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 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 April issue, we curated a list of five rising talents who have made a huge impact on Web3.
Jude Abu Zaineh
Jude Abu Zaineh is a Palestinian-Canadian interdisciplinary artist and cultural worker. His art spans multiple mediums, with his photography and neon glass installations being some of the most identifiable facets of his extensive catalogue. She uses art, food, and technology to investigate the meanings of culture, displacement, diaspora, and belonging. Through these works, she examines the ideals of home and community as she works to develop an aesthetic rooted in her childhood and upbringing in the Middle East.
parin heidari
parin heidari is a multidisciplinary, ambidextrous artist based in Italy who uses simple lines to deconstruct, interpret and explore ideas. His goal is to simplify complex problems by highlighting basic elements and colors to convey his own visualization of the deepest emotions humans can feel. Although Heidari worked as a creative director and graphic designer around the world for over a decade before venturing into a solo art career, she seems to have made a big step in the NFT space, where she has received widespread accolades and become a featured artist. by TimePieces.
Rae Island
Rae Island is a Seattle-based independent singer-songwriter and Web3 music pioneer. Classically trained on the cello, he studied voice and business at Berklee College of Music before launching his career as a freelance musician while living in Brooklyn, New York. Since self-producing and releasing her first EP, she’s been featured on Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Complex, sold over 1,000 NFTs, and went on a Web3-powered tour, speaking on panels, showcasing her music, and dropping digital collectibles along the way.
rodrigo rezende
Rodrigo Rezende, better known in the NFT space as RWR2, is an accomplished Brazilian artist based in Toronto, Canada. Spanning a variety of media, including images, video, and 3D sculpture, his unique works delve into contemporary culture, behavior, and the human experience. In addition to working as Art Director for animation, VFX and digital innovation study tendrilRWR2 has become revered on Web3 as the creator and curator of weird, beautiful, and sometimes awkward NFTs.
rosalvo melo
rosalvo melo is a London-based movement designer and musician whose work for clients includes such names as Adele, The Rolling Stones, A$AP Rocky and London Grammar. Having honed his craft professionally for over a decade, Melo entered the NFT space in 2021, making waves with his colourful, whimsical and often space/alien themed works. Many of his pieces (his genesis SuperRare Floatin particular) have led him to become a social media sensation and receive accolades and endorsements from numerous prominent names in Web3.
