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 February issue, we curated a list of five rising talents who have made a huge impact on Web3.
Aaron Huey
This was the sanctuary of his dream. It was my first image posted on @NatGeoMag and my first NFT. @MONOLITHGallery. https://t.co/K2wUCThGPc pic.twitter.com/qZeWGq6A2o
— Aaron Huey (@aaronhuey) December 9, 2022
Aaron Huey it’s a National Geographic versatile photographer, explorer, and creative who recently found fame on Web3. Accolades for him include walking across America in the early 2000s, raising $1.36 million through his global art project “We the People” in 2017, and contributed more than 30 stories (including many cover stories) to natgeo Through the years. Although Huey has been a part of prominent NFT efforts such as natgeo‘s”GM: Dawn Around the World”, as founder and chief creative officer of the non-profit organization Amplifierfocuses primarily on building art and media experiments to magnify important social movements.
Lucretia
Defy is not part of a “meta OE”, it is the start of a movement in digital art and our collective future.
Proceed with caution. pic.twitter.com/uk37RimD9d
— Lucrece (@DesLucrece) January 24, 2023
Lucretia is a Norwegian-born Vietnamese visual artist residing in the US, though he recently gained popularity thanks to his proceed with caution open edition, has been a prominent creator within the NFT space for years. His work often focuses on themes of identity; As a second-generation Asian immigrant, he is considered “too Asian for Westerners and too Western for Asia.” From 1/1 to issues, Lucréce strives to create portraits of the unique personalities he has encountered over the years, specifically the ones that can often be found spreading hate online.
photon tide
photon tide often known as Pho, he is a mixed media artist and musician known for his psychedelic and experimental style of art. Aiming to explore human consciousness, his hallucinatory and dream-inspired works often feel as if they are meant to evoke powerful emotions, prompting viewers not to fear what lies within them, but to embrace it. Having been showcased at prominent blockchain-adjacent events like NFT.NYC and Art Basel Miami, Pho recently achieved his biggest sale to date through his piece “the spiral” and has started to make strides, with his art finding a wider audience on Web3.
WOODEN POST
Natasha Chomko, known by her nickname Post Wookis a Los Angeles-based digital artist who creates surreal landscape collage with visionary and psychedelic elements. Combining fragments of landscapes from around the world, he aims to demonstrate just how interconnected all humans are and strives to make his pieces palatable to seasoned psychonauts and average consumers alike. A firm believer in the future of digital art through decentralization, Chomko’s fascination with copyright and open source content has led her to become an increasingly prominent voice on Web3, speaking out about the need for accessibility when it comes to bridging the gap between art and technology. .
Willard
Willard is an enigmatic contemporary artist who seeks to explore the poetic depth of ordinary things. A relatively new entrant to the NFT space, he first cut his teeth minting on fxhash in the fall of 2022 before moving its unique offerings to OpenSea and SuperRare months later. Willard has received signatures from numerous prominent collectors and creators on Web3, with the COO of Transient Labs. chris ostoich being one of his most fervent followers. Although his art is based on ordinary scenes and objects, he often inspires indescribable emotions, such as fantasy and wonder.
