  way. We were very happy with the outcome and all in, including direct donations, this $1 NFT  generated over £80k. I think I minted that on Portion.io. I didn’t mint my own work until many  months later. 

Can you tell us one thing you cannot live without?

This is a loaded question! Well, my two children obviously but them aside I couldn’t live without my  dearest friends and art collective ‘Bloom’. They are the foundation of constructive feedback; growth  and I respect them all in differing capacities and the experience they bring both as professionals and  friends. My work really wouldn’t be what it is without them. They are also quite fun.  

My ‘favourite artist’ list is monolithic! I have always loved art and its history. I’ll try name a few that  have influenced my own work.  

The use of space and light in the work of Donald Judd and Dan Flavin has had a significant impact on my  own practice. I am also influenced by conceptual artists like Joseph Kosuth and Lawrence Weiner, who  use text and language as a medium which encouraged me to think more deeply about the meaning and  significance of my own art and I am certainly drawn to the work of those who challenge the status quo 

and push the boundaries of what is considered “art.” M.C. Escher’s intricate geometric designs, Ernst  Haeckel’s detailed illustrations of the natural world, and Hiroshi Sugimoto’s minimalist seascapes as  examples. Iam particularly interested in the relationship between perception and the visual arts and find  myself looking to artists like Bridget Riley and Op Art movement. The use of repetition and pattern in the  work of artists like Yayoi Kusama has also had a significant impact on me. I can’t forget Sol LeWitt who  use shapes and forms to create simple, yet powerful work. 

Honestly, I could go on for days! 

Asymmetry – The Root

Who is your favourite NFT artist? 

Another very difficult question! I don’t have a favourite, but I have a number I respect. Trevor Jones  ‘eth boy’ was really one of the reasons I joined the space. He was the first artist I loved that  demonstrated that NFTs were more than just collectibles. I continue to enjoy the work of artists like  Reuben Wu among many others. My fav artists are honestly all in my art collective Bloom. I mean  that sincerely but felt it was a touch biased to state.  

What is the one piece of NFT art you wish you had purchased but missed out on? 

I have no regrets in terms of art I missed out on, but I have certainly been priced out of a lot of work.  Reuben, Trevor, XCOPY are some of those artists, but the list is increasing by the day!  

I would love to own work from all my fellow Bloomie but suspect that this is only a matter of time.  Jenni Pasanen too who recently joined us! 

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go? Why this location? What are your  other passions besides art? Why?  

I am grateful to have been relatively well travelled. With that said I have often dreamt of traveling  off the beaten track. I look at the explorations of artists like Reuben and dream that one day I can  accompany him on one of those adventures!  

Symmetrical Asymmetry – Collectors Edition

Do you make other forms of art and how did you come up with your specific style? 

I am not limited to 3D and use other mediums. I am always looking for new creative possibilities. In  the future, I hope to incorporate AI into my process as I continue to train my own models.  Ultimately, my process is always evolving. As for other art do you mean outside the visual arts? I  enjoy music but this is only a private and personal expression.  

My current work is the most meaningful. After two decades of creating, I finally found my own  unique voice. It began as a technical study into Symmetry and Asymmetry. As my curiosity grew, I  became aware of its significance. 

Like life’s it reflects on how we perceive or compute challenges and the relationship of variables  within them. It’s a fine balance between multiple factors inclusive of form, depth and perception to  name a few. 

Question like ‘can we learn more about ourselves, our divisive nature, natural evolution in thought,  cognitive behaviours and more? Can we uncover improved questions around what it means to be  human?’ are what drive it. 

Asymmetry and symmetry can feel very different when the relationship of its parts is altered. Its  comparable to how we interpret and respond to challenges in life. It is cognitive.  

What is coming in the near future?  

Well, I have been thinking a lot about how to reward the wonderful collectors I have. Honestly, I  think as artists we can do a lot more in terms of creating demand. I want to make my work more  accessible to a larger audience and so am very much focussed on innovative ways to make that  happen. 2023 is already shaping up to be a great year with several exhibitions lined up among other  projects. I suspect it will be an interesting one to follow! 

Do you have any upcoming drops?  

I really don’t like the idea of having no work being available, but I am finding this to be a continued  challenge. One of my priorities in 2022 was to find more efficient ways to work to resolve my issue  of prolific under minting! I have got that covered in 2023 so watch this space! 

https://linktr.ee/Icki has the links to market place and I’m working on a new personal website at the  moment. You should be able to find it here soon. My twitter is the best way to reach me.  

The post ICKI NFT Artist Interview appeared first on NFT CULTURE.

Zahra Paryari is a visual Artist with more than 10 years of experience. She started working with acrylic and oil Color physically at fine art university and graduated in 2017. Then she started to learn Adobe illustrator and Photoshop software. She has been a Full-time NFT creator since April 2021.

Name (Display name) ZII

Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. However, there’s a cozy village lying in the foothills of Mount Karkas in Isfahan, where I feel I truly belong. But then again, I firmly believe that geographical zones do not necessarily define our identities.

Can you tell us about your background and what lead you down the path to becoming an artist and ultimately experimenting with NFTs?I was born in a family where art was loved by all. from a young age I discovered that I am gifted with the talent of drawing and soon afterward I started creating my own toys from scratch so It was natural that I chose to continue down the art path and I did so since my high school days and as you know it is still ongoing. After a depressive episode, I went on hiatus for a while but by chance, I was introduced to NFTs through a clubhouse room which encouraged me to get back on my feet.

When did you mint your first NFT? What platform did you choose and why?
I was a rookie so I did not have much information on platforms and such that’s why I went with the first one that was introduced to me which was Opensea. My first piece called ‘Horny Ink’ was minted in July 2021.

Can you tell us one thing you cannot live without? (and why)
Obviously, my answer would be art. Every artist gets self-satisfied through their work of art, and I am no exception. Art is what keeps me going, knowing that I’ll leave an impression on society.

Who is your favorite artist(s) (Non NFT)? What about their style resonates with you? Iavhave two on my favorites list: Hieronymus Bosch and Mohammad Siyah Qalam.Bosch is one of the first surreal artists that I came to know of. The way his mind carries out this magic-like performance in creating bizarre characters and hidden worlds is what drew me to him in the first place and you can see how I’m inspired by him. As for Siyah Qalam, I like how he combines the human dimension with that of the animal dimension.

Who is your favourite NFT artist? What makes this artist unique? What made you pursue NFT art? Alotta Money is one of my favorite artists. The way his
inspiration from classic art mixes into crypto art, resulting in a surreal environment, is what drew me to his work in the first place. As for why I got into NFT, experiencing new worlds has always been exciting for me but what hooked me was how the NFT space promoted free speech and was filled with kindhearted fellows. This allowed me to express myself freely.

What is the one piece of NFT art you wish you had purchased but missed out on?
Of course, there are many, but the one that I had my eyes on the most was Terrel Jones’s Mission Mojave.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why this location? Although I always dreamed of Venice for its fascinating architecture, I think NYC could provide me with better opportunities as an artist.
What are your other passions besides art? Why? Gaming is my other passion that rivals that of art. Trading crypto comes next.

Do you make other forms of art? Yes, my friends consider me a jack of all trades. I have almost set foot in all forms of art. I used to run a small shop in which I used to make leather bags. I experimented with performance art, SLR photography, paint making out of natural materials, printmaking, and papermaking.

How did you come up with your specific style? I think of it as something that rose from my unconscious mind. When I realized that it makes sense with the ideas that I had in mind, I decided to continue down this path.

How has your style evolved over the years?
I used to be a physical painter, working with canvas and all sorts of paint. Over the years, my love for the universe and the unknown grew more and on top of those matters, I studied classical art which, led me to create my Hidden Nuts collection. After I was introduced to digital painting I used all the skills I had acquired from prior experiences and with the help of various drawing softwares, create my NFTs.

What is coming in the near future? I like to keep future plans a surprise but I can say that for now, I’m planning to continue working on my Incantation collection.
If you could collaborate with one artist who would it be? I long to collaborate with Tjo.

Do you have any upcoming drops? My new drop will be in the middle of January and I’m happy to announce that it will be on the SuperRare platform.

Anything else you’d like to share?
https://oncyber.io/pantheon?coords=-17.04×2.51×22.12×0
I’m so proud to share this piece of me ”The birth of a wormhole“ in Pantheon art gallery, amazing collection of @artguy_eth

Where can collectors find your work?

Website:

https://0x0zahra.eth.co/showcase

Social:

twitter https://twitter.com/0x0zahra
Instagram https://instagram.com/zahra.paryari

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahra-paryari-43829625b/

Marketplace:

https://superrare.com/0x0zahra
https://ninfa.io/@Zahra
https://foundation.app/@ZII

The post Artist Interview: Zahra Paryari appeared first on NFT CULTURE.

Espinosa was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador and moved to the United States when he was 20, almost ten years ago. He’s interested in many things, which is both a blessing and a curse. In his art practice he attempt to harness his many interests to speak about being mestizo, about psychedelics and non-ordinary states of consciousness, about being a child of the internet, about spirituality, remix culture, and our collective meaning-making mechanisms. Also the occasional shitpost…

It’s hard to be active in the Tezos artist ecosystem without knowing Espinosa. A perpetual observer and thoughtful truth speaker, he is passionate about the intersection of spirituality and digital art in relation to Web3 technology. With a focus on Glitch Art aesthetic and remix ethos, his work breaks down internal barriers in viewers opening their minds up to transcend to new levels of consciousness. I’m grateful to have followed Espinosa’s crypto art journey closely through which we have become friends and which he graciously agreed to be interviewed.

How/why do you do art?

I make art because I can’t help myself. Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be singing or playing an instrument or drawing or acting or having some kind of aesthetic or transcendent experience. 

I’m deeply inspired by Nature, which I see as the ultimate source of everything. I have had profound experiences with psychedelics, particularly when used in religious/ceremonial contexts where mystical visions can be had. So I seek out artists that make work that feels like it is pulling from that dimension. Or those dimensions. Glitch artists, particularly those inclined towards representing the hidden, the unseen, the in-between, the weird, and the colorful. There’s too many to name but I’m happy to say almost all of the artists that inspire me are making cryptoart. 

I use many different tools in my work including but not limited to: digital animation, sound design, music production, music and video sampling, analog video glitch processes, photography, AI/ML models for text-to-image generation, and poetry.

What got you started in crypto and nfts?

I was studying motion graphics design when I found out about Beeple selling art using crypto and that peaked my interest because I was already into Bitcoin and the narrative at the time was that this was in the same ethos. I know understand that the market forces and dynamics are far from the ideal and I actually see many glaring issues with what we’ve come to call “Web3” but I stick around because of the art and the many people that are actually here to manifest something better for creators.

How would you define crypto art?

Digital or digitized art that utilizes blockchain technology either as a medium or as a mechanism of distribution/documentation and that references internet/tech culture in some way.

How does spirituality play a role in your work?

Spirituality is the foundation of my work because I believe the basis of reality is spiritual. I believe in a metaphysical reality that underpins the cosmos. My work has the undercurrent of being a search for a means to transcend duality, at the personal level. Cultural alchemy, as I call it. Cybermagick. Digital occultism. Numbers are signs.

Favorite NFT story?

Meeting Beeple at SXSW with you and Wondermundo and then sneaking in to see Foodmasku perform was definitely one of the highlights of this whole journey so far. 

3 artists you love in crypto art and why and 3 artists you derive inspiration from

It’s really hard to pick just 3 but here we go:

Sky Goodman, Dawnia Darkstone A.K.A Letsglitchit, and Ellie Pritts 

All of them in cryptoart. All of them incredibly inspiring. Experimentation, mixing media, narrative-driven, glitchtastic, and enchanting work. All of it weird too! In the best possible sense.

Where do you see the future of crypto art going?

This is a mystery. Many people give up understandably. I’ve wanted to quit multiple times. There’s a lot of negative stuff in this space. And I think it is important to acknowledge that. There’s some criticism of NFTs that is very much valid out there. But I am ultimately hopeful that we will continue to carve out goodness out of it as we already have in many different ways. So I am ultimately hopeful. And maybe one day I can make this my main source of income haha

Notable Exhibitions

///threshold///  – Teia Community Exhibition during NFT NYC curated by Andressa Furletti in Brooklyn, NY

analog video glitch trash 3 -Fylth Trash Art Exhibition in Los Ángeles, California

techno-feudalism chic – a collaboration with the artist/photographer known as Flynn, which is in the Tezos Foundation’s Permanent Collection

Links To Explore Espinosa’s Work Further

The post Artist Feature: Espinosa appeared first on NFT CULTURE.

Moteh Artist

Moteh is an accomplished photographer that upon discovering 3d found that he could use the medium in unlimited ways allowing him to create the things inside his head where photography doesn’t suffice.

Social links

• Twitter
• Instagram
• Website
• SuperRare
• OpenSea

Can you tell us about your background and what lead you down the path to becoming an artist and ultimately experimenting with NFTs?

When I moved to the city to study photography, I ended up at a small agency called Das Buro, which housed 4 photographers and around 5 students including myself. This was truly a great place. In comparison to alot of other places where students and assistants got to sweep the floors and carry equipment, at Das Buro they literally put a camera in my hand from day 1 and send me out on my first assignment. The next 4 years was amazing and I learned more than ever before. During this time I also started developing my own photographic style and more than anything I fell in love with light and the shaping of it. Over the following decade I worked as a photographer, mostly doing commercial and portraits, and I enjoyed every little bit of it. 

Through the years I kept on exploring the possibilities of light in photography, but also learned that it had its limits due to.. well, physics. So in 2018 I discovered 3d, and this would change everything. When I found out that alot of things in 3d works the same way as it does in photography I was intrigued, but when I then realized that I could actually control the sun my head nearly imploded. Suddenly I had a new medium to tell all the stories inside my head where photography just did not suffice, and so I did. A couple of years later, late 2020 I learned about NFTs. To be honest, it seemed to good to be true at first and I was skeptical, but as I learned and saw it unfold I dived in and haven’t looked back.

We Found Eachother In The Dark Moteh

What made you pursue NFT art?

First off my love for art. Idd been doing my art on the side as a hobby for a couple of years when I got introduced to NFT – the fact that it had the ability to make digital art unique was a gamechanger and meant that I could spend more time on what I truly loved. Since then I’ve learned that one of the most amazing things about NFT’s in my opinion is how it has brought artists together. Before, artist didnt talk alot or in smaller groups – NFT’s has given birth to a community stronger than I could ever have imagined. I have no doubt that this will go down in history as the digital art revolution.  

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go? 

The first thing that comes to mind is Japan. Its very different from where I live and I would love to experience the culture. 

What are your other passions besides art? 

Photography still has a special place in my heart, always will have. Although Im not a master of it, I also love playing music. I often go throw frisbees with my friends. Some would say its not a passion, but spending time with my family also feels like it. 

Do you make other forms of art?

I still do some photography but other than that pretty much all my time goes into my 3d-work. Then I draw with my kids, but Im pretty sure that doesn’t qualify as art

How did you come up with your specific style?

Coming from photography, my approach to 3d was very photographic in a sense. Alot of the things I had learned through photography over the years, I brought with me and used when creating in 3d. Even though my style evolved alot over the years and still does, what ties it all together is the same thing that brought me to both photography and 3d in the first place; my love for light. Studying light through both photography for over 10 years and now through 3d has given me a deep understanding of it and how it can be used to show emotions and tell stories all on its own. As I see it this also shows in my art and how it has evolved to being more and more about the light. In many ways my art is a study of light itself and the search for meaningful emotion through it. 

Guiding Light Owned By ifyoubuildit

When did you mint your first NFT? What platform did you choose and why?

I got onboarded to SuperRare December 20 and sold my first piece in January 21. Back then I didnt know a whole lot about the platforms or NFTs in general, but since then I’ve fallen in love with SR and havent minted 1/1s on any platform since. 

Can you tell us one thing you cannot live without? 

Music. It’s such a big part of my art and I very rarely create anything without it. I think music helps me tap into certain parts of myself and find what Im looking for. 

Who is your favorite artist(s) (Non NFT)? What about their style resonates with you?

There is alot, but to mention a few Edward Hopper, Vilhelm Hammershøi, John Register, Dali, Magritte, Vladimir Kush, – I could go on. Though its a mix of realism and surrealism, alot of the above mentioned gives me the same feeling that Im looking for when creating my own art. Its a feeling that sits in the chest making it a bit harder to breath, best described as something that hurts and heals at the same time. 

 Who is your favourite NFT artist? What makes this artist unique?

There are so many amazing artists, but one that stands out to me is Rebellicca. She creates stunning colorful visuals and weaves the most beautiful poetry that just goes right in. I create with my heart and so does she. In many ways it feels like we have the same language in art which gives us an amazing synergy – we can dream together through art. Im so lucky that she has written some incredible poetry inspired by my art and we allso had the chance to write something together on my piece ‘I Close My Eyes To See’.

It Was Always You 9 ETH Reserve

What is coming in the near future?

Alot of things! The 22nd this month I’ll have a piece auctioned at Pandolfini, the first italian auctionhouse to move into NFT. Pandolfini is a traditional auction house, and the piece I made is about exactly this – the bridging between the traditional and the digital. The auction will run from 22-30th. Later this month I have a drop on NiftyGateway, curated by the amazing Bloom Collective. This will be my firt time on NG and Im really excited to share some of my latest explorations. Besides that, I’m working with some amazing musicians on visuals that I’ll be able to share later this year.

If you could collaborate with one artist who would it be?

That would be musician Ray Lamontagne. His music has followed me through most of my life and inspired alot of my art. 

What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that?

The first piece i minted back in 2020 was a piece called Lost. For me that is a very iconic piece hence why I chose it, but because I was totally new in the market it didnt really go quite as I expected. So what I learned is, think it through and take your time – dont rush it through. 

Where can collectors find your work?

• 1/1 on Superrare 
• Editions on OS 
• Link to Website 

I Close My Eyes To See Owned By hazel_pow

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