Meet Leilanni!
Meet Leilanni (IG: @floam.world), an artist who seamlessly blends her extensive background in fashion design and advertising with AI art. Her journey into digital creativity is marked by groundbreaking work in 3D software, animation, and digital fashion.
Leilanni's hallmark project, Floam World, vividly showcases her commitment to environmental themes and the idea of resilience in both ecological and personal contexts. Her art style is characterized as bold, playful, and surreal, uniquely defined by her affinity for squishy, inflatable textures within her AI creations. Her major works, including the ExoEmo campaign and 'The Graduates,' showcase her unique ability to blend fashion, technology, and social commentary.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got interested in AI art?
For almost two decades, I've had a career in both fashion design and advertising, primarily as a Creative Director for agencies, where I've created brand campaigns encompassing film, photography, digital, and social assets. More recently, I create digital artwork using 3D software: I’ve made short animations and films, developed 3D characters, world-building and designed digital fashion apparel. So for me, diving head first into all things AI felt like a natural progression and extension of my workflow.
Since childhood, I've been drawn to storytelling, illustration, and creative projects, from drawing and painting to crafting plasticine characters and even making my own fashion magazine complete with advertisements. I attended OCAD, where I studied art direction, fine art and later went on to study fashion design.
My fascination with AI began when I realized its potential to quickly generate surreal and high-fidelity images, a process that would typically take months and numerous resources in my role as a creative director and in fashion design. AI as a creative tool gives me the opportunity to express my ideas freely, allowing me to explore concepts without the constraints of physical reality or client input.
Who or what are your artistic inspirations, and how do they influence your work?
There are many artistic influences that inform my work, particularly within Floam World, where most of my AI art resides. Floam World began as a futuristic fashion platform in a world reshaped by rising sea levels, where the resilient Floam materialized from discarded plastics and foam. While the narrative has evolved, aquatic themes and climate change continue to surface.
My previous swimwear line also has a huge influence on my work with water symbolism. I'm drawn to the idea of self-reliance to stay afloat, both emotionally and physically – keeping your head above water. The 'Floamies' concept, inspired by playful, oversized flotation devices, serves as a symbol of personal flotation and life preserver, both literally and metaphorically. They are there to help.
Beyond fashion, I draw inspiration from themes like sisterhood, inspired by powerful women in my life, including my mom, Lola (grandmother), aunt, and sisters. The environment and its living creatures play a significant role, as does my fascination with the relationship between technology and humans. Sometimes, inspiration arises from daily experiences, whether mundane subway commutes or the extraordinary, like the discovery of UFOs and alien life forms.
Stylistically, I'm attracted to graphic, bold, playful, and surreal design. I like juxtaposing ideas and materials and am drawn to absurdity. For the past 5 years, I’ve been expanding my work using 3D software. I really love to incorporate squishy, inflatable textures, synonymous with 3D, into my AI art. The textures are very Floam-y and otherworldly.
How do you approach the creative process when working with AI?
I typically start with a specific idea in mind, but I'm always open to the unexpected results that the process can bring. I love being surprised by something you never initially envisioned and then I iterate off of that.
Regarding the process compared to traditional art mediums, there are similarities. I still spend a lot of time on research, testing, iteration, and so on. If something doesn't feel right, I leave it and might revisit it months later with a new approach and fresh inspiration. I have many 'campaigns' that each include hundreds of generated images that I haven't shared because something just doesn't feel right.
Where AI differs from other art mediums is the speed at which you can create; the results are instantaneous. Additionally, there is an inherent 'dance' that takes place, unique to this medium. I really enjoy this process.
Can you share a specific moment that transformed your perspective on AI art?
I loved the ExoEmo campaign. I wanted to comment on our reliance on technology and how deeply integrated it has become in our daily lives. So, I created an apparel line that fused wearable tech into an exo-skeleton fashion shell (crafted from recycled plastics, of course!).
I developed a campaign for the fashion line, which included poster design and a campaign film. This portion of the work is my favorite and also takes the longest to craft.
'The Graduates' is another project I really appreciate, both conceptually and visually. It was created during the early days of AI and serves as my commentary on climate change and what the graduating class of 5024 might be wearing by then. I included pull-quotes for each graduate and aimed to keep it light. I'm personally drawn to work where the message comes across in the subtext and isn't too overt, especially when addressing topics.
How has working with AI in art influenced your mental and emotional wellbeing?
Working with AI in art has had a mixed impact on my mental and emotional wellbeing. On one hand, the process is very liberating and thrilling. I love the surprise element that is part of the process and I love to see where I end up.
As part of being a creative director, I spend a good portion of my job sifting through hundreds of images to curate mood boards for film treatments, set design, prop styling, wardrobe, h&mu, etc. So in someways, creating these new images is like a breath of fresh air for me.
Also, the AI community is super supportive. Being able to connect with fellow artists and appreciating their work has been a great experience. However, it's worth noting that the social platform where I've made these connections can also be stressful in terms of time and effort needed to maintain an active account.
In your opinion, how does AI redefine the concept of creativity and artistic agency, and how do you see it impacting the future of art?
I view AI as a powerful creative tool that makes image-making and storytelling accessible to everyone, breaking down barriers to entry in artistic expression. I understand the apprehension surrounding AI, and I don't think it's a replacement for creativity, which is one of the concerns associated with it. I believe creativity will always exist and flourish, no matter which medium the artist chooses.
Regarding the future, if the tools continue to improve, I will continue working with them and incorporating them into my workflow.
What role do you think AI art can play in highlighting social issues?
I think AI art can play a significant role in highlighting issues. AI, as a medium for storytelling, is highly democratizing; anyone can reimagine and construct an alternate reality. The barrier to entry is so low that everyone, not just the elite few, can tell stories, resulting in richer and more diverse storytelling. Some of my work addresses current events and the absurdity of our reality. I try to keep the undertones very covert, using subtle symbols throughout my work that serve as a personal wink to myself. But sometimes it's more overt, as in the case of the discovery of UFOs and alien life forms!
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or not, who would it be and why?
My dream collaborations would be with Alexander McQueen, David Bowie, Dries Van Noten, Es Devlin, Ettore Sottsass, Issey Miyake, Jacquemus, Jim Henson, Miuccia Prada, Rei Kawakubo, to name a few. To me, these artists are visionaries and continue to evolve and push the boundaries.
What advice or encouragement would you give to aspiring women who are interested in pursuing AI art?
Don’t over think it. Just dive right in! The water’s warm.
For more of Leilanni’s incredible work, make sure to visit her Instagram account: @floam.world