Art Basel and UBS Launch Series Exploring Digital Art Evolution

Art Basel and UBS have launched a five-episode film series titled Decoding Art in the Digital Era, with the first episode released on 30 September 2026. The series examines the evolution of digital art, tracing its development from the 1960s, when artists began experimenting with computers and code, to the present day. This historical perspective situates digital art within a broader tradition of artists adopting and responding to new technologies.

The opening episode, ‘What is Art in the Digital Era?’, explores how digital art fits into the longer history of technological engagement in art. It highlights that digital art did not originate with recent innovations such as NFTs, artificial intelligence, or the internet. Instead, artists have been using new technologies for decades to create and conceptualise art, extending the boundaries of artistic practice.

The episode features a diverse group of contributors, including artists Beeple, Manfred Mohr, Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, and Sougwen Chung. Their perspectives are complemented by curator Christiane Paul, gallerist Sofia Garcia, critic Shumon Basar, and UBS art advisors Matthew Newton and Carola Wiese. Together, these voices provide insights into the shifting definitions and boundaries of art in the digital age.

The series covers a wide range of contemporary digital practices. These include generative systems, artificial intelligence, immersive environments, and decentralized networks. By showcasing these varied approaches, the series demonstrates the breadth of digital art and its capacity to challenge established ideas about what art can be.

The production team for Decoding Art in the Digital Era includes Art Basel’s Producer and Senior Editor Alicia Reuter, Editorial Assistant Lama Yaghi, and Head of Brand & Creative Jeanne-Salomé Rochat. The visual and animation aspects are managed by John Gatapia and Ryle Newo Torres, with studio management by Yulia Piskuliyska and production by Rissy McGrath. Their collaborative efforts contribute to the series’ exploration of digital art’s evolution.

Additional support comes from Art Basel Partnerships, with Senior Creative Strategist Caitlin Britton and Partnership Manager Ingrid Wendeling Soares, as well as UBS Project Manager Content and Design Marketing Excellence Lab Sarah Edelmann-Norton. Special thanks are extended to Hayley Jones, Founder of Rose Social, for her contributions.

The perspectives presented in the episode suggest that the distinction between digital art and art more broadly is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. As technology continues to shape how we communicate, create, and experience the world, the boundaries between digital and traditional art may eventually disappear altogether.