ISSN: XXXX-XXXX SPECIAL ISSUE 2025

This work is licensed under an Aribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license.

In addition to the featured artworks, this spe-

cial issue of Future Earth: A Student Journal on

Sustainability and Environment, titled Explorations

in Art and Artiﬁcial Intelligence (2025), includes a

curatorial perspective by Nicole, the research assis

tant for Twyla Exner’s project and the curator of the

accompanying exhibition. In addition to curating the

show, Nicole contributed to the photo-documenta-

tion of the artworks and supported the development

of the exhibition website. Her reﬂections oer an

intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the emotional

and conceptual journeys of the student artists as

they explored the possibilities and challenges of

working with generative AI. Her statement cap-

tures the complexity of the creative process, the

tensions of engaging with new technologies, and

the thoughtful care that shaped a compelling and

resonant exhibition.

CURATORIAL STATEMENT

When I received the email advertising for this

class, I was torn. On the one hand, my curiosity

could have the chance to ﬂourish in unimaginable

directions, on the other hand, there was the chance

that I would not be able to ﬁnd a way to create with

my artiﬁcially intelligent collaborator peacefully. I

ended up deciding against taking the class. As the

class came to a close in December 2024, an intrigu-

ing opportunity was presented to me: a research

position that would help Twyla Exner analyze the

responses her class had to this idea.

In researching the artist's responses to

incorporating AI into their practices, I found a

variety of emotions. These feelings oen required

thoughtful aention, more thorough research, and

a grounding of the creative self. There were times of

fear and curiosity at the thought of AI’s capabilities

and shortcomings, yet all came to recognize that AI

has the potential to be a powerful tool that should

be wielded thoughtfully.

Each artist had a unique approach to the use of

generative AI. Participants were able to successfully

incorporate their own individual styles and experi-

ences in the works just as they would in any other

art-making scenario. What emerged from these

processes is a stunning variety of works that blend

digital and traditional methods.

In curating this show I felt extremely proud

of my colleagues for pushing their boundaries and

embracing something new. My peers combated dis-

comfort by puing their sense of self ﬁrst and staying

true to themselves and their artistic preferences.

The work here is both beautiful and thought-provok-

ing. I would reason that any art made with AI could

be seen as a type of commentary on the medium;

the medium is oen part of the message, so the

same way that a brush stroke can inspire an emo-

tion so too could an artiﬁcial response to something

very real. As we move forward, the integration of AI

into the artistic process will continue to evolve and

challenge our understanding of what art can be. Ulti-

mately, the work presented here reminds us that art

in all forms is a reﬂection of our time and a way for

us to explore the new.

Nicole Favron

Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2025