Super Freak is known for its playful characters, humorous visual language, and collaborations with brands such as Coca-Cola, Spotify, and (The New York Times). He has spent over a decade building a world that spans billboards, books, and blockchains. With Mallow Inc. on the horizon, he will refocus on storytelling, physical art, and community.
In this conversation, Super Freak reflects on his creative journey, shares the origins of Spanky, and introduces how Mallow Inc. expands the Super Universe.
Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
OpenSea: Let's start from the beginning - what is the origin of Super Freak? Was there a specific moment or fragment that gave you a clear understanding of it?
Super Freak: It all started when I was still in college; I continued my studies in graphic design for three more years. This course emphasized branding, and our instructors were excellent at teaching us how to design fully branded packaging - sometimes for virtual brands and sometimes for real design proposals.
I was one of the few students in graphic design focusing on illustration.
The year I graduated, we needed to come up with a concept for a graduation exhibition, so I decided to brand myself. It was then that I came up with the name "Super Freak." I had been drawing some strange little characters, one of which I kept repeating, and I thought, "There must be something to this," so I used it as my pen name and linked it to my illustration work.
I started using that name on Instagram, sharing my work, and that's how it all began. Twelve years later, we finally came together, and it feels surreal.
OpenSea: What made you join web3?
Super Freak: In 2021, I joined a small artist community on Instagram. One of my favorite artists, Wizard Skull, posted a 3D digital sculpture and said, "You can buy it now - it's a digital collectible." I thought, "What does that even mean?"
I took quite some time doing research and creating my own work because this space felt noisy, exclusive, and even a bit intimidating. I only started when I gathered the courage to create some pieces and began to build a community.
This is a crazy introduction - but very interesting.
OpenSea: Yes, the early NFT era developed very quickly, which may have made it feel very difficult for artists just getting their footing.
Super Freak: Yes, absolutely. Platforms like OpenSea make this all quick. Artists can learn to create, build collections, and share. This convenience is very helpful. I built my own collection and began connecting with other artists; we became very close in the early days.
There are many cool areas in the Web3 space that excite artists.
OpenSea: Are there specific factors that influence your sense of humor or visual style?
Super Freak: Of course, one of them is digital artist Pak. I really admire their programming skills and how they interact with a large community in a creative and fun way. This style influenced many of my early works.
On a broader level, my tone and humor come from vintage ads, posters, and old comic books. They always carried that teasing quality that I love, and I try to incorporate those traits into my work from a fresh perspective.
Right now, we are making posters for the upcoming Spanky series, having a lot of fun. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I had this much fun creating something.
OpenSea: It's comforting to hear. Some artists feel pressured once they start treating this as a "job," especially after their portfolios succeed.
Super Freak: Absolutely. This has been my reality for the past two years. I independently released early series, and then life took me in different directions. My creative pace slowed down, and I found myself overthinking every step. There were two years when I hardly created anything, but now I’m back, continuing to explore the world I’ve built over the past decade. Jon and Steve have always reminded me that my work can bring joy to people - I finally started believing that again.
I have to remind myself - well, Jon and Steve often remind me - that my work can bring joy to people, and I need to try it myself.
OpenSea: Can you talk about the piece "100%"? Why did you create it, and what does it mean?
Super Freak: That was one of my earliest releases. I previously did an airdrop for players who held a lot of my earlier collectibles, and we gamified it.
There was a unique auction where I announced that every bidder would receive an airdrop just for participating.
But there was a loophole on the platform, and someone - possibly some bots - discovered it and took advantage of it. After the auction ended, people started asking, "Where's my airdrop?" But I knew they cheated.
So I launched something with 100% creator fees and said, "This is your airdrop." People were stunned: "Wait, this is 100% creator fees?" I said, "Well, I keep my promises."
I've always loved using NFTs in fun ways. It's not just about putting a JPEG out there - you can create mechanisms, add storylines, and break expectations. People often take things too seriously. In 2021, I felt great to be silly, using that as a starting point to show people my work - who Spanky is, and who I am.
OpenSea: For those just discovering the Super Universe, how did Spanky come into being?
Super Freak: They appeared shortly after I created the alias "Super Freak." I always wanted to find a character that could represent a broader universe - a character that could ultimately outlast the name "Super Freak."
Spanky is that seed, just like Walt Disney had Mickey Mouse but created many other characters. Spanky was inspired by those old Disney cartoons - rubber hose animation. I wanted a character that could be part of my world, grow, meet new characters, and constantly evolve.
Twelve years later, he appears in global promotional activities, billboards, and ads - it feels incredible, and that feeling continues. I'm always looking for new ways to utilize him.
In 2022, I faced another creative block. The rubber hose style had become overly saturated. It's a fantastic style, and I understand why brands love it - in this AI-driven world, it's full of humanity. But I felt lost among so many similar illustrators.
So I began exploring other ways to depict Spanky. We held some art contests where others drew him in their styles - 3D renderings, woodcuts, etc., but he always looked like Spanky. That's the direction I aimed for: a character that transcends trends, a flexible and enduring IP.
OpenSea: Regarding your upcoming Mallow Inc., can you tell us how it expands the Super Universe and what role Spanky plays in it?
Super Freak: Yes, in a way, Mallow Inc. is the Super Universe. "Super Universe" is a term I've used for years to describe my work, but Mallow Inc. is a universe; everything is built within this universe - my art, collaborations, commercial advertisements - they all originate from the Mallow Inc. factory.
We don't see this as just a fun, gamified NFT drop; we are using this as a foundation to build a media and entertainment company. This may sound a bit ambitious, but that’s our goal. We are planting the seeds for new growth.
OpenSea: Why did you choose to launch Mallow Inc. on Ethereum?
Super Freak: This is the first blockchain I minted on. I know everyone is hyping memecoins on Solana now, but Ethereum is stable, it's tried and tested, and I'm familiar with it. I think most people in this space are familiar with it too. My goal is to bring back the retro vibe of NFTs from 2021, and Ethereum has basically become retro now.
OpenSea: For ideal Mallow Inc. holders, what does the journey from minting to long-term participation look like?
Super Freak: Back to the initial seed phase - we had the original Spanky & Friends series, which has always been considered a key. To avoid revealing too much, we designed different tokens to unlock limited edition prints, physical artworks, and various content.
If Mallow Inc. develops into a mature media company focused on IP like Spanky, we want as many people involved as possible to help us grow Spanky and gain global recognition.
I don't like to brag, but I think my thinking has changed. Our goal is to create fun, art-centric collectibles, not just rehashing the same old games, but refocusing on storytelling, physical art, and community. Mallow Inc. is such a platform - exclusive releases, limited editions, and endless fun.
Mallow Inc. is for those who want to be part of the story; its artistic style always hints at a broader world.
On Discord, I often interact with everyone, get feedback, share ideas, and we want to expand from there, creating everything from the ground up.
What excites me the most is our collaboration with a mature brand - Spanky - for serious NFT collectors, IP is crucial, and we provide a full suite of services. We won't force anything; Spanky has been around for ten years and has a rich history - collaborations with Coca-Cola, Spotify, (The New York Times), Budweiser... have all taken place.
I just completed a global clothing collection covered by Spanky in collaboration with Zara.
I want to show people that anything is possible. This isn’t just an ordinary merchandise launch - it's certified, vetted, and built in collaboration with major brands. This is the standard we've set from the beginning: we are strong, we are serious, and we pursue fun.
OpenSea: This actually leads to my next question - you've collaborated with many brands and editors. What have those experiences taught you about creating timeless IP? What is your dream cross-industry collaboration?
Super Freak: I've always dreamed of collaborating with Converse - I've always worn them. Fashion collaborations are something I'm very passionate about. The more I collaborate with brands like this, the more I realize how well Spanky and my collaborations fit together.
This is the essence of Mallow Inc. - it is an incubator for the Spanky self-branded clothing line. It’s not just a merchandise shop; it’s a physical store - like a pure Spanky-style brick-and-mortar shop.
The direction of Spanky is simply overwhelming; it is stunning in the best way.
OpenSea: Do you have any news to share?
Super Freak: The Zara series is set to launch in October. Meanwhile, I'm also working on a children's book series - the fifth book is about to be completed, and today I’m writing a children's book, and tomorrow I’ll design a billboard promotion for a milkshake company.
Last year, I was involved in designing Chobani's Halloween yogurt packaging, and we even created a complete AR game using characters made from yogurt ingredients. There’s always something new.
OpenSea: From a macro perspective, where do you think IP will be in five years?
Super Freak: To be honest, I think Spanky will become a household name, like Walmart plush toys, toys on the shelves.
Projects like Pudgy Penguins demonstrate the cross-industry capabilities of Web3 IP. People use Pudgy's emojis without knowing what they are, which is the cultural impact I hope Spanky will have - clever, playful, and universal.
OpenSea: Before we wrap up, there's one last thing - regarding how this event is artist-led and community-first, there's been a lot of discussion. Is this in some way a response to what has happened in the past?
Super Freak: Yes, indeed, some early experiences led me away from the creative direction I wanted and made my connection with the community feel distant. That period was extremely challenging for me, forcing me to step away from art and rethink all my creative methods.
Ultimately, I realized I needed to return to my roots - creating in a sincere, joyful, and quirky way without external constraints. Now, with Jon and Steve, we create in our own way, focusing on real people, real IP, and a true sense of purpose, which is exactly what people want in this field and what we are building.
OpenSea: It's exhilarating to see you turn it into something meaningful.
Super Freak: It was tough, but it taught me a lot. To be honest, problem-solving is the foundation of everything we creatives do, which is what makes the work fulfilling and fun. That's the essence of design, that's the essence of art, and that's the essence of Mallow Inc.
The OpenSea content you care about
Browse | Create | Buy | Sell | Auction
Follow OpenSea on Binance Channel
Stay updated
