EART: When Art Meets AI — A Historic Day for Estonian-American Cultural Diplomacy
A New Chapter in Cultural Diplomacy
On October 28th, 2025, Chicago witnessed a milestone moment for international art and dialogue.
Artists, technologists, and scholars gathered at Columbia College Chicago’s Conaway Center to explore one of the most urgent and inspiring questions of our time:
How does artificial intelligence reshape art, culture, and education — and what remains deeply, uniquely human?
The event marked the official launch of EART — Estonian American Art Diplomacy, a cultural initiative founded by Liina Raud, Merike Mätas and Sirje Somelar to connect Estonia and the United States through art, technology, and creative exchange.
Supported by the Embassy of Estonia in Washington, D.C., Raud Fine Art Gallery (Chicago), and Kitsas Galerii (Tartu, Estonia), the program blended artistic reflection, academic dialogue, and diplomatic presence — highlighted by the attendance of President Alar Karis of Estonia.
Opening Remarks: Art as Bridge
EART founder Liina Raud opened the event with a message that set the tone for the day:
“At its core, EART celebrates how art continues to express the human spirit in an increasingly technological world — honoring authenticity, emotion, and cultural heritage while embracing innovation and transformation.”
Her words resonated across cultures and generations, framing Estonia as a nation that leads with both innovation and soul.
🇪🇪 Estonia at the Forefront of Innovation
Estonia is globally recognized for its digital-first governance — e-residency, e-elections, and advanced AI policy.
But through initiatives like EART, it also leads in digital-era cultural diplomacy.
“To call this initiative EART makes perfect sense,” said Raud.
“It beautifully connects Estonia and America in one word — through art, through technology, through heart.”
🎓 Panel I — AI in Creative Studies and Education
Moderated by Liina Raud, the first panel explored how AI is transforming classrooms and creative learning environments.
Panelists:
Nick Feamster — Neubauer Professor of Computer Science, University of Chicago; expert in AI governance and ethics in education.
Michael Moriarty — Educator and Chicago Teachers Union representative; advocate for technology literacy in schools.
Dylan Yarbrough — Documentary photographer and professor (SAIC / Columbia College Chicago); explores truth and representation in the AI age.
Oleg Švaikovski — Estonian AI investor and innovator; connected the academic and technological perspectives with the realities of the creative economy.
Key takeaway: AI is not replacing human creativity — it’s challenging us to understand how creativity truly works.
“AI is not a replacement for creativity,” said Feamster.
“It’s a mirror that can teach us how we think.”
🎨 Panel II — AI in Art and Culture
The second panel delved into the ethical, philosophical, and spiritual implications of AI-generated art.
Panelists:
Bridgette R. McCullough, PhD, MSL — Harvard Medical School bioethicist and art historian; studies AI’s influence on visual culture and trust.
Bryan Sperry — AI artist and creative technologist; merges human imagination with machine learning.
Dylan Yarbrough — Photographer and educator; brought a visual arts perspective to how AI reshapes representation and meaning.
Together, they debated authorship, authenticity, and the evolving “aura” of art in a world where machines create alongside humans.
“Walter Benjamin warned about art losing its aura through reproduction,” noted McCullough.
“Now AI doesn’t just copy — it creates. Our task is to ensure the soul of art isn’t lost in translation.”
🖼 The Exhibition: The Spiritual and the Material
Surrounding the panels, guests explored an exhibition curated by Raud Fine Art Gallery and Kitsas Galerii, featuring Estonian artist Kadi Tombak and Chicago painter Frank Piatek.
Visually distinct yet spiritually aligned, their works embodied the tension between material process and inner expression.
“As I searched for Kadi’s counterpart,” Raud smiled,
“I actually asked ChatGPT who might complement her best. It said: Frank Piatek.
I found it poetic — AI recommended the artist who teaches The Spiritual in Art. It made me think critically about what AI can and cannot truly know.”
💬 A Day That Sparked a Movement
The event was more than a conference — it was a living dialogue between art and algorithm, spirit and system.
From the warm light of the Conaway Center to the exchange of ideas between students, diplomats, and artists, every moment reaffirmed a shared belief:
technology can expand creativity, but it cannot replace the soul.
🕊 About EART
EART (Estonian American Art Diplomacy) is a Chicago-based initiative founded in 2025 by Liina Raud, Merike Mätas and Sirje Somelar.
Its mission is to strengthen Estonian-American cultural ties through art, education, and technology — fostering collaboration, innovation, and mutual understanding.
Through exhibitions, talks, and artistic exchange, EART celebrates creativity as a universal language — one that transcends borders and bridges two forward-thinking nations.
📸 Photos: Raigo Pajula & Sieanna Rowe
🎨 Presented by: Raud Fine Art Gallery (Chicago) • Kitsas Galerii (Tartu) • Embassy of Estonia (Washington D.C.)
🌐 Learn more: www.eartdiplomacy.com