Most-Referenced Artists in AI Image Generation Revealed

A comprehensive analysis of nearly 5 million Midjourney prompts has unveiled which artists, architects, and directors inspire AI-generated imagery the most. The study, conducted by Kapwing and reported by Visual Capitalist, shows how users leverage existing artistic styles to customize their AI creations. As generative AI tools become increasingly popular, understanding these trends sheds light on how creators approach AI-powered design.

The Art of AI Replication

Generative AI tools function as derivative systems, capable of mimicking existing artworks and visual references to produce new variations. Users frequently reference established artists—from classical painters to modern directors—to guide their AI prompts toward specific aesthetic outcomes. Rather than generating truly original visuals, these tools blend learned patterns from existing art to create customized results. Popular references include modern city designs in the style of Monet or other iconic artistic movements, allowing users to achieve specific visual tones without starting from scratch.

Copyright Concerns Loom

The findings come at a critical time when many artists and their representatives actively work to restrict their names from AI prompts and training datasets. This legal and ethical pushback suggests future limitations on AI’s ability to reference specific artists. Currently, these restrictions remain inconsistent, but the trend indicates significant changes ahead. The research snapshot captures a moment when artist names remain freely usable in AI prompts, before potential regulatory measures and artist protections reshape the landscape of AI-generated content creation.

The implications extend beyond aesthetics, raising important questions about artistic rights, attribution, and the future of creative tools in an increasingly AI-driven world.