Exclusive Interview with Amir H. Fallah
Disclaimer: This article is not intended as investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.
Amir H. Fallah is a multidisciplinary artist from Los Angeles, California. He graduated with a BFA in Fine Art/Painting from Maryland Institute College of Art and with a MFA in Painting from UCLA. His work has been exhibited extensively in group and solo shows in the United States and abroad.
Amir minted his first NFT, “Immortal”, 5 months ago on SuperRare. He has minted a total of 7 (1 of 1) NFTs on the SuperRare platform. We interviewed Amir about his art career and his thoughts on NFTs.
Exclusive Interview
You have an MFA in painting from UCLA and a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art. How would you rate your experience as an art student?
“Overall it was great. I think the best thing about art school is that it gives you the time and space to study and learn. There are no shortcuts in art so studying something intensely and learning the history of what came before you is extremely important. Even 20 years later I’ll remember something I read in college about a painting from the 17th century and it will somehow inform the work I’m making now. You certainly don’t have to go to art school to be an artist but it’s hard to replicate that type of exposure and focus to art in day to day situations.”
Do you think a course on NFT/blockchain technology should be taught at art school?
“Blockchain will certainly be taught in schools as it is groundbreaking technology. As for NFTs, digital art and digital art history are already taught in art school. There’s a misunderstanding in the NFT space that the art world looks down at work made using technology but that just isn’t true. It’s been taught for decades and NFTs will just become a part of those courses moving forward.
The NFT space could benefit from more exposure to art history and understanding where some of the criticism comes from in the traditional art world. The term NFT is a very broad umbrella that holds music, collectibles, art, and other utility based tech. In the future I can see different platforms catering to these sub genres. We can’t use the generic term “Art” for all NFTs. The worlds of Illustration, design, collectibles and fine art all have very different wants and needs and as the NFT space evolves artists and collectors should learn as much as they can about these various mediums and how the work they make/collect fits into that genres broader history.”
Artist from the traditional art world are experimenting with NFTs. A painting can take hours/weeks/months to create. A digitized painting can also take hours/weeks/months to create but they can be duplicated an infinite amount of times. What steps do you think artist who mint NFTs should take to have a sustainable career?
“It all comes down to supply and demand. At the end of the day there aren’t many collectors in the traditional or NFT art world. There are only a few thousand serious collectors and millions of artists. Keeping a limited number of works in circulation will be an asset if you’re in it for the long haul. I like to think about my career long term. Where do you want to be 10 years from now? Who are artists that came before me that have had long careers and what can I learn from them? Right now it’s very early in the NFT space but I think most will realize that when the dust settles the medium of art isn’t that important. It’s what you do with it. Have something to say, have a unique point of view in your work, and create something that nobody has seen before. That’s what I strive for every time I walk into the studio regardless of whether I’m making a painting or working on an animated NFT.”
Creating NFTs shows that you are open to new mediums. What other digital mediums do you want to experiment with(Virtual reality, collectible projects, 3D, etc)?
“All artists should experiment and try new mediums. I’m curious by nature so when I see new technology or something interesting I jump in and learn. Everyone in the NFT space has been very welcoming and helped me learn the ropes. One of the best things about this space has been creating animated NFTs. Two years ago I would have never thought of doing so but now I’m excited by the possibilities and looking to explore animation more. In fact the animated NFTs I’ve made have influenced my paintings so it all goes full circle. I’m open to exploring ideas for collectibles or 3D works or doing a physical/NFT hybrid project. It’s all fair game.”
Which crypto/NFT artist are your favorite?
“I’m digging the work of Praystation (Joshua Davis), Sarah Zucker, Chuck Anderson, Mark Schoenig, Emma Webster, @pixla, Fvckrender, Jen Stark, Nigel Evan Dennis, Eboy, and many others. Too many to name.”
If you had an unlimited budget, what type of project would you like to create?
“I’m a big believer in art in all forms and the power of living with art. I would love to do something that introduces physical art to NFT folks and NFT works to traditional artists. Perhaps a piece where an NFT is paired with a Bronze sculpture? Maybe you get a Samsung Frame tv with the NFT so you’re encouraged to display the work and live with it. If more people did that they would get the appeal of NFTs instantly.”
