NEW BODY OF WORK OPENS AT HEFT THIS WEDNESDAY

Hypertopographics is a new visual concept developed through the collaborative work of world-renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky and Alkan Avcıoglu, a leading artist using artificial intelligence. Expanding upon and reinterpreting the influential New Topographics movement, this series investigates contemporary conditions of overwhelming industrial scale, technological complexity, and global interconnectedness in ways that cannot be captured by camera. Representing a groundbreaking artistic dialogue, this collaboration stands as a pioneering intersection of photography and AI at a critical moment when issues of authorship and art making must confront the rapidly changing technological landscape.

Heft is honored to present this incredible new body of work, on view from Sep 3 – Oct 4. Preview of the artworks below, along with details and RSVP links for the opening celebration (wed) and in-depth talks (thu) planned for this week.

Each of the ten works in this show are unique originals – there are no editions in Hypertopographics. The artworks go through Burtynsky’s master printing process to perfect tone, detail, and texture in every inch of image. The 20,000 pixel wide files are then printed on a rich gloss archival paper before being laminated in satin to knock down any glare, mounted to dibond, and floated in custom hardwood frames. These 1/1 framed prints also come with a digital certificate of authenticity, a tokenized version of the artwork stored on the Ethereum blockchain. This approach provides the most secure solution to authenticity and provenance tracking, and access to a wider and more direct access point to future market activity.

This critical work comes at an essential moment in the dialogue around art making in a technological day, where artificial intelligence continues to influence culture, business, and conversation in broader and deeper ways. We welcome all to visit the gallery to engage the works and join in discussion with the gallery about these topics and more.

Conversations IV:
A Discussion with Edward Burtynsky
and Alkan Avcıoğlu

Join us this Thursday, September 4th, 6-8pm, to hear from the artists of Hypertopographics during a special fourth edition of ‘Conversations’ at Heft.

Surrounded by their 10 new artworks, gallery director and founder Adam Heft Berninger will facilitate the sharing of in-depth perspectives from each of the artists around six topics, along with our trademark one-on-one 6m Conversations with each of the artists at the end of this session.

We will discuss conceptual, technical, and ethical considerations related to this work, including the role of artificial intelligence in art making.

Edward Burtynsky will be present in the gallery and in conversation with Alkan Avcıoğlu joining remotely from Istanbul (sadly, visa restriction these days prevent Avcıoğlu from attending in person : (

Talks start promptly at 6:30 pm.

More about the artists

If you’re in New York City, check out Burtynsky’s monumental 74 work show at ICP, The Great Acceleration.

Read a review of this show and about Burtynsky’s practice on The New Yorker.

Browse works from Avcioglu’s previews show, All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace.

Watch the trailer for Avcioglu’s feature length documentary, Post Truth made entirely using artificial intelligence.