Meet NFN Kalyan: Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with NFN Kalyan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi NFN, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
The funny thing is, I became a professional artist because I had a kid. I think most people may have the opposite reaction to becoming a parent. I had a steady job but quit to be an artist when my son was just a few months old. Whether I succeeded or failed, my son could know that you should take your shot in life. If you play it safe and don’t follow your dreams, they will never come true. That being said, the decision to become an artist impacted my children incredibly powerfully but not in the way I expected. It had the impact in that I am always around. Family time is all the time and we all have an incredibly strong bond. I have been able to help with homework, cook meals, drive them everywhere and enjoy my life with them because of the flexibility of my schedule. When they are at school or after school activities or asleep, I can get my work done. But when they are home, I can spend my time with them. It is a gift not many parents have. Perhaps in the age of the iPad, it’s a gift not every parent takes advantage of. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My current work is painting but I broke into the art business doing sculpture. I’m also moving into the crypto art space. I came into the art world as somewhat of an outsider. That has made the road difficult because I started with no clue or contacts. But I had a lot of help along the way. It isn’t an easy road but my thoughts are always on what to do next. Setbacks are just motivation. I think you need that type of personality to succeed at anything. I have an underdog mentality. I always feel like I have something to prove. That keeps me pushing on the business side but also (and more importantly) on the creative side. I never want to be stagnant. The work has to be something worth looking at. I also believe in making work that has long lasting consequence in the world. Though not every piece may have that legacy, it is my approach to most of them. How can I make something that speaks about human existence? Approaching art in that way makes a career harder and easier at the same time. It’s harder because the art world is obsessed with fads, like every other career. It’s easier because hopefully my voice stands out.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My best friend is my wife and I actually plan my life with her this way. Since we have kids, we can’t always travel far. So we have to make South Florida an adventure. My wife is partial to the beach by Eden Roc. Relaxing there is a good daytime activity. Kayaking or paddle boarding at the Virginia Key outdoor center is another thing we enjoy. If you want to take a short drive north, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Palm Beach is worth it. My wife is in love with Japanese culture and that is a beautifully curated facility. Once a month I take her west to Marco Island. It is the perfect place to get drinks on the beach. We have randomly gone into the small bookstores on Collier Blvd and bought books so we can sit on the beach and read. Tigertail beach has nice facilities and the sand on that coast is nicer than the sand on South Beach. Also on Collier is Doreen’s Cup of Joe, her favorite brunch spot. They have a great menu and make the best espresso martini we have ever had. In the evening, Miami comes alive and you can take your pick of things to do. For a romantic dinner, I lean toward Mark Soyka’s Cafe Roval. Downtown, Le Chat Noir is a great place to see jazz. They serve wine and small plates while you watch the concert. There are so many other restaurants and hot spots, it’s really hard to pick. I will just say that for dessert you can’t beat ordering Sweet Lich’s cookies (every batch made to order) or Aubi & Ramsa alcoholic ice cream. As for nightlife? I’m starting to get too old for that but it’s so easy to find nightlife in Miami. My advice is to just follow where the night takes you. That is always the best way to do it here. There are endless places you could find to have a good time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It may be cliche but my wife is the person that deserves recognition. I admire and love her more than anything. We raise our kids together and live our lives together. We communicate and care about each other every step of the way. She is my role model for how a person should live their life.

Website: www.nfnkalyan.com
Instagram: @nfnkalyan
Twitter: @nfnkalyan
Facebook: facebook.com/nfn.art
Other: I’m primarily on instagram. I really don’t even have time to maintain my website.

Image Credits
no credits. just random people. but these are all photos of oil paintings.