FEATURE ARTIST
Jessica Ticchio
With a vision of boundless dreamscapes and gravity-defying sculptures, Jessica Ticchio is creating a world of her own.
Inspired by minimalism, surrealism and ubiquitous sculptural forms, Jessica’s vision is to reimagine the world through a contemporary art lens. Her work aims to evoke a sense of peace and calm, whilst bending our concept of reality; playing with the line between the real and surreal.
Over the years, Jessica has had work featured in exhibitions and press worldwide – including the Australian Design Centre Sydney, Crypto Portal Prague and Art Premium Magazine Paris.
READ Our Q&A with JESSICA TICCHIO Below
Jessica Ticchio, Into The Unknown (Detail)
What have you been up to, what have you been working on over the last year?
Hello! So happy to be here :~) In a nutshell, I’ve been practising art for as long as I can remember, but only in the last year or so do I feel I have really figured out my “style”. Now that I’m (finally!) here, it feels like a whole new world. I have so many sketches, ideas and collaboration concepts in my head, I’m in a constant state of excitement trying to bring them all to life!
Over the last year, I’ve minted NFTs across Foundation and 1stDibsNFT, created art for the beautiful Vera Blue, and have exhibited in the launch shows of both Ninety Three Bourke (new artist-run Sydney gallery) and Crypto Portal (Prague’s first NFT gallery). I created art prints for Slowdown Studio LA, and later self-released a “Lockdown Print Series” via my website to help bring some peace, calm and colour to those stuck in iso in this weird time. Although NFTs had just begun blowing up, I wanted to make sure my work was still accessible to those not yet acquainted with the metaverse. :~)
Tell us a bit about your art practice and any key themes throughout your work.
I have found myself delving more into the “experience” of art this year; reframing my art as a meditative practice itself. Sounds cliche, but my practice has brought so much clarity to my mind and become so intertwined in my daily life that it now transcends “work” and feels kind of like self-care. I heard the quote “both meditation and art require you to focus on the present moment”, which rings SO true to me.
Getting in touch with nature, looking at the world more closely, taking the time to really observe and notice details in everyday life that I may have been desensitised to previously – these are all the things that inspire my art, but simultaneously help me exist in a more relaxed (and less anxious) state of being. With this said, the key themes of my art now are emulating this sense of calm, meditation and reflection for others who may benefit from it as I have.
How did you first hear about NFTs, what did you think and when was that?
I am forever grateful to Matt Vernon for my early introduction to the NFT space in 2020. Matt, as Co-Founder and Head of Design at Foundation, invited me to be a part of the platform’s launch, with 24 other incredible artists. Matt taught me how to mint, how to price and even bought my first NFT! As he explained the concept of NFTs, I recall thinking the whole thing simply sounded too good to be true! I couldn’t imagine suddenly being able to monetise a practice I had been doing for years, just for the sheer joy of it. I knew the technology was incredible, but still had no idea ‘NFT’ would become everyday language in the mainstream too. So far, NFTs have been a total gamechanger and it’s only the beginning…
What have NFTs enabled for you? (economically, creatively, community wise)
With NFTs came a newfound sense of creative freedom. For a long time, I felt caught between the worlds of art and design, without a bridge connecting the two. I love creating for brands and clients in my studio life, but creating my own art feels equally fulfilling… just in a different way. The ability to monetise my art practice (real talk) has given me the leverage I needed to be able to split my time between my love for both art and design, and my two worlds now exist in perfect harmony. :’)
How have NFTs informed your art practice?
NFTs have informed my art practice through facilitating a more personal connection between myself and my audience. Before NFTs, I didn’t feel as though I was part of the digital art community, nor did I feel my art was really having that much of an impact… But since the dawn of NFTs, I’ve been able to build relationships with collectors and followers, hearing more personal interpretations of why people gravitate towards my work. This insight has allowed me to zone more into the positive and calming feelings I’ve learnt my art can evoke – a notion that now constantly informs my practice.
What attracted you about showcasing at Satellite?
Joining the gallery space has always been an aspiration, but for a long time it seemed somewhat unobtainable in the digital art world. 3D art has been restricted to social media sharing for so long, I never thought major exhibitions dedicated to art like mine would suddenly exist, so I feel very, very lucky to be showcasing at Satellite.
I was also attracted to Satellite as it’s not your traditional art-on-walls exhibition. In my studio life as the Art Director of Studio Messa, I specialise in experiential design, so I’ve really appreciated being able to utilise immersive light, sound and space to create a deeper level of connection between my artwork and the viewer.
Can you tell us more about the story and inspiration behind your Satellite submission?
I’ve always been so intrigued by the concept of mirages; the mind’s ability to create a visual that plays on the line of appearing both completely impossible, yet so convincingly real… it just blows my mind! That was the key inspiration behind my “Mirage” series, but my artwork “Moonlight Horizon” also exists within this intersection – dream-like elements grounded in reality. In this piece, I‘ve attempted to visualise the abstract concept of mindfulness and meditation, interpreting an intangible notion as a physical space and exploring what that could look like.
Is there an NFT you’re most proud of, and why?
I’m most proud of my NFT “Into The Unknown” – a piece I created at the very beginning of the first Covid lockdown. Unable to leave the house, I found my mind constantly dreaming of expansive open spaces that juxtaposed my confined reality, and creating this surreal scene planted a little seed of hope in me. This NFT has become a bit of a symbolic representation of a “light at the end of the tunnel” for me in this pandemic. (Also Pat McGrath shared it on her instagram !!!)
Can you share any plans for upcoming projects?
I’m super into the crossover of digital art and the physical world (hello @ Satellite), so am VERY excited to announce I’m working with Infinite Objects on my very own artist collection! I can’t say too much more, but this year I’m planning to keep creating, minting and hopefully exhibiting more and more (HMU @ curators) so watch this space! Thanks for coming on the journey :’)
Don’t miss seeing Jessica Ticchio NFTs at Satellite 2022
international NFT art
exhibition in Sydney
A month-long, digitally immersive and sensory experience Bringing together over 40 NFT artworks from leading influential Australian and international artists, in Bondi Beach this March.
