Le Random

In this very special episode, host Peter Bauman (Le Random's editor in chief) speaks with artist Beeple (Mike Winkelmann) about a busy year of institutional shows, studio experiments, and what it means for digital art to edge closer to the canon.The artist traces how works like Human One, Diffuse Control, and Transient Bloom at institutions like LACMA, The Shed, Mori Art Museum and Toledo Museum of Art have shifted his sense of digital art’s inevitability. They also discuss why he thinks IRL encounters with screens, robots and installations are “higher fidelity” than years of online discourse. They then cover how his Charleston studio has become a public lab by hosting CryptoPunks nights, video game tournaments, and a Synthetic Theater event.The second part of the conversation mostly covers REGULAR ANIMALS, Beeple's robotic, AI-mediated dog pack for Art Basel’s new Zero 10 digital section. They look at the work as a prototype for long-form generative systems that sense and interpret the world in real time, plus much more!A written version of the conversation now available on our Editorials: https://www.lerandom.art/editorial/beeple-on-robot-dogs-as-canvasChapters 📖: [00:00:04]: Introduction and context[00:01:47]: Year in review and institutional milestones[00:03:11]: Embracing digital art as its own medium[00:06:19]: Studio as public outreach platform[00:10:05]: IRL experiences versus online discourse[00:11:28]: Market vibes versus institutional progress[00:15:37]: Conceiving the Art Basel presentation[00:19:58]: Rethinking generative art with new systems[00:23:16]: Running the studio like a gallery[00:27:37]: Robots as living, intelligent sculptures[00:31:29]: Are technologists artists and curators?[00:33:50]: Why we are not prepared for the future[00:39:30]: Nuance of AI within artworks[00:41:30]: Human intention amid AI-assisted processes[00:45:02]: Closing thanks and sign-off

In this episode, host Peter Bauman (Le Random's editor in chief) speaks with pioneering artist duo Anna Ridler and Sofia Crespo about their long-running collaboration bringing machine learning into dialogue with natural history.They trace their early encounters with deep learning—from memes, browser histories, and speech-to-text to data visualization, encyclopedias, and NeurIPS Creativity Workshops—and how both arrived at AI through questions of classification and what it means to “understand” the world.They also discuss fusing natural history and machine learning across their five collaborative projects (including Anna Atkins–inspired cyanotypes, Argentine “artificial memories” and the rain-marked Clematis tiles), working only with their own datasets in the middle of AI copyright debates, rethinking collage and photography in an era of generative models, and what might come next after winning Arab Bank Switzerland’s Artist of the Year prize.Monday's Editorial:Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst on Artificial Psychedelia: https://www.lerandom.art/editorial/holly-herndon-mat-dryhurst-on-artificial-psychedeliaChapters 📖:[00:00:03]: Introduction and episode overview[00:02:23]: Anna’s path to deep learning[00:03:32]: Sofia’s early AI explorations[00:07:36]: Natural history and machine learning parallels[00:10:30]: Posthuman ideas emerging in practice[00:12:34]: NeurIPS Creativity Workshop beginnings[00:13:34]: Artist versus technologist mindset[00:15:44]: Sofia’s nontraditional art journey[00:21:01]: Speaking to researchers during COVID[00:22:05]: Meeting and first encounters[00:26:11]: First Collaboration: Various and Casual Occursions[00:34:52]: Second project: 83 Seeds from a Vanishing Mountain[00:38:06]: Third project: Snapshots: Orchids[00:42:46]: Fourth project: Long Short Term Memories[00:47:15]: Fifth project: 3.31424e+126 : clematis armandii[00:52:05]: Looking ahead together[00:53:41]: Closing thanks and goodbyes

In this episode, host Peter Bauman (Le Random's editor in chief) speaks with one of the most impactful forces in contemporary art, gallerist and curator Dr. Mimi Nguyen.They discuss Nguyen's path from statistics and design engineering into art and NFTs, opening galleries in London and New York, and a whirlwind year across Paris Photo, Art Basel Miami Beach’s new Zero 10 digital section, and the global fair circuit.They also cover the gap between crypto prices and on-the-ground energy, liquidity and taste, museums as signals, the technical realities of showing digital art, and what sustainable, future-ready gallery models might look like.Monday's Editorial with Karl Sims & Alexander Mordvintsev: https://www.lerandom.art/editorial/karl-sims-alexander-mordvintsev-on-merging-technology-and-biologyChapters 📖:[00:00:03]: Introduction and episode context[00:01:40]: Mimi’s background and career pivot question[00:06:11]: Sentiment versus reality in digital art[00:10:19]: Bridging to traditional art; audience and taste[00:10:35]: Sustainability of the current ecosystem[00:14:03]: Economic realities and institutions’ signaling role[00:15:11]: Big year recap and name pronunciation[00:16:50]: Lessons from a busy year; longer shows[00:21:30]: Plans and selectivity for next year[00:21:52]: Role of the gallery and collector relationships[00:23:00]: Technical realities of presenting digital art[00:27:30]: Adapting to new tech and outreach lessons[00:30:30]: Curating and choosing artists to represent[00:32:55]: Digital energy versus traditional market downturn[00:33:57]: Rethinking gallery models and cost structures[00:37:14]: Closing thanks and farewell

In this long-anticipated episode, host Peter Bauman (Le Random's editor in chief) speaks with one of the most exciting duos in contemporary digital culture, Ann Hirsch and Maya Man. They cover their collaborative projects, Ugly Bitches and Little Darlings, which explore online gender performativity. We discuss the works in relation to the so-called "vibe shift" of the 2020s. The artists also discuss how their work, often using GANs and other AI technologies, counteracts the "girl boss" rhetoric of early 2020s NFT projects by presenting a more flawed, nuanced, and sincere depiction of both femininity and masculinity. They detail how UB uses intentionally distorted AI dolls to comment on female failure, while LD employs shinier AI imagery to critique the "hustle grind gain success" male influencer culture. Finally, the conversation touches upon their admiration for, and points of departure from, the "Gay NFT" or Avant Schizocollage scene, with the artists expressing an interest in "ironic sincerity" in their work.Monday's Editorial with Jess Tucker: https://www.lerandom.art/editorial/jess-tucker-on-longing-for-a-faceChapters 📖:[00:00:03]: Intro and episode overview[00:01:48]: How Ann and Maya met[00:01:57]: Ugly Bitches spark and concept[00:02:43]: Overlapping interests and prior work[00:04:37]: Critique of women-centric NFT projects[00:06:08]: Realism over idealization[00:06:56]: Vibe shift and gender extremes online[00:18:03]: Problem with “all women are beautiful”[00:19:32]: Training GANs and diffusion for concepts[00:25:12]: On the Solana “gay NFT” scene[00:30:37]: Code versus curation; hashlips pipelines[00:31:35]: Software choices: canvas, DOM, possibilities[00:33:24]: Sincerity versus irony in online scenes[00:34:34]: Heart: earnest, feminine internet culture[00:37:27]: Annie and ironic sincerity[00:41:17]: Parallels, coming-of-age, and what’s next[00:42:49]: Expanding the Ugly Bitches universe[00:43:36]: Maya’s StarQuest: dance, AI, autobiography[00:47:06]: Hints at darker future work[00:47:12]: Closing thanks and future reunion[00:48:25]: Final goodbye

In this extra special episode, host Peter Bauman (Le Random's editor in chief) speaks with prominent AI researcher Ian Goodfellow about the legendary origins of GANs, their unexpected success and indelible impact on both twenty-first-century image making and AI research. This episode contains Peter and Ian's full conversation and serves as a companion to Monday's written interview, which covered the first half of the discussion only.Monday's editorial: https://www.lerandom.art/editorial/ian-goodfellow-on-inventing-gansChapters 📖:[00:00:03]: Introduction and cultural impact of GANs[00:03:30]: Ian explains GANs and game theory[00:06:12]: The Montreal origin story begins[00:10:51]: The first GAN and MNIST success[00:19:36]: Early reception and longevity surprises[00:21:22]: LAPGAN and DCGAN mark takeoff[00:23:54]: Is generative modeling deep learning’s culmination?[00:26:11]: Can GANs be creative or just mimic?[00:29:30]: GANs as tools; human creativity’s role[00:37:14]: On autonomous AI artists and personhood[00:41:50]: GANs’ role in text-to-image’s emergence[00:42:20]: Story from probabilistic graphs to media generation[00:51:30]: Key GAN advances: LAPGAN to StyleGAN and beyond[00:57:52]: Are engineers artists? [01:02:26]: Expected uses, misuse risks, and simulations[01:06:50]: Scale’s legacy, spending, and scaling laws[01:11:31]: AGI timelines and being wrong both ways[01:19:14]: Platonic representations across modalities[01:23:49]: Closing thanks and farewells

In this episode, host Peter Bauman (Le Random's editor in chief) talks with Parker Ito about the multidisciplinary artist's path from late net art/post-Internet and “zombie formalism” to Solana’s artist-led avant scene. They dig into painterly, memetic, trait-rich collections, subtle “post-AI” tooling, ETH vs. Solana cultures, blind mints and scale. Plus why this moment rekindles faith in a new avant-garde.Monday's editorial: https://www.lerandom.art/editorial/claudia-hart-on-land-of-the-deadFriday's bonus editorial: www.lerandom.art/editorial/parker-ito-and-evil-biscuit-on-possessed-spiritsChapters 📖:[00:00:03]: Intro: Le Random, guests, Halloween release, Solana avant scene[00:02:02]: Silicon Valley art scene challenges and Node?[00:06:38]: Why Parker's internet-native work fits differently[00:09:31]: Solana avant versus backward-looking traditions[00:12:23]: ETH generative trends versus Solana’s post-AI approach[00:24:50]: Market worries, Forbes attention, audience alignment[00:30:54]: Iterations, generativity, and NFTs as raw expression[00:39:22]: Continuous work rooted in personal viewpoint[00:48:25]: Internet ideals, cynicism, and ambiguity[00:50:03]: Drilady’s crassness and personal significance[00:56:10]: ETH influx, schisms, and scene infighting[00:59:52]: Drilady’s place; Cheeto exhibition primacy[01:01:54]: Onboarding artists; misconceptions about NFTs[01:03:12]: Who knows the scene? Thanks and farewell

After releasing our London Digital Art Guide, a curated guide to London's digital art and culture, our editor in chief Peter Bauman is joined by the wonderful contributors who made the piece possible: Hannah Redler-Hawes, ‍Robert Alice, ‍Clara Che Wei Peh & ‍Abigail Miller. The panel unpacks London’s vibrant, intimate and collaborative digital art scene, from hidden gems and neighborhood walks to institutions, curators, and the city’s evolving role in global digital culture.See the London Digital Art Guide: https://www.lerandom.art/editorial/london-digital-art-guideSee the Art Walk Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1HpxjgPXiYhjJNhkX9wUYxIzFX8ysmM4&usp=sharingIt highlights the must-see galleries, neighborhoods and artists that shape the city’s renowned scene.Chapters 📖:[00:00:04]: Welcome and panel introductions[00:01:54]: Guide aims and Hannah Redler-Hawes's introduction[00:07:16]: Clara Che Wei Peh's Trip Planning section[00:14:20]: Robert Alice on Galleries, museums, and digital displays[00:21:07]: Abigail Miller on London artists across generations and schools[00:24:21]: Visitor itineraries for digital art lovers[00:28:18]: Unexpected spot: Science Museum games[00:30:31]: Art Date idea: Night ride under Leo Villoreal-lit bridges[00:32:20]: Institutions and on blockchain art[00:34:12]: Structural hurdles: conservation and mindset[00:37:09]: Curatorial realities and institutional capacity[00:41:43]: Closing thoughts and thanks

In this episode, host Peter Bauman (Le Random's editor in chief) and Conrad House (Le Random's Collection Lead) sit down with artist/curator Jared Madere (Yeche Lange, VVV) to trace his early Whitney break and the rise of the Solana avant scene. They unpack on-chain transparency, Drifella’s meme-native collage, and how new online collectors are shifting power and reimagining culture in real time.Chapters 📖[00:00:03]: Introduction[00:01:46]: On failure, transparency, and NFTs vs trad[00:03:47]: Early career, DIY spaces, Bed Stuy Love Affair[00:10:13]: Smithson’s influence and Glue Pour revelation[00:14:10]: Building immersive digital galleries beyond white cubes[00:17:24]: Post-COVID decentralization and culture sophistication[00:19:04]: Collage, hyper-politicized media, and online literacy[00:22:50]: Censorship, messaging, and bridging two worlds[00:29:35]: Daria controversy, hate speech, and context[00:34:52]: Gallery sterility vs messy online culture[00:35:58]: Why Yeche shows Biscuit and Drifella[00:37:36]: Nonfigurative shifts and VVV’s influence[00:40:43]: NFTs as portraiture and PFP structures[00:42:15]: Solana’s degenerate perversion vs ETH minimalism[00:44:15]: Communicating significance of Drifella[00:46:34]: Wretched Worm videos and hyper-online lives[00:49:11]: Fragmented politics and culture controllers[00:52:22]: Galleries closing, collectors shrinking, reshuffling[00:56:16]: Explaining avant appeal beyond irony[00:59:45]: Hashlips misuse and Drifella’s structural genius[01:05:30]: Galleries’ structural challenges and Yeche’s model[01:11:25]: Ambassadors, press, and new audiences[01:12:50]: Future collectors[01:13:38]: Building cool enough to attract attention[01:15:26]: Procedural art parallels in Drifella[01:16:08]: Yeche origins with 1/1s[01:22:29]: Miles Peyton collaboration and bespoke builds[01:24:15]: VVV’s purpose[01:26:30]: Yeche’s curation vs VVV’s permissionless culture (how they support one another)[01:28:46]: Crypto spending inversions and cultural demand[01:31:41]: Conflict, digital natives, and online-born culture[01:32:43]: Silicon Valley palates and palatable crypto art[01:42:32]: New political lenses and classed perspectives[01:44:20]: Art reflecting seismic cultural-technological shifts[01:45:06]: Thanks and closing remarks

In this Le Random third quarter round-up, Editor-in-Chief Peter Bauman sits down with thefunnyguys (Le Random co-founder & CEO) and Conrad House (collection lead) to reflect on the biggest shifts in digital art this past quarter.They discuss how Toledo Museum of Art’s Infinite Images exhibition signaled a new era of institutional support for digital art and how MoMA’s debut of Sasha Stiles’s A Living Poem brought art and emerging technologies into a major museum lobby. They debate the fallout from Christie’s restructuring its digital art department, share insights on the launch of Raster, thefunnyguys' new artist-profile aggregator and marketplace, and dive deep into the rise of the Solana Avant scene on VVV — from Parker Ito’s and Biscuit’s schizocollage aesthetic to the generational shift it represents.Plus market sentiment, favorites of the quarter and much, much more.Chapters 📖:[00:00:00]: Introduction and agenda for Q3 2025 recap[00:01:38]: Toledo Museum’s digital turn and Infinite Images[00:04:15]: Sasha Stiles: A Living Poem at MoMA[00:08:56]: Christie’s digital restructuring debate[00:15:48]: The team on Raster[00:23:02]: Solana avant scene spotlight[00:40:31]: Market sentiment: Number-go-up but complicated[00:54:18]: Le Random Q3 focus and strategy[00:54:35]: Commission-led collecting: Juan RG and Copper Giloth[00:56:19]: Raster and Le Random[00:59:52]: Editorial themes and 100th article milestone[01:01:28]: Favorites of the third quarter[01:01:59]: Favorite group shows and releases[01:05:42]: Favorite solo releases and shows[01:11:12]: Favorite artists[01:12:44]: Favorite acquisitions: Juan RG commission[01:16:08]: Favorite editorials: Jasia's 100th, DEAFBEEF, Minne Atairu interview[01:19:50]: Looking ahead: FEMGEN 4 and guides[01:22:58]: Closing thoughts and thanks

In this Le Random podcast, special Exhibition Discussion edition, our editor in chief Peter Bauman (Monk Antony) speaks to three exhibiting artists of Infinite Images at the Toledo Museum of Art.Those artists are Erick Calderon (Snowfro), founder of Art Blocks, Sofia Crespo from Entangled Others and Tyler Hobbs.Chapters 📖:[00:00:00] Introduction[00:01:22] Exhibition Insights[00:02:26] Artists' Perspectives on Practice and Generativity's Breadth[00:07:45] Historical Influences[00:10:41] Communicating with New Audiences[00:14:13] Collaborative Dynamics and Artistic Processes00:17:08] Figuration vs. Abstraction[00:19:38] Generative Systems and AI Art00:27:04] Hows Software and Art Are Evolving[00:34:44] Institutional Interest and Market Realities[00:38:25] Navigating Funding Cuts in US[00:40:28] Engaging New Audiences

In this conversation, the Le Random team reflects on 2025's noteworthy second quarter in digital art. Host Peter Bauman (editor in chief at Le Random) is joined by thefunnyguys (CEO) and Conrad House (Collection Lead).📖 Chapters[00:00]: Introduction and Podcast Overview[01:38]: Discussion on Digital Art Institutions[06:18]: New York as a Hub for Digital Art[10:50]: Le Random's Second Quarter Events (4)[27:17]: Favorites of the year: Exhibitions[32:58]: Notable Artworks and Projects[42:59]: Standout Acquisitions[48:00]: Favorite Editorials[51:42]: What we're looking forward to, especially Infinite Images at Toledo Museum of Art

This is Part I of our Deep Learning Series where Le Random's editor-in-chief Peter Bauman (Monk Antony) speaks with the most relevant figures in deep learning art. In this first installment, Peter speaks with two of the earliest artists to engage with the intersection of art and deep generative models, Tom White (dribnet) and Gene Kogan.They explore the artistic, philosophical and cultural implications of GANs and deep generative models, drawing on the artists' early experiences and perspectives in the field . The conversation touches on the origins of their interest in GANs, the evolution of AI and its perception, critiques of AI art, the nature of machine representations, and the connection between AI and decentralization.Chapters 📖:[00:00:00]: Introduction and Guest Overview[00:01:50]: First Encounters with GANs and Initial Excitement[00:04:04]: Gene's Journey with Machine Learning and Art[00:08:55]: The Rise of AI Twitter and Deep Learning Culture[00:12:04]: The Mission to Make AI Tools Accessible[00:17:56]: Changing Philosophies of Computation[00:21:54]: Critiques of AI in the Art World[00:27:42]: Tom's Algorithmic Gaze, Machine Perception & The Platonic Representation Hypothesis[00:34:00]: Art by AI for AI—Tom's Machine Representation & Phil's Hypothesis[00:37:49]: Decentralized AI and its Evolution[00:40:33]: Tom's Early Work at MIT and Interactive Graphics[00:43:13]: Final Thoughts

In this conversation, the Le Random team reflects on a noteworthy start to 2025 in digital art. Host Peter Bauman (Editor-in-Chief at Le Random) is joined by thefunnyguys (CEO) and Conrad House (Collection Lead).📖 Chapters00:00:00 – Introduction00:01:29 – AI Ethics & Artist Consent Debates00:04:31 – Legal Uncertainty & Fair Use00:06:55 – How Artists Are Using AI Tools00:08:14 – Redistributing Value Through New Models00:11:02 – Silicon Valley vs. Academic Roots of AI00:14:11 – The Power Imbalance in AI Development00:17:36 – Why AI Agents Fell Short This Quarter00:21:45 – Functional AI Agents & DAO Experiments00:27:17 – Rethinking NFTs in Digital Art00:33:11 – Institutional Misalignment: Case of Sam Spratt00:40:50 – Manolo’s Return to Generative Art00:46:51 – Protocol Art & January’s Highlights00:51:08 – Q1 Standout Exhibitions00:55:57 – Favorite Projects, Acquisitions & Looking Ahead

In this episode of the Le Random podcast, host Peter Bauman (Monk Antony), our editor-in-chief, coordinates a discussion on coordination. He is joined by very special guests Mitchell F Chan, Operator's Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti, matto from Material Protocol Arts and maltefr.The conversation explores both the contrasts and connections between these seemingly opposing emerging camps, reaching at the very heart of why artists choose to work on Ethereum—straight from the protocol's leading thinkers and practitioners.

In Part 3 of our Digital Curators Series, host Peter Bauman (Editor-in-Chief at Le Random) interviews Tate Modern's Val Ravaglia, a display specialist and the curator of Electric Dreams, Tate's major historical digital art exhibition which runs until June 1, 2025. Ravaglia is Curator, Displays & International Art at Tate Modern. Her curatorial work has focused on display for over twelve years. In addition to curating Le Random's exhibition of the year, Electric Dreams, Ravaglia assisted on Tate’s complete collection rehang in 2016. The conversation covers the complexities of digital art display from a major museum perspective. Links: Chapters 📖: [1:46] Audience Reactions to Electric Dreams [6:15] The Role of Display at Tate Modern [17:00] Challenges of Collection Displays [21:20] Displaying Digital Art: Unique Considerations [31:38] The Complexities of Displaying Electric Dreams [42:02] Best Practices for Exhibiting Digital Art [46:00] Advice for Artists and Exhibitors [50:35] Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events

In this conversation, the Le Random team reflects on a whirlwind 2024 in digital art and looks ahead to 2025. Host Peter Bauman (Editor-in-Chief at Le Random) is joined by thefunnyguys (CEO) and Conrad House (Collection Lead). Chapters 📖 Chapter 1: Introduction [00:00:05] - Host Peter Bauman introduces the podcast, the guests, and the agenda: reflecting on 2024 and discussing the outlook for 2025. Chapter 2: Themes of 2024 [00:01:26] - Discussion on the major themes of 2024, focusing on digital art platforms like fxhash, Foundation, Art Blocks, and their pivots or expansions. - The Artist Token Economy [00:02:43] - Exploration of the fxhash artist token economy and its implications for artists and collectors. - Platform Developments [00:03:30] - Conrad House talks about Rodeo's onboarding process and how platforms are adapting to market conditions. - Market Conditions vs. Institutional Acceptance [00:06:29] - Peter Bauman discusses the dual themes of market struggles and institutional acceptance of digital art in 2024. - Institutional Recognition of Digital Art [00:09:45] - Thefunnyguys and Conrad House reflect on the institutional acclaim for digital art and its impact on the market. - Maturing Market and Collectors [00:11:06] - Discussion on the maturing digital art market and the growing sophistication of collectors. Chapter 2: Exhibitions of the Year [00:14:30] - We share our favorite exhibitions of 2024, including Electric Dreams and Electric Op. Chapter 3: Projects of the Year [00:22:55] - We discuss our favorite projects from 2024, such as The Call by Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst. Chapter 4: Le Random acquisitions of the year [00:35:55] - Discussion on favorite team acquisitions and commissions of 2024, highlighting Deep ASCII, Florada, and others. Chapter 5: Artist of the Year [00:45:45] - We nominate our artists of the year, including Holly Herndon, Mat Dryhurst, and Rafaël Rozendaal. Chapter 6: Events of 2024 [00:54:04] - Reflection on the major events of 2024, such as the Generative Art Summit in Berlin and Bright Moments Venice. Chapter 7: Accomplishments of 2024 [00:59:11] - We highlight personal and team accomplishments from 2024, focusing on commissions and content. Chapter 8: Looking Ahead to 2025 [01:04:29] - We discuss the events and projects we're looking forward to in 2025, including NFT Paris and new exhibitions. Chapter 9: Market and Regulatory Outlook for 2025 [01:10:24] - Discussion on the potential impact of political and regulatory changes on the crypto and digital art markets in 2025. Chapter 10: Goals and Aspirations for 2025 [01:20:59] - We share our goals for 2025, including exploring new technologies, activations, and preservation efforts. Chapter 11: Closing Thoughts [01:28:28] - Final reflections on 2024 and excitement for the opportunities and challenges that 2025 may bring.

In this special Le Random artist conversation—hosted by Peter Bauman (aka Monk Antony), Editor-in-Chief of Le Random—we turn our attention to one of the most exciting shows of the year, Tate Modern's Electric Dreams. Peter is joined by three extraordinary exhibiting artists that exemplify the aims of the show: Rebecca Allen, Analívia Cordeiro & Eduardo Kac. Conrad House, Le Random's Collection Lead, co-hosts the talk. "One of Tate Modern’s most ambitious exhibitions to date," Electric Dreams is a major historical exhibition on the roots of new media expression celebrating "the early innovators of optical, kinetic, programmed and digital art." The artists reflect on their pioneering contributions to the major show, while sharing firsthand their experiences with the historical challenges and overdue recognition of digital art. Read from the show's curator, Val Ravaglia, with Peter.

In this conversation, Peter Bauman (Editor-in-Chief at Le Random) interviews Regina Harsanyi and Jon Ippolito, two digital curators and experts in digital art's preservation. Harsanyi is the Associate Curator of Media Arts at the Museum of the Moving Image and an independent advisor on preventive conservation for variable media arts. Ippolito is a new media artist, writer and former curator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. He is also a professor of new media at the University of Maine, where he founded the Graduate Digital Curation Program. The conversation covers the complexities of digital art preservation, especially concerning blockchain and AI-based works. Links: https://transfergallery.com/data-trust/ https://dweb.grayarea.org https://DigitalCuration.UMaine.edu Chapters [00:00:04] Introduction to Digital Preservation [00:01:50] The Financial Reality of Digital Preservation [00:05:25] Industry-wide Challenges in Preservation [00:10:52] Variable Media: Why Preservation Matters [00:14:22] Legacy, Ethics, and Artistic Intent in Preservation [00:27:12] The Role of Museums and Institutional Standards [00:38:30] Blockchain Robustness as Storage Mechanism [00:43:15] Copyright Challenges in Blockchain-based Art [00:54:30] Strategies for Digital Preservation [01:04:02] Digital Conservation's Component Parts [01:13:40] Educational Resources for Collectors and Artists

In this conversation, Peter Bauman (Editor-in-Chief at Le Random) interviews Douglas Dodds, a longtime Senior Digital Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and a pivotal figure in the institutional collecting of new media art. The discussion covers the challenges of collecting digital art, including sourcing, preserving and showcasing these works in a museum context. Dodds shares particularly valuable insights into the acquisition process, from identifying valuable pieces to navigating relationships with artists and galleries. He also reflects on the unique historical significance of the V&A's collection, which spans early computer-generated works to contemporary digital media, emphasizing the importance of context in building a cohesive and enduring collection. They also discuss the role of donations, the complex value of digital art beyond financial metrics and the delicate relationship between institutions and new digital mediums like NFTs. We get a museum perspective on the concerns of our community. 📖 Chapters [00:00:03]: Introduction to Le Random Digital Curators Series [00:01:35]: Challenges in Collecting Digital Art [00:03:31]: Identifying Worthwhile Artworks and Preservation Issues [00:05:14]: Process of Identifying Digital Art to Collect [00:09:17]: V&A's Goals and Unique Collection Aspects [00:14:54]: Sourcing Digital Artworks and Building Relationships [00:20:55]: Donations vs. Purchases in Acquisitions [00:26:03]: Value of Digital Art for Museums [00:34:00]: Final Steps in the Acquisition Process [00:42:28]: Impact of Patric Prince on Digital Art Collection

In this special Le Random artist discussion—hosted by Peter Bauman (aka Monk Antony), Editor-in-Chief of Le Random—we cover the upcoming Electric Op exhibition at Buffalo AKG. Our guests include four of the most influential voices in digital expression over the past two-three decades: Cory Arcangel, Joan Heemskerk, Tali Hinkis, and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Joining Peter is co-host Conrad House (aka Nemocake), Le Random’s Collection Lead.Each artist reflects on their unique practices and contributions to the Electric Op show, which bridges op art and digital media. We explore how their art interacts with technology’s aesthetic, cultural and historical dimensions.