AUGUST 17, 2022

smART Advisory Founder + Chief Art Legacy Art Advisor, Nina Kong-Surtees sits down and chats with Grace Hye, a South Korean Artist based in Paris whose work consists of Chinese ink and mixed media paintings and decorative ceramic pieces that she exhibits at her gallery in Paris.

Tune in to learn more about Grace's journey as an artist, fashion designer, and how she's creating the bridge between traditional art and digital art in Web3 through her latest NFT collection, Your Black Flowers.

Image: Grace Hye, Your Black Flowers: Your Gateway to the Innerverse (2022).

© Courtesy of the Artist

JULY 7, 2022

Nina Kong-Surtees of smART Advisory welcomes and chats with the multifaceted artist and Founder of Hungry Artist, Mary Lai.

Tune in to learn more about Mary’s recent NFT project, Exquisite Collab, and her insights on bridging the gap between physical and digital artwork and changing the narrative of the “starving” artist.

Image: Hungry Artist (Mary Lai) x Rylie (artist’s daughter) x Sun (artist’s mother). THREE GENERATIONS, from the Exquisite Collab series, 2022.

© Courtesy of the Artist

From the collection of nycgallerina.btc

OCTOBER 17, 2021

Nina Kong-Surtees of smART Advisory welcomes back and chats with the multifaceted artist, NFT strategist, serial founder, and entrepreneur, Jessica Greenwalt.

Tune in here to learn more about Jessica’s recent NFT project, DeusX, and her insights on navigating the NFT space safely and how artists (especially women artists) can get involved in the NFT space.

Image: DeusX. Cybernetically Enhanced Beings (CEBs), 2021

© Courtesy of DeusX

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Nina Kong-Surtees of smART Advisory chats with the multifaceted artist, inventor, and filmmaker, Barrett Lizza, based in Bellingham, Washington.

Tune in to learn more about Barrett's journey as an artist, his recent mural in Venice Beach, CA, and his creative process of turning physical into digital artwork (hint: we’ll be discussing NFTs).

Image: Barrett Lizza.

© Courtesy of the Artist

August 10, 2021

Nina Kong-Surtees of smART Advisory had an enlightening conversation with the multidisciplinary indigenous artist Mona Cliff. Mona has embarked on a new series of regalia that explores the concept of native futurism.

Tune in to learn more about Mona's journey as an artist and how she weaves her Native American heritage into the contemporary context in her work.

Image: Mona Cliff. From Past/Presence/Future series (2021)

© Courtesy of the Artist

JULY 18, 2021

FROM A "LESSER THAN" TO LEGENDARY ARTIST: HOW ONE ARTIST'S WINDING JOURNEY LED TO A THRIVING CAREER

Join Nina Kong-Surtees of smART Advisory for this rare conversation with artist and entrepreneur Justice Laub, aka "Good Energy."

Learn about the inspiration behind Justice's work and journey-- how he transformed his career from a bike messenger at Paramount Pictures to a social media campaign and blockchain pioneer to a highly sought-after artist among tech executives and crypto whale art collectors.

Tune in to learn about more about Justice’s journey as an entrepreneur and what it takes to be a “legendary” artist.

Image: Justice Laub, aka Good Energy.

L to R: Construct (2021) and Emergence (2021)

© Courtesy of the Artist

JUNE 22, 2021

SPECIAL FEATURE:A RARE LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES WITH HOLLYWOOD’S LEGENDARY ARTIST

Join Nina Kong-Surtees of smART Advisory for this rare conversation with Dylan Cole, the man behind the art that has ignited the imagination of moviegoers around the world.

Dylan Cole is a world builder of the highest caliber. Throughout his 20-year career in Hollywood, his work has shaped popular culture and inspired generations of artists. He’s been a concept artist, matte painter, and production designer for over 60 films, including Avatar, Lord of the Rings, Maleficent, TRON: Legacy, Alita: Battle Angel, Alice in Wonderland, and many more visually stunning masterpieces.

Tune in to learn about the inspiration behind Dylan's work, how he became Hollywood's legendary world builder, and his first-ever NFT drop.

Image: Dylan Cole. Engine City: Manifest Destiny (2021).

© Courtesy of the Artist

JUNE 16, 2021

In this Sundays@Studio series, Nina Kong-Surtees, chats with Tootsie Warhol, a NY-based artist and activist whose career started as an attorney specializing in human rights.

Tootsie shares how he transitioned his career from an attorney to an artist, which led to his performances as a satire of the former U.S. president, most notably, MAKING THE BIENNIAL GREAT AGAIN! (The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 2019). In his performances, Tootsie channels his experience of meeting the former president in 2017.

Who is Toosie Warhol? What does it mean to portray a controversial subject and figure? Tune in and find out.

Image: Tootsie Warhol. Tootsie Warhol Logo (2021)

© Courtesy of the Artist

MAY 13, 2021

In honor of Mother's Day, Nina Kong-Surtees chats with NYC-based artist Chellis Baird on navigating motherhood in the art world. Chellis is an artist who integrates her lifelong experience in fashion, textile, and color into her artwork. Her work explores how daily actions impact the social fabric. Chellis expresses the motion of art through "twisted, knotted and stuffed textiles" or "dimensional brushstrokes," and blurs the lines between painting, sculpture, and textiles.

Tune in to hear more about Chellis’ process of her work, insights on navigating motherhood, and journey as an artist.

Image: Chellis Baird. Anticipation (2017)

© Courtesy of the Artist

APRIL 25, 2021

In this Sundays@Studio series, Nina Kong-Surtees chats with Genevieve Kim, a multifaceted artist, photographer, go-to-market advisor, founder/ co-founder of seven-figure businesses, and creative director of content production agency Triangleflash Studio. Genevieve is a storyteller, creating narratives through opera, visual design, and writing. She tells the stories through her camera to connect and shine a light on human courage and vulnerability.

Tune in to hear more about Genevieve’s courageous artistic journey and her insights on what it takes to be a successful artist and entrepreneur.

Image: Genevieve Kim. From Eye See You series.

© Courtesy of the Artist

MARCH 7, 2021

In this Sundays@Studio series, Nina Kong-Surtees chats with a multi-faceted artist, Alan Vladusic. Alan is also an award-winning creative director/designer/art director at major advertising agencies worldwide. Originally from Bosnia, raised in Germany, and based in NYC, he is a co-founder and creative director for 3 brands.

In his Immortal series, Alan reflects on his fascination with human achievement and investigation on never-dying fame. Through his work, Alan demonstrates our courage and ability to rise above the life challenges and darker side of our world.

Tune in to hear Alan’s insights on the true power of art and overcoming challenges as an artist and entrepreneur.

Image: Alan Vladusic. The Notorious B.I.G † 1:15 am / March 9, 1997 (2008), Mixed Media - pencil on paper and layered acrylic sheets, and a clock

© Courtesy of the Artist

FEBRUARY 7, 2021

For this series of Sundays@Studio, smART Advisory Founder and hostess Nina Kong-Surtees chats with Lauren Richards, an artist, entrepreneur, and founder of a jewelry company called, Radiance & Romance. Lauren's sculptural jewelry collection aims to defy conventionality and break down barriers every day through grace and elegance. She also chats about what it means to be an artist while being an entrepreneur.

Tune in here to hear more about Lauren’s insights on being an artist and entrepreneur.

Image: Lauren Richardson. Dare Underestimate the Lightness of Her Feathers (2020)

© Courtesy of the Artist

JANUARY 17,2021

To kick off the Sundays@Studio series in 2021, smART Advisory Founder and hostess, Nina Kong-Surtees chats with the artist, writer, innovator, tech executive, and former Professor of Digital Marketing and Social Media at NYU and University of Florida, Kristina Libby. Kristina shares her journey as a self-taught artist and how she transformed herself professionally and personally through art after a traumatic accident. She also speaks about the transformative and healing power of art and how she’s carrying out her mission to heal our griefs during the times of COVID in her current work, The Floral Heart Project.

Tune in to hear more about Kristina’s journey and insights on the value of creativity.

Image: Kristina Libby. A Blessing for Brooklyn, No. 5 from The Floral Heart Project series (ongoing).

© Courtesy of the Artist

NOVEMEBER 29,2020

For the second installment of Sundays@Studio series, smART Advisory Founder and hostess, Nina Kong-Surtees sits with artist and interior designer, Monica Lederman. Monica chats about her journey as an artist and how she integrates music and collaborates with her clients to create unique artwork.

Tune in to hear more about how Monica works with the artists for her interior design commissions.

Image: Monica Lederman. Hours Together (2020) © Courtesy of the Artist

OCTOBER 18,2020

For the inaugural Sundays@Studio series, smART Advisory Founder and hostess Nina Kong-Surtees sits with artist Clayton Woodley to chat about his nomadic and entrepreneurial journey as a multi-disciplinary creator and Contemporary photographer.

Tune in to hear more about Clayton’s journey.

Image: Clayton Woodley. Sands of Socotra II (2016), from Awake series.

© Courtesy of the Artist