By “generative art” we mean “any artistic practice in which the artist uses a system—a set of natural language rules, a computer program, a machine, or another procedural invention—that is set in motion with some degree of autonomy, contributing to or producing a complete work of art” (Philip Galanter, 2003).
According to this definition, we can consider as generative art the findings in the Blombos Cave in South Africa: engraved stones with grid or hatched patterns, dated to around 70,000 years ago.
The patterns created by Jean Truchet and Père Sébastien in the 1700s are also examples….
…and so are the designs generated by Jacquard looms, created using punched cards for the first time.
Yesterday, during the Discussion on Generative Art and Architecture with Casey Reas & Mario Klingemann on Generative Systems for Art, we discovered Feral File and Botto—examples of an approach in which software becomes both a new tool and a new co-creator, while the artist effectively relinquishes control over their own work.
Feral file, founded in 2020 by artist Casey Reas and technologist Sean Moss-Pultz, is a space where artists, collectors, institutions, and the public can come together to explore and engage with digital art. The platform—designed to support the actual behavior of digital art, which is dynamic, distributed, and often collaborative—enables artists, curators, and institutions to present and curate exhibitions featuring code-based, interactive, and evolving works. Its ultimate goal is to make digital art something that can be collected, curated, and experienced every day.
Botto, launched in 2021 by Mario Klingemann and the ElevenYellow collective, is a pioneering experiment at the intersection of algorithmic creativity, collective governance, and blockchain.
Botto generates thousands of images each week, curates its own solo exhibitions, has received major awards, and sustains itself economically through the sale of artworks on the high-end art market.
Its model is defined by the “Botto Trinity”: AI + Community + Economy.
The community—over 15,000 members—votes on their favorite works, and the most-voted image is minted as an NFT on the Ethereum blockchain. This process creates a continuous cycle where the AI learns from collective preferences and evolves its artistic output accordingly.
Recently, Botto broke $350K in Sales at Sotheby’s Solo Exhibition.
