Glossary
Curator
A curator is a professional responsible for conceiving, organizing and supervising exhibitions or art projects.
Their role is to select works, define a concept or theme, and coordinate the artistic, technical and logistical aspects of the project. In the field of digital art, the curator may also work with artists, developers and technicians to create immersive, interactive or multimedia experiences.
They play a key role in mediating between artists, institutions and the public, while ensuring the artistic coherence and cultural impact of the project.
Digital Art
Digital art is artwork created or presented using digital technology. Digital art encompasses any form of artistic creation or practice that incorporates digital technology in the creative or presentation process. It also includes computational art that interacts with, and leverages, digital media.
The term ‘digital art’ first emerged in the early 1980s when computer engineers developed a painting program that the pioneering digital artist Harold Cohen used. This program, known as AARON, was a robotic machine designed to create large drawings on sheets of paper positioned on the floor. Over time, as technology advanced, Cohen continued to refine the AARON program, delving further into the realm of artificial intelligence.
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Digital Art Performance
Digital Performance Art integrates digital technologies such as projections, interactive media, or live coding into traditional performance art.
Emerging in the 1980s, it explores the relationship between the human body, digital media, and audience interaction. Often incorporating sensors, robotics, this art form challenges the boundaries between the physical and digital realms in real-time artistic expression.
some articles:
↘︎ Irina Angles
↘︎ Jisoo Yoo
Artificial Intelligence Art (AI)
AI-generated art is created using machine-learning techniques, specifically neural networks trained on a large dataset of images and then using the trained network to generate visual, audio and literary artworks.
Pioneers such as Harold Cohen in the 1970s paved the way for the use of AI in art. Since then, contemporary artists such as Mario Klingemann, Memo Acted and Grégory Chatonsky have exploited machine learning.
some articles:
↘︎ Obvious art
Augmented Reality Art (AR)
AR art overlays digital content (2D or 3D model) onto the real world, typically viewed through a smartphone, tablette or AR glasses.
It gained popularity in the 2010s, allowing artists to create interactive experiences that blend virtual and physical spaces. Artists like Ines Alpha and Anne Horel use AR to engage with public.
some articles:
↘︎ Ines Alpha
↘︎ Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
↘︎ Anne Horel
Bio Art
Art practice where artists work with biology, live tissues, bacteria, living organisms, and life processes as the medium for artistic expression.
Emerging in the 1990s, pioneers like Eduardo Kac and Špela Petrič create artworks that challenge ethical, social, and scientific boundaries.
some articles:
↘︎ Eduardo Kac
↘︎ 5 Bio Artist
Game Art
Game Art involves using video game technology and aesthetics as a medium for artistic expression. It can range from modifying existing games to creating entirely new digital experiences.
Pioneers like Eddo Stern and Cory Arcangel in the 2000s have explored how video games can storytelling, and the role of interactivity in art.
some articles:
↘︎ JODI
Generative Art
Algorithmic generative art is created using predefined rules or algorithms, generates new forms, creating random artworks.
Artists such as Manfred Mohr and Vera Molnár in the 1960s and Casey Reas in the 2000s have played a central role in this field.
some articles:
↘︎ Manfred Mohr
Immersive Art
Immersive art envelops viewers in a multi-sensory experience, often using large-scale projections, sound, or virtual environments to blur the lines between the real and digital worlds.
It gained popularity in the 2010s, with pioneers like TeamLab and Olafur Eliasson creating environments that invite exploration and interaction, making the audience feel as if they are part of the artwork.
some articles:
↘︎ Kati Katona
↘︎ Clair Obscur
Interactive Art
Interactive art engages the audience as active participants in the creation or evolution of the artwork. The experience changes based on the user's input, often using technology like sensors or software.
Artists such as Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau have been pushing this medium since the 1990s, creating installations that react to movement, sound, or presence.
some articles:
Metaverse Art
The metaverse is a shared, collective virtual space, combining augmented reality and virtual spaces. In 2003, the Second Life metaverse was launched, followed by The Sandbox and Decentraland, linked to blockchain.
Numerous works by artists such as Linda Loh and Jonathan Monaghan have found their way into this virtual space.
some articles:
Robotic Art
Robotic Art incorporates robots into the artistic process, either as tools or subjects.
Since the 1960s, pioneer like Stelarc et Zaven Paré have experimented with robotics to explore themes of human-machine interaction and automation.
some articles:
↘︎ Zaven Paré
↘︎ Quayola
Video Mapping
Video mapping projects visuals onto surfaces like buildings or objects, transforming their appearance.
Artists like AntiVJ and Joanie Lemercier have pioneered this technique since the 2000s, using it in performances and installations to create dynamic, site-specific (in-situ) experiences that blend light and architecture.
some articles:
↘︎ Filip Roca
↘︎ Isotone
Virtual Reality Art (VR)
VR is the use of computer modeling and simulation that enables a person to interact with an artificial three-dimensional visual or other sensory environment.
Since the 2010s, artists like Jeanne Suspuglas and Jon Rafman have embraced VR to create profound, interactive experiences.
some articles:
↘︎ Ben Elliot
↘︎ Libby Heaney
3D Art
3D Digital Art uses computer software to create three-dimensional models, sculptures, and environments that can exist in virtual or physical spaces.
It gained traction in the 1990s with advancements in CGI and animation tools. Artists like Sabrina Ratté and Louis-Paul Caron have pushed the boundaries of 3D art. This art form is widely used in gaming, film, print, AR, sculpture.
some articles:
↘︎ Sybil Montet
3D Printing and lazer cutting
3D printing allows artists to create three-dimensional sculptures and objects layer by layer from digital files.
Used in art since the 2000s, it offers limitless possibilities in form and texture. Artists like Geoffrey Hillereau mix 3D printing and lazer cutting to create assembled sculptures.
some articles:
↘︎ Jonathan Pepe