We sat down with generative artist Ix Shells (formerly Itzel Yard) to talk about Web3, crypto, NFTs, algorithms, and the working conditions of female artists. At the intersection of all these themes lies Ix Shells' practice, culminating in her recent installation at SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark. “I’m working with the National Gallery of Denmark on an exhibition related to Nordic women artists from the 1800s who weren’t recognized during their time. That affected their careers and the way they created art in ways that have certain similarities to how I work and how many women of my time work,” Ix Shells explains, drawing a poignant parallel between the challenges faced by these historical artists and her own experiences. Ix Shells grew up in Panama surrounded by technology, thanks to her father, an electrical engineer who sparked her early curiosity about computers. When she was 14, her father passed away, leaving her with the computer he had given her, which became a refuge and a gateway to creativity. This early exposure to technology led her to explore creative coding and architecture, blending these disciplines to form the foundation of her artistic practice. “I think everything that connected was poetry to me. And as I spent so much time online, I started to see patterns within. I would look at patterns, and they looked like cities or structures that I've seen in real life.” Ix Shells started creating digital artworks and sharing them on Instagram. After learning about blockchain technology and Web3, she began selling her first NFT artworks to support herself and her career.
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However, Ix Shells clarifies that her motivation for using these technologies isn't driven by the buzz around NFTs but by a desire to preserve her work and memories. “Web3 is what we call the next internet. It's information that is encrypted in a decentralized system. And I think if you learn about this technology, maybe you can start preserving what you've done without having to worry about the other part of NFTs that people know, which is about investments and collections or being famous. It's not about that. It’s about preservation.” Ix Shells is deeply passionate about the digital worlds she creates, viewing them as vibrant extensions of her imagination and a means of preserving art history. She believes that blockchain art offers a unique way to safeguard memories and cultural legacies, ensuring they endure in a rapidly changing technological landscape. “I think [technology] can help change the way we archive or preserve our art. In a way, it can be like a large museum that is more communal,” Ix Shells concludes. Ix Shells (b. 1990 in Panama) is a pioneering generative artist whose work intersects digital technology and art preservation. Ix Shells has exhibited internationally, with her art featured in collections and exhibitions at prestigious venues like MoMA, New York; Buffalo AKG Art Museum; and SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark. She holds the distinction of being the highest-selling NFT artist, with her piece "Dreaming at Dusk," created in collaboration with the Tor Project. Her innovative use of Web3 technology has redefined how art can be preserved and shared in the digital age. Ix Shells was interviewed by Nanna Rebekka at SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark in connection with the exhibition Against All Odds – Historical Women and New Algorithms.
