Prankster Secretly Installs AI Artwork in UK Museum

An unsolicited digital print cleverly installed by conceptual artist Elias Marrow flew under the radar for several hours at the National Museum Cardiff, inciting curiosity due to its enigmatic presence. The piece, titled “Empty Plate” (2024), features the AI-generated image of a young boy in a school uniform, solemnly holding a bare plate. Its hallmarks of generative AI—including distorted text and a yellowish hue—went unnoticed at first.

Marrow, identifying himself as a “Cultural Surgeon,” conceived the work amidst sketches reflecting on hunger and poverty in the UK. An alarming 2024 report revealed that many UK households struggle with food insecurity. The AI component, Marrow shares, is a ubiquitous tool he embraces rather than shuns in his practice.

Known for provocative interventions, Marrow’s installations question the conventions of art valuation and recognition. This latest artwork exemplifies his contentious curiosity for confronting cultural narratives, though its unauthorized status led to its eventual removal by the museum. Despite the museum’s lack of response, Marrow intends to donate associated sketches to a food bank, blending artistic intention with social activism.