What’s On Your Mind: An Artist's Journey with AI-Generated Photography

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At this year’s Art Basel Miami Beach, Arcual sat down with artist Sarp Kerem Yavuz, a pioneer in merging AI-generated imagery with traditional analog photography. His groundbreaking work challenges conventional boundaries, straddling the line between digital innovation and analog tradition. Yavuz’s analog photographs have been featured in esteemed collections like the Leslie Lohman Museum of Art, the Norton Museum, and his polaroids in the Soho House Collection and Istanbul Modern. In this conversation, Yavuz reflects on a pressing challenge: navigating recognition and classification as an artist caught between the digital and traditional art worlds, and finding his place within both.

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Arcual: How do you approach the challenge of creating AI-generated photography that resists clear classification as either digital or traditional? Is this ambiguity intentional in your work?
Sarp Kerem Yavuz: Absolutely, the ambiguity is intentional. By presenting AI-generated works in formats like large-format Polaroids, I aim to challenge assumptions about what digital art should look like, but also what photographic media we choose to trust and embrace as “real.” This hybrid approach encourages viewers to question not only the medium but also the narratives around authenticity, tradition, and innovation.

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Arcual: What has been your biggest creative breakthrough or struggle in navigating these blurred boundaries?
Sarp Kerem Yavuz: Most publicly available AI generators are governed by systems with little art historical knowledge. For example, Midjourney often misinterprets queer art as pornographic. This latent homophobia makes generating the romantic moments I hope to create extremely difficult. There’s a lot of linguistic trickery involved, but figuring out how to strategically reference the internet has been a significant breakthrough.

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Where have you recently exhibited your work, and do you feel there’s a growing need to showcase AI-generated photography in non-traditional spaces to fully engage with its unique context and audience?
Sarp Kerem Yavuz: Recently, I was invited to exhibit my newest AI-generated large-format Polaroids in Vienna during TED AI, Europe’s first TED conference on Artificial Intelligence, held at the historic Volkstheater Wien. To display the pieces, I found these beautiful gold frames at Ikea and mounted the works inside gold-framed mirrors. They blended into the space so perfectly that people thought they were part of the theater’s permanent collection!

I also had the chance to give an artist talk—my “non-TED talk, talk-at-TED”—which was an incredible experience. The audience was unlike any I had encountered before. They were surprisingly receptive to AI-generated art, especially when I explained my romantic motivations for storytelling. It was a refreshing change from the pervasive cynicism that can sometimes dominate the contemporary art world.

This experience reinforced for me the importance of showcasing AI-generated work in spaces that don’t have preconceived ideas about the medium. I’m grateful for opportunities like this to connect with audiences who engage with the work on its own terms.

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Arcual: What advice would you give to emerging artists incorporating traditional techniques and new technologies?
Sarp Kerem Yavuz: Work as an assistant to a practicing artist—you’ll learn things you can’t get in an academic environment. Also, experiment with mediums that don’t come naturally to you; it’s like brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand. And with AI, be patient. It took me three years to figure out how not to ask for things directly.

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Arcual: What role do you think AI and other emerging technologies will play in reshaping artistic definitions and practices in the future? How do you see yourself adapting to or influencing this evolution?
Sarp Kerem Yavuz: As we navigate the evolving relationship between art and technology, I hope to inspire a shift in how AI-generated images are perceived—encouraging curiosity over cynicism and openness over preconceived judgments. Through my work as a contributor to The Art Newspaper, I’ve explored how contemporary artists use AI, examined the legal complexities it brings, and offered historical context to show that prompt-based art has deeper roots than many realize.

Despite its transformative potential, I often find myself defending my legitimacy as an artist when the subject of AI arises. Yet, this technology has the power to democratize art-making, breaking down barriers for those who lack access to traditional art schools, expensive equipment, or established networks. It enables creators to bring their visions to life in ways previously unimaginable.

While my 15 years of experience in analog art deeply inform how I use AI, I’m most inspired by the next generation. Teenagers today are beginning their creative journeys with AI as their primary tool, and I’m eager to see the groundbreaking work they’ll create in the years ahead. This is an exhilarating time for art, and I’m thrilled to be part of this unfolding story.

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Closing Thoughts
Sarp Kerem Yavuz’s exploration of AI-generated imagery blended with analog photography reflects the evolving dialogue between tradition and technology. His innovative practice challenges preconceived notions, encouraging audiences to embrace ambiguity, reimagine authenticity, and engage with the limitless possibilities of hybrid art forms.

At Arcual, we’re dedicated to empowering artists like Yavuz who redefine the boundaries of art and technology. Using Arcual’s Digital Portfolio, artists can showcase their hybrid creations securely and authentically to collectors worldwide, bridging the gap between digital and traditional audiences. By future-proofing digital works on the blockchain, we ensure that groundbreaking art remains accessible, traceable, and enduring.

Join us in supporting the next wave of artistic innovation—explore how Arcual can help you share your vision and connect with a global art community. Learn more here.