David and Cheyenne Thomas
Celebrating Indigenous Heritage Month with a new NFT exhibit: Transform LA
The “Transform” exhibit will drop on SuperRare on November 26th, bringing to the forefront indigenous NFT artists alongside international creators under a common theme of reconciliation. Voices that have often been silenced, pushed into the outskirts of our historical narratives come to the forefront in this unique show curated by Evelisa Genova, a Sicilian painter who holds a degree from Harvard University where her training incorporated human rights protection, social enterprise, and systemic transformation. She is dedicated to building coalitions and venturing into a more compassionate future. Her work will be exhibited in the show as well. Below you can get to know some of the artists that will be featured in the show that will be marking the closing of this Indigenous Heritage Month.
@caseykoyczanart
Casey Koyczan is a Tlicho Dene interdisciplinary artist from Yellowknife, NT, who works with various mediums to communicate how culture and technology coincide together alongside the political, economic, and environmental challenges in the world. A portion of his large-scale installation work utilizes earth materials to evoke the idea of nature reclaiming architectural space. Inspired by sci-fi and the future, Koyczan implements various techniques of interactivity, audio-video, VR/360/XR, and the engagement of the bodily senses within his creations.
He is an international artist that has participated in many residencies, exhibits, festivals, and collaborations in parts of the world such as Finland, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the UK. He is also a musician, producer, filmmaker, actor, writer, teacher, workshop facilitator, graphic designer, web designer, and advocate for future generations of artists and musicians. He holds a Multimedia Production diploma from Lethbridge College, a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Thompson Rivers University, and a Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Manitoba.
“Technology has enabled us to create amazing things with very little, and has promoted a symbiotic relationship with our cultures; to see ourselves, our animals, and our stories in the future. With this relationship at its root, our dreams and interpretations of reality can have a place on the platform to span the globe among the unified mix of other digital artworks and artists.”
— Casey Koyczan
Fulvio Claudio Sestito has been at the intersection of art, storytelling, technology, and spiritual studies since an early age. While following a career as a filmmaker and digital artist, Fulvio has trained alongside Guillermo Del Toro, Tim Miller and James Cameron creating stunning visuals for Halo, League of Legends, Terminator 6, and Love Death & Robots among many others.
“Realdream is a collective of international digital artists and storytellers whose life-long mission is to transmute ancient wisdom of universal charity inspired by our cosmic mother into powerful visual poetry.”
— Fulvio Claudio Sestito for @realdream
@artizinfinite
Isabella Morillo is a Peruvian artist from Lima, she is traditionally trained in graphic design. Isabella has been making art throughout her whole life. She wants to empower others and bridge communities together through her work of graphic design, murals, as well as one-of-a-kind upcycled apparel. There are many layers of meaning behind her pieces, the art she creates aims to transcend language and borders to connect people on a universal level. Isabella aims to be infinite through the art that she creates which is where her alias izinfinite was born.
“Being able to share my story through digital art has empowered me as an artist, giving voice again after years spent feeling silenced. I’m looking forward to the chance of leading with authenticity as we set the tone for future generations by coming together in this event as a team, not only through what we create but also by embracing who you are.”
— Isabella Morillo
@quinnhopkinsart
Quinn Hopkins (b. 1998) is a Digital, AR, VR artist and Painter, Rock-painter, Mural artist. He is a student at OCAD University majoring in Drawing & Painting for his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. Quinn is grateful to have Conrad Bobiwash, Blake Angeconeb, and Nyle Miigizi Johnston as artist mentors. He was recently featured on CBC for his involvement with NTFS as a way to empower other indigenous artists through technology.
“This is an opportunity to establish an equitable space for artists to celebrate culture and storytelling on a young network that lacks a history of systemic racism and gatekeeping.”
— Quinn Hopkins
Evelisa strives to be the mentor and leader for young girls that she always searched for in her childhood. Painting has been Evelisa’s preferred language of the heart. She has a unique artistry that combines classical tradition with surreal and allegorical painting styles, Her paintings are meant to be intimate celebrations – of life and love, of popular figures, or our most intimate dreamscapes.
“My art is about representing influencers and influences that have meaning in our mysterious lives. Whether it is the most personal dreams, or the popular figures that inspire us to keep moving forward, I personally create art when I don’t have the words to explore the spiritual, psychological, political, and ethereal influences in my own life, through the lens of my own femininity, and in a feminine-presenting way.”
— Evelisa Genova
Left: David Thomas, Right: David and Cheyenne Thomas
David Thomas is Anishinaabe, a member of Peguis First Nation. He is currently involved in the development of the Indigenous People’s Garden at Assiniboine Park, part of Canada’s Diversity Garden. Along with Indigenous architecture projects and installations in Toronto and Vancouver, David has exhibited in New Zealand and the UK and was also on the team of UNCEDED, Canada’s entry of Indigenous Architects for the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. David’s practice, process, and research focus on identity and lived experiences as an Indigenous person. He has been working in the field of Architecture for over 20 years.
“As an indigenous creator, the act of creating was nurtured by my mother who was a survivor of Canada’s 150-year-old residential school policies. I was taught to be authentic in my expression and value every emotion and moment in the journey of creating. I feel an NFT has an intrinsically personal aspect to it, one that is about your art existing in a space that is activated by the values of many people. A place where you may speak with a voice that only your DND can speak, a quiet nuance that will ignite a fire. This is what I hope for in creating digital art. I hope that young indigenous creators find their voice in this space where there are no limits to expression and that a resurgence of culture can take place.”
— David Thomas
To learn more about the exhibit you can follow Transform below:
Discord: Transform NFT Art
Telegram: https://t.me/transformnft
Instagram: @transform.exhibit
Twitter: @TransformExNFT
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/transformexhibit
Mika Bar On Nesher
Mika is a writer and filmmaker based in NYC. They are a Curator at SuperRare @superraremika
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