Generative art is art that is produced by computer code. Often the artist writes a code script algorithm and the computer produces the art. The artist can churn out many pieces with their algorithm in a short time. From there the artist has a choice. She may review them, and then choose the “cream of the crop” for release. Or, an artist can focus on their code rigorously from the beginning, accepting all outputs as part of the body work. The artist takes this apporach only with the confidence that their code was written well enough to stand behind each and every piece.

In the emerging world of Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs), there is great opportunity for generative artists (many of whom have been around decades before NFTs came to be). Each piece is tied to a unique hash-code that is unknown until the moment that the piece is “minted”. The hash-code parameterizes the algorithm to produce unique but repeatable results based on its unique characters. This hash code is also used to identify the NFT for perpetuity on the blockchain. There are many platforms emerging in this new and exciting space that support digital artists and provide a way for digital generative artists to share their work, maintain provenance, and receive deserved compensation long after a piece is place “out in the wild.”

Not all pieces are necessarily produced in this way and there are many NFTs with non-generative code behind the work. This makes them no less worthy as art, but instead represents a different approach to computer-based art. Most of my generative pieces are prints made from algorithmic code. But there are also some digital paintings and one-off videos of running code.