“Each age finds its own technique”.

– Jackson Pollock

techspressionism

/tek-spresh-uh-niz-uh m/

  1. An artistic approach in which technology is utilized as a means to express emotional experience.
  2. An international community of artists who organize exhibitons and host online salons.
  3. A hashtag used by artists working with technology.

ROOT WORDS  (source: Oxford Dictionaries):

expressionism: A style of painting, music, or drama in which the artist or writer seeks to express emotional experience rather than impressions of the external world.
technology :The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.

“You’re a Techspressionist when you say you are”.

One thing that I like about Techspressionism is that as a term, it can transcend boundaries, and in terms of the question of whether we need to clearly delineate things, I am all for openness, and I think Techspressionism already fulfills an important function if there are artists aligning themselves with that term and finding a platform to discuss issues that are relevant to their work; that is always a function that makes a term valuable.

Christiane Paul
Curator of Digital Art
Whitney Museum of American Art.

UPCOMING EXHIBITION

In 1928, ruminating on the rapid pace and profound nature of change in the twentieth century, the French poet and philosopher Paul Valéry wrote: “We must expect great innovations to transform the entire technique of the arts, thereby affecting artistic invention itself and perhaps even bringing about an amazing change in our very notion of art.” This prediction so impressed the cultural critic Walter Benjamin that he used it as the epigraph of his famous 1935 essay, “The Work of Art in the Age of its Technological Reproducibility” (as it was originally titled). These writers and others were pondering the same issues that face the artists who now, nearly a century later, self-identify as Techspressionists.

Thanks to digital technologies and the Internet, works of art have become, in Valéry’s formulation, ubiquitous; as he foresaw, “We shall only have to summon them and there they will be.” This level of accessibility requires us to adopt and accept new attitudes toward creative expression. As Benjamin observed, the debate regarding the artistic validity of new media, begun with photography and cinema in the late nineteenth century, centers on the so-called aura of the singular work of art. And the aura of uniqueness remains powerful. Yet a digitally-generated artwork is not a reproduction in the conventional sense—that is, a copy of something else—though it can be, and often is, reproduced in multiples that are indistinguishable one from another.

Hand-made versus mechanical. One-off versus duplication. Such binaries ultimately resolve in light of the works of art themselves. By whatever technique it’s created, Techspressionist imagery generates its own aura, deriving its authenticity from the artist’s intention. Expression is paramount; technology is merely the delivery system. Jackson Pollock faced a similar concern. Frustrated by the focus on his materials and methods rather than the content of his paintings, he insisted, “It doesn’t make much difference how the paint is put on as long as something is being said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement.”

Helen A. Harrison
June 2022

Photo ©2022 Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com

Techspressionism: Digital and Beyond opening reception at Southampton Arts Center, April 23, 2022.
Pictured artists (left to right): Diane Marsella, Carter Hodgkin, Renata Janiszewska (on iPad), Darcy Gerbarg, Mary Boochever, Tommy Mintz, Verneda Lights, Tom Dunn (SAC Executive Director), Nina Sobell, Roy Nicholson, Nina Yankowitz, Roz Dimon, Colin Goldberg, ScoJo, Steve Miller, Patrick Lichty, Tali Hinkis (kneeling), Christine Sciulli (kneeling), John Zieman (back row), Kyle Lapidus, Mary Ann Strandell, Holly Gordon, Michael Rees (back row) Dalton Portella (kneeling), Joe Diamond (SAC General Manager), Dan Welden, Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky, Anne Spalter, Gregory Little. Artworks behind group by Frank Gillette. Photo ©2022 Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com

OPEN CALL

LAST SALON

Need a focus in the studio?
Want to connect with Techspressionists in a more personal way?
Interested in a global artistic experience?
Longing for creative inspiration or collaboration?
Yearning to share your work with one or two other artists?

We will sign on, and each briefly (30 -60 seconds) say what we plan to work on. Then we work for 1 hour. After 1 hour we have the option to briefly share what we did. Total session 1.5 hours.
Please take the survey below to help us form our groups. We may make multiple groups, so as to accommodate as many time zones and work/personal schedules as possible.

Cynthia Rubin and Cynthia DiDonato

RECENT VIDEOS

TECHSPRESSIONIST ARTWORKS

Curated by Renata Janiszewska

Today’s featured #Techspressionist visual artist:
Barbara Rehbehn
Nuremberg, Germany 🇩🇪
@barbararehbehn

Barbara Rehbehn is a multi-disciplinary digital artist based in Germany. With a background in textile art and printmaking, Barbara combines historical photography with digital painting and code visualization. Intense treatment for a panic disorder limited her interactions to those in digital space. This, in turn, brought her back to her former education in linguistics and computer science, as she put her art on the blockchain and started integrating generative elements.

#techspressionism
@techspressionism.de
...

25 1

Today’s featured #Techspressionist visual artist:
Barbara Rehbehn
Nuremberg, Germany 🇩🇪
@barbararehbehn

Barbara Rehbehn is a multi-disciplinary digital artist based in Germany. With a background in textile art and printmaking, Barbara combines historical photography with digital painting and code visualization. Intense treatment for a panic disorder limited her interactions to those in digital space. This, in turn, brought her back to her former education in linguistics and computer science, as she put her art on the blockchain and started integrating generative elements.

#techspressionism
@techspressionism.de
...

27 0

Today’s featured #Techspressionist visual artist:
Barbara Rehbehn
Nuremberg, Germany 🇩🇪
@barbararehbehn

Barbara Rehbehn is a multi-disciplinary digital artist based in Germany. With a background in textile art and printmaking, Barbara combines historical photography with digital painting and code visualization. Intense treatment for a panic disorder limited her interactions to those in digital space. This, in turn, brought her back to her former education in linguistics and computer science, as she put her art on the blockchain and started integrating generative elements.

#techspressionism
@techspressionism.de
...

34 0

Today’s featured #Techspressionist visual artist:
Andrea Mikyska
Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪
@miu_._._._
"The Godless Milieu, the title of my current project and research, describes a mythical universe where life is constantly reshaped through the prism of imagination and is in a constant flux of new entanglements. I’m addicted to stories and imagination. It’s a free environment rich in opportunities where everyone can change, transform, or adopt a different identity."
#techspressionism
@techspressionism.de
...

83 4

Today’s featured #Techspressionist visual artist:
Andrea Mikyska
Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪
@miu_._._._ _
"The Godless Milieu, the title of my current project and research, describes a mythical universe where life is constantly reshaped through the prism of imagination and is in a constant flux of new entanglements. I’m addicted to stories and imagination. It’s a free environment rich in opportunities where everyone can change, transform, or adopt a different identity."
#techspressionism
@techspressionism.de
...

39 0

Today’s featured #Techspressionist visual artist:
Andrea Mikyska
Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪
@miu_._._._
"The Godless Milieu, the title of my current project and research, describes a mythical universe where life is constantly reshaped through the prism of imagination and is in a constant flux of new entanglements. I’m addicted to stories and imagination. It’s a free environment rich in opportunities where everyone can change, transform, or adopt a different identity."
#techspressionism
@techspressionism.de
...

65 1

MoWNA X TS 🚀🚀🚀 A collaborative exhibition and NFT drop with The Museum of Wild and Newfangled Art @mownamuseum x @techspressionism have an international call out for submissions. Anyone can self identify with the artistic approach of Techspressionism. 🔺To apply, see link in bio Deadline to submit is July 19, 2024 12 pm ET. What is MoWNA? Some facts: mowna offers the preservation of artworks through an online collection that is an educational resource and archive for its members and its artists.
mowna commits to providing the public with an accessible space for people to see art from a diverse
diverse range of global artists.
mowna chooses to be an innovative, humane, and sustainable organization with fair and reasonable terms and conditions.
mowna allows for equity, experimentation, individuality, and authenticity.
mowna is passionate about empowering artists by exhibiting their artworks, and paying them #techspressionism
...

38 0

Come to share your recent work with #techspressionist artists from around the globe at our Open Studios Salon. Moderated by @colingoldberg, Salon is FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Attendance is free,
but pre-registration is required through 🔗link in bio. #techspressionism
...

28 1

From @colingoldberg: I was notified today that the Wikipedia article for #Techspressionism was nominated for deletion by a Wikipedia editor today. The editor who initiated this nomination for deletion states:
"Techspressionism has no reliable sourcing that it is an art movement or style. The portmanteau (was) coined by an artist, but it (is) entirely his own invention. The references in the article point to interivews (sp), press releases and (a) self created website. There is no reliable sourcing." I feel that Techspressionism has grown into a community and extends beyond how it began. I made it clear in my response that Techspressionism is neither an art movement or style, but an
*approach*, although I feel that this distinction will be lost on the person making the nomination. They close with "There is no alternative to deletion."
In my eyes, @techspressionism is comprised of a vibrant and active community of artists, and the hashtag #techspressionism is used on over 70K posts on Instagram, so in my eyes, it clearly has outgrown being a portmanteau that simply describes my personal artistic style, as the editor describes it (although that is how it started).
If you are interested in engaging in this conversation and helping to defend Techspressionism's right to exist on Wikipedia, I encourage you to do so by creating a (free) Wikipedia account (please do not post anonymously), you can cast your vote ('keep' or
'delete') by replying to the comments made by the editor who nominated the page for deletion and adding your thoughts to the article's deletion discussion page.
I guess haters are gonna hate 🤷🏼🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏽‍♂️
...

63 11

MONEY 💶 is the topic of Salon 80 on Thursday March 7 at 12 noon ET. Moderated by Renata Janiszewska, please reserve your spot on zoom in advance, 🔗link is in profile.
This is an open mike style salon, to present work please arrive 10 minutes early... $$$$$$$$🪙
...

24 3

Putting the kid to work. ...

39 1

Today’s featured #Techspressionist visual artist:
Ikatch
Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪
@ikatch_
ikatch is a digital activist based in Berlin. "Expressing myself visually has always been important for me, and in the last years I explored new ways of image editing. What really drives me on is the connection between this learning process and
mirroring feelings and thoughts through the outcome."
#techspressionism
@techspressionism.de
...

80 4

Today’s featured #Techspressionist visual artist:
Ikatch
Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪
@ikatch_
ikatch is a digital activist based in Berlin. "Expressing myself visually has always been important for me, and in the last years I explored new ways of image editing. What really drives me on is the connection between this learning process and
mirroring feelings and thoughts through the outcome."
#techspressionism
@techspressionism.de
...

50 1

Today’s featured #Techspressionist visual artist:
Ikatch
Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪
@ikatch_
ikatch is a digital activist based in Berlin. "Expressing myself visually has always been important for me, and in the last years I explored new ways of image editing. What really drives me on is the connection between this learning process and
mirroring feelings and thoughts through the outcome."
#techspressionism
@techspressionism.de
...

32 0

How is art history made? Vivian Lazaridou, a Greek art historian has published her Master's thesis on Techspressionism. Now available for review online: https:// techspressionism.com/writings #techspressionism ...

55 7

Money. 💶 It's the topic of our next #Techspressionist salon on Thursday March 7 at noon ET. Please confirm by arriving 10 minutes early if you wish to present work on this theme. A look at how Techspressionists support their work, or a look at artwork about money, all welcome. Pre-registration required, visit techspressionism.com/salon Artwork by #techspressionist Michael Paulukonis @michaelpaulukonis #capitalistneoexpressionism ...

33 1

Join us on February 1 for a salon on photography, featuring presentations by @leeday.photography @tommymintznyc @leeschnaiberg @cbrubinstudio moderated by Renata Janiszewska @renatajiji_ PREREGISTRATION IS NEEDED, sign up at link in profile on the salon page of #Techpressionism's website.
Salon starts at noon ET 💥📸 now available to view on the TS website and YouTube, link in bio
...

20 0

Cyberiana is a part of The Wrong Biennale @thewrong.biennale, the pavilion is open to visit. Special thanks David Quiles Guilló, and the entire team at The Wrong for bringing us the 6th digital biennale, and the opportunity to share #techspressionist artworks globally. 🍄🌍 🔗link in bio Artwork: Renata Janiszewska #techspressionism #tscyberiana ...

52 1

Visit Cyberiana, we are open 24/7 Link to the 3-d world is in bio 🍄 Image: Renata Janiszewska @renatajiji_ ...

92 2

Please join us for a special event featuring #Techspressionist artists Malcolm Fernandes @malcolmfernandes.art, Martin
Ostachowski @mlodotart & Michael Pierre Price @mpp_digital_art
_art as they discuss their Cyberiana 3-
d artist studios. Moderator: Stephen Paré
@verbonnet
In the Cyberiana Town Square, 12 noon ET, come join us, we have a 'seating capacity'of 50 avatars! Party to follow 🎉
Access via link in bio 🍄
Artwork: Michael Pierre Price
...

31 0

Please join us for a special event featuring #Techspressionist artists Malcolm Fernandes @malcolmfernandes.art, Martin
Ostachowski @mlodotart & Michael Pierre Price @mpp_digital_art as they discuss their Cyberiana artist studios. Moderator: Stephen Paré
@verbonnet
In the Cyberiana Town Square, 12 noon ET, come join us, we have a 'seating capacity'of 50 avatars! Party afterward 🎉
Access via link in bio🍄Artwork: Malcolm Fernandes @malcolmfernandes.art
...

33 0

#techspressionism has reached 70k uses!!! 📣
Many thanks to all who use the tag. It's a very good moment for this community as we continue to grow both online and IRL.
🫶🏽
...

57 3

Please join us for a special event featuring #Techspressionist artists Malcolm Fernandes @malcolmfernandes.art, Martin Ostachowski @mlodotart & Michael Pierre Price @mpp_digital_art as they discuss their Cyberiana 3-d artist studios. Moderator: Stephen Paré @verbonnet
In the Cyberiana Town Square, 12 noon ET, come join us, we have a 'seating capacity'of 50 avatars! Access via link in bio
Artwork: Martin Ostachowski @mlodotart 🌨️
...

42 0

We are running guided tours of Cyberiana, designed for first time users. Please check times on this post, as one or two may have changed. Access: http://cyberiana.studio or link in bio 🍄
You are all invited to our artist's panel discussion on Saturday January 20, 12 noon ET in the Town Square, followed by a party.🎉 📣Thank you @tommymintznyc @mpp_digital_art, @lucyboydwilson @verbonnet and @colingoldberg for all you do to make this project run.
...

43 2

Visit Cyberiana, 🔗link in bio 🍄The Wrong biennale has chosen Cyberiana as a pavilion ❤️‍🔥@thewrong.biennale #techspressionism #tscyberiana #techspressionistartist #🍄 ...

75 2

Techspressionism: Cyberiana opens December 30, 2023 All are welcome to the opening party, link in bio 🍄#techspressionism ...

67 5