You are intentional about collecting the work of diverse artists, why is that?
As a tech entrepreneur, it kills me that Black folks are absent in so many important rooms. It quickly became clear to me that the NFT space will be huge, and I just didn’t want young folks to be marginalized as was the case with my and previous generations.
I’m a firm believer in backing up rhetoric with actions. If I’m not willing to buy from diverse artists, how can I ask the same of others? And, I should add that the works of these diverse artists are on par with any artist out there. I don’t feel like I’m compromising with any of the NFT investments that I’ve made.
What is your process for discovering new artists?
1. I look into the collections of my favorite artists. I know they have good taste, so I tend to buy from the artists they like.
2. I stalk my favorite collectors: @batsoupyum, @iamcryptosmart, @eliztsehai, @theblkchain, @herstorydao, @xx1off, and @cypherdao.
3. I spend too much time on Twitter.
Do you have a favorite artist currently?
I collect from a very wide pool of great artists. A few of my fave artists (whom I believe identify as Black) that come to mind immediately are @maxwell_step, @swopes, @surrealistshay, @andreoshea, @izzyalright, @ix_shells, @serwah_attafuah and @nickcsefar. But, I truly have about 20 other favorites. I can’t name them all.
“It kills me that Black folks are absent in so many important rooms. It quickly became clear to me that the NFT space would be huge and I just didn’t want young folks to be marginalized as was the case with my and previous generations.”
Cut the Ace
What do you love most about collecting NFTs?
I am a natural collector. When I fall in love with something, I try to amass the most interesting collection. Whether it’s baseball cards, cryptokitties or NFT art, I love the process of discovering hidden gems.
Do you prefer editions or 1 of 1s? Buy now or auctions?
I lean towards editions because I can get more bang for the buck. I try to support as many different artists as I can. Editions make that goal more practical.
Auctions are a lot of fun. Watching the final minutes of an auction is like watching a good sports event.
You’ve recently begun to collect work on HEN. What led to this decision?
HEN feels like the most organic, community-driven space for collectors who are in it for the love. The ETH based spaces feel very transactional, and that’s also needed. But, HEN just feels more aligned to my values. The fact that it is community-built feels very familiar given my experience with open source communities in the software industry.
What do you like most about the work on HEN?
It is all over the place, and my collection reflects this. Anyone can get in where they fit in. There’s no “suit” screening profiles and gating who can be in or not. With HEN, all you need is a few Tezos and you’re in the game.
You’ve recently begun to create Twitter threads on your opinions about the NFT space? What prompted you to do this?
Black people’s stories don’t get told because we don’t tell them, and we shouldn’t rely on someone else to do it. That’s also why I’m such a huge supporter of what you all are doing. For me, tweeting is a very easy way to chronicle our story in this emerging NFT space. Plus, I’ve been around longer (I’m old) than many of the artists, so I have a perspective that might be useful.
How do you display the work in your collection?
Often and obnoxiously. I do collection-related threads on Twitter way too often. I also have the NFTs cycling on large monitors in my office. I have prints of a few, so those are absolutely on the wall.
What are your thoughts on the physical frames that exist to display NFTs?
I don’t really think they’re necessary. I can buy a 70-inch screen at Walmart.
Where will NFTs be in the next 5 years? 10 years?
I think NFTs will gain much needed clarity around IP related issues. I believe we will see more characters that start in the NFT realm showing up on TV, movies and on the radio. Within 10 years, half of the world will possess some type of NFT artifact, whether it is art, a contract agreement, or a special character on a video game. The use cases for NFTs are numerous, and they make common sense.
