Le Random

Episode page and full transcript: https://www.lerandom.art/episodes/recapping-digital-art-in-2q-2025

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

Episode page and full transcript: https://www.lerandom.art/episodes/tom-white-and-gene-kogan-on-the-birth-of-gan-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 Introduction and Guest Overview

01:50 First Encounters with GANs and Initial Excitement

04:04 Gene's Journey with Machine Learning and Art

08:55 The Rise of AI Twitter and Deep Learning Culture

12:04 The Mission to Make AI Tools Accessible

17:56 Changing Philosophies of Computation

21:54 Critiques of AI in the Art World

27:42 Tom's Algorithmic Gaze, Machine Perception & The Platonic Representation Hypothesis

34:00 Art by AI for AI—Tom's Machine Representation & Phil's Hypothesis

37:49 Decentralized AI and its Evolution

40:33 Tom's Early Work at MIT and Interactive Graphics

43:13 Final Thoughts

Episode page and full transcript: https://www.lerandom.art/episodes/discussing-digital-art-in-1q-2025

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).

Chapters 📖:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:29 AI Ethics & Artist Consent Debates

00:04:31 Legal Uncertainty & Fair Use

00:06:55 How Artists Are Using AI Tools

00:08:14 Redistributing Value Through New Models

00:11:02 Silicon Valley vs. Academic Roots of AI

00:14:11 The Power Imbalance in AI Development

00:17:36 Why AI Agents Fell Short This Quarter

00:21:45 Functional AI Agents & DAO Experiments

00:27:17 Rethinking NFTs in Digital Art

00:33:11 Institutional Misalignment: Case of Sam Spratt

00:40:50 Manolo’s Return to Generative Art

00:46:51 Protocol Art & January’s Highlights

00:51:08 Q1 Standout Exhibitions

00:55:57 Favorite Projects, Acquisitions & Looking Ahead

Episode page and full transcript: https://www.lerandom.art/episodes/protocol-art-and-blockchain-formalism

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.

Episode page and full transcript: https://www.lerandom.art/episodes/digital-curators-series-03-val-ravaglia-on-displaying-the-digital

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 📖:

00:00 Introduction

01:46 Audience Reactions to Electric Dreams

06:15 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

Episode page and full transcript: https://www.lerandom.art/episodes/recapping-2024-and-projecting-2025-in-digital-art

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 📖:

00:00:00 Introduction

Host Peter Bauman introduces the podcast, the guests, and the agenda: reflecting on 2024 and discussing the outlook for 2025.

00:01:26 Themes of 2024

Discussion on the major themes of 2024, focusing on digital art platforms like fxhash, Foundation, Art Blocks, and their pivots or expansions.

00:02:43 The Artist Token Economy

Exploration of the fxhash artist token economy and its implications for artists and collectors.

00:03:30 Platform Developments

Conrad House talks about Rodeo's onboarding process and how platforms are adapting to market conditions.

00:06:29 Market Conditions vs. Institutional Acceptance

Peter Bauman discusses the dual themes of market struggles and institutional acceptance of digital art in 2024.

00:09:45 Institutional Recognition of Digital Art

Thefunnyguys and Conrad House reflect on the institutional acclaim for digital art and its impact on the market.

00:11:06 Maturing Market and Collectors

Discussion on the maturing digital art market and the growing sophistication of collectors.

00:14:30 Exhibitions of the Year

We share our favorite exhibitions of 2024, including Electric Dreams and Electric Op.

00:22:55 Projects of the Year

We discuss our favorite projects from 2024, such as The Call by Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst.

00:35:55 Le Random acquisitions of the year

Discussion on favorite team acquisitions and commissions of 2024, highlighting Deep ASCII, Florada, and others.

00:45:45 Artist of the Year

We nominate our artists of the year, including Holly Herndon, Mat Dryhurst, and Rafaël Rozendaal.

00:54:04 Events of 2024

Reflection on the major events of 2024, such as the Generative Art Summit in Berlin and Bright Moments Venice.

00:59:11 Accomplishments of 2024

We highlight personal and team accomplishments from 2024, focusing on commissions and content.

01:04:29 Looking Ahead to 2025

We discuss the events and projects we're looking forward to in 2025, including NFT Paris and new exhibitions.

01:10:24 Market and Regulatory Outlook for 2025

Discussion on the potential impact of political and regulatory changes on the crypto and digital art markets in 2025.

01:20:59 Goals and Aspirations for 2025

We share our goals for 2025, including exploring new technologies, activations, and preservation efforts.

01:28:28 Closing Thoughts

Final reflections on 2024 and excitement for the opportunities and challenges that 2025 may bring.

Episode page and full transcript: https://www.lerandom.art/episodes/electric-dreams-in-conversation-rebecca-allen-analivia-cordeiro-and-eduardo-kac

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.

Episode page and full transcript: https://www.lerandom.art/episodes/digital-curators-series-02

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 📖:

00:00:00 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

Episode page and full transcript: https://www.lerandom.art/episodes/digital-curators-series-01

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 Introduction to Le Random Digital Curators Series

01:35 Challenges in Collecting Digital Art

03:31 Identifying Worthwhile Artworks and Preservation Issues

05:14 Process of Identifying Digital Art to Collect

09:17 V&A's Goals and Unique Collection Aspects

14:54 Sourcing Digital Artworks and Building Relationships

20:55 Donations vs. Purchases in Acquisitions

26:03 Value of Digital Art for Museums

34:00 Final Steps in the Acquisition Process

42:28 Impact of Patric Prince on Digital Art Collection

Episode page and full transcript: https://www.lerandom.art/episodes/electric-op-in-conversation

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.