‘ART’icle Of February 2025

Spotlighting Tezos Art Community

It’s February 2025, which means it’s time for another ‘ART’icle of the Month, where we shine a spotlight on Tezos artists who continue to push creative boundaries. This series goes beyond recognizing great art, it’s about building a stronger Tezos community where creativity thrives. Let’s review how ‘ART’icle of the Month has been operating and then dive into some spotlights.

A Quick Recap of the ‘ART’icle of the Month Nomination Process

Celebrating Tezos artists is a community effort made possible by your nominations. Whenever you come across a piece on X that moves you, comment or quote-retweet it with the hashtag #TezARTicle. Let others know what makes the artist and/or artwork special to you. If you’re browsing Objkt, check the artist’s profile for their X handle. Every month artists will be spotlighted based on nominations. Let’s elevate emerging and established voices in the Tezos art scene, showcasing their creative visions.

Nominations for February 2025

The nominees selected for this month’s ‘ART’icle are @SwarleyArt, @normalityistoxic, @danielwponto02, and @amandacsls! A big thanks to the community for this month’s nominations. Let’s take a look at what these artists have been creating.

@SwarleyArt — Illustrator of Skulls

Swarley Art is a Ukrainian artist known for her distinctive love of drawing skulls. Since minting her first Tezos-based skull artwork in September 2021, she has continuously evolved her signature style, becoming a vibrant presence on Tezos. Her Objkt portfolio now boasts over 300 captivating pieces, each echoing her unique artistic voice and style.

In the piece titled “Sad Modernity,” Swarley portrays the unsettling experience of watching the world around us seemingly catch fire. Through vivid imagery, she captures the numbing effect of constant fear-mongering and negativity. It resonates with the empathetic observers who, feeling powerless, sip their coffee and reflect on a world that appears indifferent to its own chaos.

Another striking piece, “Wanna Talk?”, cleverly illustrates the internal dialogues we all experience. With simplicity and precision, Swarley depicts the feeling of carrying on conversations within our minds, as if miniature versions of ourselves are inside, sipping wine and chatting away. It’s a playful yet profound take on introspection, making it deeply relatable to anyone who’s ever been lost in their own thoughts.

Follow @SwarleyArt on X and visit her linktree here to continue discovering her amazing art.

@Normalityistoxic — Explorative Photographer and Mixed Media Artist

Erika, known as @Normalityistoxic, uses expressionism to share powerful stories. Since August 2021, her work has enriched the Tezos ecosystem. Her artworks challenge societal norms and inspire introspection, creating powerful narratives that go beyond visuals.

Her genesis piece, “Not Your Meal,” serves as a declaration of her commitment to the feminist movement. Bold and thought-provoking, this artwork confronts the toxic norm of objectifying women, urging viewers to reflect and evolve beyond seeing women as lesser beings or objects to feast upon. It’s a powerful reminder to question ingrained perspectives and embrace a more empathetic and respectful worldview.

Another strikingly powerful work by Erika is the photograph titled “The Scent of F*ck Off.” This evocative self-portrait boldly embodies the feminist movement, featuring a perfume bottle filled with an aroma that acts more like a repellent, protecting whoever wears it from toxic masculinity.

This piece responds to a 2024 campaign where a misguided attempt to attract more women to the crypto space involved giving away free perfume. The stunt sparked a wave of protest art, with Erika’s piece emerging as a bold statement of defiance and empowerment. With biting satire and sharp social commentary, “The Scent of F*ck Off” challenges superficial attempts at inclusivity and reinforces Erika’s dedication to addressing gender issues head-on through her art.

Erika’s work resonates with those who seek art that not only captivates the eye but also engages the mind, making her a vital voice in the Tezos art community. To find more art by Normalityistoxic, visit her lynkfire here.

Daniel W @DanielWPonto02 — Digital Artist and Creator of Pepoles

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Daniel on our weekly space, Artz Friday, where he shared his journey on Tezos, his creative process, and the inspirations behind his work. Yet, with so many remarkable pieces in his portfolio, we couldn’t help but continue the spotlight in celebration of his nomination for this month’s ‘ART’icle. Today, we delve into his captivating Redux Collection.

The Redux Collection showcases Daniel’s challenge to himself: to reinterpret classic paintings by both old masters and contemporary artists who inspire him. In this series, he doesn’t merely replicate; he reimagines, breathing new life into iconic scenes through his unique vision.

One standout piece is his rendition of “Saint Jerome Writing”, originally painted by the legendary Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. In his re-creation, Daniel utilizes CMYK styling, a technique that restricts the color palette to just four hues — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. This deliberate constraint allows him to reconstruct the famous scene with a modern, vibrant twist while paying homage to the timeless original. With each piece in the Redux Collection, Daniel balances reverence for art history with his innovative approach, making his work both nostalgic and refreshingly contemporary.

Another impressive piece within the Redux Collection is “Self Portrait With Bandaged Ear and Pipe”, a reimagining of the iconic work by Vincent van Gogh. In this rendition, Daniel stays true to his CMYK styling but pushes the boundaries of the technique. While a few additional colors appear within the composition, they are not from an expanded palette but rather the result of overlapping the CMYK hues. This clever manipulation creates a rich, layered effect, demonstrating Daniel’s mastery of color theory and digital design. It’s a unique compromise only achievable through modern digital tools, showcasing his innovative approach to reinterpreting classic masterpieces.

To find more works by Daniel, visit his Linktree here.

Amanda Artes @amandacsls — Multi-Disciplinary Artist

Since November 2022, Amanda has been exploring a diverse range of art forms on Tezos, from physical paintings and drawings to digital compositions and even music. Her versatility as an artist invites viewers to journey through a world of creativity and emotion, with each piece offering a unique story to discover.

One standout series is her captivating collection “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”. In “Every Rose Has Its Thorn #26”, Amanda portrays the delicate yet fiery duality within us all. The girl, seemingly trapped in a bed of roses, symbolizes the complexity of human emotion, soft and vulnerable yet brimming with a prickly passion.

The artwork beautifully illustrates the contrast between the fragrant beauty of the budding petals and the thorny stem from which they grow. It serves as a poignant reminder that beautiful moments are often rooted in experiences full of challenges and pain.

Amanda’s ability to weave emotional depth into her art makes her work not just visually captivating but also deeply thought-provoking. This emotional resonance is also beautifully captured in “The Hills Are Alive”, a stunning acrylic painting on canvas.

In this piece, the subject gazes out at a sunset that bathes a flowery hillside in golden light. Through Amanda’s brushwork the viewer is transported into the scene. One can almost hear the whisper of the breeze, smell the blooming flowers, and feel the warmth of the sun on their face.

By immersing the audience so completely, Amanda transcends the boundaries of the canvas, turning a simple landscape into an evocative sensory experience. Her work continues to showcase the power of art, stirring emotion and creating connections. Discover more of Amanda’s art on her Linktree here.

A Future Filled With More ‘ART’icles

As we celebrate these incredible artists, remember that ‘ART’icle of the Month is powered by the community. Your voice matters, and your nominations help us spotlight the talent that makes the Tezos art scene so vibrant. If you come across artwork that moves you, don’t hesitate to share it using the hashtag #TezARTicle. Let’s continue to uplift and inspire one another through the power of art. Who will be featured next month? That’s up to you!