Guest of Honor: Anne Spalter
“The history of generative art remains mysterious to many artists and art historians. Yet, I believe it will be not only an important part of the art canon but one of the pivotal movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. It is fitting to focus a celebration on a pioneer like Hebert Franke who not only created amazing visual artwork but also envisioned the future in his critical and fiction writings. As an artist and collector myself, I see a continuum from early generative work to long-form generative blockchain projects, straight through to AI, and beyond. I look forward to exploring this evolving narrative with fellow artists, writers, and collectors this summer.”
Biography
Anne Spalter blends numerous media to explore the intricate landscapes of our modern age. Her work communicates the thrilling yet daunting grandeur of natural and man-made vistas, from boundless oceans to infinite highways, engaging with the timeless aesthetic of the sublime. Her art serves as a contemplative reflection on the formidable power of transformation. It investigates society’s collective response to significant shifts, and it contemplates potential futures. Spalter’s work reveals an innate human capability for finding joy, celebration, and connection, even amid profound and potentially apocalyptic transitions. Over the decades, Spalter has positioned herself as a pivotal figure in digital art. She established the inaugural digital fine arts courses at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the 1990s, setting a foundation for the future of this burgeoning field. As the author of the internationally taught textbook, The Computer in the Visual Arts, she has left an indelible mark on the academic exploration of digital art.
In collaboration with Michael Spalter, she stewards Spalter Digital, one of the most extensive private collections of early computer art, underscoring her commitment to preserving the origins of her craft.
Spalter’s work has been the subject of numerous accolades and opportunities. She participated in the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art’s (MASS MoCA) distinguished alumni residency, was named one of the top 50 influential crypto artists by Rizzoli, and is featured in the Taschen On NFT book. She exhibited numerous times at the SPRING/BREAK NYC Art Show, and has launched much-celebrated NFT drops, such as 557-piece RABBIT TAKEOVER. Her innovative NFT video piece The Wonder of it All is now in the collection of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, and her 20-minute AI piece The Bell Machine, was acquired by the Buffalo AKG Museum. Spalter’s works can be found in many other private collections and museums such as The Victoria and Albert, The AKG Buffalo Art Museum, The RISD Museum, and The Museum of CryptoArt, Flamingo DAO, the Thoma Collection, and the Progressive Collection. Spalter’s NFTs have found success at auction through prestigious houses such as Sotheby’s and Phillips, and have garnered media attention, including features in the New York Times. As a frequently-invited lecturer on digital art, she continues to shape discussions on art practice, theory, and the ever-evolving digital art market.