Erick Calderon

Erick Calderon, aka Snowfro, was born in 1981 in Mexico City and is based in Houston, Texas. Before becoming a key figure in generative art, he ran a ceramic tile business, drawn to the durability, precision, and beauty of porcelain, qualities he later saw reflected in NFTs and blockchain technology. Encouraged by his wife, he returned to coding, a hobby he had practiced since childhood. As he began programming visual outputs, he realized he didn’t need traditional tools like paintbrushes to create work that felt visually compelling and uniquely his.

His journey into generative art took a pivotal turn after seeing Amon Tobin’s projection mapping performance at Coachella, which ignited his passion for visual experimentation. Using visual programming software like TouchDesigner, he created projection mapping installations that blended color and motion, laying the groundwork for his later generative work. Early on, he built software to randomize projections during music events, shifting from manual control to generative systems that introduced unpredictability and depth.

In 2020, Snowfro launched Art Blocks, a platform designed to support artists working with generative code. As he explored generative visuals, he discovered Ethereum and NFTs, recognizing their potential to provide provenance, permanence, and a new way to distribute digital art. Frustrated by how easily digital artworks were forgotten on platforms like Instagram, he aimed to create a platform where art could be documented with lasting meaning and value.

Snowfro’s own project, Chromie Squiggles, was the first to launch on Art Blocks. Initially created as a proof of concept to demonstrate the platform’s possibilities, the collection quickly became iconic. Each Squiggle is generated in real time from code, producing thousands of unique, colorful line-based works. Snowfro capped the collection at 10,000 pieces, holding on to a select few to release over time. In 2024, he donated Chromie Squiggle #9999 to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), marking one of the first major acquisitions of a generative NFT by a traditional art institution. The work is now part of LACMA’s permanent collection.