GLITCHOFMIND (Leonel Piccardo) is an artist based in the Netherlands. Originally from the Dominican Republic, his artistic journey began when he moved to Amsterdam.
His artwork celebrates the power of storytelling, drawing inspiration from his heritage and personal experiences. Through captivating images that blend storytelling, character, and costume design, GLITCHOFMIND creates a profound sense of connection between the viewer and his art.
As a queer Afro-Latino, GLITCHOFMIND‘s work explores themes of identity and heritage, using visual symbolism and allegories to transport viewers to a world without boundaries. His body of work has been showcased in galleries around the world, captivating audiences and leaving a lasting impression
How did you arrive at web3?
My name is Leonel (F.K.A GLITCHOFMIND), and if you mean my artistic journey, well it started when I moved to the Netherlands many years ago. I was doing social media for a hotel, and to create content I picked up a camera and just fell in love with mesmerized by the fairytale dreamy beauty of Amsterdam.
Fast forward, I wanted to be able to create images that were more into the fantastical realm, inspired by one of my favorite photographers at the time, Brook Shaden. I wanted to create fantastical storytelling. Then Corona came, I read about WEB3/NFTs and here we are since 2020/2021.
What inspired you to choose the name “GLITCHOFMIND” for your artistic work?
After dealing with severe depression, and the resurfacing of things about myself and my past I never dealt with I had to get help.
Through therapy, I became aware that every time I was in a situation of distress and anxiety, or pain, my mind as a self-defense mechanism, dissociates from situations, and transported me into a fantastical realm where I felt safe, a little “glitch” from my reality. And one day, speaking with one of my closest friends, the name was born as wordplay with the phrase peace of mind. And ta-da, here we are.
As an artist who’s lived in both the Dominican Republic and the Netherlands, how do these cultures inform and influence your work?
I always felt very much unsafe and out of place everywhere I lived, and it wasn’t until I moved to Amsterdam that I felt a sense of safety. Even though the Netherlands is not perfect, with time I found my space. A space where there was no shame in going to therapy, dealing with my trauma, and exploring my heritage and identity even more freely than in my own country. So i guess, thanks to that sense of “safety” I have been able to pause my “survival” mechanism and take time to heal, become aware, and explore my identity and heritage with more awareness.
What drew you to focus on portraiture and visual storytelling in your photography?
People, I just got so much joy from taking a portrait and showing someone a side of them they didn’t think they had.
