Artist and CalArts alum David Salle (Art BFA 73 / MFA 75) was a perfect choice to appear on a special CHANEL Connects Live taping at LACMA during LA Art Week in February. He was interviewed by Yana Peel, President of Arts, Culture & Heritage at CHANEL, for the brand’s flagship arts and culture podcast which brings together artists and innovators “shaping the now and defining the next.”

Although the postmodern artist has already built a 50-year art career, he’s not one to rest on his laurels. With an eye toward the future, Salle has added AI to his palette in recent years. 

He’s been working with an engineer on machine learning, developing a proprietary model trained on specific aspects of Salle’s own works. The system generates new image configurations and reimaginings of his earlier pieces. The AI parts of the paintings are enlarged and printed on the canvas, visible pixels and all. Salle then paints over these machine-produced layers, creating works that are distinctly his own. (Salle’s newest works can be viewed at his latest exhibition My Frankenstein, currently on view at Spruth Magers in Los Angeles.)

During the CHANEL Connects Live conversation, Salle and Peel discussed his artistic journey—from the inaugural class at CalArts to sending his AI to art school. 

The CHANEL Connects episode is now available to listen to on all platforms.

Learn more about the new CHANEL Center for Artists and Technology at CalArts.