1/1 Artist Spotlight: Arrogant Kei

ONE37pm's 1/1 Artist Spotlight is a series that focuses on giving love to 1 of 1 NFT Artists. Whether they're from the traditional art world or just got started in art through web3, we want to highlight and help you get to know those who are up and coming.

A 1/1 NFT is a unique, one-of-a-kind digital collectible where no other exists other than the piece itself.  Each 1/1 collection has a limited amount of editions available, with the number dictated by the artist. We hope to introduce you to talented and incredible people in the NFT space and the reasons they love doing what they do.

Kei, also known as Arrogant Kei, is an artist best known for his surrealistic pieces with astral and spiritual themes. He takes inspiration from Greco and roman sculptures in terms of how they pull realism and emotion out of the viewer, and uses angelic imagery to convey the image of higher beings.

In addition to being an impactful storyteller, Kei's social media feed is constantly filled with pieces from other artists. His belief in uplifting and sharing the art of fellow creators not only helps the visibility of NFT art, but is a key example of how supportive the 1/1 artist community is.

Arrogant Kei chatted with ONE37pm about his art journey, advice for new artists, and about the elements that form his unique style.

You can view his work on Foundation and Twitter.

ONE37pm: How has your artist journey changed since joining NFTs? How did you start?

Kei: Joining NFTs has not changed much in terms of where I want to go with my art, but it has created many opportunities, and I've made some of the best friends of my life in this community, and met collectors that have genuine interest in art. Ones that are looking for the next Basquiat or Warhol in the space. I started NFTs at the beginning of last year from just being in art forums and group chats. People were telling me about this, as it is an innovative and game-changing way for artists to connect with ones truly interested in the art.

ONE37pm: Do you prefer physical or digital?

Kei: All of my work is digital! My experience with it has been great because the possibilities are endless with digital. I use Cinema 4D, Photoshop, and Procreate. If you mess up, it is easy to erase.

ONE37pm: What is your focus with your art?

Kei: My focus is to force the viewer to feel something. Pull the emotion from the screen and resonate it in their own way.

ONE37pm: What is your favorite piece?

Kei: My favorite piece is honestly one I have not released yet haha, but my currently posted favorite is "my soul is linked to you" I focused on visualizing some of the energy emitted from 2 beings in sync. The posing was vital to the intimacy of the piece. One thing I took from this piece that was interesting was seeing people tag their significant other to my work as a gesture of love. That happens a lot and is honestly amazing to see.

ONE37pm: What do you hope to accomplish in the next year?

Kei: In the next year, I plan to continue my growth in the art community and the NFT community. I plan to continue to expand the world I am creating and have my work surface in exhibitions and museums. Also, I want to take talented artists along with me. Ones I fully believe in, that have been there through it all. 

ONE37pm: When do you feel most inspired to create?

Kei: Those good days when it feels like everything is going right are the best times to create for me. I may watch a movie or read an article or book and get a spark of inspiration to create something. On the other hand, the bad days when I may overthink things can be good times to create as well. Pouring your worries onto a canvas or a screen can have therapeutic effects.

ONE37pm: What single, most important, advice would you give to an up and coming artist in the space?

Kei: Make genuine relationships. Connect with people in the space and don't be afraid to reach out. Also, experiment. I found my style fully through experimentation.