NYC Gallery Sold an AI-Generated Ansel Adams Photo Without Permission - PetaPixel

A New York gallery displayed and sold an AI-generated image based on Ansel Adams' famous photograph, "Moonrise Over Hernandez," without consulting the Ansel Adams Trust. The gallery's actions have ignited a debate about artists' rights and the ethical implications of using AI to recreate and commercialize existing artwork.

What happened

The Danziger Gallery displayed the AI-generated image as part of The Photography Show in New York City, which ran from April 22 to April 26, 2026. The AI work was described as "A.I. Generated" from the prompt “Make a realistic color version of Ansel Adams’ iconic ‘Moonrise Over Hernandez’. The listing also detailed that it was "Proofed, regenerated, & photoshopped" over several months and printed in editions of 10. The Ansel Adams Trust published a statement asserting that the gallery did not consult or notify them before displaying the work, and that they requested its removal. According to the Trust, the gallery subsequently leveraged Adams' name and "Moonrise" while pursuing a commercial AI colorization venture. The Trust clarified that its primary concern was not with AI itself, but with the unauthorized commercial exploitation of Adams' legacy. As of the time of the report, the photo remained listed on the Danziger Gallery website.