In 2023, cryptocurrency is seemingly becoming less of a hotspot for wealthy white males. While racism and bias undoubtedly still exist on the blockchain, and the “crypto bro” stereotype has certainly affected the formation of Web3 thus far, the NFT space has slowly but surely become safe, more equitable place for people of color to find community, support, and prosperity
From POC creators leading the charge in Web3 music to helping popularize IRL NFT activations and boot organizations so other marginalized groups can thrive, there has been no shortage of decentralized black excellence in recent years.
To celebrate Black History Month and the countless creators who have continued to overcome the potential obstacles of the legacy creative industries, nft has now joined forces with Venture Studio. always create — an organization dedicated to creating economic opportunity for historically disadvantaged populations — to present this list of artists who definitely deserve flowers.
sheena williams
Sheena Williams, known on Web3 as She will do it (별초롱), is a Charlotte-based multiracial artist who colors outside the intersectional lines with pieces that celebrate the many layers of her identity. Aiming to express the complexities of consciousness through a socially conscious lens, her works range from woodwork and ceramics to digital illustrations, paintings, and origami sculptures. A highly motivated person, Williams’ nickname, SheWill, reflects her dedication to expanding her creativity as far as her mind takes her.
anjoladave
Anjola Oluwa David Aduroja, known professionally as anjoladave, is a 22-year-old Nigerian 3D artist who aims to tell stories and convey emotions through textures and colorful compositions. A versatile creative who also dabbles in photography, graphic design, and UI/UX, he has become known on Web3 for his complex, sometimes abstract 3D pieces, which he says serve to communicate energy, optimism, hope, and enthusiasm. Having faced a variety of challenges in the NFT space, AnjolaDave has sought to improve the exposure of African artists on Web3 so that his work and that of others can be fairly valued.
charles milbourne
Carl Milbourne, better known by his nickname vuLoN_, is a visual artist who draws on his more than 25 years of design experience to create unique and expressive works. In 2019, vuLoN_ entered the world of crypto art for the first time, where he sought to explore and hone his craft to express his unique perspective on the world. In addition to his visual products, vuLoN_ is a musician who performs under the stage names Manikineter and Carl Kavorkian and releases music in the noise/industrial rap and experimental hip-hop genres.
come on simon
“DON’T BE AFRAID” (with HMLT) by @TIKATheGift
A tender and timeless embrace of growing pains that unlock true love ♾https://t.co/UNYX0XmOWE pic.twitter.com/DzWfPEh8L7
— Catalog 💽 (@catalogworks) December 30, 2022
Tika Simone, who simply goes by TiKA, is a multidisciplinary artist, artistic director, model, cultural curator, consultant, activist, and Academy Award-winning composer. An all-around creative, TiKA added film scoring to her repertoire in 2019 after graduating from the Canadian Film Centre. In 2022, TiKA started its first non-profit organization, StereoVisual, to teach marginalized musicians and producers how to transition to making music for movies and create more equity in the film industry. In 2023, she’s ready to relaunch the artistic side of her personal brand.
isaac udogwu
Isaac Udogwu, who operates on Web3 under the name eyesackudawgoois a Nigerian-American digital artist and martial artist whose works focus on different modes of black liberation through the lens of Afrofuturism. Believing that Afrofuturism is “just black people existing in the future,” she seeks to create unique digital worlds that envision people in the African diaspora as fully liberated.
and with Denina
and with Denina is a Montreal-based painter of Beninese and French descent who aims to promote a world where people can own their sexuality without feeling fear or shame. A former student of nft now’s Next Up, her art explores human relationships, morphological diversity, and body movements. Through a combination of digital art and painting, Denina illustrates the different cultures (particularly black culture) present in her life, taking a unique and personal approach to representing people of color in contemporary art.
Jahmel Reynolds
Jahmel Reynolds, who just happens to be Jah, is a filmmaker and visual artist from Brooklyn. Focusing on contemporary futurism, he explores themes of intrapersonal conflict, digital identity, and future worlds through character study and evocative storytelling. Outside of his personal endeavors and pitches, he has worked on projects with LATASHÁ and TIMEPiecesand acts as content lead for the Web3 event curator Zoratopia.
vintagemozart
vintagemozart is an Afrosurrealist/Afrofuturist digital artist from Zimbabwe who channels themes from African and Greek mythology in his work. A former student of nft now’s Next Up, Vintagemozart has become known for his surreal digital collages, unique music and animated NFTs, and for using the evocative power of digital art to create immersive experiences. Vintagemozart has said that his mixed-race heritage has greatly influenced his unique style, which aims to weave mythological tales and historical references into mystical dreamscapes.
jamaali roberts
Jamaali Roberts, better known as clock clock, is a visionary pixel artist and illustrator whose passion for creating vibrant and imaginative digital art is matched by his drive to inspire and uplift others. Seeking to build a business that is an Ujima tribe (Ujima means collective work and responsibility), Jam Jam produces illustrations, paintings, murals, designs and fashion, and works as a mentor, eager to share his skills and knowledge to help others unlock their creative potential.
Kwame-Michael Brako
New @open sea collection. “Cosmo orbital futurism”https://t.co/xFAVcoOXaT
Only 20 of each available .03 Eth pic.twitter.com/GuXWwfjuBF
— DarkMythst 🪐| Abstract-Futuristic-FX Artist (@Darkmythst1) February 9, 2023
Kwame-Michael Brako, operating under the pseudonym darkmyth, is a multi-talented artist from Ghana living in California. Although he began his professional career as a stereoscopic and VFX artist working on blockbuster films such as the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, sponge Bob, and more, his usual artistic production on Web3 is based on themes of Afrofuturism, fantasy, cosmic and cyberpunk. To date, DarkMythst’s unique combination of cosmic and natural beauty has earned it numerous accolades within the NFT and TIMEPieces community.
nenna onwudiwe
Nnenna Onwudiwe, better known by her nickname NesRox, is a Nigerian-American artist who seeks to explore the beauty of her culture through a variety of media. Using 2D, AI and digital collage, she strives to create unique and captivating pieces that express her nuanced experiences and life lessons from her. Currently, she focuses on telling stories that speak to the complexities of navigating the world as a melancholic individual. She also acts as curator of the African Museum of the Metaverse.
james mosley
James Mosely, what’s up? jwmos, is a multi-faceted, adventurous artist based in Toronto who operates under the belief that art heals and builds connections. JwMos, a self-described “Afro-Autism” artist, spent more than 23 years of his life as a behavior consultant and therapist specializing in autism spectrum disorders. He uses his strengths and his experience in human psychology to influence his abstract, surreal, and fantasy art in 2D, 3D, and virtual.
JHennyArt
JHennyArt is a London-based Ghanaian artist whose works draw inspiration from manga, anime, music and black culture, while aiming to shine a positive light on people with prosthetics. Originally interested in art through a t-shirt design business he started with a friend, JhennyArt’s style has grown organically over the years. It all led him to become involved in the NFT space in 2021 and ultimately become a thought leader, educator and member of the African NFT and Water & Music DAO community.
shawntel johnson
Shawntel Johnson, better known by the mononym shawntel, is a first generation Afro-Caribbean American self-taught artist born in Brooklyn. A self-described “black AF artist on the block chain,” Shawntel creates vibrant, ethereal, and Afrocentric art that explores themes of surrealism, the Divine Feminine, and body positivity. His digital paintings and collages have been exhibited in Times Square and Zoratopia. His efforts to encourage other black artists have led him to maintain a Twitter list of over 2,800 black people on Web3, including artists, dealers, curators, builders, and collectors.
kyn adams
kyn adams is a streamer, 3D printer, and Discord moderator who uses technology (like 3D printing and AI generators) as a means to create art. Although he describes himself as more of a technician than an artist, he has become a Web3 administrator by collaborating on a variety of NFT projects and acting as a technical/community lead for W3BBIEa black-owned NFT development studio and Web3 accelerator.
lemny perez
Dominican digital art..
Habibuelas con Dulce—sweet red beans. Dominican desert during Catholic Lent. pic.twitter.com/ZXNlxUNtyK
— 🇩🇴drlemny.eth NFT.NYC ’23 (Dorje Gyatso) (@lem__ny) February 28, 2023
Dr. Lemny Perez is an Afro-Dominican writer, actor, psychologist, abstract artist, and art collector from Harlem who has quickly become an integral part of the NFT community. Currently, she is curator of SearchLight.Art. In the past, he’s worked on carbon neutral NFT initiatives, sold about 100 1/1 NFTs, been shown in three dozen NFT art shows, has been featured in forbes magazine and the Known Origin platform, and was invited to speak at the 2021 and 2022 NFT.NYC conference.
Nygilia McClain
Nygilia McClain, who just happens to be nigilia, is an experimental artist who specializes in creating combined 2D and 3D fantasy images. Growing up playing basketball and video games, like Final Fantasy and The legend of Zelda, developed a deep appreciation for the power of storytelling, culture, and the visual arts. Now, he uses virtual reality, coding, illustration, photography, and animation in his character design projects. Nygilia’s art has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, where she has become known for her avant-garde approach to abstract and otherworldly representations.
