Do art galleries accept digital art?

Digital art involves creating visual artworks using digital tools and techniques — including computer softwares, artificial intelligence, digital painting, 3D modeling, or mixed reality technologies. As digital art is a relatively new art form, it raises questions around whether it’s considered as “real” art — and if art galleries accept digital art.

In a nutshell, yes art galleries accept digital art! More and more museum operators and art curators are integrating digital art in their curation to engage visitors with art that’s interesting and meaningful. Digital art is often considered the future of art, and you can definitely get your digital artwork showcased in a prestigious gallery!

Digital art in an art gallery in New York City: Nature in the Digital Age at The NFT Gallery, NYC — *Digital art in an art gallery in New York City:* *Nature in the Digital Age* *at The NFT Gallery, NYC*

Nowadays, there’s a recognition that art on a digital canvas or projected over the walls of a gallery is just as engaging and inspirational as more traditional art forms, if not more. Galleries and museums showcase digital art to explore new territories and enhance interactivity with their visitors.

Can I put digital art in a gallery?

Yes, you can! Galleries that want to keep up with the vibrant art scene include digital art in their curation. From immersive installations to interactive exhibits, art galleries nowadays are dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the world of digital art.

Here’s a list of art galleries in New York City that program exhibitions featuring the cutting-edge of digital art.

For example, Bitforms Gallery represent artists that critically engage with new technologies and program exhibitions that present digital and new media art forms. They are dedicated to supporting and advocating for the collection of ephemeral, time-based, and digital artworks. More established, mid-career, and emerging artists can showcase digital art and promote sales in the gallery.

Digital art in a gallery in New York City: Pixelweaver by Daniel Canogar at bitforms gallery, NYC — *Digital art in a gallery in New York City:* *Pixelweaver* *by Daniel Canogar at bitforms gallery, NYC*

Do museums display digital art?

Yes, they do! The distinction between traditional and digital art has become increasingly blurred as technology has advanced. Many artists now use digital tools alongside traditional ones, and the results are often visually stunning and conceptually rich.

For instance, the art exhibition called Refigured at the Whitney Museum of American Art presented a collection of video, animation, sculpture, and augmented reality art. The installation explored the concept of identity through interactions between digital and physical materiality — therefore the artists played with both physical and virtual forms of art to convey the message.

Aside from hybrid installations, the most prestigious museums often showcase fully digital art. For instance Unsupervised – Machine Hallucinations by Refik Anadol at New York’s The Museum of Modern Art — Refik Anadol is an internationally renowned media artist that’s best known for his use artificial intelligence to create large-scale public artworks. He uses generative algorithms and custom softwares to create a mesmerizing fluid-like representation of data.

For Unsupervised, he trained a sophisticated machine-learning model on the publicly available data of the MoMA collection. Anadol used artificial intelligence to transform the collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art into an artwork that generates new forms in real-time. When he asks the AI to interpret the data, we see the captivating dream of a machine based on more than 200 years of art.

*Unsupervised Machine Hallucinations by Refik Anadol at MoMA in NYC*

Is digital art now accepted as a legitimate art form?

Yes, digital art is accepted as a legitimate art form! Just like traditional art forms, digital art can convey emotions, tell stories, challenge norms, and provoke thought. It requires skill, creativity, and a deep understanding of artistic principles.

Especially in recent years, digital art has gained more recognition in museums, galleries, and art institutions all around the world. Many contemporary artists and institutions are actively embracing digital art as a legitimate and important form of artistic expression. Online platforms, social media, and digital exhibitions have also played a significant role in popularizing and disseminating digital artworks.

Can digital art be considered fine art?

Yes, digital art can absolutely be considered fine art! Fine art encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions, and it has evolved over time to include new mediums and technologies. The definition of fine art depends on the context, the intent of the artist, and the perceptions of the audience.

It's important to note that the understanding of “fine art” can vary among individuals and artistic communities — some may still hold more traditional views of what constitutes fine art, while others are more inclusive and open to new forms of artistic expression like digital art.

If it’s a work of creative art that is appreciated for its imaginative, aesthetic, or intellectual content and shows great skill or accomplishment, a digital artwork can be fine art.