AI: THE ULTIMATE CREATIVE PARTNER

Ricardo J. Rodríguez De Santiago’s work sits at the intersection of bytes & mortar, where AI amplifies human creativity to explore resilience, speculative futures, and cultural identity. From post-disaster landscapes to folklore reinterpretations, his art challenges professional exceptionalism, advocates for justice, and reimagines architecture’s role in recovery and survival.

Explore the Collections

1. Present Futures: Generative AI Art for Climate Change

“Present Futures reflects on architecture’s role in post-disaster recovery, questioning professional exceptionalism and imagining new realities shaped by climate change and resistence.”

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  • Location: District Architecture Center, Washington, DC
  • Date: September–December 2023
  • Concept: This collection explores speculative landscapes shaped by climate collapse and adaptation, inspired by Puerto Rico’s post-hurricane struggles. Ricardo critiques recovery efforts while celebrating Puerto Rican resilience.
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  • Featured Work: “FEMA—Faded Echoes, Muted Actions”
    Concept: Inspired by the FEMA tarps that blanketed Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, the work juxtaposes aid and abandonment through haunting AI-generated visuals sublimated on polyethylene.
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Present Futures

2. Poli/Grafica: Reinterpreting Culture Through AI

“His art, rooted in Puerto Rican idioms and folklore, challenges speculative urbanism and advocates for social justice.” — El Adoquín Times.​

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  • Location: ANTIGUO ARSENAL DE LA MARINA ESPAÑOLA, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Date: April - September 2024
  • Concept: Poli/Grafica fuses Puerto Rican folklore, history, and AI storytelling to question colonial legacies and celebrate cultural endurance. Ricardo’s works educate, provoke, and reimagine narratives that endure through generations.

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  • Featured Work: “Our Islands and Their People”
    Concept:     A critique of colonial-era photography, this series reclaims Puerto Rican narratives while subverting exotified historical imagery.
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Poli/Grafica

3. Mission 2130: A Speculative Future for Humanity

“Through Bytes & Mortar, we collaborated with AI to envision a 100-year roadmap addressing architecture, society, and planet-wide challenges—an exercise in speculative design and critical optimism.” — YAF Connection.
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  • Concept: Mission 2130, developed in collaboration with the AIA YAF Summit 30, imagines humanity’s evolution over the next 100 years. Ricardo’s AI-generated works reflect planetary colonization, regenerative architecture, and the balance between survival and innovation.
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  • Featured Work: “Green Ascending”
    Concept:     Nature reclaims abandoned megastructures, symbolizing a regenerative coexistence of technology and ecosystems.
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Mission 2130

Interactive Virtual Gallery

Step into an immersive 3D virtual gallery showcasing selected works from Present Futures, Poli/Grafica, and private collections. Navigate AI-driven urban landscapes, cultural reinterpretations, and regenerative ecosystems from your screen.

Visit the Virtual Gallery

QUOTES

What is AI-generated art, and how does Bytes & Mortar use it?

AI-generated art uses algorithms to create visual representations, blending technology and creativity. Our collections explore cultural identity, architecture, and speculative futures

Can I collaborate with Bytes & Mortar on an AI-driven art project?

Yes. We welcome partnerships and commissions for AI art projects. Contact us to discuss your vision and explore creative opportunities.

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