Christie’s to hold Its first AI-exclusive auction

Christie’s is breaking new ground with Augmented Intelligence, its first auction dedicated entirely to AI-generated art. Running from February 20th to March 5th, 2025, the sale will feature over 20 works by artists at the forefront of art and artificial intelligence. The exhibition at Rockefeller Center will showcase diverse mediums, from paintings and sculpture to interactive digital works.

The auction traces AI’s role in fine art, from early pioneer Harold Cohen to contemporary innovators like Refik Anadol, Pindar Van Arman, Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst, Claire Silver, and Alexander Reben. “This sale redefines the relationship between art and technology,” says Nicole Sales Giles, Christie’s VP and Director of Digital Art Sales. “AI isn’t a replacement for human creativity but a tool that expands artistic possibilities.”

A standout lot is Emerging Faces by Van Arman, a series of nine paintings created by two AI models working in tandem—one generating abstract portraits, the other stopping the process once it recognizes a human face. The series, estimated at $180,000–$250,000, is already in LACMA’s permanent collection.

Also featured is Embedding Study 1 & 2 from Herndon & Dryhurst’s xhairymutantx series, which debuted at the 2024 Whitney Biennial. Estimated at $70,000–$90,000, these works use AI-trained self-portraits to explore identity, authorship, and representation in the digital age.

Alexander Reben pushes AI interactivity further with a live painting performance. His robotic system generates a large-scale artwork in real time, with each bid dictating its progress—merging human decision-making with machine execution.

This landmark auction not only showcases AI’s impact on contemporary art but also invites audiences to rethink creativity in the digital era. All works will be on view at Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries throughout the sale.