Thor: Ragnarok Concept Artist Olivia Hamza on Why AI Art Can Feel Empty
At Montreal Comiccon 2025, we spoke with professional concept artist Olivia Hamza, also known as NotWhatNot, about AI art and its impact on artists. Hamza has worked in concept art and VFX on major projects including Thor: Ragnarok, A Wrinkle in Time, and The Meg. She explained that when AI image tools first became popular, many artists were terrified, especially because the technology could quickly produce beautiful images. She even recalled being told by an art director that she was out of a job.
Over time, her view has shifted. While AI can create polished visuals, Hamza believes it still struggles with the emotional factor that makes art meaningful. She described the strange disappointment people can feel when they connect with an image, search for meaning in it, and later discover it was generated by AI.
For Hamza, that reaction matters. Art is often powerful because someone made choices, felt something, and tried to communicate. AI may be impressive, but she argues that it lacks the soul, intention, and emotional depth that people look for when they truly connect with creative work.
It’s a thoughtful interview about AI art, fear, emotional honesty, and why human creativity still matters.
Leave a Reply
RSS