Mike Grill, a.k.a MikeGrillMadeIt, couldn’t get into a university’s design school because they felt his portfolio wasn’t good enough.

Fast-forward to January 2022 when Rolling Stone Magazine had this to say about his NFT art: “Playful and unmistakably New York, combining classical imagery with contemporary flourishes as if someone ripped open the space-time continuum and let a Miami hypebeast run free in ancient Rome.”

Born and raised in New York, Mike now calls Vancouver, Canada, home. His New York upbringing is pervasive in his artistic style and approach – and his storytelling enthralls.

“There’s always been something about the act of creation that has fascinated me,” says the multi-talented artist. “During my final year of high school, my school introduced a course in graphic design. I did it because everyone else was doing it, but I found that I actually quite enjoyed it. When I first started university, I wanted to go to a design school, but I didn’t have a good enough portfolio to get in.”

He attended St. John’s University in Queens, New York, where he studied advertising and marketing with a graphic design focus. He’s worked across the industry, from graphic designer and strategic marketer, has his own marketing agency, and works a 9-5 job as a Digital Retention Manager.

Mike spent time in Rome. As Rolling Stone pointed out, Rome and Catholicism heavily influenced his personal artworks. “I began superimposing contemporary concepts on classic masterpieces. The more depth there is, the more precise the details will be. Due to my ADD, my thoughts tend to wander.

Therefore it’s not uncommon for me to have an idea or concept completely break apart in the middle of the creation process, which then leads to a new idea. It’s almost like I have to make a bunch of mistakes before I discover the right match for my imagination.” He was inspired to explore NFT art by his friend Ryan, an early adopter and tech pioneer. “Ryan knows I’ve always wanted to be an artist, and he saw this as the perfect opportunity to transform my hobby into some wise investments.”

Wise investments, indeed. Mike’s work has been celebrated by both art collectors and fans alike. His “Rennaisauce” and “Da Burning Bush” collections shifted the NFT space. We can’t wait to see what sauce he cooks up next!