August 1966: Frieder Nake wins the first Computer Art Contest, an early milestone of generative art

Merzmensch · x · 2026-11-12

Merzmensch shares the August 1966 'Computers and Automation' computer art special issue, a landmark of early generative art:

First prize went to Frieder Nake (Stuttgart) for 'Another N from 3N,' a plotter drawing of regular-yet-irregular small squares that graced the cover;
Honorable mentions include Maughan S. Mason's 'Silk Patterns' (analog computer + X-Y plotter, originals 30 inches wide), cubic figures, logarithmic spirals, rosettes and more;
The issue also features Gerald Strang's essay on computer-assisted musical composition, covering generated scores and actual sounds.

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