In 1967, the editor at
@Artforum
sent Charles Csuri a letter stating that he could not envision dedicating a special issue to electronic or computer art.
More than 50 years later,
@TinaRiversRyan
, known for her support and advocacy of digital art, takes the helm as the new
Charles Csuri was a WWII veteran. For years, he carried the weight of his wartime experiences in silence. Throughout his life, he channeled what he witnessed, and endured into many of his creations.
In 1968, Studio International described “Random War” as “conceptual art that
Before he passed away, Charles Csuri shared his feelings about NFTs and their potential. Caroline discussed this in her interview with
@RtClick_Save
.
An excerpt from this conversation is featured in the
@TASCHEN
book on NFTs.
Charles Csuri fought in the Battle of the Bulge, for which he received a Bronze Star for heroism.
Interestingly, he never spoke of his wartime experiences until 2019 when, at the age of 97, he shared his thoughts during an interview with ESPN 👇
Csuri had a deep fascination with the mythology and humor surrounding frogs.
In this work, he explored animated transparency, allowing the frog to be visible from all angles as it expands and contracts. The animation also incorporates a pulsing effect, imbuing the frog with a
During Csuri’s first period, where he was inspired by organic and natural themes, he hand-painted drawings as inputs to begin his process of creating computer art. He transformed the image of a landscape with the IBM 7094 computer and Calcomp 565 drum plotter.
Below is the
Charles Csuri founded the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design at
@OhioState
and co-founded Cranston/Csuri Productions. Alongside those who worked with him, he left an indelible mark on the animation industry including:
✔️Producing over 800 animations for over 400
Charles Csuri shared his thoughts on NFTs with his daughter, Caroline, before he passed away at the age of 99 in 2022.
"Before my father passed last year, when he found out about NFTs and the fact that people were suddenly interested in an artistic movement that had already been
In this animation, Csuri uses ribbons to sculpt the shape of a man's head. The 3D image rotates, providing perspectives from all angles.
What may seem like random ribbons on the screen from certain viewpoints, transforms into the unmistakable form of a human face.
This work
In this animation, Csuri used rectangles to create cylinders that move independently. Thousands of objects move at varying speeds adding dynamism to the work.
Cylindrical, 2017
In the collection of
@phillipgara
Simple black lines breathe life into ballet dancers in this animation. With a choreographed dance, they elegantly glide across the screen.
Csuri, amused by his creation, watched it on the computer and laughed out loud.
Colorful vines float against a black backdrop. Their movement offers a fully immersive view.
The 3D perspective creates an illusion of closeness, tempting viewers to reach out and touch the objects.
To craft Aging Process Plotter, Csuri used morphing to transform the face of a young woman into that of an older one. He broke down drawings into line pieces, representing elements to be changed. A set rule defined parameters where transformation would occur. The creation process
In 1968, Csuri had an epiphany when he used a computer-driven milling machine to create what might be the first 3D sculpture. Professor Leslie Miller, a mathematician and member of the Computer Graphics Research Group, wrote the code and Csuri experimented with parameters until
Csuri used a special function to create the glass-like illusion seen in this work. Layers of various shapes were overlaid to provide different levels of transparency. He emphasized that this piece was possible because of the computer and that he could not have created this work
Hummingbird is one of Csuri's iconic works, showcasing his exploration of natural themes. The film, consisting of 30,000 computer-generated images, depicts the movements of a hand-drawn figure in a vast space. Csuri used a microfilm plotter and punch cards for each frame,
In 2000, the Columbus College of Art and Design presented a retrospective exhibit featuring 87 artworks by Csuri, encompassing his transition from traditional oil paintings to pioneering computer art.
The exhibit provided a comprehensive view of Csuri's artistic evolution,
I'm very saddened by the passing of Vera Molnar who like my father Charles Csuri, left the earth only a month shy of 100. My father and Vera had a beautiful admiration for one another. Let's all continue to celebrate the life and legacy of all the amazing pioneers!
The work of Charles Csuri can be divided into four distinct periods, with the first spanning from 1963 to the mid-1970s. During this timeframe, Csuri:
✓ Established a relationship between art and technology through his pioneering research.
✓ Revealed his way of thinking about
"Csuri might indicate the plurality of a life and lifework that spanned most of the 20th century and beyond. It is the starting point to trace the path of an artist who made use of a broad range of media: drawing, painting, sculpture, and language as well as computer graphics,
Adding more flies to the timeline!
Csuri explored randomness in his works, and they often exhibited a degree of levity. He used a common housefly as a theme in several plotter pieces from 1966/67.
In Feeding Time (1966), Csuri used a random number generator to assign each of
Csuri began making animations in 1967. He used his drawings as foundations to experiment with the computer. He explored transforming objects, including human faces and animals, in works like Artist into Frog, Aging Process, and Hummingbird.
He focused on modern art, using the
Exciting news! We've joined forces with
@tribul_auctions
to unveil the most extensive single-artist collection of Charles Csuri's masterpieces, including the standout works "Sine Curve Man Two," "Together Again Two," and "Bearded Men Plotter." 👇
Michael thank you and
@annespalter
for having the foresight to understand the magnitude of this important generative art movement and my father’s genius just now beginning to be recognized by the art world. I have been privileged to meet with interesting, dedicated collectors
IMHO, one of the most overlooked, under-followed upcoming events in the art world.
@CharlesCsuri
devoted daughter will not rest until the larger art world grasps that her father was a modern day renaissance artist whose vision would influence the trajectory of art history.
Csuri's morphing technique involved digitally manipulating key points in images to create a fluid transition between them. This innovation expanded artistic possibilities in digital art and animation by allowing seamless transformations between shapes and objects.
In this
“He felt very strongly that he wanted to do work that you could only do by computer, that you couldn't do by human hand, because he felt that was truly exploiting the uniqueness and the power of the computer.” Caroline Csuri
Csuri was a professor of fine art in the 1940s at Ohio State University. When he was a Master's student, his first instructor was James Hopkins, an artist himself who had met Degas and Renoir while in Paris. Through Hopkins, Csuri gained intimate exposure to the masters, greatly
Csuri's interpretation of Goya's 'A Way of Flying' (left) - where he first used the computer to create art - draws inspiration from the original work created around 1815-16 (right).
The theme of flight permeates numerous pieces in Goya’s work, which often depicts winged
Csuri's initial venture into computer art in the early 1960s started with his "After the Artist" series where he explored the two-dimensional surface, pushing boundaries as he reimagined and manipulated masterpieces to generate tension between dimensions.
L: Paul Klee | Mask of
While Csuri was fighting in World War II in France, he took shelter in an abandoned apartment during battle. He stumbled upon an unfinished oil landscape painting and, using only a palette knife, decided to finish it before heading back to the front lines.
This story reflects
Congratulations to the Herbert Franke family and collaborators on a very successful auction. Vera Molnar is fortunately alive to see justice for the pioneers with her great success. People are now recognizing they opened doors for the next generation of digital artists.
Csuri's “Contemplation” (1964), which portrays James Dean, stands as a significant milestone in his artistic evolution.
He used his fine arts background to create this piece, envisioning the possibilities that technology could offer. He employed techniques like warping and
I am thrilled as I know my father would be, that you have expressed some artistic influence by Csuri and are so committed to telling this important story.
I am grateful
@Eko3316
,
Caroline
Today marks the launch of a remarkable auction featuring the works of digital art pioneer
@CharlesCsuri
on
@tribul_auctions
.
Csuri's work played a major role in my development as an artist, I wrote a tweet about his work; you may want to check it out ⬇️
“The computer responds to my excitement and feeling through my instructions. It gives me real-time feedback as I see my image on the monitor. Outwardly, this has become my new canvas. I work back and forth altering the relationships between objects, colors, and textures in a
In his Venus series, Csuri created several artworks inspired by the marble sculpture “Venus de Milo”. In frame 64, two almost transparent Venus figures stand in the background of a garden, facing each other. Before them, one can see ribbons and leaves that upon closer look reveal
"My spirit and temperament is that of a romantic who is involved in symbols and icons representing humanistic values which may belong in another era "
Heart's Desire (2017)
"I absolutely enjoy, once I get my drawing into the computer, the ability I have to play with space and objects combining my drawings. I can do things and test things I could never do with conventional means. It would take too long and I wouldn't bother. But I think at the top
For Charles Csuri, the computer was more than just a machine; it was a canvas for expressing the depth of human experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Creating art with a computer at a time when many saw the device as threatening was a challenge.
Through works like “Random War”,
"I wanted to know if I was able to operate like a machine.”
In 1963, Csuri drew a portrait of a woman by tracing small black points with a pen, seeking a way to simulate a process of mechanical execution. The same year he engineered a mechanical pantograph to procedurally modify
“They said they did not want any publicity, because they had never given a grant to an artist. They only worked with computer scientists. They were very fearful of misunderstanding.” – Charles Csuri
Csuri's pioneering contributions to computer art and animation broke new ground
Fashion Figures, 2020
During the height of the pandemic, concerned about the oppression of women, Csuri expressed these thoughts through his artwork.
Focused on creating an illusion of a confined space to evoke a sense of oppression, he experimented with chiaroscuro, employing
His desire to experiment and imagine works in color led him to create a vibrant Sinescape. By changing the code, he created several iterations of the position of lines, and different colors emerged as he switched the plotter pen.
The final layering of lines was one of Csuri’s
When Charles Csuri began creating computer art the technology was very primitive. This is visible in the image below which is an early 2-dimensional iteration of “Random War”.
Csuri held a deep admiration for women, particularly his wife, Lee, whom he affectionately referred to as his 'Goddess of Love and Beauty.'
Inspired by the essence of women, he frequently portrayed them in his artworks, showcasing his romantic spirit.
📸 of Charles and Lee
Last image correction. Csuri's procedural drawings were from 1963-65 as well as his analogue computer drawings. His IBM and Drum plotters were from 66-68
All a progression of advances in technology.
Brick Figures, 2003 | Beyond Boundaries Retrospective Exhibition
Csuri created this work with his texture mapping technique that enabled him to wrap virtual objects with images from his own paintings and drawings.
For frame 127 in his Venus series, Csuri employed leaves to form four distinct Venus silhouettes. These silhouettes assume various poses, with the colors of the leaves intensifying in the foreground and transitioning to gray in the background.
While the garden is suggested
Always ahead of his time in terms of creation, Csuri pioneered, invented his artistic tools, and skillfully utilized them to breathe life into his works—manifesting the cutting-edge vision he passionately sought to share with the world.
"Csuri's work is an exception, and it
Csuri's Artistic Process
Csuri begins with a creative idea and vision of how he wants a picture to be revealed. He chooses from a library of interesting and beautiful objects he has continued to create for over 50 years. His tools are custom-designed using propriety software to
In the mid-1960s, Csuri was interviewed by Kerry J. Freedman, a Professor of Art and Design Education. He discussed his transition to computer graphics, stating that:
"I feel like an old-fashioned expressionist painter who got caught in some kind of time warp that included the
Just received "Homage To Botticelli, 2019" by the legendary
@CharlesCsuri
from the genesis
@tribul_auctions
auction.
Physical signed & dated “Csuri ‘19”, archival color ink on canvas. 58 by 87 in; 147 by 221 cm.
Executed in 2019, this work is unique.
Minted in 2023, ed. 1/1.
Charles and Lee's story began at Hopkins Hall, where he was a Fine Art professor, and she was an art student of his. Lee, a sculptor, painter, and visual storyteller often engaged in artistic exchanges with Csuri. They drew inspiration from each other's ideas in the creative
"The pioneers of computer art were driven by the newness of the technology, the untouched areas wide open for inventive investigation. Because of the lack of viable commercial applications at that time, they enjoyed the rare freedom to define their own goals, guided only by
“Aging Process” Plotter and NFT, 1967
Between 1967 and 1969, Csuri produced a series of plotter drawings that visually conveyed the ideas expressed in his fragmentation animations.
“Aging Process”, used line fragmentation to illustrate the aging of a woman's face. In this work,
“Sides of Nefertiti” is a piece from Csuri’s “Mosaic Series”. He employed the transparency tool he developed in the 80s to craft this artwork featuring six generative frames put together.
Nefertiti's head takes shape through a combination of solid and line forms. By
"I understood the meaning of algorithms as tools for artists. I believe Cezzane had an algorithm for color and space. Pollack had an algorithm for pouring paint. One could argue all day whether this was driven by emotion or an analytical approach."
Csuri as the diner in George Segals "The Diner" 64 poured in plaster breathing through straws, part of the pop art culture among friends & legends Lichtenstein, Segal, Kaprow. Artistic dialog must have been inspiring!
@walkerartcenter
@lacma
@MuseumModernArt
In 2011 Csuri transformed his original plotter drawing of Random War (1967) into a video that was displayed on the exterior walls of the
@MSUZagreb
. This thought-provoking piece became a prominent part of Dislocations, an exhibition within the Official Parallel Program of the
@michaelspalter
@HerbertWFranke
Sad to hear of his passing. People must remember the old school elegance of the early computer art pioneer's generation passionately creating with vision to the end.
@HerbertWFranke
Hummingbird 67 1st computer animated film of birds in flight was drawn/algorithmically created by Csuri acquired by Moma. Artists recreation should be an Homage as my father did with the masters
@tylerxhobbs
@KateVassGalerie
@michaelspalter
@rosen_zkm
His story still amazes me. Finding new details of his lifes chapters. Here Walter P. Chrysler Jr. is watching Csuri and artist Edward Hewitt painting side by side. Chrysler collected Csuri's work with both artists shown here on their way to national fame.
With his “After the Artist” series, consisting of nine works crafted using an analog computer, Csuri ventured into the realm of reimagining classical masterpieces by artists he admired.
In this series, he embraced the two-dimensional surface, transforming it into a canvas for
To create this piece, Csuri arranged circular objects to give life to women engaged in conversation. He used his fascination for body langue and posing to evoke emotion.
Here we go! We are very excited to announce Natively Digital 1.3: Generative Art, a time-bending collection of lots that spans the birth of generative art in the 1960s to its recent revival thanks to the blockchain and NFTs.
18-25 April
#NativelyDigital
In our "History of Generative & AI Art" series, we explore the field of computer animation, the technology that has evolved from the late 50s to become an integral part of various industries, from entertainment to education & art.
A message from Caroline Csuri, daughter of Charles Csuri:
The Charles Csuri estate is thrilled to partner with
@tribul_auctions
for a groundbreaking auction featuring 10 of my father's works, constituting the most extensive single-artist auction of his creations.
Entitled
“This [technology] allowed me to systematically alter the original geometry of my drawing. One end of the pantograph device traced the drawing and the other end was simultaneously making transformations. I was intrigued with the idea of using devices and strategies to create art.
Phillips Ex-Machina exhibit is opening 7/13 excited to offer Csuri's historic plotter "Six Bearded Men" 1967 with NFT and 3D "Ahead of Time" 07 self-portrait animation. His early plotters are rare and limited. Animation is a unique scan of Csuri's head.
In 2019, Csuri created “Homage to Botticelli” drawing inspiration from Botticelli's group compositions. Infused with features reminiscent of Lee's face, the fragmented figures in the artwork exude a sense of movement, as if they are dancing within the artwork.
“Homage to