Ensuring art’s longevity through AI
ETERNA
An Introduction
Caring for fine art goes beyond display—it requires constant attention to subtle changes in light, humidity, and aging. For collectors who value both tradition and innovation, ETERNA provides a seamless way to safeguard a collection’s legacy—ensuring that each piece remains as striking tomorrow as it is today.
This is Sebastian.
Sebastian is a private gallery collector who cares for expensive 20th-century paintings, but without museum-level tools, preserving them feels uncertain.
One night, an unexpected humidity spike crept through the gallery.
By the time Sebastian received the alert, it was too late—delicate varnish had already begun to cloud. His monitoring system had done its job: it noticed the change. But it couldn’t act. And the damage was done.
Follow Sebastian’s story to discover how ETERNA supports private collectors through intelligent conservation.
The Problem
Private art collectors often lack access to the continuous monitoring systems and conservation resources available to institutions. Without these tools, early signs of deterioration—like subtle shifts in humidity, light, or material condition—can go unnoticed, putting valuable works at risk. There’s a need for a more accessible, intelligent way to support long-term art care in private settings.
The Vision
To make preserving art more thoughtful and precise by giving conservators the tools to see changes before they happen, keep accurate records without friction, and focus on care instead of paperwork.
User Centered Research
In my Interaction Design II course, we explored the Internet of Things (IoT) through the lens of user-object relationships, examining how different categories of users interact with connected technologies. The goal was to uncover new market opportunities by identifying patterns, gaps, and emerging needs. For my project, I focused on a field I’m passionate about: fine art conservation.
Through my research, I identified two main user groups within the conservation space—private curators and public museum professionals. I analyzed how each interacts with IoT devices in their work and discovered a striking difference: while museums often rely on integrated systems with proactive environmental monitoring and automation, private curators typically use more fragmented and reactive tools.
This imbalance revealed a clear opportunity. I saw the potential to expand the IoT market for private curators by designing a more accessible, intuitive, and proactive conservation solution—one that empowers individuals to better care for their collections with the same foresight and precision as institutional settings.
Key Opportunities
Proactive Conservation
Shifting from reactive care to ongoing, real-time monitoring helps prevent deterioration before it starts, extending the life of artwork and reducing costly interventions.
Implimenting AI
AI enables smarter, context-aware insights by analyzing environmental patterns, detecting anomalies early, and offering personalized conservation recommendations tailored to each piece.
Increasing access for Private Curators
Bringing advanced conservation tools into private settings bridges the gap between institutional resources and individual collectors, enabling more consistent and informed care.
The Solution
By combining real-time monitoring, predictive AI, and secure conservation records, Eterna provides gentle but proactive oversight, making sure small issues don’t become irreversible damage. From climate adjustments to early deterioration detection, it offers museum-level care without the complexity.
New User Journey
Determined to never repeat the mistake, Sebastian turns to ETERNA—an AI-powered conservation assistant once reserved for institutions.
One evening, ETERNA detects a subtle shift in humidity near one of Sebastian's paintings. Without needing permission or delay, the system makes the correction in real time. The painting is safe. Later, Sebastian reviews the automated log: the adjustment is time-stamped, archived, and added to the artwork’s digital conservation history—secured, immutable, and transparent.
What once took a team, now fits in his pocket—delivering intelligent, proactive care.