For Black Futures Month, we’re catching up with George Brown College graduates to celebrate their success and to find out how they’re continuing to chart an inspiring path forward.
Joshua Hyman’s luxury art is about to reach a new height. The George Brown College School of Design grad is set to unveil a piece of NFT (non-fungible token) art made with 600 diamonds (sponsored by Toronto jeweller Kimberfire), 20,000 Swarovski crystals and 24 karat gold leaf.
The upcoming piece Acension will be unveiled and up for sale on March 11 at the launch of the new NFT marketplace Deliciae—an event that will feature Hyman as the star artist (he goes by Josh Hy, The DeZinr in the art world).
“It’s a really big event that I’m excited to be a part of,” he said.
Hyman won’t reveal details about the work ahead of the launch but says Acension is the first NFT art to include so many rich materials. Check his Instagram for details.
Hyman began incorporating luxury elements into his art when he established his creative shop The DeZinr in 2018.
“There was part of me that wanted to show more of my subconscious and my soul,” he said. "The reason I use crystals, diamonds or gold is because they are natural materials, and it goes back to who I am. It represents my character in a visual manner.”
Stunning portraits and other mixed media art
Hyman is a talented portraitist, mixed media artist and graphic designer. He graduated from the Advanced Graphic Design program in 2006. Under The DeZinr banner, he produces luxury mixed media art, including portraits of pop culture icons. See examples of his work at thedezinr.com/store.
He also continues to freelance as a graphic designer and UI/UX designer.
When asked what advice he has for other artists hoping to make turn their talent into an entrepreneurial opportunity, he said the most important thing is to “practice being yourself.”
“Don’t try to follow the next person or be afraid to do what’s in your heart,” he said. “The world wants to see unique things, and everyone is unique in their own way.”
What's an NFT?
NFTs are digital assets — in Hyman’s case, his artwork — that are cataloged on a blockchain, and that blockchain record serves as verification of NFT ownership.
Non-fungible means one-of-a-kind, an asset that can’t be replicated.
Hyman says NFTs are a great way for artists to take control over how their work is promoted and sold. NFTs essentially cut out the middleman so artists can connect directly to buyers and set the price of their own work.
“NFTs let artists veer from traditional channels to sell art and gain an audience. You don’t have to go to a gallery to pitch art and then they take a cut of the sale,” he explained.
“NFTs also have a built-in second market sales, so if an artist’s work becomes more popular and valuable, they get a cut of every sale on the blockchain.”
Want to learn more? Check out NFTs, explained, from The Verge, and listen to George Brown’s Work Shift podcast episode What you need to know about blockchain.
