A vibrant coalition of artists has come together to urge Christie’s to rethink its upcoming auction that focuses on art created through artificial intelligence.
Nearly 4,000 supporters have signed an open letter petitioning the renowned auction house to cancel the “Augmented Intelligence” event, which is scheduled to take place from February 20 to March 5.
This auction is notable for being the first major auction house event entirely dedicated to AI-generated artworks.
Concerns Over Copyright and Artist Rights
Among those who signed the letter are prominent artists like Kelly McKernan and Karla Ortiz.
Both are currently pursuing legal action against AI companies, citing concerns that these firms have used their art without permission to generate new images.
Scheduled to showcase a remarkable collection of 20 pieces spanning five decades, the auction will feature a blend of artistic mediums.
About a quarter of the works are digital formats, including NFTs, while the remainder includes sculptures, paintings, and paper arts.
Renowned creators such as Refik Anadol, Harold Cohen, Pindar Van Arman, and Holly Herndon contributed to this diverse lineup.
Prices for the artworks are projected to range from $15,000 to a striking $250,000, with Christie’s estimating a minimum total of $600,000 for the auction.
Christie’s Response and Artistic Collaboration
The letter to Christie’s raises concerns that many works intended for the auction rely on AI models that have allegedly utilized copyrighted material without appropriate licenses.
It argues that the technology and the companies behind it undermine the rights of human artists by exploiting their creations without consent or compensation.
The letter concludes with a plea for Christie’s to prioritize respect for human creativity by canceling the auction.
In reply, Christie’s released a statement highlighting that the participating artists have established and recognized practices.
The auction, they argue, seeks to enhance the creative expressions of these artists with the help of AI.
Before the letter was made public, Nicole Sales Giles, Christie’s vice-president and director of digital art sales, discussed the auction with ARTnews.
She pointed out a significant theme: the idea that artificial intelligence is meant to complement rather than replace human inspiration.
Each artwork, she stated, involves human agency, showcasing an authentic partnership between artists and AI technology.
Innovative Features and Future Considerations
A particularly intriguing feature of the auction will be a 12-foot robot designed by Matr Labs, which will be directed by Alexander Reben’s AI model.
This robot will add to its canvas live each time a bid is placed, creating a dynamic interaction.
Reben acknowledges the concerns that some artists have regarding AI’s role in the creative process but views it as a powerful tool to enhance artistic capability.
Drawing a parallel to the fair use debates once faced by search engines, he emphasized that the onus is on creators to use technology responsibly.
He believes AI can expand artistic expression rather than diminish the significance of human artists.
Artist Refik Anadol found humor in the letter, recognizing it as a reflection of larger tensions within the art community stemming from thoughtless criticism and negativity.
He also pointed out that many auction participants are working with their own unique datasets and AI models.
Digital artist Beeple has also publicly backed Christie’s auction, sharing a provocative image on social media that depicts a robot vandalizing the auction poster while pulling a human on a leash, bringing a playful angle to the ongoing discussion.
In response to the open letter, fellow digital creator Jack Butcher minted an artwork titled “Undersigned Artists.” This piece cleverly captures the irony of creating new art in reaction to criticisms aimed at AI-generated works.
Christie’s is also embracing cryptocurrency, as it plans to accept it as payment for most items in the auction, signaling a shift in the contemporary art landscape.
In a noteworthy development last November, an artwork crafted by Ai-Da, a humanoid robot, fetched over $1 million at Sotheby’s, underlining the growing intersection of art and technology.
As the conversation around AI-generated art evolves, it paves the way for innovative opportunities for both artists and audiences, enriching the creative future in countless ways.