Erick Calderon, better known as Snowfro, is the founder of Art Blocks, the platform behind iconic generative art series such as Chromie Squiggles (original), Tyler Hobbs' Fidenza, and Monica Rizzoli's Fragments of an Infinite Field.
Although he is now recognized as a key figure in the generative art field, Calderon's journey began in a completely different industry: running a tile business. He viewed tiles as the most durable home solution, reflecting his current views on NFTs and digital art as lasting, authentic records with timestamps.
As Calderon explained to (Right Click Save) magazine: 'What I do now—developing technology to create art that lasts from a certification and timestamp perspective—feels similar to my tile work 20 years ago. Tiles are still the best solution, and I believe NFTs are the best way to record digital art.' After transitioning from a tile business to digital art, Calderon continues to innovate and inspire in the art world.
Today, Calderon no longer works in tile design, but his contributions to generative art continue to bring beauty to homes in updated, more digital ways. Here are key facts about his personal projects and the platform he created for generative artists. Calderon's work is especially important in the digital age, where technology and creative expression merge to redefine the possibilities of art.
What is generative art?
Generative art has revolutionized the way we create and experience art. With the rise of digital technology, artists can now use algorithms and machine learning to create unique and complex patterns, shapes, and forms that are difficult or impossible to create by hand. One of the pioneers in this field is Erick Calderon, also known as Snowfro, who has made significant contributions to the world of generative art.
Who is Snowfro?
Erick Calderon, also known as Snowfro, is a generative artist and entrepreneur from Houston, Texas. He is the founder of the pioneering platform Art Blocks in the field of generative art. Snowfro's work explores the functional applications of NFT technology in the art world. He is a key figure in the development of the digital art movement, inspiring a new generation of artists and collectors with his background in tile making and enthusiasm for digital technology.
Snowfro is the founder of Art Blocks and a creative artist.
Art Blocks is a platform that provides artists and buyers with on-demand tools for creating generative NFT art. Calderon founded the platform in November 2020, and less than six months after its launch, he had already hired a full-time team to serve the platform.
He explained in an interview: 'Our job is to present the best generative art created by the world's finest artists. We want to elevate generative art to the top level.'
Essentially, artists on Art Blocks upload the code for their generative art projects, which autonomously generates digital artworks. This process is unpredictable, as neither the artist nor the buyer knows the final result of each piece until it is minted.
While artists can set parameters, such as the total number of pieces that can be minted, they cannot control individual outputs, making the experience surprising for both parties. This allows algorithms to create infinite permutations, showcasing the innovative potential of generative design. The generative system enables artists to explore complex and innovative designs through computational processes.
Chromie Squiggle is Snowfro's first generative art series.
When founding Art Blocks, Calderon was actually the first artist to introduce the Chromie Squiggles project to the platform. Calderon simply wanted to prove that the Art Blocks process was viable, but the Chromie Squiggles project became a standalone success, becoming one of the most sought-after generative art series in the field.
While Calderon is excited about its success, it has also raised the standards for his next creative endeavors. The Chromie Squiggle series was created using computer graphics, showcasing the innovative application of technology in digital art.
Calderon once explained: 'Due to the experience with Chromie Squiggles, I feel both incredibly excited and terrified to create another piece. Initially, they were just a proof of concept, not an art form, but over time they became recognizable works that I am very proud of now.'
The Chromie Squiggle series has a cap of 10,000 pieces, but Calderon reserved 500 for selective release. Each Squiggle in the series is unique and generated from six different types of lines: normal, bold, blurred, tight, ribbed, and tubular, all sharing common visual features that helped the project gain recognition in the digital art space.
On August 21, 2024, Calderon will donate the generative art piece Chromie Squiggle #9999, created through computer code and delivered in NFT form, to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
This final piece was created on the Art Blocks platform, showcasing the cutting-edge possibilities of generative design in traditional art spaces. The work is now part of LACMA's permanent collection, with copyright still held by Erick Calderon.
Snowfro has developed a unique digital art style.
Snowfro's digital art style is characterized by vibrant and winding lines, often exploring themes of color and fluidity. His works, such as the iconic Chromie Squiggle, demonstrate the power of generative art to push boundaries and create captivating visual experiences.
Snowfro's artworks often exist entirely on the blockchain, generating new and unique pieces with each minting. This unique artistic approach has made Snowfro a leading figure in the generative art movement.
Snowfro's creative process utilizes algorithms
Snowfro's creative process involves using algorithms and machine learning to create unique and complex patterns, shapes, and forms. He often uses coding languages like JavaScript and GLSL to produce his digital art.
Snowfro's artistic approach is highly experimental, constantly pushing the boundaries of generative art. His work demonstrates the power of technology to create novel and innovative forms of art.
Snowfro believes in the power of collaboration and making generative art accessible.
The initial launch of Art Blocks sparked interest and demand in the art world. To this end, Calderon led the platform in changing the way projects were auctioned. According to ArtNet data, this model shifted to starting auctions at high prices and regularly decreasing by fixed amounts, causing Art Blocks to drop from a peak of $70 million to $2 million in less than a month. This was a deliberate and calm way for Calderon to make generative art popular again.
In addition to leading a platform that makes generative art easier to share and buy, Calderon has also ventured into more projects beyond Chromie Squiggles.
His friendship bracelet project in collaboration with artist Alexis André (also known as MacTuitui) is a freely mintable NFT entity series, providing owners with instructions to create unique friendship bracelet physical versions alongside the NFT. Those who purchase a friendship bracelet NFT also receive another NFT to share with a friend.
Whether through his own collections or his platform, Calderon proves every day that generative art is a continuous surprise for artists and owners alike, laying the groundwork for others to push the boundaries of NFT art.
Snowfro founded the Art Blocks community.
Art Blocks is a community-driven platform that allows artists to upload algorithms to create generative art and unique NFTs, becoming a hub for generative artists with sales exceeding $1.4 billion.
Snowfro's vision for Art Blocks is to create a space where artists can showcase their work and connect with collectors and enthusiasts. The platform has become a leading destination for generative art, and Snowfro's leadership has played a significant role in its success.
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