Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 5: Artist-Programmer Era (1970s)
1970
Computer Art Meets the Venice Biennale
In a sign that computer art was gaining greater acceptance and recognition, some of the movement’s leading artists participated in the first computer art exhibition at the Venice Biennale. Participating computer artists included Herbert Franke, Frieder Nake, Georg Nees, Auro Lecci and the Japanese Computer Technique Group (CTG). The pioneers’ work was included alongside modern art masters Josef Albers and Max Bill. A parallel event also included Computer music and the work of John Cage, Earle Brown and Alan Sutcliffe.
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random, fact-checked September 2026.
Sources
- Taylor, Grant D. When the Machine Made Art: The Troubled History of Computer Art, 109. New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2014.
People
Alan Sutcliffe, Auro Lecci, Earle Brown, Frieder Nake, Georg Nees, Herbert W. Franke, John Cage, Josef Albers, Max Bill
Movements
computer art, Computer Music, generative art
Filed under
- Ideas
- Computer Music, generative art
- Technologies
- computer art
- People
- Alan Sutcliffe, Auro Lecci, Earle Brown, Frieder Nake, Georg Nees, Herbert W. Franke, John Cage, Josef Albers, Max Bill
- Organisations
- Computer Technique Group, Venice Biennale
- Places
- Italy, Japan, Venice
Echoes across time
- 1957 · An Experiment in Musical Composition is Published
- 2002 · Doug Eck Advances Neural Network Creative Expression
- 1951 · Edmund C. Berkeley Begins Publishing Computers and Automation
Le Random editorials
- Frieder Nake on “Machinic” Miracles, Peter Bauman, July 10, 2024
Le Random podcast
- Strange Rules and Protocol Art at the Venice Biennale—Trevor Paglen & Primavera De Filippi with Peter Bauman — listen with transcript on Le Random (08 May 2026, 47 min). Title mentions: Venice Biennale. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Interview with Frieder Nake — listen with transcript on Le Random (16 Jul 2024, 41 min). Featuring Frieder Nake. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 5—Artist-Programmer Era (1970s) with Joan Truckenbrod, Hans Dehlinger & Anika Meier — listen with transcript on Le Random (14 Jan 2024, 65 min). Chapter 5’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify