From the architectural blueprints of his academic background to the vibrant panels of comic books for international publishers, King Xerox has proven that his artistic journey is anything but linear. As an architect, he built on foundations; as an artist he pushes boundaries.
Every week, nft now Next one reveals a new artist from our curated list of emerging talents who have caused a stir in Web3. This week we are excited to put the spotlight on King Xerox.
King Xerox
King Xerox’s artistry first came to fruition in the world of traditional media. With over two decades dedicated to the comics industry, his illustrations have spanned pages and continents, working with leading publishers in the US and Europe. The striking images of his acrylic paintings, which he has shown in three solo exhibitions, have been praised for their unique style and expressive use of color.
Still, it was a conversation about the burgeoning world of NFTs with a crypto-savvy friend pivoting his trajectory into the digital realm. Initially intrigued by the prospect of reaching collectors directly and the revolutionary concept of digital identity verification for works of art, he soon found himself minting coins on platforms like Tezos and objkt.com.
This transition was not just about adapting to a new medium; it was about evolution. His early NFTs, rooted in his comic book tradition, featured stories albeit in the fresh, experimental style of glitch art. King Xerox describes his pieces as paused frames from a VHS tape, capturing the essence of the Web3 era through deliberate noise and glitches.
For him, the idea is paramount, and translating it into art becomes an intense search for simplicity and clarity. Finding inspiration in the most unexpected moments – a movie, a book or even an anecdote from his son – his creative process is deeply introspective but always receptive to the outside world.
King Xerox’s move to the Ethereum blockchain expanded his horizons and caught the attention of notable collectors such as Cozomo de Medici, GVG, and Bitcoinprophet. His artistry now grapples with and documents web3 culture and the crypto zeitgeist. As he puts it, his works are notes in a ‘web3 diary’, presenting an evolving story of this new digital frontier.
From the tactile touch of paper to the ethereal pixels of the digital realm, King Xerox’s artistic odyssey is a testament to the timeless nature of storytelling, proving that stories, regardless of their medium, will always find their audience.
We had the opportunity to ask King Xerox a few questions about NFTs and his artistic journey.
NFT Now: How did you first become interested/involved in NFTs?
King Xerox: Although I have a bachelor’s degree in architecture, I have produced comic books for American and European publishers for many years. In addition, I was also painting and had 2 solo shows. A friend of mine who is heavily involved in the cryptocurrency market told me about NFTs and asked me to do some research on the subject. As I delved into the concept of NFTs, I became enchanted. The idea of reaching collectors without intermediaries was great.
“I realized that NFTs were not just about art, but were also an important part of the culture of the new digital age. “
King Xerox
The concept of digital identity verification for works of art was revolutionary. As I continued my research, I realized that NFTs were not just about art, but were also an important part of the culture of the new digital age. About 2.5 years ago I started hitting my first pieces on the Tezos platforms like hicetnunc and http://objkt.com. I actually didn’t expect them to sell, but I loved this new art style I discovered, and creating it made me feel good. My first works on Tezos were more in the PFPS style. Coming from a comic book tradition, I realized that just like in comics, I could tell stories through the glitch art I created. In the Web3 world, so many things happened in such a short time that I can say I’ve never had a problem finding stories to tell.
nft now: How would you describe your art?
King Xerox: The artworks I create are considered part of the ‘glitch art’ genre. In the works I make, the idea is the most important thing for me. Translating these ideas into art in the simplest and most understandable way is a separate stage. Sometimes ideas that seem great in my head can lose their impact after the work is completely done. Especially in the works I create on the Ethereum blockchain, I technically aimed for images that resemble a paused frame of a VHS tape. I believe the noise and glitches in these images better complement the Web3 stories I convey.
nft now: what does your process look like? And where do you usually find inspiration?
King Xerox: Most of the production process is spent looking for the right idea. Sometimes it can take days or even weeks for ideas to come along that will satisfy me. I usually find ideas at unexpected times. Reading a book, watching a movie or even my son telling a funny story can suddenly spark an idea in my head. Any movie scene or story I come across can suddenly inspire me to incorporate something about web3 culture or recent cryptocurrency news into my art. Especially after discovering 2 or 3 ideas, I make sketches of them.
I share these sketches with friends and collectors I trust and get their opinions. An artist may not be able to look at his work objectively after putting a lot of effort into it, so a second pair of eyes may reveal things I may have missed. I don’t use any software other than Photoshop and Procreate.