Artyst

Artyst is a term used in contemporary discourse to describe a practitioner who integrates art making with technological processes, particularly generative, interactive, and computational media. The term is not standardized and may function as a stylistic variant of artist or as a self-designation adopted by some artists to foreground the role of tools in the creative process.

Origin and usage: The form artyst appears in critic writings and artist statements from the 2010s onward. It is often employed to emphasize the intimate relationship between the artist and the technologies that shape the work, such as software, sensors, robotics, and networked systems. The term may also reflect regional linguistic influences or branding strategies within art communities.

Characteristics and practices: Artysts typically work across disciplines including digital media, sculpture, performance, and installation. They may employ artificial intelligence or machine learning, generative algorithms, data visualization, virtual or augmented reality, and interactive environments. Collaboration with non-human agents and open-ended, process-driven approaches are commonly highlighted.

Reception and critique: Some critics view artyst as a useful category that highlights distributed authorship and the co-creative role of machines, while others see it as a marketing coin or a distraction from established art-historical categories. The legitimacy and scope of the term vary by region and discourse.

Related topics include artist, digital art, generative art, and AI art.