ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Analia Saban's Synthetic Self exhibition critiques AI and material value through glitch aesthetics

exhibition · 2026-04-20

Analia Saban's exhibition, Synthetic Self, is currently on display at both Sprüth Magers and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery in Los Angeles until October 28. This showcase delves into the realm of artificial intelligence, utilizing laser-cut wood, machine-woven tapestries, and graphite panels. It introduces AI as a fresh theme in her artistic journey, blurring the lines between domestic and public creation. Notable pieces include Woven Olympia, Gray (2021), which offers a reinterpretation of Édouard Manet's Olympia (1863) and critiques gendered art historical narratives. Additionally, sculptures like Claim (from Chesterfield Sofa) (2014) and Five Thousand Years of Blue (2021) connect luxury with manufactured items. Saban's recent works also encompass educational resources and AI-generated art. Her art is further highlighted in Woven Histories at LACMA, running through January 21, showcasing the fusion of human and machine.

Key facts

  • Analia Saban's exhibition Synthetic Self is on view at Sprüth Magers and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery in Los Angeles through October 28
  • The exhibition explores artificial intelligence using laser cutters, machine looms, marble slabs, screenprints, and graphite panels
  • Saban's work challenges gendered divisions in art history by combining painting and textiles through mechanized methods
  • Woven Olympia, Gray (2021) reinterprets Édouard Manet's Olympia (1863) using a computerized loom to weave dried acrylic paint with linen
  • Five Thousand Years of Blue (from Lapis Lazuli to Tesla Door) (2021) connects lapis lazuli pigment to a Tesla car door on canvas
  • Cooling Rack (6 × 6), Pine Wood #2 (2023) features laser-cut pine sheets that fragment, illustrating machine incompatibility with natural materials
  • Grid Method: Tea Cups (2023) uses encaustic wax and graphite to depict AI-generated teacups with errors like extra handles
  • Saban's work also appears in Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction at LACMA in Los Angeles through January 21

Entities

Artists

  • Analia Saban
  • Édouard Manet
  • Ad Reinhardt
  • Mark Rothko

Institutions

  • Sprüth Magers
  • Tanya Bonakdar Gallery
  • LACMA
  • ArtReview

Locations

  • Los Angeles
  • United States

Sources