There’s something immediately captivating about the work of Kwano-Gen. A quiet force in the world of AI art, he’s been on my radar for some time — and for good reason.

His black and white compositions pulse with depth, emotion, and an unmistakable sense of identity.

What sets Kwano-Gen apart isn’t just his technical mastery or his stunning compositions. It’s the way he crafts a distinct visual language — one that feels both deeply human and boldly futuristic.

Within his universe, shadows speak, light becomes a storyteller, and each piece offers a glimpse into a world that seems just beyond reach, yet emotionally resonant.

His aesthetic is deliberate, personal, and richly developed — never derivative, neither chasing trends. Whether portraying surreal portraits or dreamlike scenes, Kwano-Gen’s style remains consistent, thoughtful, and unmistakably his own.

This is an artist who understands the tools of AI as a means, not an end. His work invites you to pause, question, and feel — and that is a rare gift.

If you’re not already following the evolution of his journey, it’s time to start. His Instagram is a gallery in motion, a window into a mind that sees both what is and what could be.

Now, let’s hear from the artist himself.

Who are you?

Hi Im Keith, A father, Im English and I live in Norway, I trained as a designer and worked various roles across advertising, tech and product design. Im slowing embracing my ‘artist’ side, saying that I’ve been a portrait artist on the side for a number of years. Passionate about creativity in all its forms and I love collaboration and discussions about both traditional and new mediums of expression.

How long have you been using generative AI?

Ive been using generative Ai for two years I think. I still work as a product designer and I am using generative Ai as part of that daily. Equally Generative Ai I feel has kinda unlocked my creative and artistic side, as its allowed me to ‘doodle’ in a high level of output. I no longer have to justify that project to myself and time spent, I can also do a lot more of that myself and also do larger commission projects. In short I can realise and experiment very quickly and offload ideas I may have very quickly.

Where do you find your inspiration currently?

Music has always been part of my youth, as well as art and design, so many aesthetic choices come from many artists and styles I’ve studied and enjoyed. My inspiration for ideas in the work I do now is a mixture of nostalgia, human connection and probably the core theme of ideas is questions of the impact of new tech, and the anxiety and hope that brings to humanity.

Which AI tools do you use the most  and do you have any tips?

The tools I use are very varied now, Ive always been quite consistent with Mid Journey, but tools like Krea are becoming more valuable, especially tools like that, that allow for many different things, these are really helpful as gives you more flexibility to experiment and try different methods out without a huge budget. My pro tip would be to gather a visual bank of your own work and visual interests first, spend time on that visual research and build mood boards before jumping headfirst into generation.

Any advice for those who want to get started with AI art?

I think to focus less on the output, I think using generative ai is the same as traditional media, its what you bring to the tool or paintbrush. I think pausing first to think on your own ingredients, inspirations and questions you may want to answer with your work is the best starting point. Tools change and evolve quickly but your own ‘voice’ is what makes it something. Its also overwhelming trying to keep pace with the tools, so play around and if you find something you like using go with that, dont chase the latest trends or output quality every time.