Empress Trash
Alright, art lovers, it’s time. Welcome to the new format for my paragraph newsletter: Salon de l’Empress, where I dive into all things art—whether it’s on the blockchain, in the streets of Mexico City, or hanging in a gallery somewhere unexpected. As a lifelong artist, internationally exhibited and living and breathing art every single day, I want to share my love for it with everyone. This isn’t just about crypto art or my own work (though that will definitely be a focus)—it’s about celebrating creativity in all its forms, breaking down intellectual silos, and making art fun and accessible for everyone.
This week, I’m focused on my art and the drops I’ve organized, because yes, I am that bitch. Over the past few months, I took a much-needed break after a serious bout of exhaustion that left me completely burnt out. With a lot of self-care and time to reflect what I want in my life and not—and writing is high on that list. Analyzing and writing about art is probably my favorite thing to do, so here I am, diving back in with fresh energy and a renewed love for sharing my thoughts. Next issue, I’ll highlight some incredible artists I’ve discovered and inspirations I’ve stumbled across IRL. This is for the artists, the collectors, the art curious, or anyone who just likes reading what I write. Let’s open this pit up.
Back in November, I released Follow the Marigolds, a collaborative drop that brought together 13 incredible artists from around the world to explore the universal symbolism of the marigold. These flowers have deep cultural significance—whether guiding spirits home during Día de los Muertos in Mexico, offering blessings in Indian ceremonies, or symbolizing divine protection as "Mary’s Gold" in Christian tradition. On a personal note, marigolds were my grandmother’s favorite flower, making them a deeply nostalgic and emotional symbol for me.
Revisiting this project feels fitting for the start of a new year and new newsletter. The marigold, with its vibrant hues and rich symbolism, represents resilience, connection, and love—things we all need more of as we settle into 2025. It’s also a reminder of why I love curating projects like this: to challenge artists to reflect on these shared human symbols and reimagine them through their unique creative lenses.
Each piece in the drop is packed with layers of meaning and individuality. Whether it’s Creatress’s Amor Eterno, blending ancestral traditions with contemporary art, or Wessel’s Always Forward, reminding us to chase dreams while staying grounded, every artwork tells its own story. With this drop, I wanted to spark connections—not just between artists, but between collectors and their personal interpretations of the marigold’s significance.
If you missed it in November, now’s the perfect time to revisit this collection. These works are as relevant now as they were then, offering not just beautiful visuals but stories and emotions that linger long after you’ve seen them. Plus, many of the artists made their Bitcoin debuts in this collection, making these pieces even more special. At the time of publishing, works are still available for inscription from the randomized drop—don’t miss your chance to own a one-of-a-kind, on-chain piece of art.
While flowers are transient in nature, each piece in Follow the Marigolds is the opposite: a fully original 1/1 inscription on Bitcoin, completely on-chain and immutable—preserved forever in Bitcoin’s decentralized ledger. This permanence comes with a cost, as inscription fees are significant, especially for such unique works. While prices remain low, the value of owning a truly one-of-a-kind, on-chain piece of art cannot be overstated.
🌼 You can explore the full Follow the Marigolds collection here on Gamma.io. 🌼
Most people know me as a glitch artist or an AI artist, but what they might not know is that my roots are in traditional painting, drawing, and animation. Painting has always been my first love, even if the journey to embracing it wasn’t a straight line.
As a kid, I wasn’t allowed to use paints much, but I could always find a pencil or pen to draw with. So, I drew constantly. In high school, I focused on drawing and ceramics, and I dabbled in photography, where I started experimenting with Photoshop to create digital collages. That was also when I first began breaking data and exploring more abstract digital forms. But painting? That came later.
It wasn’t until my late 20s, during my BFA, that I took my first real painting class and learned how to use oil paints. That’s when I realized something big: I was terrified of color. Up until then, I’d only worked in black and white—it felt safe. But once I learned how to use color and really started moving paint around, I fell in love. Every time I dive into a fresh canvas, it feels like a homecoming.
Unfortunately, injuries threw a wrench into my physical creative practice. (If you’ve followed me for a while, you probably know the story, but I won’t go into it here.) For nearly two years, I stepped away from painting altogether—even digital painting—to give my body, especially my shoulder, time to heal. It was incredibly hard to set painting aside, but it felt necessary.
Now, after a year of healing, physical therapy, and self-care, I’m ready to revisit digital painting. My shoulder is still a little funky, but I’ve made progress, and the need to paint has been growing stronger. Tools like Rebelle, which blends colors like real paints, and VR painting on the Meta Quest have opened up exciting new possibilities for me to return to painting while minimizing physical strain on my body.
The lesson here for any young artist: take care of your body. You only get one.
Back when I was in my BFA program, I remember arguing with my professors that digital painting deserved just as much respect as traditional painting. They didn’t always agree. But here’s the thing: when you boil it down, digital painting is painting. The tools may differ, but the process, skill, and creativity are fundamentally the same.
Accessibility: Traditional painting supplies—canvas, brushes, and paints—are expensive, and not everyone has access to a studio or the space needed for large-scale work. Digital painting removes those barriers, putting professional-grade tools in the hands of anyone with a tablet or computer.
Undo Button: Mistakes are inevitable, but in digital painting, they’re much easier (and faster) to fix. No wasted materials or hours spent trying to “rescue” a piece.
Experimentation: Digital tools allow you to explore ideas that might feel too risky in traditional media. You can try bold color palettes, layering techniques, or effects without fear of ruining a piece.
Portability: A tablet or laptop can serve as your entire studio. Whether you’re at home, traveling, or sitting in a café, you can bring your creative world with you.
Tactile Feel: Digital tools can’t fully replicate the tactile experience of moving paint across a canvas. The physicality of traditional painting—the smell of paint, the drag of a brush—is unique. That said, textured screen protectors for tablets and advancements in painting software algorithms now offer comparable, albeit different, experiences.
Learning Curve: For beginners, learning digital tools is just part of the process. However, experienced painters may find adapting to digital interfaces daunting. Fortunately, apps like Rebelle or Procreate have advanced significantly, making digital painting workflows intuitive and closely aligned with traditional techniques.
Undervaluation: Digital painting is often seen as “less legitimate” compared to traditional works, despite requiring just as much creativity and skill. This perception is changing, especially with tokenized digital art like NFTs that allow artists to establish value without relying on physicality. Still, there’s work to be done in leveling the playing field.
One of the most significant differences between traditional and digital painting lies in their economics, environmental impact, and scalability.
Economics: Traditional painting requires an ongoing investment in supplies like paints, brushes, and canvases, which can cost hundreds of dollars. In contrast, digital painting requires a one-time investment in a tablet or computer, with limitless creative possibilities thereafter.
Environmental Impact: Both traditional and digital painting rely on rare earth minerals—pigments for paints and electronics for tablets. However, digital tools are often more reusable and scalable. A tablet and stylus can last for years and components can be recycled. Traditional painting, by contrast, creates waste through disposable materials that can’t easily be recycled without destroying the artwork.
Digital painting’s scalability makes it a game-changer. A single tablet and stylus can unlock creativity for someone anywhere in the world, lowering the financial and spatial barriers that often prevent people from pursuing traditional painting.
Digital painting also provides an incredible foundation for aspiring artists, teaching fundamentals like composition, form, and color theory with the added benefit of trial and error (thank you, undo button). These skills can easily translate into physical media for those who wish to expand their practice.
By breaking down barriers of cost, access, and gatekeeping, digital painting complements traditional art, making creative expression more accessible to everyone.
From the first cave paintings (you know the first recorded bit of human history), humans have used painting as a universal form of expression—it’s primal, meditative, and deeply human. Painting allows us to process emotions, explore ideas, and connect with ourselves and the world around us.
In a chaotic world, taking time to focus on creating—whether on a canvas or a screen—can be profoundly grounding and healing. It nurtures mental, emotional, and even spiritual health (if that’s your thing). The act of shaping color and form slows us down, offering moments of reflection and release.
Digital painting takes this timeless practice and makes it accessible to more people than ever. AND! The more people who find healthy creative outlets, the better the world becomes. Art isn’t just something we make—it’s something that makes us better.
This year, I’m diving headfirst into painting with renewed energy and focus. Whether it’s exploring the endless possibilities of mixing different digital tools or creating deeply personal works, I’m excited to re-embrace painting as the core of my creative practice.
One project I’m particularly excited about is my ongoing Exquisite Corpse series on Rodeo—a single, infinite painting that evolves with every new release. Each new addition builds on the last, creating a continuous exploration of form, color, and storytelling. A complete writeup is here.
I’ve also released two new paintings on SuperRare: The Time She Came Down to Earth and The Baptism. These pieces are deeply personal explorations of storytelling and symbolism, and I’m thrilled to share them as part of my growing collection on the platform. You can explore them and the rest of my SuperRare art here.
The year ahead is all about pushing myself creatively—whether through infinite painting projects, standalone works, or experimenting with new tools, processes and techniques. Painting is my foundation, my passion, and my endless source of inspiration. I can’t wait to see where this journey leads, and I’m thrilled to share it with you along the way.
The first week of February is almost here, and I couldn’t be more excited for Mexico City’s Art Week! Last year, I had the incredible honor of showing my art at Zona Maco with the Palm DAO exhibition—a life-changing experience that I’ll never forget. While I don’t have any planned exhibitions this year, I’ve worked hard on my health (physical and mental) to be able to attend and keep up with the fast pace of events specifically with the goal of making the most of CDMX Art Week. I can’t wait to immerse myself in the magic of the week and see what amazing things this year has in store.
CDMX Art Week is anchored by three major fairs: Zona Maco, Material Art Fair, and Salón Acme. Each offers something special, and I’ll be attending all three, with a keen curiosity about how digital and crypto art will show up this year.
Zona Maco (Centro Citibanamex): Latin America’s largest art fair is a heavyweight of contemporary art, design, and photography, with an incredible lineup of global galleries and creators.
Material Art Fair (Expo Reforma): Known for showcasing cutting-edge contemporary art, Material is the go-to for discovering bold and innovative galleries from around the world.
Salón Acme (Calle General Prim 30, Colonia Juárez): This fair brings an experimental and fresh energy, with emerging and established artists presenting unique and unexpected works.
Art Week isn’t just about the fairs—it’s the whole city coming alive with creativity. From gallery pop-ups to street art, Mexico City transforms into even more an artists' paradise. I’m beyond excited for this being my 3rd year to soak it all in and will definitely have a lot to write about afterward.
If you’re visiting Mexico City for Art Week or have any recommendations for events happening during the week, reach out to me on Telegram at empresstrash. See you there!
Until next time, stay real and curious
Empress Trash 🖤
Thank you for taking the time to read my words -- feel free to explore more of my work here:
New to Web3? Here Are Some Guides:
Ethereum Foundation: What is Web3?
A beginner-friendly guide to understanding Web3, its decentralized nature, and why it’s reshaping the internet.
A great starting point for artists, collectors, or institutions exploring the world of crypto art, including wallet setup and minting digital art on Tezos.
Getting Started with Art on Bitcoin
Learn how to create, collect, and explore immutable art on the motherchain, Bitcoin, using Gamma’s easy-to-navigate platform.
Disclaimer: All content in this newsletter reflects my own opinions and passion for art—nothing here is financial or life advice. If any content is sponsored or paid, it will be clearly disclosed. I’m here to share what I love first. Always do your own research before making financial decisions.
