Christie’s, the renowned auction house, is set to make history by hosting an exclusive auction dedicated entirely to art created with artificial intelligence (AI). The event, titled the Augmented Intelligence sale, will run from 20 February to 5 March 2025, showcasing over 20 lots that span five decades of AI artistry.
Key Takeaways
First of Its Kind: This auction is the first major event of its kind at a prominent auction house, focusing solely on AI-generated art.
Diverse Offerings: The auction will feature works from pioneering AI artists, including Refik Anadol and Harold Cohen, alongside contemporary pieces.
Innovative Bidding: A unique 12-ft-tall robot will create an oil painting live during the auction, responding to online bids.
Cryptocurrency Accepted: Christie’s will accept cryptocurrency for 93% of the lots, reflecting the growing intersection of art and technology.
A Historic Auction
The Augmented Intelligence sale marks a significant milestone in the art world, as Christie’s becomes the first major auction house to dedicate an entire auction to AI art. This innovative approach highlights the evolving landscape of art creation and the increasing acceptance of AI as a legitimate medium.
Featured Artists and Works
The auction will include works from a variety of influential AI artists, showcasing the breadth of creativity that AI can inspire. Notable artists featured in the sale include:
Refik Anadol
Harold Cohen
Holly Herndon
Mat Dryhurst
Alexander Reben
Claire Silver
Among the standout pieces is a 12-ft-tall robot by Alexander Reben, which will create an oil painting in real-time at Christie’s Rockefeller Center. As bids come in, the robot will paint new sections of the canvas, guided by Reben’s AI model. This interactive element adds a dynamic layer to the auction, engaging bidders in a unique way.
Notable Lots
Several remarkable works are set to capture the attention of collectors and art enthusiasts alike:
Emerging Faces (2017) by Van Arman: This piece uses two AI programmes to create haunting, abstract portraits that explore the concept of human likeness.
Embedding Study (2024) by Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst: These works, featured in the 2024 Whitney Biennial, depict a cartoonish character in a spacesuit, created through a text-to-image AI model.
Christie’s estimates that the auction will generate at least $600,000, with bids starting at $100 for the robot painting.
Embracing Cryptocurrency
In a move that aligns with the digital age, Christie’s will accept cryptocurrency as payment for the majority of lots in the auction. This decision reflects the growing trend of integrating blockchain technology and digital currencies into the art market, making it more accessible to a broader audience.
Conclusion
As Christie’s prepares for this groundbreaking auction, the art world watches closely. The Augmented Intelligence sale not only showcases the potential of AI in art creation but also challenges traditional notions of authorship and creativity. This event is poised to redefine the future of art auctions, paving the way for more innovative approaches in the industry.
