Auction introduction: Sotheby’s is pleased to present Exorbitant Stage, a single-artist capsule auction and exhibition that marks the three-year anniversary of the decentralized autonomous artist known as Botto. Botto was conceived as an AI artist, evolving over time to generate art that challenges conventional ideas of creativity and authorship. Autonomy, in this context, refers to Botto’s ability to create an aesthetic and produce works in an end-to-end process independent from pre-set direction or human intervention. This exhibition is a curated selection representing the artist’s ongoing development—marked by thematic intervals known as Periods—driven equally by artificial intelligence and the community that has emerged to steward it. As we stand on the brink of a new chapter in art history, Botto invites us to question not only what art is, but who—or what—can be an artist. Effective May 20th, 2024, Sotheby's has lowered its Buyer's Premium rates and removed Overhead Premium for all categories excluding Wine & Spirits. Sotheby's Overhead Premium will only be charged for Wine & Spirits lots. Please refer to the Conditions of Business located on the relevant sale page for the updated rates.