Today’s guest is Sean Bonner, a trailblazer who lives at the intersection of art, technology, activism, and culture. Since 2020, Sean has been deeply involved in the digital and crypto art world — educating, building, and innovating as both an independent creator and as a Venture Partner with Japan’s web3 fund gmjp. He also leads web3 exploration for Obey Giant Art, and with DJ Muggs co-created the virtual lofi musician 8tari Lofi Punk.
Sean’s career bridges art and academia. He has conducted research at MIT’s Center for Civic Media and the Digital Currency Initiative, and taught as an Associate Professor at Keio University in Japan. Beyond academia, he co-founded the environmental open data nonprofit Safecast, was a Shuttleworth Fellow, and co-authored 50 Shades of Green: Reimagining Philanthropy.
As a street photographer, experimental musician, activist, and entrepreneur, Sean has released projects under the names DRØNEWAR and Delay 5000, co-founded multimedia art/music collectives, built the first hackerspace in Los Angeles, and exhibited photography worldwide. His photo books Unfinished Projects (2024) and Don’t Go Outside (2017) showcase his creative eye and lived experience.
In this episode, Sean dives into:
His journey through art, crypto, and web3 culture
Founding global projects like Safecast and Metblogs
Collaborations with Shepard Fairey, DJ Muggs, and Soul Assassins
His evolution from street photography to experimental music
Why he refuses to be defined by a single label
This is a conversation about creativity, activism, and pushing boundaries across mediums and industries.
Visit Sean:
Instagram: @seanbonner
Web: www.seanbonner.com
Sean's Book: Unfinished Projects
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Music: C-Trox Kyrie Irving (Instrumental)
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