Grant Riven Yun: Originality, Confidence & Hard Work (Interview)

Who is Grant Riven Yun?

Grant Riven Yun is a contemporary artist from Milwaukee, WI. He is renowned for his vector art, which employs minimalist aesthetics to depict landscapes, architecture, and interior design. While Yun's style nods to early twentieth-century painters, it also distinguishes itself as uniquely modern and contemporary.

Yun's artwork has seen global exhibitions, gracing venues from Times Square to Sotheby’s. Notably, his unique pieces, limited editions, collaborations, and generative works have attracted collectors from both the crypto space and the traditional art world.

Additionally, Grant is also pursuing a medical degree to become a physician and is celebrated in the breakdancing community as Bboy Riven.

On a fun note, Grant’s journey in art began with creating works on PowerPoint—a humble beginning that laid the groundwork for his current practice.

What is something you wish someone had told you before becoming an artist?

One important piece of information that no one specifically told me prior to working seriously as an artist was that originality truly stands alone.

Of course all of us are inspired by an artist or a genre or possibly a piece of art. Inspiration and imitation are two entirely different things.

What does your creating process look like?

I often consider myself a photographer first. The vast majority of my compositions first begin with a wide array of different photographs I have taken over the past several years. The works that I create are never just one single photograph that I trace as some people might think. In fact, a lot of the work that I have is first created from pure imagination and a lot of the finer details are where I am able to use these photographic references to complete each work.

In addition to this, however, I also utilize a ton of freehand illustration.

Who are 2-3 artists you admire or respect that you think deserve (even) more recognition?

I think one artist that I really look up to is an artist based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Dr. Nathaniel Stern.

Living in the same city, I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit him in his studio numerous times and talk with him about art, digital art, and NFTs. Nathaniel has been a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Creative Technologies and Mechanical Engineering for over 15 years. He was part of the net.art movement and has been pushing the boundaries in the digital field for almost as long as I have been alive.

It has truly been inspiring to see him work in the studio and I have a lot to learn from him!

What do you benefit the most when working with NFTs and the blockchain?

Expanding my reach as an artist.

Digital artists have never been the face of fine art. However, as the world becomes more digital, blockchain allows for new conversations and narratives to be built, ones that will be so well integrated into our society that I believe they will become a leading face of fine art.

What do you do when you are trying to enhance your creativity?

I know that this is a cliché term however, I genuinely believe in the phrase you have to know the rules to be able to break them. I am attempting to expand my horizons as an artist. I often look towards my peers and artists that inspire me. I do my best to read about art and artists and learn about their practice.

Additionally, for myself specifically, I often try my best to travel as much as possible. This doesn’t necessarily mean traveling far or to foreign countries, and it often means taking a drive somewhere I haven’t gone before. Take, for example, just driving to work. While there is the most efficient way to drive to work, oftentimes, I find myself taking an additional 10 to 45 minutes trying a new route and seeing a different part of my city that I might have never seen before.

Moments like these often expand my own understanding of the things around me, and open my mind up to my world from a unique and different perspective.

What skill should anyone harvest early in their career that will pay off massively for years?

Find a unique style, don’t blatantly imitate another artist.

Originality stands alone.

What is one thing you think artists should focus more on, and why?

Less focus on the masses, more focus on yourself.

The vision for your art should come from within. Sometimes I think art is a direct reaction to what is happening in the world; however, much of art I believe should be created from one’s own personal vision and not be shaped by the pressure of others.

What are the reasons you create? What do you want your vision and message to be?

Be confident in your approach and the message you have for the world, otherwise you will be chasing trends and having other people dictate what type of art you make.

What’s the hardest part of being an artist?

I know in the past response I stated you need to be confident, but it is much easier said than done.

The hardest part of being an artist in my opinion is sharing your works with the world. If it really was easy to just ignore the criticisms from the world I would have no advice to give. But believe in your art and share it with the world in the face of all the negative comments it may receive!

What advice would you give to someone just starting their journey as an artist?

Push your boundaries on what you know about art.

There is an overwhelming amount of art in the world and it is your responsibility to know at least a fraction of this. Its tough to go out and learn about art when you have no experience in it but then again, no pain no gain.

Work hard to expand your horizons and it will pay off greatly in the end.

What habit or practice has changed your life the most?

Finding the motivation to always be working, always having a reason to do things, pushing myself despite the lack of energy or will.

Why do you create art?

To live.

What’s a book or an article that has greatly influenced your life?

A lot of John Steinbeck’s books really inspired my vision for my art. The way he writes creates vivid imagery especially given many of these places he writes about are about places I have lived in.

What does success look like to you?

Being happy with the things I do.

What is your favorite failure?

A lot of my early art projects before NFTs.

I learned a lot about myself as an artist and how to improve. I additionally learned about the skills that it takes outside of just the art: how to run a business (or maybe how not* to run one), collaborating and relying on others, finances, marketing, etc.

***Primera #217*** *by Grant Yun & Andrew Mitchell*

What are you willing to struggle for?

My family, my ability to be happy, and feeling fulfilled.

What single question can you ask yourself daily to guide you closer to success?

This is not a hypothetical question I am answering. I genuinely ask myself multiple times a day how are the things I am doing on a day to day basis helping my life for the future.

Sometimes this means my health (at the gym), job stability and helping others (in the hospital and at medical school), and finding success as an artist.

What is one strong opinion you have?

Work hard for the things you want.

Such an obvious statement, but having met so many people over the years in my life who are interested in something but dont work for their goals you realize many people don’t live by this idea.

What lessons from the past do you still carry with you today?

My mom always told me I need to work twice as hard as the kids at my school to achieve the same results. I think as a little kid or young adult I felt this was just nonsense however slowly I am realizing this is a critical part to becoming successful.

What would you say to your 25-year-old self?

Do exactly what you’re doing.

Learn more from Grant

Something to read:

Real Talk with Artist Grant Riven Yun with Monty

Something to watch:

How Grant Yun Balances Med School With Six-Figure Art Sales

Something to listen to:

Artist Spotlight: Grant Riven Yun and the Business of Art

Get in Touch with Grant

The best way to get in touch with Grant is via Twitter.