Patrick Tresset
Patrick Tresset is a French artist and researcher best known for his robotic mark-making installations and live performances. For the past 20 years, his practice has explored the representation of human presence and experience through computational systems, AI, robotics and both new and traditional media.
Tresset studied at Goldsmiths College in London beginning in 2004, where he earned a master’s degree and an MPhil in Arts and Technology. He was later appointed senior research fellow at the University of Konstanz and visiting adjunct professor at the University of Canberra. Although Tresset has focused on his artistic practice for the past decade, his research papers on computational creativity and artificial intelligence have been cited in over 300 academic publications and books.
Tresset’s artistic practice is influenced by research into drawing, computational creativity and human behavior, specifically investigating how humans depict other humans and how they relate to robots. Originally a painter with a childhood interest in electronics and computing sciences, Tresset developed and built autonomous drawing and painting systems as a response to painter’s block—functioning as creative prosthetics.
His installations have been exhibited internationally at major museums such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, MMCA in Seoul, TAM in Beijing, MCAM in Shanghai, Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Grand Palais in Paris, BOZAR in Brussels and Prada Foundation in Milan. They have also been featured at events including Ars Electronica, London Art Fair, ISEA, Kinetica Art Fair and Ennova Biennale.
Tresset’s Human Studies series of installations has received numerous distinctions, including prizes from Lumen, Ars Electronica, NTAA–Liedts Foundation and the Japan Media Arts Festival. He was nominated as a 2017 WEF Cultural Leader. His work has been featured in a wide range of publications, from contemporary art, psychology and robotics journals to mainstream media including Art Press, ArtReview, Arte, BBC, Beaux Arts, DW, Form, Frieze, Le Monde, Leonardo, Neural, The New York Times, Vice and Wired.
