Digital artist Mike Winkelmann, born in Wisconsin, has called himself 'Beeple' since 2003, a name derived from a toy he liked from the 1980s.
Since he chose 'Beeple' as his artist name over 20 years ago, the association with toys has diminished, becoming more connected to the artistic legacy created by Beeple, especially in the Web3 art space.
In a profile by The Washington Post, Beeple elaborates on his artistic style and the legacy he hopes to leave behind:
I try to create works that deliberately evoke a strange atmosphere, slightly blurred, so that sometimes even when I finish, I think: yeah, I don't know what that is; I couldn't remember what I was thinking at the time. For me, processing and understanding some of these themes is almost therapeutic.
Beeple's works are dramatic, colorful, and thought-provoking. In 2007, he committed to creating and sharing a new piece of art every day, a project that led to collaborations with iconic classic brands like Louis Vuitton and subsequently launched his first NFT series 'EVERYDAYS: THE 2020 COLLECTION.'
But who exactly is the artist behind these sensational works? Let's take a look at how Winkelmann views creativity, his projects, and the figures and brands he has collaborated with throughout his decades-long career.
His 'Everydays' project helped clarify his vision for digital art creation
When Beeple decided to create a new animation every day, he established that this project had no rules, except that he had to create something every day. This 'Everydays' project requires him to create one piece of art every day since May 1, 2007, and as of the writing of this article, he has created continuously for 6048 days.
On his website, he explains that the goal of this project is to enhance his artistic skills, and the latest round of creations focuses on honing his proficiency with popular animation software like Cinema 4D and Octane. Each year, Beeple uses the 'Everydays' project to focus on specific skills or mediums, ultimately improving his painting techniques.
In 2022, he was interviewed by The Washington Post, reflecting on the inspiration he hopes other creatives and artists will draw from his years-long project, especially regarding the motivation and mindset required to persevere. Winkelmann believes that the 'Everydays' project is a valuable exercise in honing painting skills.
Beeple added, 'You won't have inspiration every day; on most days, I don't. I'm an ordinary person, busy with other mundane tasks all day. Now that I'm home, I think, do I really want to spend another two or three hours on the computer? Not really. But when you have this project and build up momentum, that momentum really helps you get through those days, like, okay, buddy, sit here, we gotta do something.'
His style is clearly dystopian and satirical
Beeple's artistic style blends characters and scenes commonly found in pop culture and politics, often used to satirize current events. His works frequently depict dystopian futures, employing humor and sarcasm to comment on the state of the world, a unique creative approach that enables him to produce thought-provoking works that resonate with a broad audience.
Winkelmann's use of digital art allows him to experiment with new technologies and push the boundaries of media; the themes of his work often explore the intersection of technology and society, reflecting on how our lives are increasingly shaped by the digital world.
Traditional brands have sought partnerships with him
There is no contradiction between Coca-Cola and Pepsi, at least in terms of collaboration with Beeple; even before he released the notorious (EVERYDAYS: THE 2020 COLLECTION) (which sold for $69 million for one NFT), the artist had already collaborated with brands like NBC, Apple, and Nike.
For example, collaborating with the luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton, 13 artworks were selected from Beeple's 'Everydays' series and integrated into 13 pieces of their Spring/Summer 2019 ready-to-wear collection, showcasing the fusion of digital art and mainstream fashion.
According to Esquire, when Louis Vuitton showcased the collection at the Louvre, Beeple was seated front row at Paris Fashion Week.
When Beeple collaborated with TIME magazine, he created an NFT cover featuring the magazine's iconic red border, themed 'The Future of Business,' which later sold for $230,000.
His works are available at auction houses and NFT marketplaces
Beeple's works have been exhibited in numerous exhibitions and performances worldwide. The year 2021 marked a significant moment in his career when his NFT work (EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS) was sold at the renowned traditional auction house Christie's for a record price, a milestone event that marked the first pure non-fungible token sold by a major auction house.
Another notable work of his is the generative sculpture (HUMAN ONE), which has been exhibited in several renowned museums, including the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas, and the Gibbs Museum of Art, which will showcase three dynamic sculptures created by Beeple's studio under the leadership of Mike Winkelmann in 2024.
He released his first NFT in 2020
Before launching his first complete series, Beeple experimented in the NFT space to better understand the field and gauge the NFT community's reception of his work, resulting in widespread acclaim for his pieces.
The NFT series consists of three items, including two 1-of-1 NFTs, 'CRYPTO IS BULLSHIT' and 'CROSSROAD,' along with 100 versions of 'POLITICS IS BULLSHIT.'
At the time, the initial sale price for 'CROSSROAD' was $66,000, linked to the upcoming November 2020 election. As a dynamic NFT, it would change based on who won the election, and once President Biden was announced the winner, a bare, face-down Trump became the NFT.
His first complete set of collectibles sold at auction for $3.5 million
After assessing the success of the Genesis series, Beeple selected 20 pieces from his 'Everydays' project and transformed them into EVERYDAYS: THE 2020 COLLECTION.
In just one weekend, this collection sold for $3.5 million, causing a sensation in the art world, so much so that Christie's in the UK later auctioned off a piece by Beeple.
Notably, this was also Christie's first NFT auction, and it marked their first acceptance of Ether as a payment method. The 'EVERDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS' NFT is a loosely curated collection arranged chronologically, gathering the initial 5,000 days of Beeple's EVERDAYS project, which sold for $69.5 million.
His impact on the art world is profound
In just over three years, Beeple has created a legend that far exceeds these highlights, but we can only take up so much of your time. As a pioneer of digital art, Beeple will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, inspiring a new generation of artists and collectors.
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