Anne Spalter spent her younger years fighting her parents' attempts to drag her to art galleries, and few would have anticipated her rise to become one of the world's leading pioneers in digital art. First encountering a computer in the 1980s, and finding it both a source of inspiration and endless possibility, Anne's career took her away from the world of finance towards a life dominated by digital art. From her early days as an educator in some of America's top academic institutions, hostility to the very idea of digital art has been a part of Anne's experience, but in recent years the ubiquitousness of computers in our daily lives has shifted how all of us think about their role in our creative process too.

On today's show, Anne talks about the impact NFTs have had on how people perceive digital art, the potential for computers to power innovation and exploration in creativity, why visual communication is going to dominate the future, and why she's convinced the future is bright for artists of all disciplines.

Topics discussed:

• How a chance encounter with a computer helped change the trajectory of Anne's life

Andrea Bonaceto's journey to the frontiers of digital art hasn't been what you'd call conventional. Trained in Economics and Finance, he found his way into the art world via NFT exchanges, and now produces powerful, thought-provoking and conceptual pieces both alone and in collaboration with other artists. His iconic AB INFINITE 1, a constantly evolving open-access multimedia digital canvas of image, sound, and poetry, curated and crafted by AI, has been recently auctioned at Christie's, marking a fundamental shift in the mainstream perception of digital art in the modern era.

On today's show, Andrea talks about what art means in the modern era, how digital art is helping to transform the way we relate to creativity itself, how to get started in the space (and more importantly, why to get started), and why balance is still the key to building a fulfilling life.

Topics discussed:

• How NFTs helped bridge the gap between digital art and the mainstream

Emily Carrig is the co-founder of True Stars, a web3 brand inspiring people to be their true selves through quality art NFTs, fine jewelry, and creative storytelling. Emily is an NFT Degen and collector with a passion for exploring emerging web3 technologies that can empower both artists and collectors.

Topics discussed:

• Emily’s foray into the world of crypto, web3 and NFTs 

Trevor Jones might not be what you expect from a crypto-oriented digital artist, having begun his personal journey in art at the age of 30 and only making his first moves into the digital art space in 2017. He quickly discovered a space defined by innovation, collaboration, community and growth, which embraced his unique pieces in a way which he felt the traditional art world never did. We talked to him about his journey with digital art, cryptocurrencies and what it means to be on the cutting edge of contemporary creativity.

Topics discussed:

• Coming late to the art world, and finding your space in unexpected places

Grace Insogna is an experienced Social Media Manager at World of Women, a community-centric NFT brand celebrating art, representation, inclusivity, and equal opportunities for all. Grace formerly worked within the fashion space, but has now shifted into the exciting world of Web3, fem tech, and wellness. 

Aine Foran is the community and project manager for NFTs at Saatchi Art. Today’s episode looks at the future of digital art and Web3 from varied perspectives. 

Topics discussed:

• Grace’s and Aine’s thoughts on the current state of community and social engagement in Web3 

Raina Mehler is the Director of Pace Gallery, one of the leading international art galleries representing some of the most influential contemporary artists. She is also an independent curator, producer, and writer, working in both physical and digital spaces (AR, VR, NFTs, Metaverse).

With over 15 years of experience in the fine art industry and a Masters in Art History, Raina is an authority in the field of experiential, time-based art, and the Web3/Crypto/NFT space. 

Topics discussed:

• Raina’s work trajectory at Pace Gallery, starting out with a registrar role to being the gallery’s director

Jonny Wilson is the video remixer behind Eclectic Method. Jonny started out as a musician and was inspired after hearing a Public Enemy album to make sample-based music. He then became a DJ where he started making mashup videos and eventually moved into creating robust audio visual music video experiences and has had 3 NFTs on Super Rare.  

Topics discussed:

• Jonny’s journey from a rock band, to a video DJ on MTV Europe, to collaborating with bands like U2, to motion graphics and crypto art 

Colborn Bell is the Co-Founder and Director at the Museum of Crypto Art. His background working in finance has gradually morphed into a career of collecting art and NFTs. He shares why he believes digital art to currently be in a state of crisis. Digital art is a hot industry right now, and Colborn has seen people come in with distorted expectations. If you are an artist who is considering making the transition into the digital art space, then this episode will serve as a great intro to the industry and an overview of the most common pitfalls. 

Topics discussed:

•  Colborn’s background and the work he does at the Museum of Crypto Art 

Miss Aniela, also known as Natalie Lennard, had an interest in digital art from a young age when she got into photography as a student. In her project, Birth Undisturbed, she traveled through the world and history to depict birth from ancient to modern, and squalid to famous, the series depicts stories of women both real and imagined. 

On the show today, she talks about her favorite medium, photography, some of her recent projects, and what excites her the most about digital art right now. 

Topics discussed:

• Miss Aniela’s background and how she got into digital art 

In this episode, we are joined by Akosua Viktoria Adu-Sanyah, an internationally exhibited and published German-Ghanaian visual artist and documentary photographer based in Zürich, Switzerland. 

Her work is frequently awarded for exploring new territories through image-making, research, and human connection. She equally engages in documentary work and conceptual arts and has an active practice in the NFT and web3 space, most notably with her project Behold The Ocean.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Why Akosua believes digital art is absolutely necessary and how NFTs and web3 are technological and cultural tools