Lifestyle

Meet the Three Artists Representing Canada at This Year’s First Ever NFT BAZL

Published

5 years ago

May 15, 2021

With the increase in the sudden growth of the NFT market, Estelle Ohayon of EO Art Concierge Inc., has decided to partner up with Elitium, a blockchain wealth management specialist and GDA Capital, a digital asset investment firm to host NFT BAZL. NFT BAZL will host the world’s first physical NFT gallery, showcasing both physical and digital art using the blockchain to bridge the gap between the physical and digital art worlds.

Breathing new life into an antiquated market, renown artists including names such as Daniel Mazzone, Diogo Snow, and Max Jamali will exhibit physical and digital masterpieces side-by-side, welcoming collectors to an exhibition where onlookers can view artworks across a variety of mediums and bid by scanning a QR code. Each of these acclaimed Canadian artists have their own distinctive style and are eager to showcase their artwork to this new generation of collectors.

“When I started selecting artists for this event, I focused on a few criteria such as originality, diversity, talent and career trajectory. I have worked with Daniel, Diogo, and Max in the past few years and knew that they would be a perfect fit to represent Canadian talent in an international exhibit such as NFT BAZL. Their art compliments one another’s and each one already has a successful and established career. I see great things for all of them in the future and I am thrilled to be part of their journey “. Says Estelle

Today we take a closer look at these three Canadian artists representing their country at this first-of-its-kind display.

Daniel Mazzone

Daniel Mazzone was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. As part of an artistic family, he was surrounded by a world of visual concepts and expression. His mother was an art instructor and during his school days, teachers and fellow students alike saw his inherent artistic ability and potential. The youthful exploration of his artistic talents were pushed aside when he became homeless at the age of 15. Once Mazzone got back on his feet a few years later, he pushed himself to explore his true passions again.

In 2013, Mazzone began exhibiting at both the Canadian Heritage Art Company and at Hazelton Fine Art Gallery for the next two years. It was not until the Toronto International Art Fair in late 2014 where his artwork really caught the attention of the renowned Tanenbaum family, who are part of the top 200 art collectors in the world. Since then, Mazzone has been making waves nonstop across North America. In May 2015, he did his first show, “Torn Apart”, in New York City at the Carriage House Arts Center and in December made his official Art Basel Miami debut at 1 Hotel South Beach, “A Walk Through Life”, selling out his entire collection of 25 pieces at the show.

Mazzone continues his journey of creative exploration and pushing the envelope with his unique style.

Diogo Snow

Diogo Neves also known by his artist name D-Snow, was born and raised in São Paulo Brazil and currently resides in Toronto, Canada. The artist started his career early as a teen in Brazil with graffiti street art that grew into a passion. His style of art is a mix of urban with a twist of modern. Using a variety of materials such as spray paints, acrylics, diamond dust, prints, and resin, make his paintings unique and impactful. He has further expanded his portfolio to now include sculptures, cars, murals, boats and so much more.

D-Snow has made many custom art pieces for celebrities such as Drake, Fetty Wap, Sean Paul, Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, and many more. Early 2020 D-Snow joined Bieber Industries, becoming the brand’s art creator and actively designing logos and graphic art for the company. Some highlights of this artist’s portfolio include being chosen by Universal Music to create a tribute mural for Juice WRLD, becoming the first artist to spray-paint a Ferrari in Canada, and more recently collaborating with the Canadian coat company Woodpecker; for which he created a custom line of 100 one-of-a-kind spray-painted parkas.

With a tenacious devotion to his passion, Diogo continues to solidify his reputation as a star-studded artist for celebrity collectors.

Max Jemali

Max Jamali is a Luxury Artist based in Toronto, with an award-winning background in fashion photography, with his work showcased in Toronto, Miami, L.A. and Dubai. He is a mixed-media Artist famous for the use of Luxurious materials to create his Art. In contrast with other artists, Max’s work focuses on Luxury itself as a medium. Diamond Dust, Exotic Leather, 24K Gold, Sterling Silver, Crystals; he uses them all to create pieces that scream opulence.

In 2017, Max started combining the two worlds of Photography and Art through photorealism techniques and created his first private show in collaboration with Bisha Hotels. He later expanded his art in collaboration with luxury brands such as Lamborghini, Jason of Beverley Hills, Modern Sense, Ernst Benz Swiss Watches and hosted two exclusive events at SLS South Beach and Prestige Imports during Art Basel 2019. Since then, his art has been showcased in New York, Beverly Hills, Miami and Dubai.

Every one of Max’s artworks is created with his “M” logo that symbolizes Luxury, handcrafted from Python Skin.

Estelle Ohayon

Estelle Ohayon is a secondary art market specialist and curator bringing together an electric group of renowned artists to take part in this revolutionary event in an ever-evolving art world. With a global art network, we are able to source off-market exclusive art pieces directly from collectors across a broad spectrum of artists spanning time and genre.

GDA CAPITAL X ELITIUM

JOIN US FOR THE FIRST-EVER

NFT ART EXHIBITION

THE TEMPLE HOUSE – MIAMI

JUNE 2ND, 2021

https://nftbazl.com/

Lifestyle

When Seasons Shift: Dr. Leeshe Grimes on Grief, Loneliness, and Finding Light Again

Published

4 days ago

February 22, 2026

Michelle Langton

Some emotional storms arrive without warning. A sudden change in weather, a holiday approaching, or even a bright sunny day can stir feelings that don’t match the world outside. For many people, the hardest seasons are not defined by temperature; they are defined by what’s happening inside, where grief and loneliness often move quietly.

This is the emotional terrain where Dr. Leeshe Grimes has spent her career doing some of her most meaningful work. As a psychotherapist, registered play therapist, retired U.S. Army combat veteran, and founder of Elevated Minds in the DMV area, she understands how deeply seasonal shifts and unresolved grief can affect people. Her upcoming books explore this very space, guiding readers through the emotional weight that can appear during different times of the year.

What sets Dr. Grimes apart is her ability to see clearly what many people overlook. Seasonal depression, for example, is usually tied to winter months. But she often sees it appear during warm, bright seasons, the times when the world seems happiest. For someone already grieving or feeling disconnected, watching others travel, celebrate, or gather can create its own kind of heaviness. Sunshine doesn’t always lift the mood; sometimes it highlights what feels missing.

The same misunderstanding surrounds grief. Society often treats it as a short-term experience with predictable phases and a clean ending. But in her practice, Dr. Grimes sees how grief keeps evolving. It doesn’t disappear on a timeline. It weaves itself into routines, memories, and milestones. People learn to carry it differently, but they rarely leave it behind completely. And that’s not failure, it’s human.

Her approach to mental health centers on truth rather than pressure. She encourages clients to acknowledge the emotions they try to hide: sadness that lingers longer than expected, moments of joy that feel out of place, and the waves of loneliness that return even when life seems stable. Instead of pushing for quick recovery, she focuses on helping people understand how emotions shift and how to care for themselves through those changes.

Much of her insight comes from her military years, where she witnessed the emotional toll of loss, transition, and constant survival. She saw how people continued functioning while carrying pain that had nowhere to go. That experience shaped her belief that healing requires space, space to feel, to speak, and to move through emotions without judgment.

In her clinical work today at Elevated Minds, she encourages people to build small, steady habits that anchor them during difficult seasons. Journaling helps them recognize patterns and name what feels heavy. Community support breaks the cycle of isolation. Therapy creates a place where emotions don’t have to be minimized or explained away. And intentional routines, daily sunlight, mindful breaks, and calm evenings help rebuild emotional balance.

Her upcoming books expand on these ideas, offering practical guidance for navigating both grief and seasonal depression. She focuses on helping readers understand that healing is not about escaping pain. It’s about learning how to live with it in a healthier way, honoring memories, acknowledging loneliness, and still allowing room for moments of light.

What makes Dr. Leeshe Grimes a compelling voice in mental health is her ability to bring language to experiences that many struggle to explain. She reminds people that emotional seasons don’t always match the weather and that there is no single path through grief. But within those shifts, she believes there is always a way forward.

The seasons will continue to change. And with the right tools, compassion, and support, people can change with them, finding steadiness, softness, and light again, one step at a time.