Getty Museum acquires its first ever AI-generated photo

Costa Rica’s historic “pegamachos” culture, involving rural men who maintained public heterosexual identities while engaging in secret same-sex encounters, has been reimagined through artificial intelligence by photographer Matias Sauter Morera. The Getty Museum’s acquisition of Morera’s AI-generated photograph “Cristian en el Amor de Calle” marks the institution’s first AI-created image in its permanent collection.

The artistic approach: Morera chose AI generation over traditional documentary photography to protect the privacy of the real pegamachos community while preserving their stories from the 1970s and 1980s.

• The artist creates written narratives about the pegamachos world before generating corresponding images through AI prompts
• Using chromogenic printing, an analog method common in the ’70s and ’80s, Morera transforms digital images into traditional photographic prints
• The resulting 20×20-inch portrait depicts two fictional young men with dark features looking directly at the camera

Historical significance: The Getty’s acquisition represents a pivotal moment in the intersection of AI technology and fine art photography.

• The photograph will be featured in “Queer Lens: A History of Photography,” an exhibition running from June to September 2025
• The acquisition aligns with the Getty’s aims to expand its collection of both LGBTQ+ artists and Latin American creators
• The museum views this purchase as an initial exploration into AI-generated artwork, though no specific plans exist for additional acquisitions

Artist’s methodology: Morera employs a hybrid approach that combines modern AI technology with traditional photographic techniques.

• He carefully edits AI-generated images to achieve the look of historical documentary portraits
• The chromogenic printing process uses light projected onto silver halide paper, creating what Morera considers “true photographs”
• The artist maintains that AI serves as a distinct creative medium rather than a replacement for traditional photography

Project expansion: Morera’s pegamachos series continues to evolve with new interpretations and exhibitions.

• A solo exhibition of the pegamachos project will open at the Craig Krull Gallery in Santa Monica
• The collection features images rich in deep colors including blues, greens, reds, and golds
• The artist has even created themed variations, such as a series of pegamachos in pink jeweled attire celebrating the 2023 Barbie movie

Future implications: The Getty’s groundbreaking acquisition suggests a growing acceptance of AI-generated art within traditional museum collections, while raising questions about how institutions will navigate the balance between conventional and AI-created works in their permanent collections.