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ARTIST INTERVIEW
STEVEN BALTAY
ODDLY SATISFYING
APRIL 6, 2021 BY: JC RODRIGUEZ
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Based in Brooklyn, Steven Baltay is one of the most sought after digital artists in the current NFT craze. Widely recognized as one of the most important contributors to the NFT art movement, Steven Baltay known as @realimposter mesmerizes and captures our attention. Twisted, disgusting, beautiful, and thought-provoking is how we'd describe his digital creations. It's like kinetic sand for your eyes with sensory overloaded animations that are oddly satisfying and beautiful. From the color palette to the organic shaping of images, you are immersed in a different world.
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We had the opportunity to discuss the current NFT craze and how the art market fits into it all. The decentralization of the art market leaves many questions for the future of the art world and other industries. For now it is certainly giving a new platform and opportunity to artists like Baltay to see and be seen. Digital artists have been under appreciated until now and are moving the forefront of the global art market.
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© Steven Baltay
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Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hey! my name is Steven Baltay, I’m an artist based in Brooklyn NY. I was initially introduced to 3d animation in 3rd grade around 2002. I Knew I loved it immediately and obsessively learned everything I could about it up through college. I ended up taking some time off from animation to learn painting and fine art. Around 2016 I Got into street art for a while, but ultimately ended up getting arrested for that which led me to start my Instagram and focus everything into digital art.
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What is your earliest memory in art?
I remember having an art teacher when I was young who helped me make a painting of a bird. She would come over and paint over what I had and make it look beautiful. I remember having this amazement someone could paint like that.
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How did you develop your style?
My style is very fluid. I’m always evolving it and chipping away at things. It’s really just a collection of everything I’ve seen that I’ve loved over the last 10 years. I love working with the matte white finish like plaster sculptures and the pastel colors of sunset. And the pink and blue tones like the color under your tongue is what I like to think of as the primary colors of life, just because that’s really what we are made of.
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The NFT market is all the rage right now. What are your thoughts in the market, artists, collectors, etc?
I think nfts are a huge paradigm shift. The most beautiful thing about it is anyone who started digital art 5 years ago didn’t do it to get rich or famous. They made art and put it out for free, and that was enough. Now they finally are getting compensation and are starting to be included in the art world just like a painters or sculptors.
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© Steven Baltay
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What do you think NFTs will do to democratize the art market?
I think a good thing about NFTs is it decentralizes the art marketplace. Anyone can sell/buy/trade their art instantly with whoever they want. Things like agents/galleries/authenticators etc are all still helpful but completely optional.
Who are some of your favorite artists?
I’m a big fan of Frank Guzzone, Dan Lam, Aeforia, Gmunk, and Tudisco Brothers just to name a few. In the Nft world I’m a big fan of Fewocious and Pak. Also excited for up and coming NFT artists like Bananakin, Sam Clover, and Yonk. And of course traditionally I’m a massive fan of Basquiat and Monet.
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If you could collaborate with any artist dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Basquiat with no hesitation! He was such an iconic painter and has always been my favorite.
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What do you want to accomplish with your art?
I really just want to bring people some kind of momentary happiness or joy. The more people that see my work the the more I feel like I can achieve that.
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We are giving you an open platform, what do you want to tell the people?
I remember working my previous 9-5 office job and being convinced by my boss that everyone has a part of their job they hate and that’s just the way life is. And I’ve realized that that is completely not true. Life is kind of like climbing a mountain and every second you spend working for someone else or doing something your not excited about, is kind of like sitting at the bottom watching everyone climb.
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To get the full grasp of Steven Baltay's work we suggest you explore the following:
Website
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