Jacob Shedevrs is a self-taught conceptual artist known for his unique and humorous approach to art. Shedevrs has developed a reputation as an outsider in the art world, with his witty, edgy, and comedic creations often causing a stir among critics and audiences alike.Born and raised in Tbilisi, Shedevrs was always drawn to the creative arts, but it wasn’t until he discovered the world of Crypto Art that he truly found his voice as an artist. Shedevrs’ work is often inspired by the absurdities and contradictions of modern life, and he uses humor as a tool to challenge preconceived notions and inspire thought.
In addition to his NFTs and social media, He has exhibited his work in galleries across Tbilisi and beyond, gaining a loyal following among collectors and art lovers alike.
With his bold and thought-provoking art, Jacob Shedevrs is a rising star in the world of NFTs and contemporary art. His work is a must-see for anyone looking to experience something truly unique and challenging.
For more information about Jacob, check out his Instagram.
Hi Jacob, it’s a pleasure to sit down with you. First question. How does a regular day look like for you in Tbilisi, Georgia?
Hey Ruben! The pleasure is all mine. I usually notice it’s already midnight when I’m in the middle of making art, being lazy, and consuming a lot of pop culture via the internet. Being a modern-day artist can be kind of boring, but I find that my best work comes out when I’m feeling bored. So, it works for me.
When did you start to draw / paint? And what’s your earliest memory of you creating something?
Actually, I don’t remember. Doesn’t every child draw?
I heard through the grapevine that you were a fairly successful painter in your early teenage years. But one day you decided to stop painting completely. Talk to me a little bit about why you stopped and your thought process at the time.
Haha, I suppose you could say that. It doesn’t seem like a big deal now, but back then it was to me. I was just having fun with it.
Things started to go downhill when everyone around me pressured me to take art more seriously and encouraged me to go to art school. I didn’t enjoy my time at art school and felt like it completely interfered with my art. I was just a dumb child and didn’t know any better, so one day I just woke up not feeling up to painting. And I continued to feel that way for the next 7-8 years.
But then one day when you’re around 21 years old, you decide to start creating art again. This time with a completely different outlook. What brought you back and what had you been doing for almost 10 years?
I used to try everything to figure out what I was. I graduated from a math & physics high school, played football, studied international relations with a focus on China, and even learned how to solve a Rubik’s cube in 15 seconds(anything but art). I worked in advertising and startups, but never considered art. In fact, I even disliked it. But eventually, I discovered my passion for creating and haven’t looked back since.
I remember the first time I created art. I was working as a copywriter, surrounded by designers in a stuffy room. I was bored out of my mind, so I decided to open MS Paint and draw a tiger with my half-broken mouse. It was hilarious, and I haven’t stopped creating art since. While my style has evolved over time, the excitement and joy of making art never fades.
Staying on the subject. What made you switch to digital art instead of regular painting?
The answer is NFTs. I believe that the future of art is digital, and I want to be at the forefront of that movement. I also appreciate the creative advantages that digital art offers, even though I don’t use them. That being said, I still love working on physical art. It provides a different sensation and I’m not done with it yet. In the future, I plan on working on large canvases and installations.
Which leads me to the next question. Last year (2021) you actually decided to quit your job and focus on NFTs and Crypto, as a full time career. Talk to me a little bit about that transition and how it’s been going so far.
The riskiest thing I’ve ever done was quitting my job without a backup plan. But I figured that, If I’m going to try, I’m going to go all the way. It wasn’t the smartest decision, but it was the correct one. I was done with 9-5 grind and wanted to break out of that cycle. I was like, “Fuck this shit, I’m gonna become an artist” and I did. And so far, it’s been going great. Turns out, When you believe in yourself, others do too.
I’ve even found that I have too much free time on my hands. Turns out, you don’t need that much time to make art, so I’m looking for new ways to stay active, get to know cool people in the art and NFT world and continue making more art.
I know this might be a dumb question, having launched several NFT collections. But what are your thoughts on the future of NFTs and the shift they bring to the art scene?
2 things are going to happen:
– art will become more accessible – Less gatekeeping bullshit, more freedom and power to artists.
– Digital art will thrive – take notice of Generative art and AI art.
Staying on the subject. With NFTs rise in popularity and crypto becoming mainstream, where do you see NFTs in 10 years, compared to the traditional art scene as we know it? And what will be more popular?
The main enemy of NFTs and crypto becoming mainstream is its non-stable nature. But there is no doubt that they are here to stay and grow.
First, I believe that NFTs will have a significant impact on the art world. Before NFTs, digital art was not widely recognized as being equal to physical art. Now, with the rise of NFTs and technologies like AI art and generative art, we may be entering a new era of digital art and a digital renaissance.
NFTs will give artists more control over their art. In the past, artists needed galleries, dealers, and collectors to sell their work. With NFTs, artists can sell their work directly to collectors. This changes the power dynamics in the art world and gives artists more control over their careers.
It is difficult to predict which will be more popular, traditional art or NFTs, in 10 years. However, it is likely that the popularity of NFTs will continue to grow as more people become familiar with the technology and its potential to revolutionize the art world.
Your pieces always come with a message or a quote. How long does it take you to come up with those? And is there a deeper meaning behind them?
It’s difficult to say because my brain is constantly, passively thinking about ideas. Whatever happens, happens. I don’t like to think too deeply about things, but sometimes there are deeper meanings in my work. This is not intentional, and the main goal is still to be funny, It’s just that often funny things have a deeper meaning.
For the most part your pieces always feature relevant subjects, so you’re obviously very in tune with what’s being talked about and what’s going on around the world. What makes something worthy of gracing one of your pieces?
A goal is to be more than trendy. I work with ideas that don’t get forgotten in 2 weeks. Also, it has to make me smile. If it doesn’t make me smile, you will never see it.
My art is like memes, but timeless.
What do you hope that we, the observers get out of your artwork?
I think an artist’s job ends where observer’s begin. I only hope that they get whatever I’m saying, which I’m doing in a fairly straightforward manner. That said, I don’t care if my art gets misinterpreted. If you don’t get it, you don’t get it.
Where do you go to get inspired and what motivated you?
I don’t chase inspiration, I just let it come to me. Anything can inspire me – a random object, a meme, a joke, a word, or a sentence. I don’t really rely on motivation either. I don’t need a motivation or a reason to make art, – I just get things done, even when I’m not feeling particularly motivated. I’ve found a way to be productive without motivation, and that’s by being lazy. It may sound weird, but it works for me. Go figure.
What’s your favorite movie(s) and why?
Jojo Rabbit and Whiplash. Now that I think about it, I guess both of them together describe me too, Finding a weird humor in the worst possible situation and being obsessed with your art. That feels like me. I dislike movies in general though.
Who’s your favorite artist(s) and why?
I am. I think everyone should be their own favorite artist, if not, then what’s the point? As my good friend Christopher said, “After all, If we don’t favor yourselves, there’s nothing to build on”. I liked Baldessari though, he was tall and fun. I also like Bo Burnham. He’s an artist, isn’t he? And he’s also tall and fun. Guess I have a type.
