Augmented Intelligence: Christie’s Launches Landmark AI-Dedicated Art Auction

In a groundbreaking moment for the art world, Christie’s is hosting its first-ever sale dedicated exclusively to artwork created using artificial intelligence. Appropriately titled Augmented Intelligence, this pioneering auction will run from February 20 through March 5, 2025, both online and at Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries. Featuring over 20 lots from artists exploring the intersection of art and technology, the event is poised to redefine how collectors and the public engage with AI as a creative medium.

A New Frontier in Art

Christie’s, one of the oldest and most prestigious auction houses in the world, is no stranger to innovation. From early forays into blockchain-based sales to record-breaking auctions, the firm has consistently adapted and embraced new creative frontiers. However, Augmented Intelligence marks a watershed moment: it is the first time a major auction house is devoting an entire sale solely to AI artworks.

The roster of featured artists reads like a who’s who of AI trailblazers. Among them are Refik Anadol, whose data-driven installations have garnered international attention; Harold Cohen, a pioneer whose experiments with algorithmic art date back to the 1960s; and Claire Silver, known for her pioneering work in digital and NFT art. The sale also showcases a curated selection of artists from NVIDIA’s AI Art Gallery, further emphasizing the breadth and depth of innovation happening within the AI art community.

From GANs to Robotics: Diverse Mediums on Display

What truly sets Augmented Intelligence apart is the diversity of artistic methods and mediums. Sculptures, paintings, prints, digitally native artworks, and interactive installations will all be on view, illustrating the myriad ways artists integrate artificial intelligence into their creative practice. As Nicole Sales Giles, Christie’s VP and Director of Digital Art Sales, explains:

“We are thrilled to announce ‘Augmented Intelligence’, an auction dedicated exclusively to AI Art. The sale features extraordinary works created by some of the most innovative minds, spanning from early AI pioneers of the 1960s to contemporary artists. The auction redefines the relationship between art and technology, showing collectors human agency in the age of AI in Fine Art.”

For art enthusiasts and collectors alike, the show promises an immersive experience that stretches beyond the gallery walls. Interactive components will allow visitors to see how AI-based systems generate and iterate art in real time, providing insights into a once “invisible” creative process.

Pindar Van Arman’s Groundbreaking “Emerging Faces”

One of the undisputed highlights is “Emerging Faces of the 2017 Series” by Pindar Van Arman, estimated at $180,000–$250,000. Renowned for his pioneering exploration into autonomous robotic painting, Van Arman created this series by programming two AI agents to collaborate on portrait-making. While one generative model imagines and paints faces, the other halts the process once it recognizes a human face. The result is a sequence of nine unique canvases that reflect a fascinating interplay of creation and curation—entirely executed by machine-learning algorithms.

This body of work is notably among the first to be painted autonomously by neural networks. Its historical importance has already been recognized by major institutions: works from the series are part of the permanent collection at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst Examine AI, Identity, and Representation

Also attracting attention is “Embedding Study 1 & 2 (from the xhairymutantx series)” by Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst, estimated at $70,000–$90,000. Fresh from its inclusion in the 2024 Whitney Biennial, this project probes the role of AI in shaping identity—particularly how altered or exaggerated facial features impact our sense of self. The artwork stems from a text-to-image model trained on manipulated images of Herndon to interrogate representation, authorship, and the continuously evolving relationship between humans and algorithms.

Alexander Reben’s Auction-as-Performance

Pushing the envelope even further, Alexander Reben will feature a live, large-scale painting robot in the heart of Rockefeller Center, guided by custom AI models. With a starting bid of just $100, the painting process will progress in real time as collectors place higher bids—every increment fueling additional strokes on the canvas. Both on-site attendees and online viewers can watch as the artwork transforms, highlighting how AI can turn an auction into an immersive creative performance.

This is the first time such a process-driven, real-time AI artwork will be offered at auction, giving collectors a truly one-of-a-kind experience: the final state of the piece is determined by market dynamics as much as by the artist’s initial programming.

A Larger Commitment to Innovation

Christie’s is no stranger to championing new forms of expression. Founded in 1766, the auction house has evolved to include a wide spectrum of offerings, from fine art to luxury items, across more than 80 categories. In recent years, Christie’s has launched an on-chain auction platform dedicated to NFT art and developed an investment fund to support tech-driven startups in the art market. According to Sales Giles, Augmented Intelligence aligns perfectly with the firm’s ethos of pushing boundaries:

“From robotics to GANs to interactive experiences, artists incorporate artificial intelligence into their practices in many unique ways; we are excited to welcome guests to Rockefeller Center to experience a truly captivating physical exhibition.”

For Collectors and the Curious Alike

For prospective collectors, Augmented Intelligence offers an unprecedented chance to acquire works from some of the biggest names in AI art before the market’s next significant evolution. For casual art fans, it’s an opportunity to witness firsthand how rapidly technology is reshaping our understanding of creativity, authorship, and artistic value.

With bidding open from February 20 through March 5, 2025, this is one sale that underscores the accelerating convergence of the digital and physical realms. By shining a spotlight on the human element—artists conceptualizing, coding, and guiding these AI tools—Augmented Intelligence ultimately underscores the very thing it sets out to explore: how technology can augment, rather than replace, the boundless creativity of the human mind.

About Christie’s
Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business with operations in 46 countries and main sale hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris, and Geneva. Renowned for expert live and online-only auctions, alongside bespoke Private Sales, Christie’s offers a comprehensive portfolio of services including art appraisal, financing, and education. The auction house spans over 80 art and luxury categories at price points ranging from $500 to over $100 million. Christie’s also leads in new technologies, having launched the first fully on-chain NFT auction platform and invested in innovative art market startups. Committed to promoting responsible culture, Christie’s continues to champion new art forms—and now, AI-driven artistic expression.

For more details, visit christies.com or download Christie’s apps. Whether attending in person or online, don’t miss the chance to witness history in the making—and perhaps even take home a piece of it.