Transformation of visual art in the era of generative artificial intelligence: based on interviews with Russian artists

The article presents the results of a sociological study focused on the transformation of the field of visual arts in the era of generative artificial intelligence (AI) development. Drawing on interviews with Russian artists across various specializations, the paper examines the definitions of “art” and “artist,” as well as artists’ attitudes toward the use of AI in creative practices. The analysis reveals the role of generative AI in the democratization of art and the expansion of mass production, alongside concerns about losing the symbolic capital and traditional forms of legitimation.