Noo Icons

Currently on view at the Delaware Contemporary – September 5th through December 28th.

As we find ourselves speculating about the potential for AI to manifest into a new form of “non- human intelligence,” Noo Icons explores how our religious history has memorialized encounters with non-human intelligences. “Noo” in the title refers to the Noosphere, a proposed evolutionary biosphere representing humanity’s collective consciousness. Some have proposed the concepts of the internet, transhumanism, and artificial intelligence as representing this Noosphere.

The rear projected stained-glass window in this installation is produced using Deforum Stable Diffusion combined with DreamBooth, an open-source tool which allows users to further refine the training data used to produce these images. By creating an ethically sourced data set of photographs of Rose Windows from around the world, the continuously generating composite images produce an ethereal display of light and color.

The altar piece is created using DreamFusion, a text-to-3D image renderer. The digital asset is then altered and 3D-printed in metallic gold plastic to suggest a monstrance, a housing for the “living presence” of Christ in the Eucharist wafer, or reliquary used to contain physical remains of the saints. In housing a lithium battery, the sacred nature of this rare-earth mineral which takes millions of years to naturally form is made central to the installation. Lithium not only serves as the physical backbone of AI technologies, suggesting the “living presence” of a new form of non-human intelligence, but it also is increasingly scarce. Current estimates suggest that we may be on track to exhaust the world’s lithium reserves by 2040.

Exhibitions

2025 Biennial: Art + AI. The Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington, DE. Curated by Amy Hicks, Erica Loustau, and Marnie Benney. September 5-December 28th, 2025.

Openings. “Noo Icons.” Curated selection of projected art pieces. SNF Parkway Theatre, Baltimore, MD. September 20-22, 2024.

Windows on Charles. Curated selection of projected arts pieces for Artscape. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD. August 2nd-31st, 2024.

Emerging Aesthetics. Towson University, Towson, MD. Organized by Zachary Diaz and Susan Isaacs. February 2nd-March 15th, 2024.

Emergence Show. Studio Gallery, Washington, D.C. Curated by Irene Pantelis. Jan 3rd-27th, 2024.

Coding Creativity: Exploring the Intersection of Art and Algorithms, a national, juried exhibition. Hera Gallery, Wakefield, RI. Curated by Kate McNamara, Providence College Galleries. Oct 14-Nov 11th, 2023. Artist talk on Oct. 26th, 2023.

Art & Algorithms exhibit, curated by Realm.AI and shown at The Penn State University Eric J Barron Innovation Hub (State College, PA), July 6-16th, 2023, a pop-up gallery during Central PA’s ArtsFest. The theme of the show was focused on whether AI technologies can create “art.” This work was the “featured artist” for the show.