Museums Grapple with Digital Art's Evolving Definition and Preservation Challenges

An article by writer Charlotte Kent examines how museums are struggling to define and preserve digital art as the field expands. The piece questions why certain artists like Leo Villareal, Jenny Holzer, and Andreas Gursky aren't categorized as digital artists despite using digital technologies, while newer practices involving blockchain and AI gain institutional recognition. It highlights challenges including rapid technical obsolescence, dependence on corporate software, and conservation difficulties that make museums hesitant to acquire such works. The article references artists including Harold Cohen, Sougwen Chung, Maya Man, and Rhea Myers, and mentions the Whitney Museum's online project. Published in ArtReview's March 2026 issue, the article suggests museums might need to learn from digital artists' hybrid practices rather than simply asking whether digital art needs museums.