We are thrilled to launch our new series, the Art Blocks Collector Spotlight. Through individual collector spotlights, we’ll explore the connections forged between collectors, artists, and the extraordinary pieces that form the essence of Art Blocks.

The journey of each collector unveils a facet of our community’s shared enthusiasm and the profound impact of Art Blocks in cultivating a vibrant culture around digital artistry.

We’re excited to showcase longtime collector, Blockbird. Hailing from New Zealand's deep south, Blockbird is a daring collector and investor in digital assets since 2017, with a flair for blending intuition with smart decisions. His knack for spotting the 'next big thing' in the digital realm is only matched by his zest for life, evident from his extensive sojourns across the globe. Collecting generative art is more than a hobby for Blockbird; it's a legacy he's building for his daughters, showcasing his visionary approach to the digital collectibles realm.

Art Blocks: What initially drew you to Art Blocks, and how has your appreciation for it evolved since your first acquisition?

‍Blockbird: For the life of me, I can’t remember who first introduced me to Art Blocks, but as soon as I knew about it, I became quickly obsessed with exploring, collecting, and curating. Work was relatively cheap at the time, so it felt fun with no real objective other than following my curiosity. The aesthetic of many of the collections really appealed too. I studied graphic design for a while at university and have been a hobby photographer all my life, so I think something just clicked on that front. I now know a lot more about the craft of generative art, the long-form concept, and many of the other experiments that have taken place, so I think I have a much more nuanced appreciation, but it is still very driven by my personal aesthetic preference.

AB: Which Art Blocks piece in your collection holds the most sentimental value, and what’s the story behind it?

BB: I think The Eternal Pump has one of the strongest personal narratives. I knew the release was coming, but Dmitri said he’d just randomly release it at some point, and being in New Zealand at the time, I knew that was likely to be in the middle of the night for me. I set up a convoluted notification system that would call my phone if a change in the playground menu on the Art Blocks website was detected. It did not work; I missed the drop.

A couple of weeks later, I was surprised to see one come up for sale at 7 ETH, which was a lot for me at the time but still obtainable, so I just went for it. That began the journey of later minting a Wrapture and holding it for a year, which in my opinion is an epic piece of conceptual art. It played on the greed and dynamics of the market at the time and really asked who, in fact, did have diamond hands. It also led to many great conversations and connections with that group of collectors.

I also love the collection and my piece in particular. Respect the pump.

AB: How do you decide which Art Blocks pieces to add to your collection? Are there specific artists or themes you gravitate towards?

‍BB: I was just following what appealed from an aesthetic perspective early on. There was no sense of what was more technically excellent or more conceptually experimental—just, ’oh, I love it, I need it!’ Lol. Dmitri Cherniak, Matt DesLauriers, and Kjetil Golid’s work was what really sang to me early on, and still does, but of course I’ve ended up with many other favorites.

Now I think about building diptychs and triptychs, and I think about how work fits with my collection as a whole. To some degree, I’m still just shooting from the hip though. I’m in awe of collectors like Motzko who are able to curate with such style.

AB: How do you envision the future of Art Blocks and the larger generative art community unfolding? Are there any trends or shifts you’re excited about?

BB: I think there will be natural waves of enthusiasm as new people discover how fascinating the work and the market is. Collecting is a combination of appreciation, community, economics, global access, and many other qualities that I think are almost irresistible once you’ve been properly exposed.

Art Blocks will remain the leader in the market and the gold standard in my opinion, but we’ll see them inspire many further initiatives, as we have already. I’m excited to see what comes next that I just can’t conceive of right now—the real surprises. Crypto as a technology is great for this; there’s always something staggeringly new just around the corner.

AB: For newcomers looking to start their own Art Blocks collection, what advice or insights would you offer from your journey so far?

‍BB: My biggest piece of advice, and probably the main reason why I’m still here and able to collect at such a furious rate, is to never purchase a piece above what you are willing to pay for it—that being what you can afford at the time, or what you genuinely think it is worth. It is so easy to get caught up in the hype and to end up overpaying for something, only to be disappointed later when the value might drop. Sticking to paying what you predetermine to be fair value really does ensure you don’t have any sour feelings about pieces in your collection post-drop.

AB: Where can people follow you and see your Art Blocks collection?

‍BB: You can find me on Twitter at @_blockbird and you can view my Gallery of Art Blocks pieces here.