Decoding AI in Contemporary Art: A Five-Trope Classification for Understanding and Categorisation

Salimbeni, Guido; Benford, Steve; Reeves, Stuart; Martindale, Sarah

Abstract

The article presents a historical overview of the classification of contemporary artworks that either have utilized artificial intelligence as a tool in their creation or focus on AI as their central theme or subject matter. The authors analyze artworks and descriptions, focusing on artists’ motivations and AI’s role in their practice, identifying five distinct tropes in AI art. The authors compare artworks with respect to key questions, creating a useful tool for art historians, curators, researchers, and artists. This historical classification provides a structured approach to understanding AI art’s creative significance and attributes as it has developed over time.

Citation

Salimbeni, G., Benford, S., Reeves, S., & Martindale, S. (2024). Decoding AI in Contemporary Art: A Five-Trope Classification for Understanding and Categorisation. Leonardo, 57(4), 415–421. https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_02546

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 23, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Aug 1, 2024
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Apr 5, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 1, 2024
• Journal: Leonardo
• Print ISSN: 0024-094X
• Electronic ISSN: 1530-9282
• Publisher: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 57
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 415–421
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_02546
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/33292680