VAULTED Art Collector Profile #11 - Artie Handz

11 Apr

Vaulted is a series where prominent collectors in the Tezos ecosystem are interviewed and highlighted.

Vaulted #11 with Artie Handz (Punk7635)

“Everyone in the Tezos art scene gives a damn about digital art. Nobody is larping as a collector or creator. It’s pure. It’s real.”

— Artie Handz

Unknown Collector: Can you tell us how your collecting journey began?

Artie: I began in January 2021 via NBA Top Shot. About two months later, I finally figured out MetaMask and started collecting (redacted) and some art. Another two months later, I figured out the Kukai wallet and hooked it up to Hicetnunc, and voilà—just never left the Tezos ecosystem.

UC: Can you share a story about acquiring one of your favorite pieces or any interesting moment in your collecting journey?

Artie: “Calma” by Manoloide was one of my very first pieces collected. I remember it well because it was still at a time when most folks didn’t have Tezos domain names. You were just collecting completely blindly on Hicetnunc, which felt so cool in the moment.

UC: What sets Art on Tezos apart in your eyes compared to other NFT ecosystems?

Artie: Everyone in the Tezos art scene gives a damn about digital art. Nobody is larping as a collector or creator. It’s pure. It’s real.

UC: Who are your three favorite artists/artworks on Tezos from your collection, and what makes their work stand out to you?

Artie: “Time” by Leander Herzog: As a functional clock, I love its “utility” and have a tendency to open this artwork more than any other.

“horizon(te)s #396” by Zach Lieberman and Iskra Velitchkova: Classic fxhash series that needs little explanation as to why it’s on lots of shortlists.