The rise of AI tools has significantly expanded the definition of portrait extreme. Artists now use precise prompts to generate "ultra-realistic" or "hyper-realistic" images that are indistinguishable from professional photography.
Uses AI, deepfakes, or 3D scanning. Example: Refik Anadol’s AI portraits — hundreds of faces blended into a fluid, inhuman composite. portrait extreme
Borrows from horror cinema: stitches, extra eyes, removable skin. Example: Joel-Peter Witkin’s photographs featuring cadavers, intersex individuals, or carnival “freaks.” The rise of AI tools has significantly expanded