Luxury Labels Snub AI-generated Artwork for Hand-Painted Murals — Retail Bum

As AI-generated artwork continues to flood the advertising scene, luxury labels are looking to stand out from the crowd and return to the human perspective through hand-painted murals for their out-of-home (OOH) advertising.

The effort not only highlights individuality but also offers a dose of heritage and nostalgia.

The move to pivot from the hype around AI-generated artwork also aims to create an emotional connection similar to that provoked by an artisanally crafted pair of shoes or a Birkin.

In a conversation with FashionUnited, Kevin Bartanian, the CEO and founder of Kevani, an OOH media sales organization that focuses on urban-scale media assets, discussed why hand-painted murals are continuing to attract interest, especially in Los Angeles, where Kevani has played a role in starting the digital outdoor advertising industry.

“A painting conveys a sense of individuality, it stands out and communicates that a brand’s products are not run-of-the-mill, that they’re unique,” said Bartanian.

“Every hand-painted mural is essentially an art piece which resonates well with luxury brands.”

But the pivot to hand-painted murals is not relatively new. In fact, the demand came pouring in from…