Grayson Perry Comments on AI Use of His Work
Celebrated artist Grayson Perry has stated that he doesn’t ‘really mind’ if his work is used to train AI models, jokingly referring to himself as ‘the world champion of cultural appropriation’ during the Charleston literature festival. The Turner prize-winning artist emphasized that he has never worried about others using his work in lectures or other contexts, partly because much of its value lies in being ‘physical’ and ‘often unique’.
Perry, 65, revealed that he has been ‘tinkering’ with AI and his latest exhibition, Delusions of Grandeur at the Wallace Collection, includes AI-generated self-portraits. He expressed that his experience with AI suggests it’s ‘not that good yet’, and he’s ‘not sure’ if it will become ‘amazingly creative’. However, he believes AI will ‘do all the mediocre stuff’ in the future.
The artist shared an experiment where he prompted an AI tool to create ‘an artwork’, resulting in a canvas that ‘looked like someone had just put all the colours on there’. Perry interpreted this as ‘the perfect metaphor for what the internet does’ – smearing everything together into a ‘bland paste’.
Perry also discussed his belief that ‘narrative is the most potent form of human art’, which is why he creates characters like Claire, Alan Measles, and his recent alter ego ‘Shirley Smith’, featured in his Wallace Collection works. He expressed envy for past artists who had religion and universal stories to reference in their work.
While not spiritual, Perry appreciates the concept of religion, comparing its relationship to spirituality as creativity is to art. He prefers something definite over ‘vague thoughts’ or ‘fuzzy woo woo’.
