AI Art Newsletter - 14 Oct 2025
AI Art Newsletter: September & October 2025
A curated digest of new AI artwork, artists, awards, and exhibitions
🏆 Major AI Art Awards & Competitions
AI-ARTS Competition 2025 - 4th Edition
The global platform AI-ARTS.ORG launched its fourth annual competition in September 2025, introducing significant refinements to their three-part evaluation system[1]. This year’s competition features an extended 60-day public voting period, evaluation by past winners, and an improved AI Judge that provides more transparent scoring and constructive feedback. Artists can submit up to 20 images or videos, with submissions closing for evaluation in late September.
AI Design Awards 2025
Barcelona-based AI Design Awards continues accepting submissions with over $6,000 in total cash prizes[4]. The competition features two main categories: AI Image Designer 2025 ($2,000 USD + Trophy) and AI Motion Designer 2025 ($2,000 USD + Trophy), with an exhibition planned in Barcelona and winners featured in an annual book.
Human AI Art Award 2025 - Winner Announced
The Kunstmuseum Bonn and Deutsche Telekom announced French artist and filmmaker Nicolas Gourault as the 2025 winner for his documentary “Unknown Label” (2023)[7]. The work explores the everyday lives of online microworkers from the Global South who recreate and categorize images for self-driving car AI systems, revealing the human labor behind AI training.
AI Media Award 2025 - Switzerland
The official award ceremony took place on October 17, 2025, at THE HALL in DĂĽbendorf, Switzerland[10]. This new format jointly launched by SSIA Smile Swiss Influence Award and AMA AI Media Agency honors groundbreaking projects in AI-generated content creation.
🎨 Major Exhibitions & Showcases
Digitalism at British Art Fair 2025
Following its successful 2024 debut, Digitalism returned to the British Art Fair (September 25-28, 2025) at Saatchi Gallery, London, with an expanded showcase of over 60 digital artists across 22 stands[2]. The exhibition featured work ranging from AI and digital painting to robotic sculpture, Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR) installations. Notable artists included:
- Cem Hasimi: Turkish-born London-based artist with background in award-winning art direction
- Matt Black Art: London-based digital artist using “Synthography” - combining text with AI photorealistic photography
- Julien Durand (MJM): French Reunion Island artist based in Los Angeles, whose work was featured at AI on The Lot conference and will exhibit at Burning Man[2]
I & AI Mirror Exhibition - Edinburgh
Running October 24-26, 2025, at Inspace Edinburgh, this immersive exhibition explores the emotional terrain between humans and AI systems[23]. The installation uses motion capture, generative AI, augmented reality, and spatial augmented reality to transform participant input into real-time dynamic mosaics of identity, culminating in a live performance on October 24th.
Black To The Future - London
Launched October 7, 2025, at Outernet London, this AI exhibition reimagines the future of Black British culture[28]. Developed by Media Stream AI with artists Olivia Ema and Samuel Adjaye, the project demonstrates how AI can create large-scale content at significantly reduced costs - producing content for ÂŁ100,000-250,000 spaces for under ÂŁ1,000.
International AI Art Exhibitions October 2025
Mutek.AR - Buenos Aires (October 1-5, 2025): Part of the global network of digital art festivals featuring generative audiovisual performances[26]
Sougwen Chung - Ecologies of Becoming - Kunstverein Heilbronn, Germany (September 21 - December 7, 2025): Solo show by AI-art pioneer exploring nature and AI collaboration[26]
AI Exhibition - Cité des Sciences, Paris (October 3 - November 30, 2025): Major exhibition covering ethics, generative art, and robotics[26]
AI Art Exhibition - Santa Barbara - Community Arts Workshop (October 2-12, 2025): “Symbiosis or Schism? The AI-Human Odyssey” featuring lectures, workshops, and awards[32]
đź’° Market Developments & Auction Results
Christie’s Augmented Intelligence Auction Success
Christie’s first AI-dedicated auction in March 2025 exceeded expectations, generating $728,784 against a $600,000 estimate[57][60]. Key highlights included:
- Top Sale: Refik Anadol’s “Machine Hallucinations - ISS Dreams - A” sold for $277,200, surpassing its $200,000 high estimate[57]
- Notable Performance: Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst’s “Embedding Study 1 & 2” achieved $94,500, above its $90,000 high estimate[57]
- Demographics: 48% of bidders were Millennials/Gen Z, with 37% being new Christie’s clients[57]
AI Art Market Growth Projections
According to 2024-2025 market analysis, the AI in art market was valued at approximately $3.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $40.4 billion by 2033, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.9%[59]. The AI art market specifically is expected to grow at an accelerated CAGR of 36.8% from 2024 to 2033.
🛠️ Technology & Platform Updates
Leonardo AI vs Midjourney Developments
Both major AI art platforms received significant updates in 2025:
Leonardo AI Updates:
- Motion 2.0 with improved video generation capabilities[61]
- Flux Elements for training custom models[61]
- Leonardo Phoenix addressing long-standing issues with realistic hands and faces[73]
Midjourney Updates:
- V7 model release in April 2025 with enhanced image quality[61]
- Draft Mode for faster iterations[61]
- Improved organizational features and longer prompt accuracy[73]
Google’s Imagen 4 Launch
Google DeepMind launched Imagen 4 in September 2025 as part of the Gemini API family[12]. Key features include:
- Superior typography and text rendering within images
- 2K resolution support for both standard and Ultra models
- Workspace integration with Google Docs, Slides, and other productivity tools
- Two variants: Imagen 4 Fast ($0.02/image) and Imagen 4 Ultra for premium fidelity
👨‍🎨 Artist Spotlights & Interviews
Hampshire AI September 2025 Event
The Hampshire AI networking group featured presentations on AI as a creative partner[40]. Key speakers included:
- Professor Thomas Irvine: Deputy Director of Web Science Institute, University of Southampton, discussing ethical AI collaboration
- Vinh-Dieu Lam: Software Engineer with 20+ years in interactive CGI/VFX, currently at Odyssey AI lab, focusing on “Generating Fun and Art: AI as a creative partner”
Boris Eldagsen Feature
Photographer Boris Eldagsen received a 9-page feature interview in September 2025, continuing discourse around AI photography and the intersection of traditional and artificial intelligence-assisted image creation[46].
đź”® Future Developments & Trends
Critical Optimism in AI Art
Dr. Rachel Falconer from Goldsmiths University authored “The Liminal Review: New Signals in Arts Technologies,” mapping creative innovation in digital art over 2025[31]. The review, based on over 2,200 submissions from 71 countries, advocates for “critical optimism” rather than dystopian perspectives on AI in art, noting that “art made with technology has matured beyond novelty, positioning itself as an essential part of the 21st-century artistic canon.”
Phygital Art Trend
The art world is witnessing the rise of “phygital” experiences - combining physical and digital elements through paintings that come alive with augmented reality or sculptures that project holograms[71]. This trend reflects the broader movement toward integrating traditional craftsmanship with AI collaboration.
đź“… Upcoming Events
AI Art Tokyo 2025
Scheduled for October 16-21, 2025, at Hilton Tokyo, this exhibition explores Japan’s “kawaii” concept reimagined through AI[29].
Mutek.JP 10th Edition
Tokyo’s premier digital art festival runs November 20-23, 2025, featuring international AI and generative art presentations[37].
