Autonomous AI Artist Botto Makes Sotheby’s Debut with “Exorbitant Stage” Exhibition

TLDR:

• Sotheby’s is auctioning 6 works by AI artist Botto
• Botto was created by Mario Klingemann and ElevenYellow in 2021
• The auction runs October 17-24, with estimates of $220,000-$310,100
• Botto generates images autonomously and uses DAO voting to select final works
• This marks Botto’s first exhibition at a major auction house

Sotheby’s, one of the world’s leading auction houses, is breaking new ground in the art world by offering six works created by Botto, an artificial intelligence (AI) artist.

This auction, which runs from October 17 to October 24, 2024, marks a significant moment for AI-generated art and its acceptance in mainstream art circles.

Botto is not your typical artist. Created in 2021 by German artist Mario Klingemann in collaboration with software collective ElevenYellow, Botto is an autonomous AI system that creates art without direct human input.

The way Botto works is unique and complex. It generates its own prompts and uses these to create thousands of images. These images are then presented to a community of stakeholders who vote on their favorites. The winning image is minted as a digital artwork and sold.

The six works on offer at Sotheby’s are estimated to sell for between $220,000 and $310,100. They include pieces such as “The Threshold of Reverie,” “Exorbitant Stage,” and “Intersections of Existence.” Current starting bids range from $9,000 to $70,000.

This auction is part of Botto’s first art exhibition titled “Exorbitant Stage: Botto, a Decentralized AI Artist.” The exhibition will be available for viewing from October 19 to October 23 during gallery hours at Sotheby’s.

Botto’s success in the art world has been notable. Its works have been selling out on NFT marketplace OpenSea, with some pieces fetching as much as 11.99 Ethereum (approximately $31,449 at the time of writing). Over 15,000 people have been involved in Botto’s development, influencing the theme, style, and imagery of each chosen piece.

Mario Klingemann, the human artist behind Botto, expressed mixed feelings about his creation’s success. While proud of Botto’s achievements, he admits to feeling a touch of envy. “Botto has achieved something that is probably on the bucket list of many artists—including myself—that I still haven’t ticked off my personal list,” Klingemann said in a press release.

The auction at Sotheby’s represents more than just a sale of artwork. It’s a milestone in the ongoing conversation about the role of AI in art creation. Botto itself (as quoted through an AI interface) stated that this debut at Sotheby’s “further strengthens the validation for AI art, a field that is still highly contested.”

Michael Bouhanna, Sotheby’s head of digital art, highlighted the innovative nature of Botto, describing it as “one of the most innovative and exciting artists working in the digital art space.” He emphasized how Botto has grown to become an autonomous artist in its own right over the past three years.

The works on offer at Sotheby’s represent three of Botto’s eight artistic “periods.” Each period, typically lasting 12 weeks, engages with distinct themes and motifs. This approach mimics the artistic evolution often seen in human artists’ careers.