We recently connected with Nigel Clouse and have shared our conversation below.

Nigel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?

I discovered, too late in life, most jobs don’t require college degrees, while the student loan system is controlled by predatory lenders and organizations who are interested in creating and maintaining indentured servitude in the name of capitalism. This is why student loans cannot be discharged in the majority of bankruptcy cases. Most of the things required to function in the world require little more than a library card, internet access, and intrinsically motivated self-directed learning. I would caution others to avoid the hype and propaganda pushed by college recruiters, family members, and the corporate interests controlling our lives. Individuals may look at the current state of the dysfunctional educational system as direct evidence of my claims. College degrees are like vanity plates—nobody needs them, they cost too much money for what they are worth, and only people desperate for recognition display them.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Nigel Clouse and I am an artist working primarily in digital media. My work is based upon a childhood spent in a section of the American Midwest commonly referred to as the Rust Belt. I experienced life in a small rural community where, much like in Grover’s Corners, time seemed inconsequential. Unfortunately, this once thriving town built on the glass industry was slowly decaying as manufacturing jobs left the United States or became automated—leaving blue-collar families with little more than a subsistence lifestyle.

The rural landscape of my youth is juxtaposed with the urban environments I have inhabited working for corporate America as an adult. I have witnessed ethical lapses, dehumanization, and declining social mobility caused by the Great Recession and greed of the ruling class. These experiences heavily influence my art, which is composed of glitched graphics, femme fatales, and popular culture references.

I believe glitches embody the degradation of the reality we inhabit and illustrate the systemic failure and unraveling of society, humanity, and the universe. These random anomalies often jar witnesses from their programming by distorting the perceived concreteness of existence. I identify with the glitch as it has always been within my environment and has progressed with me throughout my life in various forms.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

After six years of hard work, I spent all of my family’s savings producing pieces for two solo gallery exhibitions and a handful of group shows. Unlike the fantasy I created in my imagination, very few individuals were interested in owning my work and I quickly discovered I no longer had the resources necessary to physically produce new pieces. As the technology I used to create my work slowly failed, I switched to using donated smartphones to continue exploring art. I developed two new series using this technique. Over time, I came to the conclusion that most individuals weren’t interested in my artistic style, so I reduced my social media presence to only a few posts each year so as to not continue wasting time on fruitless ventures. Now, 5 years later, I create art for myself and my family—being destitute leaves no expendable time or income for creative endeavors. I continue exploring and developing art no one will ever view because I enjoy the process and the excitement in my son’s eyes when I create new work. All the adversity I have encountered has not dulled my passion for creativity and art—the very definition of resiliency.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I have sold a handful of NFTs over the years. I understand there is controversy surrounding these digital tokens and cryptocurrency in general. As a digital artist and creator, I believe NFTs provide an opportunity for non-traditional artists to participate in a virtual art market, which provides provenance and residuals for artists who may not sell their work within traditional venues. Many of my pieces are meant to be viewed in their native digital format, which is adulterated when exporting and producing them as physical works. Regardless of where an artist finds their market, I believe the fear, paranoia, and stigma surrounding NFTs to be overrated. Often, I am reminded, humans fear what they do not understand.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nigelclouse.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nigelclouse/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/NigelClouse