We were lucky to catch up with Florian Zumbrunn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Florian, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I feel like being an artist is taking a leap of faith… in you. From the outside, it’s like taking a huge risk: you might fail, you might be unoticed, you might end up with no money… Because an artistic life is slow and can be hard.
It’s a journey full of codes and rules to follow; and at the same time you can decide to draw your own path towards it.
But without resilience, you might have to go back to your previous life, or find another way to achieve your goal.

However, for me, since I “took the risk” of accepting myself as an artist, and fully embracing it; I’ve never been happier.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

13years ago, I graduated from a school called “Gobelins, l’ecole de l’image”, in Paris. In this school I was surrounded by amazing creative pairs, designer and developer.

Since then, I worked as a Creative technologist or creative developer: I use programming (code) to create stunning edge projects for the web, and sometimes in the real world, as installation.
I worked in New york for almost 2 years, in an advertising company called Firstborn, and then I switched to freelancing.
After a while I realized that when I first started to learn code, it was to make art.
When I was a teenager, I wanted to become an illustrator, or a painter. I forgot this on the way.

But then it struck me: I need to listen to my younger self.
Then I switch my career, travelled to Japan, and started to build interactive installations. There was up and down; but it was very satisfying.

Today, I’m a fulltime artist: I use code, to create artworks. I print them, draw upon them.
I explore the tools of our time to create mezmerizing pieces.

One of my proudest achievements is to have been able to exhibit my pieces in galleries in Paris, and met strangers that fell in love with my art.
I’m very grateful for those exchange and moments, that up to this day, and probably until the end of my life, I will value extremely.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

NFTs offer a new way to sell art to a different audience. I view them as an asset for artist, even more if it makes sense for their art.

As generative artist, you can upload your code directly on the blockchain; which will contain it… probably forever? Realisticaly; at least, until the blockchain is alive.
That makes the all medium more interesting, because you can have strong behavior linked to it; as an art piece being generated when the collector buy a “piece of the algorithm”.

The downside of NFTs, in my opinion, it’s that it’s very complicated today for a newcomer to grasp it at its fullest.
It’s also always linked to cryptomoney, which can result in a lot of volatility.
In the best world, using the technology of NFTs, with FIAT money (euro/dollar) would be a better experience, for artist and collector, and remove some of its “gambling” aspect.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Before being an artist, I was a freelance. As a freelance, you always need to learn new things, and stay at the top of your game. Because otherwise, clients will look for different people to work with.

Freelance and artist are entrepreneurs. And as it, you need to always stay flexible.
Because you are also your own representant, communicant; you need to show your work, market it, reach to people (collectors/clients)…
And all that requires constant pivoting.
A strategy that worked 3months ago, might not today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://florianzumbrunn.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florianzumbrunn/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florianzumbrunn/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/florianzumbrunn

Image Credits
Profile photo: David Fritz Goeppinger