‘Treat your first NFT purchase like a first date’ — NFT Collector Suzanne – Cointelegraph Magazine
Thanks to her insatiable love for new technologies, anonymous CryptoPunk Suzanne has been thoroughly NFT-pilled, building up a beautiful and valuable collection of digital works, as well as acting as a moderator in the CryptoPunks Discord.
Suzanne first delved into crypto in 2013 with a Bitcoin purchase which shortly became an obsession. But it wasn’t until she bought a Pudgy Penguin in August 2021 that she developed a burning curiosity for NFTs.
Since then, Suzanne has built a highly desirable collection including her CryptoPunk PFP.
“My favorite pieces are my Fidenza #128 and my wild blonde CryptoPunk,” she says. “From early on my end-goal in the space was always to own a CryptoPunk. They are the ones that started it all. I was lucky to buy a Bored Ape early on that I sold at the top. This allowed me to buy a Punk and my first ArtBlocks pieces.”
“My love for generative art grew over time and I was lucky to have the opportunity to buy my favorite Fidenza about one and a half years ago. It is on my wall in my living room and it’s the most beautiful piece that I will ever own.”
“I am also a big fan of early female computer art pioneers like Lillian Schwartz and Vera Molnar. Recently I have become interested in photography and AI art. I am a big fan of Roope Rainisto, Artemis, Ilan Derech, and Ozlem.”
Suzanne is one of the best thread creators on NFTs and digital art on the social media platform X, contextualised by her passion for new and shiny technologies dating back to the ’90s when she started an internet company.
“As an academic I have always been interested in the impact of new technologies on the economy,” Suzanne says.
“What intrigues me about digital art is its convenience in storage, the decentralized nature, the elimination of the need for physical wall space, the ease of buying and selling, and, most importantly, the vibrant community it fosters.”
All my AI and Photography threads in one place (updated) 🧵 0/12👇
— SuzanneNFTs (@nf_suzanne) October 25, 2023
CryptoPunks Culture
Most collectors consider CryptoPunks as the holy grail of NFTs and Suzanne agrees. Purchasing her first Punk in early 2022, she swapped to her signature wild blonde Punk and has immersed herself in Punk culture, rubbing shoulders with some of the true OGs of the NFT space on a daily basis.
“I bought my first knitted cap female CryptoPunk #9967 in February 2022. In May of that year I upgraded to my current wild blonde. I only own one but I feel very privileged,” she says.
“I’ve only recently stepped into the role of a Discord mod for Punks, and it’s an almost surreal experience to collaborate with some of the earliest claimers of Punks, who are among the most knowledgeable individuals I’ve ever encountered.”
“The community element really resonates with me. We’re dedicated to welcoming newcomers, sharing knowledge, and fostering a positive atmosphere on Discord for Punk Owners and others. It’s absolutely fantastic!”
Asked to describe Punk culture, Suzanne believes the ethos of their original counter-cultural movement still rings true today, 6.5 years on from launch.
“Punk culture, to me, embodies the essence of counter-culture. CryptoPunks are funny, tech-savvy and are the true OGs in the space. They’re incredibly welcoming, brilliantly sharp, and refreshingly grounded.”
Describing Generative Art
Suzanne has a real passion for generative art with her X threads on the genre being some of the most thoughtful in the space, appreciated by both artists and collectors alike.
Generative art as a concept however is still widely misunderstood, William Mapan described it using a piece of paper, a crayon and dice in this Cointelegraph article last year.
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Suzanne shared her own take, “Generative art is a form of art where the artwork is created by an autonomous system, such as a computer program, set of rules, or algorithm, often designed by the artist. In this approach, the artist creates the system or the process, which then generates the artwork, sometimes with elements of randomness or interaction.”
“This can result in unique, unpredictable pieces each time the system is run. Generative art represents a shift from traditional art-making to an innovative collaboration between artist and machine,” Suzanne says.
30 Gen-Art threads in one place (updated) 🧵 1/30👇
Enjoy. ❤️
— SuzanneNFTs (@nf_suzanne) October 23, 2023
Rapid fire Q&A
First NFT you collected?
A biker helmet Pudgy Penguin #4935
Your top 3 favorite CryptoPunks attributes?
Welding Goggles
Wild Blonde
Orange Side
What’s an under-appreciated NFT project right now in your opinion?
Photography in general.
Who’s an up and coming generative artist you’d encourage readers to check out?
Artemis – One of the most brilliant people in the space.
What’s your fav 1 of 1 art piece?
Art HQ by Akashi30 on Tezos
If you could have 1 additional Punk from the entire collection, which would it be?
CryptoPunk #9741 as rocked by @PabloPunkasso
What’s your advice to someone just discovering NFTs today for the first time?
Don’t go bananas on your first buys: Treat your first NFT purchase like a first date – exciting, but you don’t have to put a ring on it. Pace yourself!
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Greg Oakford
Greg Oakford is the Head of Growth & Partnerships for Upside DAO, a leading Australian crypto & web3 co-working hub and investment fund. He is an avid NFT collector and the co-founder of NFT Fest Australia. Prior to crypto, Greg was a marketing and sponsorship specialist in the sports industry working on professional events.
