Being an art student has always been something that has been met with scrutiny, even though art exists everywhere in the world. In many instances, technological advancements have allowed artists to move forward by making art more accessible, but with the current rise of AI, artists are forced to grapple with what it means to be an artist and how to stay afloat in the struggle against computers.

“I know when I tell people that I’m an Art major and that I’m pursuing art, it sounds like, ‘I’m choosing to struggle.’ I know that’s what other people hear, and I also know that now with new innovations in technology and the debate with AI, it’s definitely a different field to be working in than before.” Gaige Ramirez, a freshman Art major at the University, said. “However, my passion for it hasn’t changed. It’s always been something I wanted to do, and my relationship to it has always stayed consistent and strong.” 

Another art student, FTVC freshman Thor Cloninger, expressed the same sentiment. 

“There are a lot of people who say you shouldn’t get a degree in the arts and that it’s a useless degree, which is kind of true to an extent. But also, I don’t really see myself doing anything else, and it’s the best training I can get,” Cloninger said. “I know a lot of people don’t see it as a viable career or a real skill, which I think is ridiculous.”

In addition to the ever-present, “How will you ever get a job with an art degree?” art students in 2025 also have to face, “Won’t AI replace you in five years?” On top of contending with an unstable job market, they also have to contend with whether or not there is even a space for artists to make money anymore.

“With AI, it has definitely been harder, and it’s a little bit more scary when thinking about job opportunities to know that there are just lines of code doing what you could do, but in five minutes. I do have hope, though, that there will still be some space available for human artists in the future,” Ramirez said. 

For Cloninger and other actors, the emergence of AI in the film industry is a cause for alarm. Particle6, a UK-based and AI-focused film production company, recently debuted Tilly Norwood, an entirely AI-generated actress. According to Cloninger, professors at the University have led extensive conversations about the topic, and what it will mean for the futures of current acting students and their place in the industry. 

That being said, for many young artists, it isn’t just about getting a job. They are truly passionate about what they do and value their craft along with the work that goes into it. Art has historically been something that has been fueled by passion, but with the rise of consumerism and the struggling economy, money has started to seep more into every aspect of life. 

“I think art has gotten too monetized,” Cloninger said. “A lot of these industries are like ‘how can we make the most money?’ not ‘how can we make the best art?’ I think that’s genuinely the root of the problem; people not making art because they want to, people making art because they want to make money.”

The people who value the creative expression of art more than the money to be made often make art a large and important part of their lives, with Ramirez calling it a part of her identity. Despite art oftentimes being very personal, it can have a wide reach and impact. 

“I feel like art is in a phase where artists kind of need to start reforming their identity with all these new changes in the world happening right now. Art is something that I consider inherently political, especially now with all these changes and also all these movements happening, so I think it’s going to be part of something really big in the future,” Ramirez said. 

Another Art major, freshman Jada Mercedes, believes that despite it all, the current art culture of New York City is alive and well.

“I think that the art culture in the city is definitely thriving right now. I’ll literally just be walking in the street and there will be an art pop-up, and I’ll go check it out, and it will be super cool,” Mercedes said. “I feel like, specifically because we’re in the city, there’s so much opportunity.”

New York City has historically been a place where artists have thrived, from the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s to icons such as Bob Dylan, Patti Smith and Andy Warhol calling it home in the 1960s. Nowadays, many art students still call it home and move to the city for college in hopes of opportunity and connections. Even among swarms of questions and uncertainty for the future of creativity and AI, artists remain passionate and dedicated to creating despite it all.