Matthias Grund is an artist, designer and research associate at Köln International School of Design (KISD, TH Köln). He works on the federally funded research project, “KITeGG – Making AI Tangible and Comprehensible: Connecting Technology and Society through Design” and is a Ph.D. student at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.
In his artistic research, Matthias Grund explores the structural and aesthetic conditions that shape synthetic images and their associated visual cultures. His work has been exhibited at institutions including the Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln (MAKK), Städtische Galerie Karlsruhe, Kunsthalle Trier, Fundación Ludwig de Cuba, and the Deichtorhallen Hamburg, and has been presented at several academic conferences. Matthias is a recipient of the Kölner Design Preis and Gute Aussichten 2023/24.
Academic Publications
Grund, M. (in press). A Short History of (Generative) AI Art. In Rrrreflect. Journal of Integrated Design Research, Volume 03
Grund, M. (in press). No Thoughs, Just Vibes. In D. Karwas & L. Dubowski (Eds.), Machine as Medium Printed Volume. Yale University, Center for Collaborative Arts (CCAM)
Grund, M., Wallenborn, J., Scherffig, L. & Jennet, F. (Eds.) (2025). Un/learn AI: Third Volume. Hochschule Mainz. Open Access. https://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-13020
Grund, M., Wallenborn, J. T., Kühr, L.-E., & Scherffing, L. (2025). The Algorithmic Gaze: Reflections on Image Cultures in AI. In F. Jenett, R. Flechtner, & S. Maris (Eds.), Un/learn AI: Second Volume (pp. 97–100). Hochschule Mainz. https://doi.org/10.25358/OPENSCIENCE-11831
Grund, M., & Scherffig, L. (2025). Infinite Boredom: Generative AI as Template Culture. In F. Jenett, R. Flechtner, & S. Maris (Eds.), Un/learn AI: Second Volume (pp. 101–105). Hochschule Mainz. https://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-11830
Grund, M., & Scherffig, L (Eds.) (2024). Special Issue 1: Hidden Layers. Rrrreflect. Journal of Integrated Design Research. Open Access. https://rrrreflect.org/special-issue-1
Grund, M., & Scherffig, L. (2024). Approaching the Aesthetics and Materiality of Hidden Layers. Rrrreflect. Journal of Integrated Design Research, Special Issue 1, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.57684/COS-1265
Grund, M. (2024). Algorithmic <strike>Culture</strike> Content. In F. Jenett, J.-J. Bold, & M. Dieterich (Eds.), Un/learn AI: First Volume (pp. 180–184). Hochschule Mainz. http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-10775
Grund, M. (2024). Images As Templates. In F. Scheffczyk (Ed.), Creative Pattern Recognition (pp. 77–91). Eigenverlag. https://creativepatternrecognition.net/
Grund, M. (2022). Anyone, Anything, Anytime, Anywhere. In N. Juric (Ed.), States of Motion: The Motion Experience Lab 2019-2022 (pp. 20-21). Köln International School of Design
Exhibition Catalogs / Book Publications
Di Felice, P., & Stiwer, P. (Hrsg.). (2025). European Month of Photography Luxembourg 2025 [Ausstellungskatalog]. Café-Crème asbl. ISBN 978-99987-973-0-7
Becht, S., & Raab, J. (Hrsg.). (2024). gute aussichten — junge deutsche fotografie 2023/24 [Ausstellungskatalog]. gute aussichten. ISBN 978-3-9819355-8-5
HfG-Archiv/Museum Ulm, Kurz, K., & Jenger, P. (Hrsg.). (2020). Nicht mein Ding – Gender im Design [Ausstellungskatalog]. avedition. ISBN 978-3-89986-327-7
Brandes, U. (2017). Gender Design: Streifzüge Zwischen Theorie und Empirie. Birkhäuser. ISBN 978-3-0356-1227-1
Exhibitions
Generative Aesthetics, Galerieraum HSBI-Satellit, Wissenswerkstatt Bielefeld (DE), 2025
Double Feature: gute aussichten 2023/24/25, PHOXXI, Deichtorhallen Hamburg (DE), 2025
The Great Summer of Art, LABOR Projektgalerie Köln (DE), 2025
gute aussichten 2023/24, Städtische Galerie Karlsruhe (DE), 2025
The Future Is Now, Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, Havanna (CU), 2025
Reconstructing Reality, Kunsthalle Trier (DE), 2025
Correlations: Forum for AI in Art & Design, HfG Offenbach (DE), 2024
gute aussichten 2023/24, Landesmuseum Koblenz (DE), 2024
gute aussichten heimspiel 14, Galerie im Haardter Schloss, Neustadt (DE), 2024
Feriengäste 2024, LABOR Projektgalerie Köln (DE), 2024
Kölner Design Preis 2023, Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln, MAKK (DE), 2023
Cognitive Playgrounds, Museumsnacht Köln, TH Köln (DE), 2023
KISD Parcours 2023, Köln International School of Design, TH Köln (DE), 2023
Rundgang „außer der reihe“, Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln (DE), 2022
Artist Talks / Lectures / Workshops
(Non-)Arbitrary Images, Post Photographic Images, HSBI Bielefeld (DE), 2025
Arbitrary Images – Generative AI and the Standardization of Visual Culture, UPDATE: Blue Shift, RTU Liepaja Art Research Laboratory (LV), 2025
Aligned Aesthetics: Classes, Templates, Platforms, Transform 2025, Conference on AI, Art, Design and Society, Hochschule Trier (DE), 2025 (mit Lasse Scherffig & Thomas Hawranke)
Workshop: KI Verstehen, KI Kreativ Herausfordern, PHOXXI, Deichtorhallen Hamburg (DE), 2025 (mit Robin C. Wolf)
Künstlergespräch: KI in der Kunst, 200 Jahre KIT, Eventreihe Kunst | Sommer | Technik, Städtische Galerie Karlsruhe (DE), 2025
Eine kurze Geschichte der (generativen) KI-Kunst, 1. Festival der Poesie & Fotografie, Galerie im Haardter Schloss, Neustadt (DE), 2025
Streifzug durch die (generative) KI-Kunst, Kunsthalle Trier (Online), 2025
Puppy Slugs, Vibes & Visual Alignment, The Art of AI: Narratives, Creativities, and Ethics, Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz (IT), 2024 (mit Lasse Scherffig & Thomas Hawranke)
Workshop: Thinking & Animating AI, Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln (DE), 2024
No Thoughts, Just Vibes, Transform 2023: AI, Sustainability, Art & Design, Hochschule Trier (DE), 2024
Training to Deal with Otherness, Politics of the Machines: Rogue Research Conference, UdK Berlin / Weizenbaum-Institut (Online), 2021
Contact
Köln International School of Design
Ubierring 40
50678 Köln
matthias.grund@th-koeln.de
+49(0)221 | 8275-3169