David Anasagasti, better known as “Ahol Sniffs Glue,” is Miami’s graffiti artist turned multi-million-dollar contemporary artist.
During the past years, he started tagging trash into art, offering pieces free of charge to his admirers. The famous trash-to-art creator David Anasagasti better known as Ahol organized an outrageous NFT event for Art Basel 2021. At the event, he talked to Miami Cycling Show founder Alex Bettamio where he explain the importance of the technology in the art world “Not just for digital art. I’ve made it a point to experiment with NFTs and their capabilities on bringing the community together and building with them in real life and in discord”, said the artist.
People carrying trash that was turned into art lined up along the Paramount Miami World Center to receive their prizes for the festival’s first-ever scavenger hunt.
The artist, as known as Ahol Sniffs Glue, has also turned the ordinary pastime of cycling into a way to not only get fit but make art. As he bikes along the city streets, if he finds a piece of trash on the road or tucked under a tree, he’ll stop, dust off the newfound treasure, and paint over it. He then leaves the new work of art for someone to find and claim.
“I stopped drinking and doing drugs and haven’t looked back ever since. I did this all on my own, with no rehab or sponsor. The world is stuck with the pandemic and the bike allowed me to make this change. I love my bike. I ain’t going back!” the Cuban-American artist reveals.
Ahol gamified the process to further engage with the community. While he’s out on his rides, he’ll share an image of a freshly painted piece. In this interview, Ahol opens up about his life overcomes, arts, NFTs, and the Miami Cycling scene. Check out the full interview below:
MCS – Let’s talk about your trademark, the world-famous “ Sleepy Eyes “, and how the idea came up?
Ahol: The eyes I draw are the unique eyes I pulled from the world of characters I created. Inspired and powered by the people. They are never sleeping. Always awake. They could stand-alone or in an infinite mass.
MCS – What differentiates your work from others on Miami artistic scene?
Ahol: Hopefully people could tell my work from a mile away.
MCS – During the 2021 Art Basel, some of your Art was released through NF. Tell us your thoughts about NFT and arts nowadays.
Ahol: I’ve been putting out NFTs on super rare for about a year and a half. I really do believe the blockchain will be beneficial to the art world in the long run. Not just for digital art. I’ve made it a point to experiment with NFTs and their capabilities in bringing the community together and building with them in real life and in discord.
We are learning so much so fast. These are exciting and scary times. Gotta know what you are getting into as always.
MCS – Trash x Graffiti Arts: What inspired you to set the trend using plastic containers, rocks, chairs, car parts and etc…?
Ahol: The trash was already out there. I really loved riding the bike and I like writing on stuff. So by painting stuff while I rode the bike I was able to stay entertained and connect with my fan base giving them unique ate pieces painted on trash on location. We later allow the finder of the piece to go thru an interview process with FIU (Florida International University) or win games in the Biscayne World Discord to get their trash pieces turned into an NFT
https://opensea.io/collection/geographies-of-trash-art-cycling-with-ahol
MCS – Tell us how cycling changed your life and inspired your work.
Ahol: The collabo jersey I did with Rapha got me learning more about the culture and the company.
I told them I wanted to get into riding a bike. I got a bike and got hooked.
I stopped drinking and doing drugs and haven’t looked back ever since.
I did this all on my own, with no rehab or sponsor. The world is stuck with the pandemic and the bike allowed me to make this change. I love my bike. I ain’t going back!
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