Giovanni Motta: From Advertising to Crypto Art Pioneer

Giovanni Motta, born in Verona in 1971, transitioned from a career in advertising and communication to full-time art in 2018 at age 47. In 2020, he became one of the first Italian artists to embrace crypto art and is now a leading figure in the ecosystem. His work centers on the inner child, embodied by his character Johnny Boy, inspired by Japanese manga and anime. Motta uses digital animation tools since 1999/2000 and sold his first NFT on SuperRare on January 1, 2021. He maintains a parallel practice in traditional media, with a solo show at Func Gallery in Shanghai in September 2022 featuring 25 pre-sold works. Motta believes crypto art is an avant-garde movement driven by community, contrasting with the top-down traditional art system. He predicts that within 15 years, most new artists will be digital natives, making painting 'vintage.' His upcoming NFT comic book 'Metaborg – fight to survive' drops on Nifty Gateway on July 7, 2022. He will also present at Videocittà Festival in Rome from July 20-24, 2022.