Wisconsin-born digital artist, Mike Winkelmann started calling himself “Beeple” in 2003, a name he pulled from an 80s toy he liked. In the 20 or so years since adopting “Beeple” as his artistic name, it’s become way less tied to the toy and more tied to the artistic legacy Beeple is crafting, especially in the web3 art world.

In a profile by The Washington Post, Beeple describes in detail his artistic style and the legacy he hopes he is leaving behind: 

“I’m trying to make work that is very purposefully weird and purposefully a bit ambiguous that sometimes even after I finish, it’s like: ‘Yeah, I don’t know what that was about; that one got away from me.’ It’s almost therapeutic in terms of me processing and trying to understand some of these topics as well.” 

Beeple’s work is dramatic, colorful, and thought-provoking. In 2007, he committed to creating and sharing a new piece of artwork every day. This project spawned partnerships with iconic legacy brands like Louis Vuitton and later his first NFT collection, EVERYDAYS: THE 2020 COLLECTION. 

But who is the artist behind such headline-breaking drops? Let’s look at how Winkelmann views creativity, his projects, and the people and brands he has collaborated with in his decades-long career. 

His 'Everydays' project helped define his digital art creative vision

When Beeple decided to make one new animation every day, he decided that there were no rules to the project other than that he had to create something daily. This 'Everydays' project involved creating a piece of art every day since May 1, 2007. He is now on day 6,048 of daily creations at the time of writing. On his site, he explains that the project’s goal is to improve as an artist and that this latest round of creations focuses on honing his proficiency in popular animation software, like Cinema 4D and Octane. Beeple uses the 'Everydays' project to focus on specific skills or mediums annually, ultimately refining his drawing skills.

In 2022, he reflected with The Washington Post on what he hopes other creatives and artists take from his years-long project, particularly around the momentum and mindset that is needed to keep going. Winkelmann thought the 'Everydays' project was a valuable exercise for honing his drawing skills. Beeple adds, “Every day you are not going to be inspired; most days, I’m not. I’m a normal person and I worked all day on other crap and now I come home and it’s like, ‘Do I really want to spend two or three more hours on the computer?’ Not really. But when you have this project where you have this momentum built up, that momentum really helps carry you through those days, like, ‘Okay, guy, sit down here, we’ve got to do something.’”

His style is distinctly dystopian and satirical

Beeple’s artistic style combines recognizable figures and scenes from popular culture and politics, often used to satirize current events. His works frequently depict dystopian futures, employing humor and irony to comment on the state of the world. This unique approach allows him to create thought-provoking pieces that resonate with a wide audience. Winkelmann’s use of digital art enables him to experiment with new techniques and push the boundaries of the medium. His themes often explore the intersection of technology and society, reflecting on how our lives are increasingly shaped by the digital world.

Legacy brands have turned to him for collaborations 

There’s no beef between Coca-Cola and Pepsi, at least when it comes to working with Beeple. Even before releasing his infamous EVERYDAYS: THE 2020 COLLECTION that sold an NFT for $69 million, the artist was working with brands like NBC, Apple, and Nike.

For instance, in a partnership with Louis Vuitton, the luxury fashion house pulled 13 of Beeple’s “Everydays” artwork and designed them into 13 of the 45 pieces in the Spring/Summer 2019 ready-to-wear collection, highlighting the intersection of digital artistry and mainstream fashion. According to Esquire, Beeple was front row at Paris Fashion Week when Louis Vuitton presented the collection at the Louvre.

When Beeple worked with TIME Magazine, they created an NFT cover within TIME’s iconic red bordering around the theme, “The Future of Business,” which later sold for $230k.

His work has sold in auction houses and NFT marketplaces alike

Beeple’s work has been showcased in numerous exhibitions and shows around the globe. A major moment in his career came in 2021 when his NFT artwork “EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS” sold for a record-breaking price at Christie’s, a prestigious legacy auction house. This sale was a significant milestone, marking the first purely non-fungible token to be sold by a major auction house. Another notable piece, his generative sculpture “HUMAN ONE,” has been displayed in several esteemed museums, including the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas, and the Gibbes Museum of Art is set to feature three kinetic sculptures by Beeple Studios, led by Mike Winkelmann, in 2024.

He released his own NFTs in 2020

Before launching his first full collection, Beeple dipped his toes in the water to better understand the NFT space and how receptive the NFT community would be towards his work. He was more than well-received. 

The three-item NFT collection included two 1-of-1 NFTs, “CRYPTO IS BULLSHIT” and “CROSSROAD,” and “POLITICS IS BULLSHIT” with 100 editions. 

At the time, “CROSSROAD” first sold for $66,000. The NFT was tied to the upcoming November 2020 election, and as a dynamic NFT, it was set to change depending on who won the election. Once President Biden was declared the winner, a face-down, naked Trump became the NFT. 

His first full collection sold for $3.5 million at an auction house

After gauging his Genesis collection's success, Beeple pulled 20 pieces from his "Everdays" project and turned them into EVERYDAYS: THE 2020 COLLECTION. 

Over the span of a weekend the collection sold for $3.5 million. The collection created such a buzz in the art world that Christie’s, the British auction house, later auctioned off one of Beeple’s works. Notably, it was also the first NFT Christie’s has ever auctioned and the first time they accepted ETHER as payment. The “EVERDAYS: THE FIRST 5,000 DAYS” NFT is a loose chronological order compilation that pulled together the first 5,000 days of Beeple’s EVERDAYS project. The NFT sold for $69.5 million.  

His impact on the art world has been profound

In a little over three years, Beeple has created a legacy that spans way beyond these bullet points, but hey, we can only take so much of your time. Let's just say that, as a trailblazer in digital art, Beeple continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, inspiring a new generation of artists and collectors.