Lillian Schwartz, one of the first artists to use a computer to make films and who brought together art, science, and tech communities in the 1970s, died at 97
Early in the digital era, she worked at Bell Labs on the intersection of art and technology, making films and at one point arriving at a novel theory about the “Mona Lisa.”
RIP to the incredible Lillian Schwartz. In my mind, the finest digital artist to ever live. So much of the aesthetics and disciplines that I love from current filmmakers or people who embraced early digital, all feel like children of her. Seek her out wherever you can. [image]
On this day in 1893, silent superstar Lillian Gish was born in Springfield, Ohio. In 1988, I wrote to her asking if silent films had actual dialogue written out in the scripts or if there was just a general description of what was being said. This was her remarkable reply. [image…
Lillian Schwartz forever. I teach her work *every year* and each time I teach students discover something new and have a meaningful conversation with her practice. RIP
Damn. A massive loss. I had the pleasure of working with Lillian on one very small project a decade ago; she was incredible. She showed me some of her animations, and said she was trying to imagine something totally new, and that was hard when you'd seen as much as she had.
💐RIP Lillian Schwartz, probably the greatest filmmaker to ever use a computer. Most of her films are freely available to view on her website: https://lillian.com/films/
R.I.P. Lillian Schwartz 🖤 One of the most brilliant, passionate & innovative pioneers in the history of digital art. More on her work & career below. [video]