The crypto space is largely dominated by men, and the NFT arena isn’t very different. The gender disparity has not yet been reliably measured, but it is evident to those of us who work in the sector.
Some reports even show that women are also less likely than men, to invest in crypto. For example, in India, only 38% of all crypto investors are women, according to a 2022 report by Gemini, a crypto product company.
Today, we are taking the first step to help change all of that. We bring you the story of one amazing artist in the NFT space. NFT art has so much potential, and women like Rima Singh are forging the path ahead for many others to follow. Singh’s work redefines digital art and is a testimony to the contributions of many other women in crypto like her. Some of her most well-known collections are Women of Future Genesis and Women of Future 2.0.
The artist and her art: A quick introduction
Rima Singh has managed to create quite a buzz with her NFT collections so far. With her use of sharp lines and striking colors, Singh’s stunning portraiture truly brings her diverse subjects to life. It is sensitive and powerful, and she uses it to empower people, particularly women.
Photograph of Rima Singh (shared by the artist)
When I contacted Singh for an interview, she responded instantly. Later, during our conversation, I was curious to find out what had made her agree so promptly. She quipped, “I don’t like gatekeeping culture; if I am online (which is most of the time), I just respond.”
Throughout the interview that followed, I got to see a lot more of the same simplicity and openness. And in less than an hour, we had managed to cover so much territory—from art, NFTs, crypto, life, and more.
How it all started for Rima Singh
From simply investing in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Shiba Inu to launching her own NFT project, Rima Singh has come a long way. Although she is desi (a Himachali) by ancestry and at heart, she was born and raised in Dubai.
Singh says that she has been a digital artist for as long as she can remember, but her parents were not 100% on board with the idea of her pursuing a career in art. In her words, “A desi parent’s response to any other profession that doesn’t fit the engineer and doctor benchmark is always, ‘Even if you earn money. It is just pocket money. You can’t make a career out of it.’”
She was a little unsure too initially. When she first began she had a full-time job, and “art was always viewed as a hobby.” So, she studied accounting and even worked as a marketing specialist.
But not for long. Soon, she would embrace her calling and fully commit to becoming a professional artist. She was still working in marketing when she released her first NFT collection.
The project called Women of Future Genesis—a collection of 100 NFTs—was launched in November 2021. It became such a hit that every single NFT from that collection sold out.
Rima Singh’s art from the Women of Future collection
The success made her realize that she could become a full-time NFT artist. She quit her job, and in addition to her Instagram account called Rima Singh Art, she created a separate one called Rima Singh NFT.
Singh thus proved the naysayers wrong and kickstarted her career as an NFT artist. To quote her, “When I completed my first project and launched it on Opensea, people were like, ‘You actually did it!’”
Why NFTs
Her venture into the NFT space felt like a natural progression because Singh had always veered to digital art. A key factor was that she feels more comfortable with the digital medium and finds it less messy, she explains. So when the NFT bug bit her in 2021 she was one among many others. But unlike most who caught up with the trend only to quickly forget about it, Singh stayed and decided to invest more money into it. She offered her art up at the NFT altar.
But what motivated her to do this? She said she was keen to show new artists that there is a market for incentivizing creative work and earning a passive income, not just “pocket money.” She also wanted to encourage art lovers to own original works by artists rather than just admire them.
In her words, “In India, there are plenty of good artists with massive potential, so art is available in surplus. But there are very few art collectors. We as a country should change our mentality, and rather than just producing art, we should also be collectors. That’s why I came up with the ‘Women of Future’ project. I want to empower people like me and show them a global platform where people from any part of the world can buy art.”
What inspires the artist in her
A self-taught artist with no formal education in art, Singh seems to draw inspiration from everything—from people around to the mountains of Himachal. When asked about it, she responds, “Once you experience shit in life, you start to appreciate the beauty in everything.”
Rima Singh’s art from the Women of Future 2.0 collection
But if one goes by the subjects of her works, her work seems to be inspired by people—particularly women—more often than not. With an iPad as her arsenal, Singh describes how she draws people she meets at a bus stop or an airport to people.
Her fascination with the female subject: The case of Women of Future 2.0
Rima Singh’s latest project is called Women of Future 2.0. It is a collection of 7,777 NFTs. Singh worked very hard to bring the collection to life. She recalls not sleeping for four consecutive nights before the launch.
The fact that the NFT collection was launched on 8 March 2022, International Women’s Day, speaks volumes of her commitment to empowering women. The Women of Future NFT project is more than just a women-themed NFT project. Singh directs 10% of the proceeds from the sale toward supporting Indian women who have been victims of violence. The project clearly does take women into the future in more ways than one.
What the future holds for her
Singh’s next project is going to be out soon. She has tied up with an international car company, and she will show her artwork at the 2022 Asian Games, which will be held from 23 September to 8 October in Hangzhou, China.
If you want to check out Singh’s NFTs, you can find them at OpenSea.
(A big thank you to Rima Singh for allowing us to feature some of her works in this article.)
FAQs
How popular is NFT art?
It’s important to note that the popularity of NFT art is dynamic, and trends may evolve over time. Additionally, the NFT space has faced debates and discussions related to environmental concerns, copyright issues, and market speculation. As the landscape continues to develop, staying informed about the latest trends and developments in the NFT space is advisable.
How are artists using NFTs?
It’s important to note that the NFT space is dynamic, and artists continually explore innovative ways to use blockchain technology for their creative endeavors. The adoption and evolution of these practices may vary across different artistic communities and genres.
Why might artists like using NFT?
It’s important to note that while NFTs offer exciting opportunities, they also come with challenges and considerations, such as environmental concerns, copyright issues, and market volatility. Artists should carefully weigh the pros and cons and consider how NFTs align with their artistic goals and values.
What is the full form of NFT?
NFT stands for “Non-Fungible Token.” Non-fungible tokens are unique digital assets that use blockchain technology to represent ownership or proof of authenticity for a specific item or piece of content, often digital art, collectibles, or other unique digital assets. The “non-fungible” aspect refers to the fact that each token is distinct and cannot be exchanged on a one-to-one basis with another token, unlike fungible assets like cryptocurrencies (e.g., one bitcoin is interchangeable with another).
