Milwaukee based digital artist, Grant Riven Yun has taken his lifelong passion for art and near decade of digital illustration, and is exploring the world of Web3. Through a style he calls “Neo-Precisionism,” Yun tackles ideas that encompass philosophical and religious theory dating back to the 1900s, while simultaneously helping to shape the Web3 landscape for digital art for generations to come.
Yun, whose paintings are quickly becoming some of the most sought-after one-of-one works in the NFT space, told Hypebeast that he approaches art “with a touch of minimalism and nostalgia.”
His works have been put up side by side with collections such as Tyler Hobb’s Fidenza and Dmitri Cherniak Ringers, with several pieces receiving offers of over 30 Ethereum (roughly $36,000 USD).
“Creating art that can be tracked on-chain will prove to be a monumental moment in time.”
As for how the contemporary artist transitioned into Web3, Yun confessed that “one of the biggest pivoting moments for him as an artist was at the end of 2021, when his Starry Night Capital piece, guided by Vincent Van Dough, made a new all-time high sale for him.
“While the NFT fund may be going through some turbulent times, at the time it marked a monumental transition for me as an artist. It helped solidify my position in the Web3 art community as an artist collectors can take seriously,” he shared with Hypebeast. “I truly believe that with the help of Vincent, my career has taken off.”
Comparing his role as an artist in the contemporary art scene, with that of Web3, Yun said the roles are vastly different.
“Artists in Web3 are helping shape a new foundation for art distribution. Web3 runs on blockchain tech — we are at the very start of a technological revolution,” he said, adding that “creating art that can be tracked on-chain will prove to be a monumental moment in time.”
While the artist mostly focuses on one-of-one art, he has had a few edition releases. One of his latest is a contribution to the popular Pepe meme culture, through two limited editions of NFTs available on pepe.wtf. The first edition is made up of 17 total collectibles and has a current floor price of 18 ETH (or roughly $21,000 USD at the time of writing). His other edition, which consists of 100 NFTs, currently sits at nearly a 2 ETH floor price ($2,400 USD).
Through his exploration of Neo-Precisionism in Web3, Yun aims to become “a household name”:
“…[n]ot just for today or tomorrow, but to continue to be a household name long after I am gone. I want to also help support this art movement and help push this entire Web3 art movement to new heights,” he explained.
According to Yun, some of his favorite NFT projects will always be one-of-one works by his fellow colleagues. He referenced artists such as XCOPY, Fidenza, and Ringers. He has recently shown support for works from artists like Vinnie Hager.
Speaking to the nascency of Web3, including NFT adoption, Yun admits that “fine art to begin with is difficult for many to accept,” adding that “once we add the additional layer of blockchain tech, it suddenly becomes almost incomprehensible.”
“There are tons of barriers and I know that many, if not most people, will not be able to ever accept ‘fine art NFTs.’ However, on the flipside, Web3 mass adoption is very possible. This will just take time — true use of Web3 as a foundational utility still has to be discovered in our society, just as the internet took decades for itself to find its true role.”
Over the next five years, Yun believes that many Web3 tech-based projects “will have matured” and that we will eventually “see a clearer picture of what Web3 and blockchain have in store.”
“On the art side of things, the projects and pieces of art that are ‘grails’ today will cement themselves essentially into immortality, as some of the greatest pieces of crypto-based art one can own,” he said, pointing to many 1/1 works like “XCOPY, Fidenza, CryptoPunks, and Ringers, which he believes “will reach new heights” in both value and legacy.
As for aspiring artists coming into the Web3 space, Yun encourages those that are here today, to stay.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Web3 art will become important in the overall culture of the internet, the 21st century, and contemporary art. For those who are here today, continue to stay, and put in 110% into committing yourselves into creating a legacy that will be rewarded immensely in the years to come.”
For more news about blockchain, cryptocurrency, NFTs, and Web3, visit Hypemoon.com.
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