Absen Powers World's First AI Art Museum

Absen's display technology is playing a central role in bringing the world’s first AI-themed museum of fine art to audiences in Los Angeles through its collaboration with media artist Refik Anadol on Dataland.

Dataland, co-founded by media artist Refik Anadol and his wife and partner Efsun Erkilic, officially opened on 20 June and is described as the first museum dedicated entirely to AI-driven fine art. Located within THE GRAND LA in downtown Los Angeles, the Frank Gehry-designed mixed-use development houses approximately 35,000 sq ft of museum space, including five galleries spanning around 25,000 sq ft and a further 10,000 sq ft dedicated to supporting technology infrastructure.

The museum's launch exhibition, 'MACHINE DREAMS: RAINFOREST', uses an AI system known as the Large Nature Model to transform millions of images, bird songs and weather recordings into a continuously evolving, multi-sensory installation. The project required display technology capable of delivering high-resolution imagery across both wall and floor surfaces while integrating into the distinctive architectural environment.

To support these demands, Absen supplied more than 330 sq m of COB LED display technology throughout the museum, including a dedicated LED floor display. The chip-on-board technology integrates LED chips directly onto the display substrate, enabling a seamless surface, close-viewing detail and durability for installations designed to withstand heavy visitor traffic.

Blackbox, Absen's value-added distributor for the project, supported the delivery process from design and product selection through to installation, commissioning and after-sales services.

The installation also builds on a wider partnership between Absen, Blackbox and Refik Anadol, following previous projects including a large-scale AI installation at a museum in Turkey in 2022, illuminated architectural displays at AKBANK headquarters in 2024, and a collaborative exhibition presence at the ISE trade show in Spain in 2025.

The museum combines large-scale AI-generated artworks with a broader focus on sustainability and data-driven creative processes, creating an environment intended to merge art, technology and architecture into an immersive visitor experience.

"We have only processed permitted and clearly sourced data since 2020," explained Refik Anadol, co-founder of Dataland, on the studio's approach to working ethically with AI. He has described the museum's core mission as one "to redefine the concept of art in the age of AI", viewing the technology as a tool that unlocks new artistic possibilities rather than a shortcut around them.

"The entire museum uses high-definition LED screens to create a fully immersive experience, with seamless transitions and vibrant, delicate colour that completely reshapes the traditional gallery format," said Laura Luo, President of Absen North America, reflecting on her visit to Dataland. "We are no longer standing outside the artwork looking in – we become part of it. It's a completely new artistic perception, and I was genuinely moved by the experience."

absen-europe.com