Pioneers
Artists who began making digital art before 2000 — the historical canon of computer, algorithmic, and plotter art.
195 works · 35 artists · 1960–2025
Heinrich Heidersberger
Umflochtenes Grau (Rhythmogramm), c. 1955–65
Heinrich Heidersberger
Rotation (Rhythmogramm), c. 1955–65
Heinrich Heidersberger
Spleen (Rhythmogramm), c. 1955–65
Desmond Paul Henry
1963 Drawing, 1963
Birthday Plot For Carla, 1964
Frieder Nake
Polygonzug, 1965
Frieder Nake
Rechteckschraffuren, 1965
Frieder Nake
7.4.65 Nr.1 1/1, 1965
Frieder Nake
16.3.65 Nr. 14 1/2, 1965
Frieder Nake
13/9/65 Nr. 7 Zufälliger Polygonzug, 1965
Mona Lisa (typewriter art), c. 1960s
Harold Cohen
First Folio D, 1965
Frieder Nake
Hommage à Klee, 1966
Leon Harmon
Computer Nude (Studies in Perception I), 1966
Frieder Nake
6.1.67 Nr.2, Series 2.5-3 Walk-through-raster, 1967
Kerry Strand
The Snail, 1967
Edward Zajec
RAM 8 V. I, 1969
Sonia Landy Sheridan
Portable Postcard Exhibition, 1969
Dorothy Danziger
Galaxy #1, 1970
Otto Beckmann
Red on Silver, 1970
Herbert W Franke
untitled, Drakula series, 1971
Herbert W Franke
untitled, Dracula Series, 1971
Manfred Mohr
P-120_1, 1972
Manfred Mohr
P-120_2, 1972
Sylvia Roubaud
serigraph, untitled, 1972
Frank Böttger
serigraph, untitled, 1972
Aron Warszawski
serigraph, untitled, 1972
Manfred Mohr
P-095a, 1972
Vera Molnar
Squares, 1973
Edward Zajec
TVC 70, 1973
Charles Mattox
Abstract plotter drawing, c. 1970–76
Unknown Artist
Vernacular, 'Here's Your Plotting' UNIVAC 1108 Separator Sheet (Run 113590), 1973
Unknown Artist
Vernacular, 'Here's Your Plotting' UNIVAC 1108 Separator Sheet (Run RAL25), 1973
Vera Molnar
Hypertransformation (1 of 2), 1974
Vera Molnar
Hypertransformation (2 of 2), 1974
Peter Beyls
RPX, plotter drawing, 1974
Horst Bartnig
ohne Titel, 1974/76, 1974/76
Vera Molnar
Transformation, 1975
Vera Molnar
Transformation (small), 1975
Herbert W Franke
Sicograph 2, 1975
Herbert W Franke
Sicograph 3, 1975
Herbert W Franke
Sicograph 1, 1975
Manfred Mohr
P-163-F80-large, 4 parts — part 1, 1975
Manfred Mohr
P-163-F80-large, 4 parts — part 2, 1975
Manfred Mohr
P-163-F80-large, 4 parts — part 3, 1975
Manfred Mohr
P-163-F80-large, 4 parts — part 4, 1975
ASCII Portrait, 1975
Unknown Artist
Vernacular, ASCII Portrait, 1975
Unknown Artist
Vernacular, ASCII Dot Matrix Portrait, 1975
Aldo Giorgini
Surfaces: Aesthetics in Technology (Purdue University), 1975
Ruth Leavitt
Herringbone Variation V, c. 1970s
Gerhard von Graevenitz
ohne Titel (Probedruck #1, Computergrafik), 1976
Gerhard von Graevenitz
ohne Titel (Probedruck #2, Computergrafik), 1976
Peter Beyls
RWK, plotter drawing, 1977
Vera Molnar
Concentric Squares, 1977
Vera Molnar
Trapez, 1977
Vera Molnar
Saccades, 1977
Harold Cohen
Untitled (from Amsterdam Suite), 1977
Otto Beckmann
Imaginary Architecture: Electricity Distribution Station in Transoxiana, 1977
Otto Beckmann
Imaginary Architecture: The Construction Site, 1977
Robert Tinney
Closing the Loop (BYTE cover, February 1979) — attribution under review, 1979
Manfred Mohr
Cubic Limit II (P-196), 1979
Robert Mallary
Spiro Series (002), 1980
Copper Giloth
DES07, 1980
Harold Cohen
Untitled (Penny Plain Suite, 1), 1980
Harold Cohen
Untitled (Penny Plain Suite, 3), 1980
Harold Cohen
Untitled (Penny Plain Suite, 4), 1980
Harold Cohen
Untitled (Penny Plain Suite, 5), 1980
Harold Cohen
Untitled (Penny Plain Suite, 6), 1980
Harold Cohen
Untitled (Penny Plain Suite, 2), 1980
Mark Wilson
Hatchplot 1.3, 1981
Vera Molnar
Rectangles Noir Sur Fond Noir, 1 of 2, 1981
Vera Molnar
Rectangles Noir Sur Fond Noir, 2 of 2, 1981
Mark Wilson
Douat Dump A20, 1982
Beck & Jung
Color Breeze 83/190, 1982
Harold Cohen
Arnolfini plotter drawings, 1 of 2, 1983
Harold Cohen
Arnolfini plotter drawings, 2 of 2, 1983
Vera Molnar
Rectangles (red), 1983
Mark Wilson
Art and Computers, 1983
Harold Cohen
Aaron plotter drawing, 1983
Robert Mallary
Plotter from Ribbon Series (007), 1983
Harold Cohen
For Nancy in Friendship, 1984
Vera Molnar
no title, Hommage a Gabor series, 1984
Mark Wilson
Skew L12, 1984
Mark Wilson
Skew K30, 1984
Manfred Mohr
P-370-DD, 1984
Horst Bartnig
Untitled — version 2 of 2, 1985
Horst Bartnig
Untitled — version 1 of 2, 1985
Peter Beyls
EWA Series, plotter drawing, 1985
Vera Molnar
Déportés du Sillon (Etude), 1985
Vera Molnar
Danse de Rectangles, 1985
Vera Molnar
Noir — part 2 of 3, 1985
Vera Molnar
Noir — part 1 of 3, 1985
Vera Molnar
Noir — part 3 of 3, 1985
Harold Cohen
Untitled, Solana Beach, 1985
Horst Bartnig
Postcard accompanying 3622 Variationen (Blatt 9 von 55, Variationen 561–630), 1985
Horst Bartnig
3622 Variationen (Blatt 9 von 55 Blättern, Variationen 561–630), 1985
Vera Molnar
Quadrilatère, 1986
Vera Molnar
9 Carrés (red-orange-yellow), 1986
Vera Molnar
Strates, 1986
Georg Nees
Zwei Ellipsoide Tangierend, 1986
Georg Nees
Construct/Decor 8, 1986
Georg Nees
Construct/Decor 7, 1986
Georg Nees
Labyrinthe 10, 1986
Georg Nees
Construct/Decor 1, 1986
Georg Nees
Construct/Decor 4, 1986
Georg Nees
Labyrinthe 9, 1986
Georg Nees
Ellipsoide 10, 1986
Georg Nees
Labyrinthe 6, 1986
Georg Nees
Ellipsoide 9, 1986
Horst Bartnig
entwicklung zu zweihundertsechsundfünfzig dreiecken, serie 1–4, 1986
Manfred Mohr
P-411 (Dimensions II) — part 3, 1986–96
Manfred Mohr
P-411 (Dimensions II) — part 1, 1986–96
Manfred Mohr
P-411 (Dimensions II) — part 2, 1986–96
Beck & Jung
Mooners 136/225, 1987
Horst Bartnig
585 Unterbrechungen, 7 Farben, 3 Variationen — Variation 3, 1987
Vera Molnar
Sérigraphie Signée, c. 1988
Georg Nees
Untitled (9.2.1988), 1988
Georg Nees
Untitled (10.2.1988), 1988
Lillian Schwartz
Homage to Hockney, 1988