Iyad Rahwan, born in 1978 in Aleppo, Syria, is an interdisciplinary artist based in Berlin. Drawing on his day job as a computer science professor and Director of the Max Planck Center for Humans & Machines, Rahwan’s art explores the evolution of Artificial Intelligence and its relationship to the human condition.

Formerly a professor of Media Arts & Sciences at MIT’s Media Lab, Rahwan is best known for his digital art/science projects, which exposed tens of millions of people to the societal and ethical implications of AI, such as the ethical dilemmas of autonomous vehicles, human-AI creativity, media manipulation, and the ability of AI to induce fear and empathy in humans at scale. His work was featured in major media outlets, including The New Yorker, New York Times, and The Atlantic. It was also exhibited in leading cultural institutions, such as Ars Electronica, Science Museum London and Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.

Rahwan also has a traditional oil painting practice. His paintings explore how AI shapes our perception of the world. His machine portraits explore AI’s emerging self-image, as well as the mythology and symbolism surrounding it.

Artist Resume | Aesthetica interview (2024) | ‘Portraits of the Artificial’ exhibition publication | Divan Interview