Grayson Perry on AI and Artistic Influence

Grayson Perry recently shared his thoughts on the use of his artwork for training AI models, saying he “really wouldn’t care.” He joked about his career, noting that he’s often “ripping” off others in the spirit of creativity.

During the Charleston Literary Festival, held at the historic site that once belonged to Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, he humorously referred to himself as “the world champion of cultural appropriation.” Perry remarked, “I’ve never been worried about whether someone wants to use my work in a lecture or do whatever they want.” He doesn’t seem to expect any financial compensation from these uses, believing that much of his work’s worth comes from its “physical” nature, which is often “unique.”

He acknowledged his “luxurious position” as a well-known artist and admitted he hasn’t asked AI to replicate his style yet. “Maybe I should ask that; that would be interesting,” he chuckled, contemplating whether he might feel differently about it if he did.

The 65-year-old artist has been “tinkering” with AI, including in his latest exhibition at the Wallace Collection, where he features AI-generated self-portraits. Perry expressed some skepticism about AI’s current capabilities, stating, “My experience with AI is that it’s not that good yet, so don’t worry.” He seemed unsure if AI could truly be “surprisingly creative,” but he did foresee it handling “ordinary things” in the future.

He colorfully mentioned that if you design birthday cards, you might be in trouble now. Recently, he played around with AI tools to create “artwork,” resulting in a canvas that looked as if all the colors had just been slopped together. “It was like a perfect representation of what the internet does,” he explained, pointing out how it often produces a bland mix from diverse cultures.

Perry reflected that AI art has passed through a “glorious phase,” but now seems “almost too good,” likening it to a “very, very pedantic 14-year-old.” Despite this ambivalence, he holds that “stories are the most powerful form of human art,” which is why he constructs a character for his artistic persona.

Interestingly, he confessed a bit of envy toward artists from the past, particularly those connected to religious themes. Even though he does not consider himself “spiritual,” he admits a fondness for religious ideas. “There’s a relationship between spirituality and religion, just as there is between creativity and art,” he reflected.