About – Art by Kenny Vaden

Artist Statement

I am a generative artist, which means that I write algorithms and code to create artwork. Each artwork begins with a blank screen, which gradually and iteratively changes as I view the variety of output that is created with each run of the system. My work with creative coding has evolved through collaborations with artists and several projects developed with art collectors, including fine art prints and non-fungible token collections. My preferred coding tools reflect my background as research scientist, crafting specialized algorithms for simulation, analysis, and plots in scientific publications over many years.

Background: Art and Science

Prior to writing algorithm-based art, my art experience included drawing, painting, stained glass apprenticeships, as well as nature photography. My artworks have been selected for the permanent art collection at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) where I am a faculty member (2016), the juried annual art publication MUSC Humanitas (2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), Courtenay Street Art Gallery (2012), and Piccolo Spoleto Annual Juried Art Exhibition (2012, 2022, 2023).

I started experimenting with code to generate art in the R Statistics Language out of curiosity. I have been writing R code in my role as a researcher for many years, which includes biostatistics and precise graphics for scientific plots. As I shared my early artistic experiments, I encountered a wonderful online community of creative coders and associated artists from engineering, mathematics, economics, computer science, and other technical disciplines. This community includes the Generative Artists Club and other artists around the world.

One of my goals is to describe each algorithm in a plain language recipe so the audience can better appreciate and enjoy the artwork. The descriptions can provide interesting practice for other coders also, who have written me to show me their takes on my artwork and other interesting side-quests.

Purchasing my Generative Artworks

My artwork is available as limited or single edition fine art prints: Online Shop
Limited edition Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs): Quantum.art, OpenSea, Objkt, & Foundation
Long-form NFTs: Flamingo DAO Flutter, and FxHash
NFT collectors can exclusively purchase fine art prints of NFTs
Acrylic glass productions, exclusively represented by Anew Gallery

I am happy to discuss collaborations, commissions, and licensing artwork, and exclusive representation for my work by art galleries. Feel free to reach out!

Art on the Block-Chain

Escapism (p5.js). December 4, 2023. Long-form animated iteration artwork minted by collectors on the fxhash.xyz platform. Collaboration with artist Alex/Freeimp.

Headwinds (p5.js). July 18, 2023. Long-form iteration artwork minted by collectors on the fxhash.xyz platform.

Inkscapes: Algorithmic Dreams (R + Video). March 20, 2023. An OpenSea collection of 16 mints, which combined ink drop footage and reactive code-generated layers. Collaboration with artist Swickie Fang.

Snake Alley (p5.js). November 14, 2022. 365 iterations minted by collectors on the fxhash.xyz platform.

Thalassophobia (p5.js). September 30, 2022. 66 iterations minted by collectors on the fxhash.xyz platform.

Super User collection (R code). May 4, 2022. A collection of 68 unique iteration works from eight different generative works, auctioned by Quantum.art.

A360 Mindsets (R code). April 20, 2022. Commissioned work for the A360 Summit in Los Angeles, CA. This four-piece composition was minted for members. https://opensea.io/collection/a360

Worlds (p5j.js). December 13-15, 2021. Animated generative artwork that created 500 unique iterations. Inaugural system on the Flamingo DAO Flutter Platform in collaboration with Art Blocks. https://flutter.flamingodao.xyz/project/0

A Human in Times of Chaos collection (R code). Twenty generative artworks that were released daily on the OpenSea platform, in ten unique iterations of a title. https://opensea.io/collection/a-human-in-times-of-chaos

Art Collections

CRUNCH (R code). February 2024. Medical University of South Carolina Foundation. Charleston, SC

Pathos (R code). November 2021. Juried Selection for the Medical University of South Carolina Community Gallery. Charleston, SC

Worlds (p5.js). December 2021. Online collection, Flamingo DAO vault

Gorgeous Gorges. Waterfalls and fall colors at the Gorges State Park, NC. April 20, 2016. Selected by the Humanitas 2016 Jury for exhibit and inclusion in the permanent MUSC Art Collection. Charleston, SC

Art Exhibitions

Harvest Moon (R code). March 2024. Humanitas 2024 Annual Juried Art & Literary Publication. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Black Path (R code). March 2023. Humanitas 2023 Annual Juried Art & Literary Publication. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Inkscapes: Algorithmic Dreams (R + Video). Collab w Swickie Fang. Otherblock: Supercharged LA. March 18, 2023. Los Angeles, CA

Time Reversal Paradox. March 17 – May 9, 2023. Piccolo Spoleto 2023 Juried Art Exhibition. City Gallery, Charleston, SC

Artist Residency. Dec 1, 2022 – June 1, 2023. Serendipity Labs, Mount Pleasant, SC

Places of Conflict, Iteration (R code). May 27 – June 12, 2022. Piccolo Spoleto 2023 Juried Art Exhibition. City Gallery, Charleston, SC

Magnetic Field Reconnection Event (R code). March 2022. Humanitas 2022 Annual Juried Art Exhibit and Literary Publication. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Momentary (R code). April 2021. Humanitas 2021 Annual Juried Art Exhibit and Literary Publication. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Moth. Common buckeye (Junonia Coenia). April 2020. Humanitas 2020 Annual Juried Art Exhibit and Literary Publication. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Sleepy Snake. A coiled snake laying on fallen tree branches in the Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary. April 20, 2016. Humanitas 2016 Annual Juried Art Exhibit and Literary Publication. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Untitled. Dark fishing spider (Dolomedes Tenebrosus) hunting tadpoles at the Caw Caw Interpretive Center, Ravenel, SC. April 23, 2015. Humanitas 2015 Annual Juried Art Exhibit and Literary Publication. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Peaceful. Calm water in the Charleston harbor. May 27 to June 10, 2011. Piccolo Spoleto 27th Annual Juried Art Exhibition. Visitor Center, Charleston, SC