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Over the past few months, Sheldrick’s name has been rightfully gaining steam in AI art circles.
After beginning his career in fashion photography and discovering AI tools during COVID-19, the London-based British Korean artist first rose to prominence with the release of “Morning Calm” on Fellowship. Channeling childhood memories of South Korea through AI abstraction, the collection of 100 distinctive artworks quickly sold out and turned heads with its strong secondary sales market.
On Monday (July 1), Sheldrick launched his latest “Anthropocene” collection on Verse. The collection explores our impact on the planet through 25 evolving generative AI video snapshots, reflecting the rapid and pervasive changes of the human-driven evolutionary epoch. While the projects may contrast significantly in style and medium, Sheldrick describes the common thread tying together his work as a search for greater meaning in the field of generative AI.
“As the tooling in its simplest form has a very low barrier to entry now, I think it is important that projects contribute to building up this brand new genre of art rather than using it to finally be able to do photography, painting, or any other medium,” he tells nft now. “Now that style and mediums have become material, we must explore the next frontiers of art and use these tools to extract deeper meaning from our practice.”
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 Sheldrick.
nft now: How did you first become interested/involved in digital art?
Sheldrick: My real start in art was as a fashion photographer; before pursuing A.I. art, I was a professional photographer and then creative director for almost 14 years. I discovered A.I. art while quarantining in my stepfather’s apartment after he passed away from COVID-19. After following a simple 8-minute YouTube tutorial on VQGAN, I was mesmerized by the mushy messes being produced. Since then, I spent the next two years working on my practice 12-16 hours a day, nearly daily. During the peak period when I would do 16 hours a day, my routine looked like this: wake up at 10 am and start working, go to the gym at 8 p.m., do an ice bath to reset my body, and then work again until 3 a.m.
How would you describe your art?
I would describe it primarily as post-photography or photographic, focusing on details and complexity; other than that, my creative direction varies constantly.
What’s your process like? And where do you usually find inspiration?
My process is a brute-force approach: I work nonstop on something until I arrive at something that satisfies my needs as a body of work. If I get stuck, I return to primary and secondary research to get going again.
Inspiration comes to me all the time, in any place, whether I’m talking to someone, traveling, riding my bike, exercising, or trying to sleep in my bed. I find it difficult to stop thinking about my work, to the point that it can affect my ability to focus on the people immediately around me.
“My process is a brute-force approach: I work nonstop on something until I arrive at something that satisfies my needs as a body of work.”
SHELDRICK
What was your breakthrough moment in web3?
I don’t believe I’ve had a breakthrough moment in web3 yet; perhaps it could be doing this interview!
My first stills drop, “Morning Calm,” was very successful and sold out in the first few seconds during the private sale. It was 100 supplies and part of a group show with Fellowship curated by the godfather of AI artists, Alejandro Cartagena, whom I have been working closely with since the start of my career in web3 as an artist.
What are the biggest challenges facing rising artists in web3?
I believe the challenge facing AI artists specifically is tackling concepts that are meaningful beyond aesthetics. As the tooling in its simplest form has a very low barrier to entry now, I think it is important that projects contribute to building up this brand new genre of art rather than using it to finally be able to do photography, painting, or any other medium. Now that style and mediums have become material, we must explore the next frontiers of art and use these tools to extract deeper meaning from our practice.
“I believe the challenge facing A.I. artists specifically is tackling concepts that are meaningful beyond aesthetics.”
SHELDRICK
What advice do you have for rising artists in this space?
Here are some quick ones:
It’s impossible to beat someone who never gives up.
Always question why you are doing something.
Friends will help you get further than you can by yourself.
Keep all competition healthy; a rising tide lifts all boats.
Do what you can, as much as you can; whenever you can, you can do it.
