{"id":200485,"date":"2025-12-19T17:27:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T17:27:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/200485\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T17:27:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T17:27:07","slug":"how-the-cleveland-museum-of-art-is-using-ai-to-draw-visitors-into-its-collection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/200485\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Cleveland Museum of Art is using AI to draw visitors into its collection"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The first thing visitors see when they enter the Cleveland Museum of Art\u2019s \u201cRenaissance to Runway\u201d<\/a> fashion exhibition isn\u2019t a gown or a painting. It\u2019s a 2-minute, 45-second video<\/a> projected on a 20-foot wall. The sequence shows lifelike figures in garments featured in the exhibition running through historical and dreamlike settings leading to the museum.<\/p>\n

A placard next to the video, titled \u201cRenaissance Remixed\u201d by Francesco Carrozzini and Henry Hargreaves, explains what visitors are watching and why.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsing AI and emerging technology, rare archival garments \u2014 too delicate to wear \u2014 are brought back to life,\u201d the sign reads. \u201cArtists have used AI to show how these garments once moved and flowed when worn.\u201d<\/p>\n

The video solves two challenges at once. First, how to show the pieces in action without putting them on models and at risk. The museum takes conservation seriously and didn\u2019t want a scenario like the one at the Met Gala in 2022, when Kim Kardashian wore and ultimately damaged Marilyn Monroe\u2019s \u201cHappy Birthday, Mr. President\u201d dress. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a way to bring these objects to life and see them flow and move in a way that wouldn\u2019t be possible through a fun, animated story,\u201d said Jane Alexander, CMA\u2019s chief digital information officer. <\/p>\n

At the same time, curator Darnell-Jamal Lisby set out to create the feel of a cool, cutting-edge runway show you\u2019d see in Milan or Paris. The video does that, giving audiences a taste of what they\u2019re about to see. The exhibition, the largest of its kind to date at the museum, examines how Italy\u2019s artistic past informs its modern designers<\/a>. It pairs Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces from the museum\u2019s collection with clothes by Versace, Valentino, Armani, Ferragamo and Gucci.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wanted to have a vibe for this show,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cIt\u2019s very different than anything we\u2019ve ever done.\u201d<\/p>\n

The museum knew the use of generative AI might spark criticism. The technology has become increasingly controversial, raising questions about how the work was created, who owns the content and whether jobs are being displaced. Alexander emphasized that the video was created by paid artists and fine-tuned in collaboration with the museum over a period of months. It wasn\u2019t generated by someone simply entering a prompt into ChatGPT.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea is that this is a tool that artists can use,\u201d added Todd Mesek, CMA\u2019s chief marketing officer. \u201cOur goal is always to support the artists. This is a tool for them, not a replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n

In their view, the video is the art; AI is a means, like a paintbrush or a chisel. Still, the museum prioritized transparency, along with ethical practices and environmental responsibility. That meant being clear about how the video was created, making sure images were properly licensed and the project used minimal energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t use technology for technology\u2019s sake,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cWe use it when it solves a problem and makes art more relatable to more people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRenaissance to Runway\u201d isn\u2019t the museum\u2019s first \u2014 or last \u2014 use of artificial intelligence. In fact, it was an early adopter of AI when it opened Gallery One in 2012. The space, now known as ArtLens, uses interactive exhibits to engage visitors with the museum\u2019s permanent collection. <\/p>\n

There, they can explore artworks digitally and discover similar pieces through AI-generated recommendations, helping them move from browsing on a screen to seeing the objects in real life. The museum also uses the technology to produce detailed visual descriptions for artworks on its website to make the collection more accessible. This summer, the ArtLens gallery will add a new AI-powered storytelling feature that lets visitors \u201ctalk to art,\u201d Alexander said, and even create their own works using open-access objects.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got this amazing collection, one of the best in the world,\u201d Mesek said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to use the technology to bring people deeper into it, increase accessibility, make them more comfortable in a museum and maybe teach them in a fun way.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cRenaissance to Runway: The Enduring Italian Houses\u201d runs through Feb. 1 at the Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland. Advance tickets are required and available for $8-17 at clevelandart.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n