Net Art
Net Art (also known as Internet Art) is a form of digital artwork distributed via the Internet. This is the…
Net Art is a pioneering art movement that emerged in the mid-1990s, where artists utilized the Internet, the World Wide Web, and code as both the creative medium and the exhibition space. This genre is defined by its focus on interactivity, the decentralization of information, and its challenge to traditional concepts of the static art object and the gallery system. It often employs hypertext, email, websites, and early multimedia formats.
The core principle is communication and intervention. Net artists critically explored the digital landscape, commenting on issues of digital surveillance, identity, corporate control of the web, and the democratizing potential of the network. Unlike traditional digital art (which might be a digital file printed out), Net Art is often relational and time-based—the work literally exists in the act of interaction with the network itself, often incorporating viewer input or live data feeds.
This curated collection features historically significant and conceptually rich works that define the early era of Net Art. We focus on pieces that highlight the innovative use of early web technologies and the movement’s critical dialogue with the emerging digital culture. Our selection includes documentation (screenshots, code records) and, where possible, preserved interactive experiences.
Our collection is a study in technological history and radical concept. We present artists who were the first to treat the browser window and the network structure itself as a canvas. Acquiring a work related to Net Art means investing in the foundational concepts of internet culture and owning a piece of the rebellious, experimental spirit of the web’s artistic infancy.