Acquiring the Future: Conversations with Web 3 Art Collectors
Parleying with PixelToy
Introducing a pioneer, a true enthusiast, and cognoscente grandi
Amongst the sea of dreamers, there are precious few who radiate an unwavering passion for their ideas. For the last 18 months, one such shining star has been illuminating the world of NFTs on Solana through their tireless curation and breathtaking showcases. This determined and resilient individual has truly left an indelible mark on the scene, through their leading publication SHILLzine.
We were blessed with the chance to peer into the mind of this captivating character, to uncover the driving force behind their unwavering dedication to elevating the Solana art scene. Their passion and insight is truly a thing of beauty, and it’s a privilege to bear witness to the daily work of such a dedicated and discerning individual. We cannot overstate the impact and importance of those who pour their heart and soul into their pursuits and we are grateful for the valuable contributions of this art connoisseur.
It’s an honor to present, the Solana art space’s lead publicist and our friend Pixeltoy.
What draws you personally to collecting art?
To begin with, I have never invested in a piece thinking, “hey, I’ll get a nice return on that someday.” If this was the case, I would probably be more discerning with my purchases and follow big players in the space.
Initially, I am drawn to pieces that resonate with me. Obviously, this changes depending on the mood I’m in. If you look at my ART wallet you can see quite an assortment of pieces without any real organization or theme. Most times, as I am putting #SHILLzine together, I get to look at a piece multiple times and ONLY THEN it begins to grow on me. Other times I see a newcomer to the space and just want to support them, and give them a leg up.
When I look at seriously collecting a piece, I want it to be something that I can print and have mounted in my office. To date, I have Name_undxfined, LowbrowNative, MonsterDefiner, and Strangers all printed and mounted. I have since collected a few more that I would love to do the same with.
Name_undxfined has gone a little quiet since Nov 2022. Strangers was a Holaplex purchase back in April 2022 — the artist disappeared quickly so maybe it was a copy from another chain? I’m not sure but I like the photo all the same. This brings me to photography.
What themes within art take your interest?
My main interest is street photography. The ability to capture a natural moment. I got back into photography in 2009 after a 20-year hiatus. As I started to battle GAS (gear acquisition syndrome), I invested more in photography books which led me to Vivian Maier. I have collected all books re Vivian and some memorabilia from across the world where her exhibitions have been displayed. I also have a couple of French books, and papers about her as well (rare). Yes, I can read French.
From 2013–2019 I spent a lot of time shooting the streets with my wonderful Fujifilm XPro1. In 2019 I stopped again and only recently got back into it with the addition of a Ricoh GRIII.
My attention to NFTs goes first to photography. What I am looking for though, is a decisive moment moreso than a composed shoot. Superjimmer was one of the first photography NFTs I included in #SHILLzine. I participated in a few auctions but never won a piece. The best I could do there was a participation piece. More recently, I have been buying Ariel Gricio, Alex Mantesso, and ArteOvni. I am also looking more closely at Thejomshoots, who is actually doing street photography in the classic sense.
I also have a few Ebrosmash pieces that are impressive as contemplations on architecture. It inspired me to have a go with this genre too (Building Circuitry on Formfunction and ExchangeArt). I love what Basty Adler has been doing and am happy to have a piece or 2 in my collection. I have also been following EssjayneArt for the longest time and have 1 piece from her, a shot looking out of a hotel room. One of my favorite pieces is from abdik, Flaneur in Istanbul “Don’t Mind”. A top-down shot, voyeuristic but completely capturing the moment. Love it.
What sparked your interest in collecting 1/1 art on Solana?
In short- I was driven away from $ETH by the gas fees. Pure and simple. Fortunately, the NFT scene on Solana was much healthier than on Harmony One and Near back in 2021 so I stuck with Solana.
How do you decide which pieces to add to your collection?
Sometimes it’s a case of “Love it” and adding to the #SHILL vault. Other times it’s because I want to support the artist, especially if I keep adding them to #SHILLzine. There is no hard and fast rule.
Can you speak about a piece or an artist in your collection that has special meaning to you?
There are a few that I have already mentioned and then there are pieces from people I respect in the space. While I don’t know either of these people personally (only through Twitter chats and spaces) CultureHacker and LowbrowNative really have made an impression on me. In all my time in this space, these 2 people are the most genuine, humble, and supportive I have ever come across.
CultureHacker is just a creative machine, exploring many different styles and possibilities. His venture into ‘Odyssey’ was such a novel experience. I am glad I was part of that.
Lowbrow is just Lowbrow. Truly humble. Her pieces are always interesting and on my radar. I remember using one of her pieces for the cover of #SHILLzine when she ventured onto Solana back in 2021. Since then, she has taken front-page honors a few times. Her artwork just suits the front page of a magazine so well. The artwork “L” is the first I ever printed and mounted in my office. I get to look at it every day.
How do you envision your collection evolving over time?
#SHILLzine will continue to support the Solana space as best it can. I try to focus on adding 3–5 pieces per week, funds allowing. I’m not a whale, like some other projects out there, and definitely not an influencer. Everything #SHILL has accumulated was from my own pocket. No funding. No endorsement. No free pieces. I started building in Oct 2021 and it is still going today.
How do you go about researching and acquiring new pieces for your collection?
I think my approach is very different from other buyers out there. Since my focus is #SHILLzine I spend a couple of hours each day researching Twitter, ExchangeArt, and Formfunction. I look at what is selling, what is new, and the same for editions.
Holaplex used to be part of this routine as well, but it became insignificant overnight in 2022.
Recently, I added Damzine as a regular feature (always a great entry point for people in the space) and 0xbanana’s Marketplace which is pretty slick.
From Monday to Friday, I am checking multiple times per day for pieces to include in the magazine. I get to see hundreds of pieces. The magazine itself features around 100 NFTs per week. Then there’s the task of selecting a piece from the week that I think will make a great #SHILLzine cover. A lengthy process that I’ve been keeping up for over a year now.
How do you balance your personal taste with the investment potential of a piece of art?
I have never looked at a piece as an ‘investment’. I don’t think I could part with any of my pieces. Even the ones I have multiple copies of. Interestingly, I read a tweet by Kirk Englehardt recently and he spoke about relisting pieces he buys out of respect to the original artist.
“I think my take may be different than others. I have a philosophy that art should live and breathe, which is why I relist nearly everything I collect on secondary. It’s also fulfilling the promise of potential royalties that attracted so many to Web3.” @kirkenglehardt
I had never thought of it like that and really appreciate the perspective. It made me think.
“As ArteOVNI it’s important to use that our works resonate with our collectors. Pixeltoy has been searching for their “Lucid Screen’’ since its inception. That piece is “Nimbus”, a glowing pink/orange portrait set against a moody cloudy sky. The intention was to recreate the color of a sunset but having that color reflect on the figure instead of the sky. It’s a melancholy image that we are quite proud of.
Any time we see these portraits used by our collectors as a PFP we know that our project succeeded as both a piece of art and an avatar for web3.
Pixeltoy’s commitment to highlighting the best work in SOL is admirable. No one else is putting in the work to actually create a publication that is filled with alpha, writing and curation that doesn’t require keeping up with a discord for new info. This demonstrates a dedication to the arts that can be rare, we like to think of Pixeltoy as being on the forefront of true arts appreciation on SOL.”
~ArteOVNI
What do you think about preserving and protecting your collection for future generations?
I think that as long as Solana exists as a blockchain, our collections will exist. What I have on Near, Harmony One, and Ethereum are still over there. Untouched. Gathering digital dust. At times I wonder, “What purpose do they actually serve?”
Maybe Kirk Englehardt’s words are truer than we would care to believe….
Actively contributing to the 1/1 space through visibility
A beautifully crafted house is a marvel to behold, with its high ceilings, sleek kitchen countertops, and elegant spiral staircase. But behind the aesthetic appeal lies a crucial component that often goes unnoticed — the foundations. Without sturdy foundations, the floors would crumble, the artwork would hang precariously, and the wet room would be a non-existent luxury.
Pixeltoy represents those foundations, providing a solid base for the digital art space to flourish. Shillzine acts as the window, offering a glimpse into the Solana art home for both newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts alike.
It is a privilege to have had the opportunity to speak with Pixeltoy, as the scene continues to evolve. The Ministry and all those connected to it, would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation for his unwavering dedication to the digital art movement.
Salutes to you, ser.
🕊️❤️Veritas en Arte 🕊️❤️
🖼️Check out the SHILLzine and follow Pixeltoy on Twitter 🖼️
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