Behind the Scenes with Anjelica Roselyn

Anjelica is an illustrator based in London who has worked with top clients such as Vogue, Dior, The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle Magazine, and many more. She is making her debut in the NFT space with ALTER EGOS, a collection of high-fashion illustrations that celebrate personal style, embrace expansive identities, and showcase fashion as a powerful expression of self. The collection is an opportunity to step outside ourselves.

Anjelica, tell us more about your artistic process:
When I create, I feel this flow of inspiration. Once I see something I am inspired by, I can instantly see how I want to interpret it. My favorite moment is when I start to realize my idea the way I envisioned. Experimenting with color and pattern is one of my biggest rituals as an artist, so creating this vast collection of NFTs was a natural way to expand on my artistic process. I know that if I’m inspired, people are inspired. I have a lot of confidence in my work. Being an artist is what I am. Illustration is my first love.

How do you connect to the concept ALTER EGOS?
I love the idea of alter egos. Alter egos give us the freedom to feel like we are changing into somebody. They empower us to step into another side of ourselves. In this collection, I wanted to encourage people to step into their alter egos. I hope collecting an ALTER EGO is an experience that allows you to celebrate each side of your personality. I actually have an alter ego as an artist — Anjelica Roselyn isn’t actually my government name, it is my first and middle name. ALTER EGOS give us that freedom to be who we aspire to be. 

What was your inspiration behind this collection?
These ALTER EGOS are inspired by so many people: drag queens, makeup artists, Marvel characters... I am drawn to people who push boundaries — like superheroes! I pull my inspiration from all walks of life and infuse their energies into my art. Drawing to me is energy. My talent is energy. And I hope people connect to the energy in my work. To see themselves in the essence of the art.  This is why I do what I do.

Tell us more about creating this collection.
There are so many different identities, attitudes, and facets represented in these avatars. I wanted them each to have a distinct style. A unique sense of experimentation. A unique, fresh and dazzling sense of style. I wanted the idea of the ‘self’ to stand out, like each avatar was making a unique mark on the world. I was very inspired by color in this collection. I used color with vibrancy that would grab people’s attention. I leaned into colors related to our digital worlds. I love using color that people can connect to a specific environment or experience. Candy pink, lemon yellow, sparkling sapphire. It’s all a part of the story. 

How do you see people using their ALTER EGOS?
With this collection, you can collect a variety of ALTER EGOS and embody a new one several times a week, even several times a day. It makes sense too. We are always changing, so why shouldn’t we invest in art that represents the constant evolution of self? With this collection you can change your profile picture and in turn your identity constantly.

Why are you excited about the world of NFTs?
NFTs represent the future and the future of womanhood, finance, and responsibility for ourselves, so stepping into this space represents a way to invest in the future to me. This is a massive moment in art. I love being a part of what’s next. There’s something thrilling about being one of the first to do something, because we don’t know what’s going to happen, but I feel brave and excited about it. I love working on something that’s leading us towards the future. Especially when everything is weird and uncertain in the world right now. It makes me feel hopeful for the next season of life. 

What is your mission moving into this new artistic space?
My subject has always been women, exclusively. The vast majority of people in my online community are women. It's been that way for my entire career. I am surrounded and inspired by professional women and women in the arts. It’s pivotal that I continue to take this forward in my work as I venture into the NFT space. I’m excited to do this not only for myself, but hopefully to inspire other women artists. Being an artist is so difficult and that is something that’s not spoken about, but if I can inspire professional artists to explore the NFT and crypto world, I’m excited about that aspect. I’m excited to continue building a community of woman around this.