[Interview] Mulga X Samsung Art Store Partnership Offers Limitless Potential for Digital Age Artists – Samsung Newsroom Canada

Samsung Art Store is the epitome of digital-physical blending, supporting today’s artistic experiences. It enables widely acclaimed galleries, museums and artists to showcase their masterpieces to users around the world through The Frame’s digital signage. Since its launch in 2017, Samsung Art Store^[1] enables extraordinary and unique selections of art to be accessible to consumers from the comfort of their own homes.

Mulga is the embodiment of the cool “art guy” persona. The Sydney-based Australian artist is a freelance illustrator, published author and muralist, whose style is dynamic, complex and just plain fun. Having started his career in finance, he moved on to making a living through art when he decided he wanted to do something he was truly passionate about.

Now Mulga makes a living doing what he loves. His art is inspired by animals, summer and the ocean, which is brought to life through Samsung’s Art Store. Samsung Newsroom sat down with Mulga to learn more about his artistic process and how he sees digital transformation affecting the art world.

Q: Your work is described by others as complex, dynamic and unique. In your own words, how would you describe your artistic style?

I would say there is a lot of summer atmosphere and humor. It also has real Aussie vibes. There are always black lines and details with a fun element that ties it all together. You could say it’s the art that makes you smile and feel good.

Q: You’ve worked on a variety of projects — big brand collaborations, murals, smaller original paintings, and snowboards. What has been one of your recent favorites?

Last month I painted a 100 meter long mural on the beach at Port Macquarie, and it was awesome to do. I love the beach, summer and surfing; so it was the perfect place. At one point the waves were crashing against the wall while I was painting, and I had to time that with the tides. It made it a little more exciting.

Q: How did you start working with Samsung and the Art Store? What excites you most about this partnership?

I’ve worked with Samsung on a bunch of different campaigns over the years, usually creating art using Samsung products. Once I even made more than 19 cell phone wallpapers. Samsung is a great partner to work with because they have cool products and do a lot of creative collaborations.

I got involved with the Art Store when The Frame was first launched. Samsung has licensed one of my gorilla artwork for display on TVs and use for print ads. I painted live at the launch in Sydney and painted a large mural in Melbourne to promote The Frame.

Having my work in the Art Store means people all over the world discover my art. Once someone sees my piece in the Art Store, they are more likely to find my website, looking for the original painting they displayed on their TV. Additionally, there are royalties based on how long my art is displayed on all the televisions in the world.

Q: A lot of your work is done in a real, physical way: painting. How do you find your paintings translate to digital display on The Frame? Do you plan to work with other mediums in the future?

It works very well. I scan all of my artwork into a high resolution digital format for The Frame, and it looks like an actual painting. Although I have no intention of changing the way I paint, I would like to turn my paintings into 3D works of art – very large public works of art – in the future.

Q: How have your own designs evolved as technology has advanced? Are there any notable changes in your work that have been deeply impacted by technological innovations?

With the rise of blockchain technology and the novelty of being able to “own” digital art via NFTs, digital art is truly at its peak. As an artist, that’s a big thing. I create a lot more digital art and especially when working on my own “MulgaKongz” NFT collection. By creating art on a tablet, I can work anywhere – at the beach, on a boat or in a motor vehicle. It’s very useful.

When it comes to displaying the artwork, digital screens such as The Frame provide extremely vibrant colors with full screen details. The colors can sometimes even be more vivid than the actual paintings, so they look supercharged. Most of the time, when artworks are displayed on The Frame, they are larger than the actual version, and many details are also more visible, which can be more impactful than smaller versions of the real life.

Q: What are your three pieces that you would recommend users post on The Frame?

It’s really a matter of personal preference, but I can tell you that last month my most popular work in the Art Store was the Clifford King of the Point. It’s a painting of a tall, bearded guy standing with his surfboard on my local beach, and he’s surrounded by goofy seagulls. It’s summery, fun and colorful.

Clifford King of the Point (2020)

My second most viewed work last month was a colorful collage-style work titled Under the sea. It features corals, whisker fish, bearded pineapples and octopus tentacles. I originally drew this artwork for a chain of Poke Bowl restaurants in my home town of Sydney.

Under the sea (2018)

Another of my favorite works in the Art Store is titled Cactus Brothers. It is a painting of two cactus figures wearing sombreros under a starry sky. They’re in the desert surrounded by cacti and palm trees, and an oasis-style lake sits in the background. It was a work of art, which I was commissioned to paint for an amateur cacti collector of my art.

Cactus Brothers (2021)

To see more of Mulga’s artwork, head to the Samsung Art Store in The Frame.

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^[1] * Art Store subscription required to access the full selection. Fees apply to the subscription service.

** Art Store artwork is subject to change without notice.