Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 6: Personal Computer Era (1980s)
1986
Evolving aesthetic criteria for computer generated art: A Delphi Study by Richard Lucas

This Ohio State University MA thesis, submitted by Richard Lucas, explored the aesthetics of computer art through a survey. Respondents to the survey included some of the field’s most respected voices, including Charles Csuri, Frank Dietrich, Hiroshi Kawano, Lillian Schwartz, Gene Youngblood and Frider Nake. The general findings were that traditional aesthetic criteria were largely deemed adequate for computer art evaluation.
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random, fact-checked September 2026.
Sources
People
Charles Csuri, Frank Dietrich, Frieder Nake, Gene Youngblood, Hiroshi Kawano, Lillian Schwartz, Richard Lucas
Movements
computer art
Filed under
- Ideas
- aesthetics, art criticism, computer art history
- Technologies
- computer art, Delphi method
- People
- Charles Csuri, Frank Dietrich, Frieder Nake, Gene Youngblood, Hiroshi Kawano, Lillian Schwartz, Richard Lucas
- Organisations
- Ohio State University
Echoes across time
- 1964 · First Piece of Computer Art Criticism by Arnold Rockman and Leslie Mezei
- 1964 · Leslie Mezei Gives the First Lecture on Computer Art
- 2009 · A Philosophy of Computer Art by Dominic Lopes
Le Random editorials
- Frieder Nake on “Machinic” Miracles, Peter Bauman, July 10, 2024
Le Random podcast
- Interview with Frieder Nake — listen with transcript on Le Random (16 Jul 2024, 41 min). Featuring Frieder Nake. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 6—Personal Computer Era (1980s) with Mark Wilson, Copper Giloth, Dan Sandin, David Em, William Latham, Stephen Todd, Darcy Gerbarg & Geoff Davis — listen with transcript on Le Random (08 Feb 2024, 85 min). Chapter 6’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify