- Christie’s has announced an auction dedicated to AI-generated artworks
- Known as “Augmented Intelligence,” the auction will start on February 20 at Christie’s Manhattan gallery
- NFT artists are expected to feature their artworks during the auction
Art auction house Christie’s has announced an auction dedicated to AI-generated artworks in its Manhattan gallery from February 20 to March 5. Dubbed “Augmented Intelligence,” the auction is the first of its kind to be conducted by a reputable auction house and will feature artworks from known NFT artists like Claire Silver and Refik Anadol. Featured collections investigate a wide range of topics including how humans embrace AI and automation, which may help increase the adoption of AI-based solutions.
Christie’s Rethinking “The Limits of Artistic Agency”
The auction house said that the event challenges it “to rethink the limits of artistic agency” adding that AI is an extension of human creativity. Christie’s announced that Alexander Reben’s “Untitled Painting Robot, 2025” will be among the auction’s highlights.
Enter the world of Augmented Intelligence, Christie’s first auction solely offering artworks created with AI. Featuring works from @refikanadol, @clairesilver12, @vanarman, @hollyherndon @matdryhurst and more, the sale challenges us to rethink the limits of artistic agency. pic.twitter.com/MwNZbQPDte
— Christie’s (@ChristiesInc) February 7, 2025
Christie’s revealed that the artworks can be presented in various mediums including sculptures, screens, interactive works, light boxes, paintings, and prints.
According to Christie’s director of digital assets Nicole Sales Giles, the exhibition will feature works “from early AI pioneers of the 1960s to contemporary artists.” Giles also noted that the auction helps explore the link between art and technology “in the age of AI and Fine Art.”
Christie’s Move Adds to NFT and Blockchain Efforts
The Augmented Intelligence auction adds to Christie’s efforts to feature technology-based artworks. In 2020, for example, the auction house announced it was preparing to sell 40 pieces of art featuring Bitcoin’s launch code. In the same year, it auctioned nine CryptoPunk NFTs for $14.5 million.
Last year, it revealed that it intends to put the ownership certificate of auctioned collections on Ethereum layer 2 network Base. Christie’s, however, isn’t the only reputable auction house exploring new technology. Sotheby’s has also in the past auctioned NFT collections.
With Christie’s announcing an AI-generated artwork auction, it’s to be seen whether Sotheby’s and other popular auction houses will also do so.
