New Hite Art Institute exhibition examines painting in the digital era

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Hite Art Institute presents “Painting in the Network: Algorithm and Appropriation,” an exhibition of seven contemporary artists whose work explores the intersection between painting and digital technology Feb. 10-April 8 at the Cressman Center for Visual Arts.

“Painting in the Network” is an exhibition about painting, though nearly half of the work on display is computer-generated.

Artists in the exhibition are concerned with how painting traditions survive—and even thrive—in the digital age.

Tabor Robak, for example, writes computer programs that produce never-ending digital compositions. His images look like video games. Another artist in the exhibition, Alex Dodge, does much of his work with technology but the end result is an image on canvas produced by a laser-cut stencil and oil paint.

“Most of these artists are very talented computer programmers—talent evidenced by their elaborate digital compositions and sophisticated algorithms. By ‘outsourcing’ the job of composition to a program that they write, these artists retool and reboot their artistic labor,” said Chris Reitz, director of galleries at Hite.

 “Painting in the Network” also includes works by Siebren Versteeg, Gabriel Orozco, Cory Arcangel, Davis Rhodes and Laeh Glenn.

The opening reception is 6-8 p.m. Feb. 10. Click here for directions to the Cressman Center Gallery, 100 E. Main St., and here for gallery hours. For more information, contact Reitz at cjreit02@louisville.edu.

###