Mark Wilson, also known as diewiththemostlikes, is an artist with a unique and distinctive style. His art can be described as grotesque, performative, thought-provoking, and hilarious. He stands out in the digital art market by often ridiculing the NFT space and evoking both humor and sadness in his work.
In addition to visual art, Wilson is also a writer and has authored five books. He entered the NFT space after minting his first NFT on Foundation in March 2021. Initially, he had no knowledge of minting or Foundation but decided to give it a try. Over time, he gained recognition and praise from other well-known artists.
Wilson still finds it hard to believe the success he has achieved in the digital art world. He never expected to be part of such a movement and is amazed by the trajectory of other artists in the space.
The name “diewiththemostlikes” is a playful jab at our transactional existence on social media, where we seek likes for validation. Wilson finds comfort in the cumbersome and unenjoyable nature of his name, as it reflects the sad and depressing aspects of our digital lives.
Observing society and its idiosyncrasies is a major inspiration for Wilson’s work. He often incorporates open or subliminal messages in his art that make viewers stop and think. His style is documentarian yet grotesque, with a touch of exaggeration.
One of Wilson’s notable series is “Good Meat,” which originated from his ridicule of the repetitive “gm” posts on social media. He started posting meat pictures as a way to mock this dull exchange. Surprisingly, people started responding with their own “good meat” posts, and Wilson finds it amusing that meat has infected the digital space.
Some notable sales of Wilson’s artwork include “We saved our marriage,” “After the streetlights stopped grieving,” and “Precious moments.”
Wilson’s influences come from literature rather than art, with authors like Irvine Welsh, Haruki Murakami, Michel Houellebecq, and Hunter S. Thompson shaping his worldview. He also mentions illustrator Ralph Steadman as a significant influence.
When creating art, Wilson listens to doom metal and death metal, as the slow, grimy, and brutal music sets the mood for his work.
In terms of other artists to watch in the NFT space, Wilson recommends Xer0x, Alien Queen, and James Bloom.
Wilson expresses gratitude to SuperRare Zach, who onboarded him to the platform after an absurdist tweet campaign. He also mentions a quantum portrait of himself by Pindar Van Arman as his favorite NFT in his wallet.
Overall, Mark Wilson, aka diewiththemostlikes, is an artist who challenges the norms of the digital art world with his unique style and thought-provoking work.