The world of digital art took center stage at Art Basel Miami Beach, where LACMA's second annual Digital Art Conversations event brought together an eclectic mix of artists, curators, and industry leaders. This gathering, hosted at the Miami Beach EDITION, delved into the evolving landscape of digital art, exploring its past, present, and exciting future possibilities.
Organized by LACMA's Digital Leaders (LDL), a pioneering strategic committee, the event showcased influential voices that have shaped and continue to shape the digital art realm. The panels focused on the rapidly changing digital art ecosystem, and the post-conversation gathering united both traditional and digital art enthusiasts.
The program kicked off with insightful remarks from Michael Govan, LACMA's CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director, alongside Jehan Chu, co-chair of LDL. Their introduction highlighted the growing cultural significance of digital art within LACMA's vision, emphasizing how digital media has become integral to artistic expression and audience engagement with contemporary culture.
One of the highlights was a conversation between pioneering algorithmic artist Manfred Mohr and curator Hans Ulrich Obrist. Mohr shared his experiences from the early days of computer art in the late 1960s, including his unique access to meteorological computers, which allowed him to create computer-generated drawings for over a decade. His work, featured in LACMA's exhibition 'Coded: Art Enters the Computer Age 1952-1982', laid the conceptual foundations for generative and algorithmic art, influencing artists even today.
Tyler Hobbs then took the stage, discussing his innovative approach to translating the spontaneity of gestural painting into algorithmic form. He explained how he uses controlled randomness to create refined iterations, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Beeple, whose work is currently on display at LACMA, shared insights into his community-focused events in Charleston, where he brings together traditional and digital art communities through engaging programming. He also teased upcoming institutional projects involving AI, robotics, and interactivity, emphasizing humor and accessibility as key components of contemporary digital culture.
Figge from Yuga Labs offered a glimpse into the worldbuilding behind Otherside's digital environments, emphasizing interoperability and user agency in virtual ecosystems. Michael Connor of Rhizome discussed the challenges and efforts involved in preserving net art and variable media artworks, noting the complexities of conserving ever-evolving formats. He positioned digital art within a broader historical context, extending beyond recent trends. Refik Anadol presented his latest experiments with AI-driven visualization and large-scale data sculptures, creating immersive, multisensory installations that offer unique ways for audiences to engage with digital information.
In a panel moderated by curator Regina Harsanyi, artists Auriea Harvey, Maya Man, and Yatreda explored the concept of identity in digital environments. They discussed how online identity is fluid and influenced by the performative nature of social media, with each artist sharing how cultural heritage, embodiment, and mythology inspire their digital creations.
Collectors Jackie Courtney and Sophia Cohen, in conversation with Jehan Chu, reflected on the evolving landscape of collecting digital and physical art. They emphasized the importance of stewardship, access, and storytelling in contemporary collecting practices, as well as the role collectors play in supporting community-building and emerging artists. The discussion also acknowledged the significant impact of women collectors in shaping digital art ecosystems.
Throughout the event, several key themes emerged. Digital art has expanded beyond generative abstraction to encompass embodiment, identity, robotics, performance, and net art. Artists increasingly view the internet as a lived environment, influencing their methodology, community, and culture. Institutions are recognizing the importance of digital media in art-historical narratives, acknowledging its central role in contemporary artistic practice.
This year's gathering was made possible through the generous support of Mastera, a platform dedicated to expanding access to creative learning and digital tools for artists, educators, and builders. Mastera shares LACMA's vision of fostering open, innovative digital communities, and their partnership facilitated a space for cross-disciplinary exchange. LACMA's Digital Leaders, together with partners like Mastera, continue to drive dialogues and innovations, shaping a brighter and more connected future for digital art.
