Hamilton Gallery Owner Says AI Will Make Human Art More Valuable

HAMILTON — While artificial intelligence continues to disrupt creative industries worldwide, Hamilton gallery owner James Corwin believes the rise of AI-generated art will actually make human-created artwork more valuable than ever.

Corwin, a renowned wildlife artist who owns Corwin Galleries and represents over 30 artists, argues that the proliferation of AI art will drive collectors and art lovers toward pieces they can verify as authentically human-made.

“It appears a lot of people are worried – and they should be – about AI replacing jobs in creative industries,” said Corwin, whose artwork is represented by galleries throughout the United States and sold internationally. “I don’t share the same feeling that this is a problem for artists. I believe AI is going to strengthen the desirability of original artwork and any art created by a human hand.”

Global AI art sales have surged 40 percent in two years, jumping from $3.2 billion in 2023 to $5.3 billion in 2025, according to Market.us. The research firm projects AI-generated art sales will reach nearly $19 billion by 2030.

But Corwin sees opportunity rather than threat in those numbers. He compares the art market to live entertainment that cannot be replicated by technology.

“We have plays and live theater that can’t be replaced and replicated by AI. You also have live concerts where you can listen to your favorite band in person,” Corwin said. “In the age of AI, people are likely going to be drawn to things that it cannot reproduce, like the tactile nature of brush strokes on canvas or fingerprints in sculpture.”

The Hamilton artist, whose work focuses on eliciting emotion from viewers through intimate wildlife scenes, acknowledges the challenge of proving authenticity as AI becomes more sophisticated. His proposed solution involves radical transparency about the creative process.

“If an artist holds up a piece of our work in their hands, who is to say that it isn’t an AI-generated image?” Corwin said. “If we bring people into our world by sharing our journey and the process of creating the work from start to finish, then that creates believability and interest around the work.”

Corwin isn’t opposed to artists using AI as a tool, but emphasizes the need for honesty about production methods.

“I wish I knew how to use AI to create mockup images for painting references,” he said. “People are adopting AI as a tool. It’s going to get better and more convincing as it progresses with time, but that’s why I believe people are going to be drawn to artwork by humans even more.”

The gallery owner sees the current moment as pivotal for the art world, with audiences increasingly seeking authentic experiences in an era of digital saturation.

“We are inundated with imagery where we don’t know whether it is human-created or not,” Corwin said. “That’s why I believe people are going to be drawn to artwork by humans even more.”