Buried Treasure Entrepreneur and Painter JR Bissell Lends His Historical Expertise to the World of Modern Art

Alongside the advent and subsequent mainstream popularity of the internet has come a simultaneous explosion of digital art, with 2021’s non-fungible token (NFT) craze currently holding a major grip on the general population and art world’s overlapping interests. Still, though an exciting burgeoning frontier and format for artists, ancient artifact collector and painter himself JR Bissell firmly believes the market’s present-day oversaturated bubble is fated to burst, encouraging consumers to instead invest in pieces that have true meaning and merit and acting as the very catalyst for change himself.

“I believe most dealers and collectors will tell you the contemporary art market is bubbled,” reveals Bissell. “What happened to art that takes months to complete, with more direct thought-provoking ideas that hit the viewer instantly? A ton of modern art requires a dealer who speaks five languages to tell you about why a banana duct taped to a wall should mean something to you; will these pieces such as a duct taped banana still be provocative and thought provoking in 10 to 100 years?”

As the owner and operator of Pirate Gold Coins, a business that specializes in the acquisition and sale of sunken pirate treasure and other sought-after artifacts ranging from Egyptian hieroglyphics to prehistoric dinosaur fossils, Bissell knows a thing or two about the enduring desirability of an object. Having personally overseen the sale of an authentic $3 million baby tyrannosaurus rex skeleton and countless other precious relics, Bissell possesses unparalleled insight on what it takes for collectibles to keep and appreciate value overtime, not just in a fleeting moment, leading to his insider take on the world of modern art.

“Do you really think people will still care about now-trendy NFTs like ‘crypto-punks’ or ‘bored ape’ in a decade or two?” asks Bissell. “Can you hold lectures for hours on a single pixelated photo an AI bot generated 10,000 of? It’s possible, but I think the digital artists that last will create things that require real skill, merit, and energy that can be discussed for hours.”

Still, as an artist himself, Bissell doesn’t wholeheartedly dismiss the entire status of the present-day artworld; instead, Bissell looks to subvert these buzzy 21st century trends on their heads, turning them into certifiably valuable collectibles. Between his deftly created paintings of beloved pirate coins that take up to three months to complete, or his innovative take on NFTs of his artifacts that are actually backed up by the physical relic itself, Bissell puts a major stake in something his creations have that much of their contemporary counterparts lack: historical value.

“I think if you can’t have a long lecture on any investment piece, it most likely won’t stand the test of time,” reveals Bissell. “With a shipwreck coin, for instance , there are multi hour long lectures you can attend of a single coin! From the assayer who struck it, the coin itself, the history of the designs, the surfaces and strike, the history of the coins travel, the socio-economic environment going on such as conflicts when the coin was struck to explain markings, etc. The amount of knowledge you can absorb on a single coin is astronomical; a painting needs to have this much conversation in it.”

Continually looking to innovate the art space in his own unique way, Bissell’s own paintings help preserve and chronicle the very treasures he has devoted his livelihood to, likewise giving his customers the chance to display an artfully rendered version of their pirate coins on their walls, while the real artifact remains safe and sound within a vault.

“I want to paint things that are truly rare and special to this planet,” continued Bissell. “I think when painting things like treasure, I try to encapsulate that eye catching, deep thinking feeling you get when you hold a gold coin that was sunk in a shipwreck 300 to 400 years ago; and now it’s somehow just sitting in your hand. Your brain can’t help but think -- what has this coin seen, where has it been, who held it before me, when was the last time someone had this? It’s almost impossible not to get this humbling magnitude of the piece and the special honor it is to hold such an artifact. I think the people who spend $50,000+ on these pieces love having the painting that also took months to complete, to truly capture its essence hanging on their walls (considering that treasure is most likely secured in a bank vault they will only see a couple times a year). These pieces of art are a great ‘pairing’ if you will, like fine wine, with the physical treasure.”

Outside of physical painting, Bissell’s one-of-a-kind take on the NFT market is likewise taking the digital art world by storm. Rather than subjecting it to the volatility of consumer demand, Bissell’s NFTs are directly tied to the value of physical artifacts themselves. Given pirate treasure’s tendency to steadily appreciate in worth, Bissell’s spin on NFTs make for a wise financial investment infinitely more secure than the other trendy NFTs of today, with the token likewise able to be burned at any time in exchange for the actual relic itself and offering a masterclass on how to navigate the confusion ins-and-outs of the virtual art scene.

“Another really cool angle of digital art is using them as a form of COA (Certificate of Authenticity), with an NFT representing the physical asset, and of course these pieces of art will be one of one since they represent the physical asset,” revealed Bissell. “The NFT market is very new and exciting, but COA’s are a common issue for beginners to navigate in these vintage and artifact markets because they are often faked and replicated. Because of the ledger on the blockchain now a COA cannot be duplicated or recreated, and these digital art pieces of their physical artifacts as NFTs can serve as a doubling COA for the artifact itself!”

Though only time will tell about the enduring value of NFTs, one thing's for certain: Bissell’s extraordinary spin on digital tokens and physical paintings are a sure-fire investment to stand the test of time, filled with the historical credence to back it up forever.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as investment advice. All investments involve risk of loss. Any reference to an investment’s past or potential performance is not, and should not be construed as, a recommendation or as a guarantee of any specific outcome or profit."

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