This July, the Aspen Art Museum introduces its most forward-thinking program to date: AIR (Art Intelligence Resonance), a multi-day summit designed to explore the dynamic intersection of creativity and technology. Taking place from July 29th to August 1st, 2025—with a private Retreat starting July 26th—the event promises to reimagine the future of cultural expression through the lens of art, science, and artificial intelligence.
At the core of this visionary initiative is legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog, who will deliver the keynote address. Known for his profound philosophical insights and decades-long influence on global cinema, filmmaker Werner Herzog will unpack his evolving theory of ecstatic truth, a concept he has championed throughout his career. In the age of digital illusion and algorithmic storytelling, Herzog’s reflections on ecstatic truth offer a timely framework for understanding the blurred boundaries between reality and representation.
The Aspen Art Museum has curated AIR to serve as both a public celebration and a private think tank. Alongside filmmaker Werner Herzog, the summit features groundbreaking voices including architect Francis Kéré and artist Maya Lin, who will speak on public architecture and environmental memory. Performance artist Matthew Barney will unveil a new work, TACTICAL Parallax, examining the myth-making potential of new media.
The program draws intellectual inspiration from physicist Sara Imari Walker and artist Paul Chan, weaving together scientific theory and artistic experimentation. Through lectures, performances, and curated dialogues—such as a conversation between artist Glenn Ligon and curator Thelma Golden—the Aspen Art Museum aims to spark essential discourse around embodiment, identity, and the digital self.
Crucially, AIR is not about definitive answers but about cultivating a space where essential, often uncomfortable questions can emerge. With filmmaker Werner Herzog as its leading voice and ecstatic truth as a guiding principle, the Aspen Art Museum once again affirms its role as a bold platform for interdisciplinary exploration.