Typing the prompt, 鈥淐reate a painting of Steve Urkel in the style of Vincent Van Gogh鈥� into ChatGPT will churn out exactly that in just a few seconds; suspenders and glasses in front of a starry, swirly sky. And not a dime gets paid to the Van Gogh estate or '90s sitcom star Jaleel White.
Last year, one turn of a rotating mural in Chicago angered locals because it appeared to be an AI-generated image. Several people turned to social media to call it 鈥淎I slop.鈥�
Artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT have made it easier, faster and more cost-effective to create pieces of art, but several Cleveland artists suggest that AI art is not really art.
As Isaiah Williams spray painted bold colors and realistic faces in his home studio, he explained that murals like his are people-driven.
鈥淲hat art is and what has always been is something that you're pulling from the soul of the people, like the pulse of the community," Williams said.
He added that he would feel betrayed if public art in Cleveland started taking the AI route.
鈥淲hen you reach out to an artist, someone who actually has a lived experience in that neighborhood, in that community, you give them a platform to speak to the world and show kind of who we are, what we stand for," Williams said.
Jordan Wong鈥檚 art is already technologically forward; big, metal pieces covered with his intricate, detailed graphic designs.
鈥淭o say that there's no room for AI in art creation, I think, is too much of a rigid stance," Wong said.
Wong hasn鈥檛 used AI in his art yet. He thinks removing the artist makes art less human, but said AI could be a helpful tool.
鈥淚n a way that it is more like a means to support a creative process and how to actually produce things, as opposed to just hitting a button and just generating," he explained.
Chi Wong has several works on display across Cleveland, including a public piano in an AsiaTown Cleveland shopping center covered with paintings of humanized fruits and vegetables; oranges, carrots and potatoes with legs and faces.
鈥淥ne of the arguments about AI art is that there is a lack of soul, and I do think the artist, as in like a human person artist, does give the art a personal touch,鈥� Chi Wong said. 鈥淚f all of the nonprofits, organizations that I have worked with prior said, 'No more artists, only AI,' I'd just be a little sad, definitely really sad.鈥�
The decision to display AI-generated art is really up to those who commission the work.
LAND Studio is an art organization that鈥檚 been curating public art in Cleveland for more than three decades.
鈥淚t's our job as artists to continue just to make dope, unique, original and creative work that keeps art alive.鈥� 鈥� Isaiah Williams, artist
鈥淎s long as it's part of a thoughtful process that still puts the artist as the lead creative and really centers community, I think there could be a place for it,鈥� said Erin Guido, LAND Studio鈥檚 director of arts and special projects.
As long as it doesn鈥檛 replace the artist, she noted.
鈥淏eing efficient isn't the only important part about public art," Guido said. "You know, it's about creating something that has human connection. It's about the culture of the community. "We love local artists. I think we should continue to invest in them and continue to showcase their talent in more and more ways.鈥�
There are the artists and the curators, and then there鈥檚 the consumers; in this case, Cleveland, an audience these artists know well.
鈥淲ould our city be one that kind of just welcomes AI art large-scale on our buildings and public spaces? I would hope not,鈥� Jordan Wong said. 鈥淎nd if that were the case, then it's our job as artists to show them, no, there's something even better.鈥�
