Bård Ionson is an AI art pioneer whose explorations have bridged mediums and cultural touchstones since his initial foray onto the blockchain in 2018.
Ionson’s journey as an artist began in 2012, but his entry into the NFT space marked a significant evolution in his creative approach. By blending physical, electronic, digital, and spiritual realms, he captures the ephemeral intersections between different “realities,” exposing what he calls “distortions between realities.”
Ionson’s work emphasizes the seamless flow of color, letting shades blend into one another while shapes remain fluid and abstract.
With an eclectic mix of tools — including artificial intelligence, GANs, oscilloscopes, lasers, and smart contracts — Ionson produces multimedia art that transcends any single technology. His work has been exhibited internationally, from Paris and Vienna to Riyadh and San Francisco, while his online presence spans platforms like MakersPlace, SuperRare, Art Blocks, and AsyncArt.
Ionson’s latest project, California Collection, captures California’s natural beauty through the lens of AI. Created from over 2,000 photographs taken on a family road trip—from Los Angeles to the redwood forests of Guerneville—the series evokes the state’s vast, untouched landscapes.
Using StyleGAN2, Ionson transforms fields of artichokes, coastal vistas, and ancient trees into dreamlike abstractions where human-made objects recede, allowing nature to take center stage. Each piece is carefully selected and manipulated, merging photography with AI to offer a fresh, contemplative view of California’s iconic scenery.
Ionson’s willingness to traverse unexplored realms, adopt diverse influences, and integrate new technologies speaks to a spirit of innovation. His work demonstrates the power of collaboration between human imagination and machine.
Work from Ionson’s California Collection will be showcased in REIMAGINE TOMORROW, 1954–2024: AI IN CONTEXT #2, an international group exhibition presented by EXPANDED.ART as part of the AI Biennale in Essen. Curated by Anika Meier, the exhibition will be held at Heilig Geist, a former church near Zeche Zollverein. It features over 50 international artists, platforms, and galleries invited to explore a near future where human and machine collaboration deepens. Learn more here.
Visit Bård Ionson’s MakersPlace Gallery
