Gizem Akdag's AI-Crafted Surreal Worlds Blend Sports, Nature, and Retrofuturism

Turkish artist Gizem Akdag creates dreamlike, surreal artworks using artificial intelligence, drawing inspiration from her native Ankara and Turkey. Her pieces combine familiar elements in unexpected ways, often featuring sports like football, surfing, tennis, and golf, which she decodes into vibrant, painterly scenes. She also produces images of pristine natural landscapes and figures chromatically in sync with their surroundings, and ventures into fashion with an unreal, magical style. Akdag cites retrofuturism as a key influence, fusing nostalgia with new possibilities. Beyond static images, she creates visual storytelling, such as the video 'Dream,' which presents an immersive imaginary world. In interviews, she addresses concerns about AI replacing artistic identity, arguing that when used consciously, AI is an ally that expands creative potential, while the artist's vision and humanity remain central. The article was produced in collaboration with Luigi Falanga and Gaia Forlin, also known as @super8otto.