Exclusive Interview w/ DotPigeon
We were lucky enough to catch up with the Italy-based digital artist, DotPigeon, fresh off his incredibly successful sophomore drop on Nifty Gateway. Bringing in more than $1 million USD, his release is certainly one of the most successful in the entire NFT space to date. To top off a true whirlwind of a weekend, DotPigeon coordinated the NFT release to coincide with his physical showcase in Milan. As we’ll discuss in the interview, he was able to bring fresh eyes from the fine art world into the NFT world by doing the two simultaneous shows.
Before we jump into it, I just want to say how much we enjoyed this discussion, he is funny, humble, and insightful. We hope you find a deeper connection to his artwork through this interview.
So - you’re fresh off of a digital drop on Nifty Gateway that grossed over $1million USD. How are you feeling?
Well, let's start with the fact that I never imagined that the drop could go that well.
I was optimistic because I've put so much effort and I really love the art. But I didn't expect that success at all. I slept [for] two days after, I'm still "recovering" from the shake honestly…maybe [I haven’t] realized it 100% yet.
That’s awesome. It ran at the same time as a physical showcase, too, right?
Yes, it ran with my first solo show ever here in Milan with the gallery that represents me Plan X Art Gallery and it was also empowered by Larry's List (go check if you don't follow the page).
So…it was a unique drop with two souls I'd say because the purpose was to merge these two worlds that are different but let's say they have something in common to be [discussed].
Did any of the collectors from the physical show buy any of your NFT pieces as well?
Absolutely! There was an incredible number of "first-time NFT buyers" from [the] traditional art world and honestly, this is also a great achievement [for] me.
I feel I've accomplished the main purpose…[to] get people from [the] traditional art world, [to] talk, appreciate and buy art from [the] NFT world. It was a rush actually.
That’s HUGE. I think the timing was perfectly orchestrated to expose more of the “fine art” world to the digital NFT space.
We filmed the "teaser movie" the same day the show opened…then we edited it and I was able to post it the same day, so yes, perfectly orchestrated also in this way.
My dark twisted fantasy.
— DotPigeon (@_dotpigeon) March 6, 2021
Physical solo show + @niftygateway drop.
Can’t be more pumped.
From 6.30 on Nifty Gateway.
🔥❤️ pic.twitter.com/5oQSFwHpmC
No time to second guess it. Just do it…or dont.
One of my "best" sources of inspiration in the past years. You actually can't see because i've archived them but there are so many other artworks that use Trump in my feed :D
How long have you been creating digital art and how did you get started?
I started very very early, I was 14. I used to post everything on forums and on deviantart. It was more illustration work - not conceptual at all, but i've always enjoyed to express myself someway.
I started creating artwork under DotPigeon name back in 2017…I was unsatisfied by my job, I felt frustrated and underestimated, so I looked for a space where I could put my ideas, 100% mine, without client restrictions, boss approvals and so on.
Instagram was a place where [I could] find relief.
What does the DotPigeon name mean? And where did the ski mask come from?
DotPigeon comes very naturally from my love for pigeons hahaha [such] underrated animals if you think about it…you give them puke, they eat it, if you give them lobster, they eat it. They know how to adapt.
I think the pigeon somewhat represents my attitude. The balaclava guy is part of a changing process of my art path and it represents the hidden feelings we all feel…he's the guy who screams when we can't - who destroys everything when we obviously can’t in the real world. He talks about our true nature vs what we show to others.
Because you know, we are all so polite nowadays…so nice and smiling. But I don't think people really smile a lot inside.
Political correctness culture?
Yes - that is good I mean, there's no reason to be unpolite freely but sometimes I think that it's a little bit too much.
I noticed you bought a Rhymez Like A Dimez piece on Nifty Gateway.
Yes. I LOVE its style.
I was unable to purchase it at the time of the drop because I fell asleep - in Italy, it's always 1 am and I was really tired because I was finishing organizing things for my drop.
Still got it at its retail price though thanks to PAPER HANDS!
hahaha, paper hands are a bless[ing].
Who are some other artists that you're following and buying from the paper hands out there?
I always follow the golden rule of NFTs: buy what you love. That's it. I don't buy to resell, [I] just buy pieces I really love.
