Ansel Adams' trust says AI-colorized version of his work was exhibited without permission
Key takeaways
- The AI-generated version of ‘Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico’ was on display at AIPAD’s The Photography show.
- The exhibit by Danziger Gallery "exploited Ansel's name, reputation, and his most iconic image, while failing to identify any human artist responsible for its creation," the statement says.
- "The Trust was not consulted or notified before the work appeared," the Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust said.
The AI-generated version of ‘Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico’ was on display at AIPAD’s The Photography show.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust released a statement this weekend condemning the unauthorized use of the photographer's name and work for the creation of an "AI-generated color version" of Adams' "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico." According to the trust, the piece was up for sale last month at the Association of International Photography Art Dealers' (AIPAD) The Photography Show. The exhibit by Danziger Gallery "exploited Ansel's name, reputation, and his most iconic image, while failing to identify any human artist responsible for its creation," the statement says.
Interestingly, the trust didn't take issue with the involvement of AI, noting that Adams "was remarkably prescient about—and excited by—the potential of computers to transform photography." The issue is that the exhibitor allegedly just straight up ripped off the artist's work to make money off of it.