By Vanessa Santuccione

Dot Dot Whatever (• • ……..) is the creative project and moniker of a New York–born multimedia artist whose work revolves around one simple yet endlessly expressive form — the circle. What started as a lighthearted experiment has evolved into a thoughtful exploration of shape, placement, color, and perception. Each work is titled with a serial number to invite open interpretation, encouraging viewers to see whatever they wish — a crying face, two circles embracing, something abstract, or something emotional. The artist sees themselves not as the center, but as part of a shared dialogue where meaning is shaped by others’ perspectives.

For them, circles represent balance, continuity, and curiosity — a form both complete and infinite. Dot Dot Whatever is a practice built on playfulness, sincerity, and a hint of absurdity, merging visual simplicity with philosophical depth. Now expanding their work across media, the artist continues to build this project as something metamodern — an evolving inquiry into how we find meaning, connection, and emotion in even the simplest shapes.

We asked Dot Dot Whatever about their art, creative process, and inspirations.

You say that circles have always fascinated you. How so? Can you remember the first time you worked with a circle - artistically speaking, even as a child?

When I was little, the concept of drawing a circle felt different than drawing an ellipse. In my art classes, I was taught that a circle is perfect by design, but to embrace the human touch (along with humility), one draws an ellipse, which is more honest and forgiving. Little me wouldn’t even care, as I knew it was tedious to consider the impossible. It would feel manufactured if I drew a circle with a protractor or a compass. A bit boring, really.

But as I got older, the geometry of the circle began to take on a more contemplative weight, especially in regards to my faith. I found myself drawn to mathematical philosophy through the works of Paul Benacerraf, Nicolas of Cusa, and St. Augustine of Hippo — the latter famously attributed with a quote that said God is “a circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere.” This sparked questions in my mind about the metatext of a circle — how it holds infinite sides and infinite depth, all suspended in the tension between what’s measurable and what’s unknowable. It’s beyond my own understanding, and yet I am entranced by its significance.

Would you like to share your name and a fun fact about yourself with us?

I’m a private person, so I like to let the work speak for itself.

Those who know me, know me, but that’s part of the fun, because I have no interest in being known. This is just mere fun, and through this project, I love providing art for others to embrace as their vision instead of my own.

What else do you love to do when you’re not creating art?

I love reading the Bible and reading hagiographies, and travel helps with a lot of my ideas coming to life. If I box myself in, I gain nothing. It’s important to feel something real, and that often means stepping into uncomfortable environments.

How has New York's culture influenced your work?

New York City's art culture has shaped my work through its chaos: a hilarious mix of ambition and identity. While it's not regionally exclusive, in New York, to be something often means trying to be everything to everyone, and in that process, you risk making nothing at all. Many creatives I’ve worked with call the scene a bloodbath, and they’re not wrong, but I see the true value in one's presence more like a subway ride. Everyone moves in their own direction minding their own business. There’s comfort in that invisibility. Everyone has their own path and purpose, known only to God. Those who thrive here tend to enjoy the process rather than loudly proclaim status. The competitiveness here can be exhausting. People turn it into a fight without realizing it, but being adaptable and staying grounded matters. In a city obsessed with visibility, I remind myself that it’s enough to just love the work itself. Some days a post reaches a thousand people, other days a hundred — it doesn’t even matter. It’s all for fun.

I feel a nonchalant vibe in your work, which I truly admire, as if you were just a vessel for art work through you. Does that make sense to you?

The funny thing is, someone could say "nonchalant" as if an artist is careless about their work, and here I am just throwing out circles. I make things easy for everyone, and it doesn't have to be complicated, but occasionally I'll throw in detailed works to emphasize what circles can do. Positioning, size, color — all elements have a tremendous impact on our sight and how we feel about an artwork's layout. Now, an art critic could hyper-analyze any work and think it's extraordinary, and some representations could be on-the-nose, but not all works have to be that way, and I truly just don't think about it. Anything from my oeuvre can just exist for the sake of knowing that someone can either love it or hate it, for all things will pass by. What matters more, as I mentioned earlier, is what an observer takes from the experience over my own artistic intention. I like asking "what would you title it?" not "what do you think of my work?"

What is a dream project you’d like to create?

My ambition is to continue finding new ways to scale a circle's majesty on many mediums, and a mural in any form (digital or physical) would be a phenomenal experience. The bigger the better. I’ve also been thinking about how my creative direction could overlap with financial / fintech and e-commerce spaces. A lot of creatives struggle with the financial side of things, and I understand that, because I grew up knowing nothing about money and had to teach myself. It would be meaningful to build something that helps artists gain financial literacy and independence while staying true to their craft with minimal overhead.

Have there been any surprising or memorable responses to your work?

My portrait of Thelonious Stokes (S0015) is funny to think about because here I am admiring what he does — I made a simply-branded representation of him, and he immediately jumped to sharing it and making it his profile picture. While it was only for a short period of time, it was nonetheless an honor. We later spoke, and he told me he really liked my vision. It reminded me that simplicity can reach people in ways complexity can’t. I think of it like UI/UX design and how a clean interface can make something instantly approachable. The same goes for art: even the most seasoned artists can appreciate the power of the basic and honest things.