# The Story Behind ArtXCode ft. Sofia Garcia

Source: https://www.kaloh.xyz/p/the-story-behind-artxcode-ft-sofia-garcia

## Summary

Sofia Garcia, founder of ARTXCODE, a generative art studio and agency, discusses her path into generative art in this podcast episode. She currently sits on the curation board for Art Blocks and previously worked at Onyx by J.P. Morgan as a blockchain technical design strategist and as Director of Education of Code/Art, a non-profit that teaches young girls to make art with code. The episode also covers her early collecting of Tyler Hobbs and Dmitri Cherniak works before 2018 and ARTXCODE's minting on Super Rare during Covid in 2020.

## Article

Sofia Garcia founded ARTXCODE, a generative art house that operates as a studio and agency. Over the last six years, Sofia Garcia has become a noteworthy leader in the Generative Artspace as a curator, advisor, and community builder. She currently sits on the curation board for Art Blocks and previously worked at Onyx by J.P. Morgan as a blockchain technical design strategist and Director of Education of Code/Art, a non-profit focused on teaching young girls how to make art with code.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Google, and YouTube.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

[2:00] Sofia’s art background and how she got into technology and coding via a college course about computer science and volunteering to teach girls how to code Code/Art. Mentioned: Vera Molnár, Amy Renshaw.

[6:40] Starting ArtXCode Instagram account to share her favorite coded works.

[9:20] Her job at JPMorgan allowed Sofia to start collecting art from artists like Tyler Hobbs and Dmitri Cherniak before 2018.

[11:10] Sofia’s first booth at an art fair. Mentioned: Sebastian Sanchez.

[13:30] How Sofia discovered the generative artwork of Tyler Hobbs and Dmitri Cherniak.

[16:25] Meeting John Watkinson, Larva Labs co-founder, in an MIT hackathon.

[19:30] Collectors became interested in NFTs but not the physical works. Mentioned: CryptoVoxels, Autoglyphs.

[20:30] In 2019, Artxcode experienced NFTs as a certificate of the physical work and continued to showcase art on physical fares. Mentioned: Manolo Gamboa, Helena Sarin, Ben Snell, Zach Bodtorf, and David Mrugala.

[25:40] Reaction from artists regarding minting NFTs in 2020 and how Covid made ArtXCode mint on Super Rare. Mentioned: Harshit Agrawal, CADAF, Museum of Crypto Art, Pablo Fraile

[31:40] ArtBlocks and Ringers came out. Auction houses entered the game, and Sofia didn’t like how auction houses showcased digital art. Mentioned: Sotheby’s, Erick Calderon ‘snowfro’.

[35:30] Sofia describes a physical show called ‘The Digital’ that she designed and curated. One of the proudest moments of her life. Mentioned: Casey Reas, Centuries, Jeff Davis, Color Studies, Subscapes, Fidenza, Chromie Squiggle.

[39:30] How Sofia defines ArtXCode today (art representation, experimental, legal support, sales, and advisory). Mentioned: Toni Marinara, Martin Grasser, and Lars Wander.

[44:00] Biggest challenges for artists today and how to think holistically about their career. Mentioned: William Mapan, Tyler Hobbs, Sasha Stiles, Linda Dounia, IX Shells, SMK museum, and the MoMA.

[52:00] Advice for emerging artists.

[56:00] Three artists that inspire Sofia: Sasha Stiles, Maya Man, and Helena Sarin (her book in collab with Dmitri Cherniak) produced & edited by Sofia.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, help me spread the word by liking it (❤️) and sharing it with your friends.

Share

Until next time,

- Kaloh