The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago explored how digital life has fundamentally altered human interaction. The exhibition titled I Was Raised on the Internet examined the shift in daily behavior since 1998, focusing on the rise of social media and connected devices. It tracked how the internet changed the way people see, feel, and exist in a world defined by screens.
Nearly 100 works, ranging from photography and painting to virtual reality and film, provided a look at the post-internet era. Visitors encountered pieces that challenged the boundaries between the physical and digital. The show was divided into five distinct sections, including themes like identity performance on social media, surveillance, and the influence of corporate branding on daily life. Each section functioned as a study on how individuals navigate the modern, networked landscape.
Omar Kholeif curated the exhibition to capture the state of contemporary life. By bringing together artists who analyze late capitalism and digital surveillance, the show asked viewers to consider their role as both observers and participants. It served as a record of a specific era in computing, looking back at early hopes for a global network while acknowledging the current reality of our online existence.
The project included works from dozens of artists, reflecting on how digital tools now mediate everything from personal relationships to labor. Whether through interactive installations or digital film, the collection sought to document the influence of the web on our visual vocabulary. The exhibition remained a reference point for understanding how technology became an extension of the self.