Genuine, commercial, fake & AI art: Who decides?

What is genuine art? Is it defined by the artist’s sincerity, originality, craftsmanship or intention—or by the effect it has on the viewer?

Throughout history, art has meant different things to different people. For centuries, artists worked in the service of monarchs, religious institutions, the state and wealthy patrons. Art was created to illustrate faith, record history, preserve a likeness, demonstrate status—and, often, to earn a living.

But what about now?

Can commercially successful art still be entirely genuine? Does creating work to sell, satisfy a patron, follow fashion or appeal to tourists compromise its artistic integrity? If artists were financially independent, would they create differently?

And what makes art “fake”? Beyond forgery, can an original work be considered fake because it is imitative, fashionable, pretentious or created without conviction? How does AI-generated art change the conversation?

Publicity, galleries, critics and wealthy collectors can all shape an artist’s reputation—and the value attached to their work. But who ultimately decides whether art is genuine, commercial or fake: the artist, the experts, the market, the public—or history?

Kyklos invites you to a lively debate with three painters and art experts:

Rafael Mahdavi — Painter & Sculptor
Euphrosyne Doxiadis — Art Historian & Painter
Peter Macken — Graphic Artist & Painter

The bar will be open—come early, enjoy the sunset and join the conversation.