Digital Art Pioneer Paul Slocum Celebrates 20 Years of And/Or Gallery

Slocum reflects on the evolution of digital art, the challenges of sustaining a digital art gallery, and the importance of supporting "outsider" digital artists.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Paul Slocum, founder of the pioneering And/Or gallery for new media art, is celebrating 20 years of showcasing digital and internet-based art. Slocum, who has been working with computers and programming since childhood, discusses his early inspirations from PBS and the growing digital art scene in Europe in the early 2000s. He talks about the shift from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and how it impacted the aesthetics and culture of digital art. While Slocum has found a dedicated collector base over the years, he has struggled with the lack of a robust market for digital art and has chosen to keep costs low rather than pursue a more commercial model. Despite the challenges, Slocum remains passionate about supporting "outsider" digital artists and archiving their important work.

Why it matters

Slocum's And/Or gallery has been a crucial institution for championing digital and internet-based art over the past two decades. As one of the first galleries to focus on this emerging medium, And/Or has played a pivotal role in documenting the evolution of digital art, from early net art to the rise of post-internet aesthetics. Slocum's perspective on the shift from the personal, DIY ethos of Web 1.0 to the more corporate-controlled Web 2.0 provides valuable insight into how the internet's development has shaped artistic practices. His commitment to sustaining a digital art space in the face of market challenges highlights the ongoing struggle to properly value and support this form of creative expression.

The details

Slocum first became interested in computers and programming as a child in the 1980s, taking classes on the TI-99 and later programming on the Atari 2600 and Commodore 64. His early artistic explorations involved creating generative music, graphics, and games, inspired by PBS programs showcasing video art. In the early 2000s, Slocum began participating in digital art events in Europe, which exposed him to a burgeoning scene of DIY but professional-level digital art spaces. This led Slocum to co-found And/Or gallery in Dallas in 2006, initially focused on hosting performance art events before evolving into a space dedicated to exhibiting new media art. Over the years, And/Or has shown the work of artists like Cory Arcangel and Petra Cortright, who have become influential figures in the post-internet art movement.

  • Slocum founded And/Or gallery in 2006.
  • And/Or celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2026.

The players

Paul Slocum

The founder of And/Or gallery, a pioneering space for the exhibition of new media art. Slocum has been working with computers and programming since childhood and has been a champion of digital and internet-based art for over two decades.

Cory Arcangel

An artist whose work has been exhibited at And/Or gallery and who has become an influential figure in the post-internet art movement.

Petra Cortright

An artist whose work has been exhibited at And/Or gallery and who has become an influential figure in the post-internet art movement.

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What they’re saying

“I don't always love the term outsider art, but for lack of a better term, it's outsider art—and it's just as important, just as interesting. I feel like if you create the right stuff, it just kind of falls into place.”

— Paul Slocum, Founder, And/Or Gallery (artnews.com)

The takeaway

Slocum's commitment to sustaining And/Or gallery over the past 20 years, despite the challenges of building a viable market for digital art, underscores the importance of supporting alternative, community-driven spaces that champion experimental and unconventional artistic practices. His perspective on the evolution of the internet and its impact on digital art offers valuable insights into the shifting landscape of creative expression in the digital age.