Next Up: Unveiling the Artistic Layers of jakNFT

BY Arthur Parkhouse

September 28, 2023

For this week’s Next Up, we spoke with an artist who is considered by many in the Web3 space to be one of the “goats of glitch” — a formally trained artist who weaves the tactile essence of traditional artistry with the unbounded innovations of the digital era.

This creator has traversed the realms of visual and street art, exploring politically charged thematic works before diving into the vibrant world of NFTs. With a unique aesthetic, primarily driven by manipulation of color and texture, the artist has become recognized primarily for their glitch works.

Join us as we explore the works and artistry of the ever-evolving creative jakNFT, this week’s Next Up artist, selected from our curated list of ascendant talents.

jakNFT

JakNFT or “jak” is considered to be one of Web3’s “goats of glitch.” In addition to that reputation, he is a multi-disciplinary artist who blends modern and traditional forms, using color and texture as his primary means of expression.

Prior to entering the Web3 scene, jak trained in the visual arts, attending his first art classes in the early 1990s and first exploring digital art in the early 2000s.

A bit later, he took up formal studies in studio art and art history, as well as became an anonymous street artist with works themed around different political subjects.

Now, jak continues to chart a path in the crypto art realm, with his glitch art becoming the most notable of his range of styles. His art and accompanying commentary are often linked through the use of color, which he uses to convey emotion.

Jak’s process is also quite interesting, as he deploys hand drawing prior to bringing works into the digital — as was the case with his work TIGER which was featured recently in Sotheby’s Glitch: Beyond Bianary sale.

To get a closer look at his initial exploration of NFTs, his work, and the process that goes into it, we spoke directly with jak. See the conversation below.

nft now: How did you first become interested/involved in NFTs?

Artist: I first learned about NFTs when I heard about cryptokitties in 2017, but didn’t get involved until I collected some hashmasks when they launched in 2021. This took me down a rabbit hole and NFTs became an obsession. After seeing the potential for artists I started minting my own work that same year.

nft now: How would you describe your art?

Artist: My art is a reflection of me and whatever I’m experiencing. I often use color and texture to communicate that. I prefer not to categorize my art as it’s always evolving. Imposing labels can limit creativity.

nft now: What’s your process like? And where do you usually find inspiration?

Artist: My process is usually pretty spontaneous. I will feel a need to create and use whatever medium or materials I have around me. I generally don’t have a preconceived idea in mind and just let the process flow until the work feels complete. I often mix traditional and digital mediums and techniques when creating. I am inspired by whatever I am experiencing at the moment.

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