Next Up: Harto Hoists the Torch for Generative Art on Bitcoin Ordinals

Generative art on Bitcoin is on the rise, and Harto is helping lead the way.

While the Spanish artist and designer transitioned from theater scenography to digital art in 2020, his web3 profile has taken off over the past year in tandem with the rise of Bitcoin Ordinals. Harto’s inaugural Ordinals collection, “The Golden Ratio” with VIVID Gallery, minted out in December 2023 at a 0.01 BTC price point and saw its floor peak at 0.399 BTC this March.

Building on the momentum of his breakout project, Harto released his “FloraForms” project in February in collaboration with the Belvedere Museum of Vienna. Featuring 10,000 generative works inspired by Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss,” the Ordinals release further solidified Harto’s stature as an artist to watch in the Bitcoin ecosystem. His “Finestra” collaboration with Asprey Studio soon followed in April, channeling inspiration from his native Barcelona in a series of generative stained glass windows.

This week, Harto announced a new multi-chain collection called “Immutable Memories” on EXPANDED featuring Bitcoin Ordinals, Ethereum NFTs, and pen plotter artworks. His work has been exhibited globally, from New York to Hong Kong to Barcelona, and included in the first NFTs sent to space with SpaceX and NASA. With a forthcoming collection in partnership with Forbes Legacy Pass and AOI, Harto is poised to continue expanding and evolving his artistic footprint.

Every week, nft now’s Next Up showcases a new artist from our curated list of ascendant talents who have been making significant waves throughout web3. This week, our spotlight turns to Harto.

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

Harto: I have drawn and created art since I was young, and over the years, I began to explore digital art with 3D graphics and design. For nearly ten years, I worked in design, prototype creation, and three-dimensional environments. I learned a lot about art in a theatre company(Picto Facto) for four years, mixing technology, 3D, and inflatables.

“My art blends technology, abstraction, and nature. I explore repetitive and organic algorithms but always from an abstract viewpoint.”

HARTO

How would you describe your art?

My art blends technology, abstraction, and nature. I explore repetitive and organic algorithms but always from an abstract viewpoint. My starting point is the blocks of the blockchain, which I then adapt to the concept of the work.

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

My methodology is very similar to that of designing projects; I start with a concept or idea and look for references by creating a map where I brainstorm. Once I have a solid base, I create prototypes and checkpoints throughout the creation process. My inspiration is very diverse, but I always start with philosophical concepts that provoke reflection on the relationship between our everyday life and technology.

“I always start with philosophical concepts that provoke reflection on the relationship between our everyday life and technology.”

HARTO

What was your breakthrough moment in web3?

I have always played video games and collected skins, so I was very familiar with the metaverse that went viral in 2021; it’s not a new concept and has existed for many years. In 2019, I started researching how to take a step further in the virtual world and discovered the blockchain. I gradually realized its possibilities, especially for art and copyright.

What are the biggest challenges facing rising artists in web3?

You have to learn to do everything, like almost every artist but at a higher level. Web3 is not simple; it takes months or years to understand the entire ecosystem, the different tools and systems, and everything moves very fast. To survive, you need a very high capacity for adaptation in all senses.

“Web3 is not simple; it takes months or years to understand the entire ecosystem, the different tools and systems, and everything moves very fast.”

HARTO

What advice do you have for rising artists in this space?

Collaborate with other artists, create a group of friends who share your interests and on whom you can rely. Very quickly, you will enter the same communities, collectors, and events. Doing things this way is much easier than going it alone!