Kyle McDonald

Kyle McDonald, a Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist, researcher, and educator, is renowned for his innovative work at the intersection of technology and humanity. His practice encompasses interactive and immersive audiovisual installations, performances, and the development of new tools for creative exploration. McDonald’s work is characterized by his use of computer vision, machine learning, and computing techniques to probe the nature of human connection and envision a shared future.

For the Lumen Prize Anniversary auction at Sotheby's, McDonald presents "Study for Self Portrait," a piece that bridges his recent explorations in machine learning with his early work as a generative visual artist. This artwork, created using Python, Graphviz, and Gemini-1.5-Pro, is a high-resolution 7680x4320 masterpiece that delves into the ontological aesthetics of the 1980s AI knowledge base Cyc and the default aesthetics of TeX-based research paper diagrams.

"Study for Self Portrait" is a generative diagram that examines the essence of being human in an era of increasing automation. Constructed in dialogue with a large language model, this piece reflects McDonald’s ongoing inquiry into the ineffable aspects of human existence. By titling this work as a "study," McDonald acknowledges the nascent stage of this artistic direction, suggesting that he is merely scratching the surface of its potential.

McDonald’s contributions to the art and tech communities are significant. He has been an adjunct professor at NYU’s ITP, a member of F.A.T. Lab, and an artist in residence at prestigious institutions like the STUDIO for Creative Inquiry at Carnegie Mellon and YCAM in Japan. His work has been showcased globally, including at NTT ICC, Ars Electronica, and Eyebeam, among others. This auction piece, "Study for Self Portrait," exemplifies McDonald’s mastery of generative art and invites viewers to contemplate the evolving relationship between humans and machines. It is transformative power of technology in contemporary art.