Gendered Censorship in the Age of AI: Artist Violet on Platforms, Visibility, and Feminine Labor

A Research Interview with Artist Violet

How would you describe your work, and what draws you to creating in the way you do?

My work isn’t very layered or hard to understand or appreciate, so I would describe it as trendy and feminine in a bubblegum pop music sort of way. My earlier work as a student, when I was still experimenting, was quite different. It was complex, dark, almost creepy, and often trippy. I fell in love with the process of animating and doing the same thing over and over again until your mind goes numb.

This might be a lame reason, but I started creating the work I do now because that is what people wanted to pay me for. The current aesthetic I’ve developed was made for my main client base, which is influencers and brands. I’ve learned to take myself out of my work so I can present it for the client and the audience, not just for myself.

It’s still pretty early in my art career. I’ve been freelancing for about a year and a half, so I’m still growing. I’ve worked for years to develop my skills in illustrating and animating, and I’ve achieved a style that is eye catching and easily likable. Right now, I’m focused on meeting my clients’ needs and making others happy.

In an online ecosystem governed by platform moderation, algorithms, and AI systems, have you experienced censorship, suppression, or extraction of your work? How has this shaped your visibility and labor as an artist?

Surprisingly, yes. You would think that an account where I only post art with fun captions wouldn’t attract that kind of reaction, but the Internet is the Internet.

In the comments of one of my first viral TikToks, someone wrote, “See how there’s no men here?” alongside comments from people saying my page felt like a safe space for them. That single comment triggered waves of incel troll accounts posting things like “y’all make everything about sexism and misogyny” and “have fun dying alone with cats.”

I spent hours monitoring my page and blocking every single one of them. It’s wild how one comment can gain traction with the wrong audience. I’m no stranger to harassment from men online. When I used to post personal photos, I was targeted by Asian fetish forums and incels attacking me for trying to expose them.

I have zero tolerance for that kind of reaction. If my work isn’t speaking to you, simply move on. Not every space has to be for you.

I’m not actively excluding men. I just don’t create art for them, and I never will. There are plenty of other artists who make male centered art, and I won’t be one of them.

My work may eventually move away from the Barbiecore pop vibe I have now, but even as my aesthetic changes, I will always be thinking about girlhood and the female experience.

How do algorithms and trend driven platforms influence how your work circulates, and how do you navigate visibility versus vulnerability online?

Definitely. So far, algorithms have worked in my favor because I am chronically online and enjoy participating in Internet trends. I see a lot of newer art accounts now where I can tell they’ve been influenced, directly or indirectly, by my style and posting format. I love seeing parts of my aesthetic reinterpreted by others, and it’s meaningful to know I’ve inspired someone.

What I don’t appreciate is when someone directly copies my style, which is usually obvious, or when my work gets scraped and turned into AI generated content. That has happened to me a few times, and it’s one of the worst feelings. It feels lazy, and it’s upsetting that this damaging technology is so accessible to people who don’t respect artists.

My followers are amazing at protecting me. They let me know if they see my work being copied or used in AI systems. I’m incredibly grateful for my platform because it’s filled with people who genuinely respect creative labor and care about protecting artists.

How does your cultural background shape your work, if at all?

I’m Korean American, but I don’t really think my culture shows through my work very much, aside from the fact that the way I draw has long been inspired by old Korean makeup and dress up games.

I would hardly call games for children an important facet of Korean culture. I’m sure there are other artists who investigate their cultures on a much deeper level in a way that is more present in their work.

I would describe my work as an Americanized style of Korean character illustration, made mainly for girls or for people who are drawn to pink, girly visuals.

How do ideas around feminism, bodily autonomy, or self determination influence what you create, if at all?

These are topics I want to explore more deeply later in my work, once I have more creative control. I love drawing women and girls in their personal spaces, and since I’ve started specializing in YouTube intros, I’ve been able to capture the lives of so many creators. Sometimes I get asked to draw a boyfriend, husband, or brother, which I hate.

It’s really fun for me to craft a world where men either don’t exist at all or exist only as side characters. Most commissions I’ve done for creators are collages of whatever the client holds dear to her heart, including her pets, career, education, money, friends, and hobbies.

Once I started adding captions to my art, I gained much more visibility online because so many girls and women related to the narrative I was building, which is that you can be happy being independent.

I think the idea of straying from the traditional life of marriage and kids is still foreign to many of us, including myself. I believe we need to spend more time promoting and glamorizing a life where you come first, no matter what.

What themes or ideas are you most interested in exploring right now?

While I want to continue doing commercial work, I’m interested in shifting toward a darker visual language. I want to create narratives around my personal experiences with depression and anxiety, and around navigating life, work, and friendships as an artist in New York City.

I love music and collaborating with musicians. I’ve made a few Spotify canvases, which were really fun, and I would love to work on a music video or lyric video. Long term, I hope to work on a TV show, film, or musical.

I’ve developed my current style to be marketable to my audience because at the end of the day I need to make a living. My personal style before freelancing full time evoked very different emotions than the work I’m known for now. I’m trying to find a healthy balance between work that is accessible and work that requires more context and depth.

Where can people follow your work or support what you’re creating next?

My Instagram is @sourviolet and I’m on TikTok at @sourviolet_. I post often and I’m planning to work on a variety of new projects this year. I hope to continue growing my platform and reaching more people.

Thank you for loving and supporting my art.