In 2021, a new creator economy was born on the blockchain. Since NFTs took center stage, artists have risen to NFT stardom, forged multi-billion dollar brands for themselves in just a few months, and many lives have been completely transformed time and time again. What’s most inspiring about the NFT space, though, is the number of artists of all faiths and mediums who have found community and support by embracing this technology.
In keeping with our mission to empower creators, we introduce Following — our monthly franchise dedicated to showcasing emerging artists. Although the NFT space has changed significantly in recent years, one thing remains true: the sheer volume of creative talent in Web3 continues to grow. In our March issue, we curated a list of five rising talents who have made a huge impact on Web3.
Trash Empress
Drea Jay, known on Web3 as Trash Empress, is a nomadic and multifaceted visual artist who currently resides in Mexico City. He earned his BFA in painting, drawing, and animation/design in 2014 before moving to the Bay Area and immersing himself in a multitude of local art pursuits. Empress Trash, who first ventured into crypto art in 2021, exhibited around the world and became an ambassador for Tezos NFTs and a glitchy junk art manager.
Helena Sarin
Helena Sarin, known professionally as Neural DIY, is a visual artist and software engineer who is constantly looking for new opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies. Having started at Bell Labs designing business communication systems, he has since become an independent consultant. On the whole, he also does commissioned work in watercolor and pastel, as well as applied arts such as fashion, food, styling and photography. In the NFT space, Sarin is known for combining traditional art forms with AI to create unique 1/1. He also prides himself on creating ceramics decorated with GAN-generated imagery, which he calls GAN Ceramic.
overck
Oveck Reyes, just passing by overck, is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York City. He started his career as a musician, but in 2009 he fell in love with photography while working in a studio doing tasks like sorting negatives and retouching photos. Over time, he began to experiment with portrait art and earned accolades through his work with Sony, Amex, Holdfast Gear and others. In 2020, when an infection left him half-blind, he immersed himself in painting and began experimenting with oils on canvas, which later led him to move into digital painting, animation, and inevitably, crypto art.
0xdgb
0xdgb is an anonymous digital artist who has recently started to gain traction in the NFT space. Working exclusively in Adobe Illustrator, he approaches his work through the framework of minimalism. With over a decade of illustration and graphic design experience, his work aims to capture the subtle beauty of the mundane and often revolves around art and storytelling. Recently, your signature surveillance camera — which he says epitomizes the constant surveillance of our digital lives — has inspired conversations on Web3 and comparisons with like-minded artists such as ripcache and Willard.
Rainisto rope
Rainisto rope is a designer, creator, photographer and writer based in Helsinki, Finland. Rainisto’s 25 years of experience creating and leading the user experience for a wide range of devices and services speaks to her desire to strive for excellence. In Web3, Rainisto uses AI to create captivating and evocative 1/1 through a process he calls “enslaving computers to create art.” Recently, he has been propelled to the forefront of the AI NFT sector through his collection”life in western america” presented by Brain Drops.
