Cyber Bandits is a project by artist Michael Reeder. The main focus of this project is to bridge Reeder’s physical painting style over to the generative pfp metaverse. For years Reeder’s paintings have utilized an aspect of interchangeability, recycling imagery from painting to painting. Most of Reeder’s characters share a similar figure shape that acts as a central vessel for the parts that make up the figure to live. Like a generative project, each painted figure feels similar and familiar yet fresh, new, and unique. Utilizing clippings from actual physical paintings and digitally rendered elements, Reeder has built a catalog of imagery to specifically be run through a generator to create the Cyber Bandits.
“This is my first time collaborating with a computer generator, and it’s been amazing to see my well-known library of imagery being pushed well beyond my own biases. This journey into generative art has been challenging, refreshing and has undoubtedly reinvigorated my appreciation for figurative art and its boundless potential.” – Michael Reeder