The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust has publicly criticized the unauthorized display of an AI-generated color adaptation of the famous photograph, ‘Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico’, at AIPAD’s The Photography Show. This exhibition, held last month, featured the work without any consent from the trust, which claims it was not consulted prior to the piece being showcased for sale.
According to the trust, the gallery involved, Danziger Gallery, exploited Adams' legacy by failing to acknowledge any human artist behind the AI creation. They emphasized that while Adams had a visionary outlook on technology's potential in photography, their primary concern lies with the nonconsensual use of his name and artwork for profit.
In a statement, the trust indicated that they contacted James Danziger after learning of the exhibition, asserting their rights and requesting the work's removal. Despite this, Danziger continued to use Adams' name in connection with an AI colorization project involving other artists' estates, which the trust condemned as a serious breach of ethical standards.