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Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst

b. 1980, USA | b. 1984, UK

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Biography

“Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst are redefining the boundaries of creativity in the digital age. Their work not only explores the intersection of technology and art but also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between humans and AI. By pushing the envelope of what’s possible, they are inspiring a new generation of artists to embrace technology as a partner in their creative journeys.”

- TIME100 AI

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Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst are Berlin-based artists known for their innovative use of machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and decentralized systems in art and music. Their collaborative practice spans a range of media, from AI-generated performances and installations to protocol development that challenges existing power structures in the digital space.
Their work frequently examines the intersection of human creativity and AI. One of their most prominent projects, Holly+ (2021), is an AI clone of Herndon's voice that can be used by the public, embodying a counter-narrative to AI extractivism and exploring ideas of "vocal sovereignty." This project has been presented at major venues including Sonar Festival and TED.
The duo’s musical work includes critically acclaimed albums Platform (2015) and PROTO (2019), released through 4AD, which have been performed at prestigious venues such as the Barbican in London and Volksbühne in Berlin. Their visual art practice includes groundbreaking NFT series like Infinite Images (2021/22) and the recent exhibition at the 2024 Whitney Biennial, where they showcased xhairymutantx, an AI-driven interactive installation that challenges identity in the age of generative models.
In addition to their artistic output, Herndon and Dryhurst co-founded Spawning, an organization dedicated to building ethical AI tools, and host the Interdependence podcast, which explores the intersections of AI, music, and blockchain technologies. Recognized as some of the most influential voices in AI, they were named in TIME’s 100 Most Influential Voices in AI and awarded the first Digital Human Rights Award by the Austrian government.