New Platforms, New Possibilities: Art in the Digital Age
Technology is transforming every stage of the artistic process, from how work is made to how it is shared, experienced and valued. Social platforms like Instagram and TikTok have redefined visibility and audience-building, while digital archives, immersive environments and emerging Web3 communities are opening new pathways for engagement and distribution.
At the same time, artificial intelligence is reshaping creative practice itself, raising complex questions around authorship, originality and ownership. Can a machine be an artist, and what does that mean for human creativity? Bringing together artists, technologists and cultural thinkers, this panel explores how practitioners are navigating the rapidly evolving digital landscape – balancing opportunity with critical reflection, and redefining what it means to make and experience art today.
Noelle Faulkner | Host
Nikita Le Messurier | Speaker
Claire Evans | Speaker
Tom Sanders | Speaker
Sam Leach | Speaker
Each talk runs for approximately 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A. A valid ticket to Sydney Contemporary 2026 is required for entry to this talk. Buy tickets online here.
About the Speakers
Noelle Faulkner is a writer and cultural/consumer trend intelligence researcher whose work centres around what she likes to refer to as, ‘the things that move us emotionally, physically and towards the future’. Noelle is a globally-recognised voice in automotive, across design and business, but her practice crosses the thresholds of culture, art, travel, fashion and innovation to unearth meaning behind objects and consumer behaviour.
Her feature writing and commentary has appeared in Vogue, Harper’s BAZAAR, GQ, Esquire, The Road Rat, Esses, The Local Project, Vogue Living, The Guardian, Qantas Travel Insider, Forbes, Robb Report, evo and more; and she’s led talks at various conferences including SXSW Sydney and Semi Permanent. Beyond her work in media, she’s worked with a variety of organisations, including The Future Laboratory, WGSN, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Universal Music Group, Diageo, Zeekr, Blackberry, Unilever, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Polestar and Porsche
Nikita Le Messurier is an advisor at OpenAI, where she advises some of Australia and New Zealand’s most innovative technology companies on the adoption and application of generative AI. Alongside her work in technology, Nikita is an active investor and contemporary art collector with a particular interest in emerging Australian artists. She is passionate about supporting artists, fostering cultural philanthropy, and building stronger connections between the worlds of technology, business, and the arts.
Nikita is Chair of the Arts Centre Melbourne Contemporary Foundation and an Ambassador for The Australian Ballet. Through her collecting and advocacy, she is committed to supporting the next generation of Australian artists and helping broaden engagement with contemporary art.
Claire Evans is an immersive media practitioner and co-founder of Junior Major, a collective of artists and technologists who make – and merge – digital and physical worlds. The studio is known for a playful yet considered approach, combining strong creative vision with expertise in technology, engineering and materials to realise immersive experiences, artworks and installations. Their recent works include the code-confounding performance ‘Stable Confusion’ with Worlds Only; ‘Floating Realm’, a sculptural LED artwork made in collaboration with Brian Robinson; an immersive reimagining of Emperor Qin’s sealed tomb for the Western Australian Museum; and ‘200 Years’, a meandering journey through the archive of the State Library of NSW.
Tom Sanders is a brand strategist and creative leader currently serving as the Head of Communications and Marketing at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA). With over 25 years of cross-disciplinary experience across Asia-Pacific and Europe, Tom has built a career at the intersection of advertising, PR, experiential, and digital media. Prior to joining the MCA, Tom was Creative Director at Herd MSL, one of Australia’s most successful PR agencies, where he led high-impact, award-winning campaigns for major brands including Telstra, CBA, Airbnb, Spotify, and Uber. Tom’s motto is ‘better sorry than safe’ and he is obsessed with boiling vegetables, listening to happy hardcore, and painting neon abstracts.
Sam Leach is an acclaimed Australian contemporary artist, whose practice is informed by the canon of art history, science, and philosophy. His work is an ongoing investigation of the relationship between humans, machines and animals. His most recent bodies of work incorporate machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) fusing the tropes and gestures of paintings with the mechanics and gaze of the future.
About Sydney Contemporary
Sydney Contemporary, presented by MA Financial Group, returns to Carriageworks from 3-6 September, bringing together 100 galleries from nine countries for the 10th edition of Australasia’s premier art fair. For four unforgettable days of discovery, conversation and spectacle, Carriageworks becomes the centre of the art world in our region. Alive with buzzing crowds, ambitious installations, performances, talks and inspiring encounters with artists and galleries, it’s Sydney’s most exciting cultural event this spring and an event not to miss.
Image: Junior Major, Emperor’s Tomb, 2025, for Western Australia Museum
