Christie's to Host Groundbreaking Auction of AI-Generated Art, "Augmented Intelligence"

Christie's, the renowned auction house, is making a bold move into the intersection of art and technology with its first-ever sale comprised solely of artworks created using artificial intelligence (AI). The sale, titled "Augmented Intelligence," marks a significant endorsement of AI's role in the art world and offers a glimpse into the evolving relationship between human creativity and automation.

From Canvas to Code: Exploring the Spectrum of AI Art

The auction, open for bidding and viewing at Christie's Manhattan gallery from February 20 to March 5, will feature over 20 works from a diverse group of digital artists who explore the interplay between AI and artistic expression. These artists, including pioneers like Pindar Van Arman, Harold Cohen, and Alexander Reben, as well as on-chain art notables like Refik Anadol, Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst, and Claire Silver, utilize a range of AI techniques, from robotics and generative adversarial networks (GANs) to interactive experiences.

"The auction redefines the relationship between art and technology, showing collectors human agency in the age of AI in Fine Art," Nicole Sales Giles, Christie's head of digital art sales, said in a statement.

A Diverse Collection: Paintings, Sculptures, NFTs, and More

The artworks themselves span a variety of media, including physical canvases, sculptures, screens, interactive installations, and digital-native NFTs. One highlight is Pindar Van Arman's "Emerging Faces," a series of canvases painted by two collaborating AI agents in 2017, considered some of the earliest works autonomously painted by neural networks. This lot is expected to fetch up to $250,000.

Art in Motion: A Robot Painter Responds to Bids

Another unique piece will be created in real-time during the auction. A large-scale robot, guided by Alexander Reben's code, will progressively paint a canvas as bids for the artwork increase, allowing auction participants to directly influence the final creation.

Christie's and the Digital Art Frontier

This auction builds upon Christie's and its rival Sotheby's growing involvement in the digital art space. Both houses have hosted numerous crypto-centric auctions since 2021, most notably Christie's record-breaking $69.3 million sale of a Beeple NFT.