Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 10: On-Chain Era (2020s)
2021
Gene Kogan Creates BrainDrops, Long-Form AI Art Platform
In November, artist and AI educator Gene Kogan co-founded BrainDrops, a transformative NFT platform dedicated to AI-generated art. BrainDrops quickly became a central hub for artists and enthusiasts exploring the creative potential of AI. The platform launched in November 2021 with Kogan’s own Brain Loops; Roope Rainisto’s Life in West America, later its best-known release, followed in February 2023.
Kogan spoke to this author and Le Random for our talk, covering the previous decade.
BrainDrops continues to foster a vibrant community, offering educational resources and innovative tools, solidifying its role and strengthening the image of the much-derided AI-generated art in the eyes of the NFT and fine art worlds.
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random, fact-checked September 2026.
People
Movements
Machine Learning Art, NFT Art, Ethereum Art
Filed under
- Ideas
- ai art, community, education, legitimacy, platforms, tools
- Technologies
- artificial intelligence, generative AI, long-form generative art, NFTs
- People
- Gene Kogan, Roope Rainisto
- Works
- Brain Loops, Life in West America, Platform
- Organisations
- BrainDrops
- Places
- America
Echoes across time
- 1986 · Ken Knowlton Asks Why It Isn’t Art Yet?
- 2002 · Golan Levin and Casey Reas, The Art of Code at Bitforms, New York
- 2002 · Doug Eck Advances Neural Network Creative Expression
Le Random editorials
- Post(human)-AI Art, Peter Bauman, August 4, 2025
- Christiane Paul on Defining AI Art, Peter Bauman, April 23, 2025
- The Evolving Platform Ecosystem, Peter Bauman, July 26, 2023
- Aaron Hertzmann on Caring about People, Peter Bauman, April 13, 2026
Le Random podcast
- 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). Featuring Gene Kogan. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Tom White & Gene Kogan on the Birth of GAN Art (Deep Learning Series 01) — listen with transcript on Le Random (14 Apr 2025, 44 min). Featuring Gene Kogan. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Discussing Digital Art in 1Q 2025 — listen with transcript on Le Random (01 Apr 2025, 79 min). Transcript mentions Gene Kogan. 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). Chapter 10’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify