Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 2: Modern Era (1850–1949)
1913
Bicycle Wheel by Marcel Duchamp
This pieces stands as a precursor of both kinetic and conceptual art, another monumental work by Duchamp in the history of generative art. “In 1913 I had the happy idea to fasten a bicycle wheel to a kitchen stool and watch it turn.” -Marcel Duchamp
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random, fact-checked September 2026.
Sources
People
Movements
Ready-made
Filed under
- Ideas
- conceptual art, movement, Ready-made
- Technologies
- kinetic art
- People
- Marcel Duchamp
- Works
- Bicycle Wheel
Related moments
Echoes across time
- 2005 · Part Object Part Sculpture, Columbus, Ohio
- 1967 · Sol LeWitt Defines Conceptual Art in Print
- 2014 · Is Art by Rhea Myers
Le Random editorials
- What Was the AI Psychosis Summit?, Kevin Esherick, July 27, 2026
- THE PEOPLE ARE IN THE COMPUTER—PART I, Peter Bauman, March 19, 2025
- Joan Heemskerk on Quantum Web4, Peter Bauman, September 10, 2024
- New York City Digital Art Guide, LoVid, Emily Edelman, Josh Yakov, Peter Bauman, May 5, 2025
Le Random podcast
- Timeline Ch 2—Modern Era with Kate Vass — listen with transcript on Le Random (20 Jul 2023, 58 min). Transcript mentions Marcel Duchamp. Chapter 2’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 9—AI Era (2010s) with Tyler Hobbs, Helena Sarin, Rhea Myers & Gene Kogan — listen with transcript on Le Random (30 Jul 2024, 51 min). Transcript mentions Marcel Duchamp. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 10—On-Chain Era (2020s) with Erick Calderon, Lauren Lee McCarthy, Itzel Yard & Rafael Lozano-Hemmer — listen with transcript on Le Random (02 Sep 2024, 63 min). Transcript mentions Marcel Duchamp. Apple Podcasts · Spotify