In an intriguing twist of events, the National Museum Cardiff in Wales became an unwitting stage for an AI art experiment that caught visitors by surprise.

Amid growing discussions about artificial intelligence encroaching on traditionally human domains, a creative art prank unfolded. Last month, an AI-generated artwork was discreetly placed on display at the museum, leaving visitors puzzled until they notified staff about the unconventional piece.

The mastermind behind this sneaky exhibition was the enigmatic artist Elias Marrow. According to a report from the BBC, Marrow’s digital creation attracted the eyes of several hundred museum-goers before it was eventually taken down.

Designed to mimic a traditional oil painting, the AI-generated artwork featured a young boy clad in a school uniform, seated with a book tucked under his arm and an empty plate perched on his lap. Marrow initially sketched the image before employing AI to bring it to life, ultimately producing the final prints.

In a bid to add authenticity to the artificial, Marrow even placed a plaque next to the piece. This label identified the work as “Empty Plate” by the supposed artist, complete with details about the medium and lender, as reported by Artnet.com.

It read, “digital print on paper, custom-made frame. Limited edition, signed. On loan from the Artist, 2025.”

The guerrilla artwork was reportedly displayed in the museum’s contemporary art gallery for several hours before sharp-eyed visitors caught wise to the con and brought it to the attention of staff.

One tourist from Ireland said they initially wondered “why such a poor quality AI piece was hanging there without being labelled as AI.” But when the guest approached the staff, they said “they had no idea about the piece or when it arrived.”

“An item was placed without permission on a gallery wall,” a museum spokesperson said. “We were alerted to this and have removed the item in question.”

Nonetheless, the undercover exhibition proved a triumph for Marrow, who said that guests responded well and even took photos.

The provocateur, seemingly channeling fellow prankster and gold toilet mastermind Maurizio Cattelan, said the goal of the cybernetic knockoff was to illustrate “how public institutions decide what’s worth showing, and what happens when something outside that system appears within it.”

Marrow said the use of AI in the artwork represented the “natural evolution of artistic tools,” declaring, “AI is here to stay; to gatekeep its capability would be against the beliefs I hold dear about art.”

This isn’t Marrow’s first rodeo.  

In July, the artist placed “unsanctioned” works at two UK museums, including a painted brick in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall in London and a placard at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

Despite not getting the green light for his displays, Marrow claims that his “work isn’t about disruption,” but “about participation without permission.”