We traveled up to Harlem and caught up with photographer, filmmaker, cultural documentarian, and artist Karl Pierre (@visualsbypierre) to talk about current projects, inspirations, NFTs, and more.
Where are you from? Where do you live now?
Originally, I'm from Far Rockaway Queens, but I'm currently living in West Harlem.
What does a typical day for Karl Pierre look like?
My typical day consists of me lighting a joint, going for a leisurely walk around Harlem – usually with my camera in tow. I might grab a coffee before heading back to my office at home, where I'm usually on calls with brands about campaigns and brainstorming concepts with my creative contemporaries. Recently, I've also been diving into VR gaming.
You have a great docuseries out right now called "Contemporaries Project." How did that come about?
Thank you for that! Joe Cavallini and I developed the "Contemporaries Project." I was given the opportunity via the Facebook Black Creators program to create video content for the entire year that would be shown on my social channels. I felt like telling the stories of my creative contemporaries was a story that had to be told. I've met so many amazing people over the years that I love and respect, and I want to share their work with my audience – and eventually the world.
As an artist, what place inspires you the most?
New York City is a constant source of inspiration for an artist, and I'm constantly visiting different parts of the city to draw out new creative pieces and storylines. That said, my eyes have been fixated on Mexico City as of late.
You recently launched your collection of NFTs titled "HERE TODAY | GONE TOMORROW." Let's talk about that. Where can we go to get these NFTs?
Yes, so I've been in the crypto space since 2017. With the start of NFTs, I've been researching and diving into it for almost a year now. Earlier this month, I finally decided to give my first offering the space it needed with a collection of 102 street photos I've taken over the years. It's titled "Here Today Gone Tomorrow" to represent the fleeting moments we come across every time we leave our home. You can find the collection on Open Sea; just type in "Here Today Gone Tomorrow," and it'll pop up. You can also visit my Twitter bio for the direct link (@visualsbypierre).
You're a man of many talents. What's another creative outlet for you when you're not behind or in front of the camera?
I've recently gotten into painting – my good friend Will Nichols inspired me and challenged me to try it. I used to draw as a kid but never went full force into it. I love painting because it doesn't have any boundaries, and I'm able to tap into my imagination.
What are five things you can't live without?
1. My camera.
2. Pizza.
3. Family.
4. Friends.
5. My iPhone – sadly.
What are you listening to at the moment?
I've been listening to Ye, J Cole. Kaytranada, Khrugbin, Rimon, Bad Bad Not Good, Pink Pantheress, Doze, Baby Keem, Skillibeng, Mach-Hommy Don Toliver, Tems, and Yaeji – just to name a few.
