Breaking Artistic Boundaries with Technology: A Recap from SXSW 2025
Hosted by CoCollect at Soho House Austin
New Perspectives Through Art
At SXSW 2025, CoCollect hosted a forward-looking panel titled “Breaking Artistic Boundaries with Technology” at Soho House Austin, bringing together creators and thought leaders at the intersection of art and digital innovation.
As a company dedicated to expanding access to contemporary art, CoCollect moderated a conversation focused on how technology is transforming the way we create, collect, and engage with art. From AI-assisted design to immersive storytelling and speculative design in public spaces, the conversation unpacked both the possibilities and the growing pains of a rapidly evolving art worl
The Panelists:
Michaela A. Ternasky-Holland
Peabody-nominated, Emmy-winning immersive creator exploring the frontier of storytelling through AI and emerging media.
Curry Hackett
Artist, designer, and educator, and Professor of Practice/Distinguished Lecturer at The City College of New York.
Casey Lesser
Director of Content, Editor-in-Chief, and Chief Curator at Artsy, leading digital curatorial strategy and marketplace insights.
Michaela captured the spirit of the discussion perfectly when she described digital art as a “living and breathing organism with unique care requirements.” The panel agreed: we’re in a formative moment where artists and collectors alike have an opportunity to influence how digital tools shape the future of art.
Key Takeaways:
- Digital tools have unlocked broad access—but also new complexities. Artists and collectors have more entry points than ever, but questions around pricing, authenticity, and discovery remain unresolved.
- We’re in the formative phase of digital art. With so many platforms and mediums, creators are still defining value systems—and their voices are critical in shaping the future in tandem with larger tech platforms.
- The future is integrated. Rather than seeing digital art as separate, the group agreed the art world is moving toward a more unified landscape where mediums and markets blend seamlessly.
Photo: Michaela A. Ternasky-Holland, Curry Hackett
