Jon Burgerman
- Jon’s website
- Social Media
- Twitter – @jonburgerman
- Instagram – Jon Burgerman
- Youtube: Jon Burgerman
- Shop
- BurgerPlex
- Art listed on
- Nifty Gateway
- https://superrare.com/jonburgerman
- Foundation
Time Stamps
[1:01 – 3:41] Jon was introduced to NFTs in 2019-2020 when he was approached by Nifty Gateway (founded by Griffin Cock Foster and Duncan Cock Foster and later acquired by Gemini run by Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss) to drop NFTs on the then new platform. He began working on NFTs in the spring of 2020. The first drop sold out quickly. Jon credits this with giving him a lifeline in the pandemic when everything else was being cancelled and closing down.
[4:40 – 6:34] Jon doesn’t know why Nifty Gateway contacted him early on, but says they saw his work in other forms, and imagined it would work on their platform. Jon has a traditional background, but his work has existed across different mediums over the years, including digital stickers and wearables for @PlayStation Home.
[7:35 – 10:26] Jon says his career is like a pizza with each slice it’s own medium (painting, books, etc) but as a whole it’s complete. His advice is to make your work and put it out there. Once you make something, people see your concept and how your work would look. People are looking for good work and good artists – it’s important to make your work discoverable.
[10:45 – 12:36] When working in different mediums, Jon leans into what that medium can do that others can’t. With NFTs he likes that you can interact with people, build up collections and have drops. The goal of the work is the same, just different outlets for creativity that are distributed in different mediums.
[13:45 – 15:12] Jon is still adapting to the community aspect of NFTs. It’s a time investment to keep up with the social aspect of the NFT community using channels like Twitter and Discord. This is a different skill set and a different kind of art will emerge from it.
[15:28 – 16:17] Collectors of Jon’s NFTs are different from collectors of physical works. In 2020 early adopters were buying NFTs, but there is still skepticism and a long way to go for mainstream acceptance. Many of Jon’s physical collectors aren’t interested in NFTs.
[16:49 – 19:49] Jon discusses the blurred lines between collectors and artists with the engagement thru social media, discord, etc. When artists engage with the collectors it takes away the art being fully in control and the fans start to shape the work. He compares this to @Marvel or @starwars films where the feedback loop from fans alters the next installment which pleases the most vocal fans, but not the entire fan base.
[20:26 – 23:07] Jon hopes galleries and traditional spaces will learn from the NFT space and update how they are run. These institutions won’t disappear. If you have a good dealer or gallery, everyone benefits while helping push the art in the direction that they all want it to go in. Collaboration is necessary in some form to get your art out there.
[23:24 – 26:12] Jon discusses his creative process. He needs emotional connection or interest in the work to make it interesting for him. He discusses creating and how many things don’t work, but others hit a point where some things work and you start to see ways to improve the work and more inspiration comes. In creation there’s a mix of inspiration and sadness/dejection, but you need to keep going.
[26:13 – 29:05] Jon touches on artists working with interns or apprentices. Jon says this can work for the Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons of the world who have a team of people around to help fabricate work from your ideas. Jon prefers to work alone and doesn’t have the personality to have a big operation like some big artists.
[29:24 – 32:59] Jon is excited about new opportunities with digital art and has collaborated with his musician brother, Alex Burgerman. He talks about working in the early 2000s using ActionScript in Flash. He’s into trying any medium that will allow him to be creative.
[33:31 – 35:28] Sabretooth and Jon mention Jon’s presence in Asia with a large number of installations and exhibitions. Jon doesn’t know why his work is received so well in Asia, but acknowledges this and recognizes the enthusiasm for his art in Asia.
[35:58 – 38:19] Jon says it’s important for artists to not follow trends. It may bring success in the short term, but doesn’t work long term. Make your own work and maybe you get lucky people will be interested. If not, you are still being yourself.
[38:25 – 40:06] Jon’s favorite artist is Jean-Michel Basquiat. Jon talks about how alive and authentic Basquiat’s work feels and the impact of seeing it for the first time.
