In Nathan Birch’s Middle School Art classroom, history and technology have collided in the most unexpected way. Students used a pair of spinning wheels, not for fun alone, but to determine which historic masterpiece they would be reinterpreting in a completely different art style. Mona Lisa as graffiti art? The Girl with a Pearl Earring in anime? These imaginative creations have come to life thanks to AI image generators and the students’ own creativity.
Birch’s innovative project married the old and the new. After spinning the wheels to pair famous portraits like Van Gogh’s self-portrait or Grant Wood’s American Gothic with styles ranging from Impressionism to Pop Art, students used AI tools such as DALL-E by OpenAI to generate a starting point. But the project didn't stop at the screen. Students then transferred their AI-generated images to paper, enlarging them using a traditional grid method that has been a staple of art education for generations.
“I wanted to strike a balance between modern technology and art history,” said Birch.
There’s something exciting about taking the timeless beauty of classic art and giving it a fresh twist using the latest tools.
For students, the process was as much about grappling with AI’s imperfections as it was about creating something new.
When an AI-generated version of Van Gogh's self portrait came out with no head, or when figures would come out with six fingers, students would laugh at the sometimes-bizarre outputs of their prompts. But those moments are part of the lesson. Birch hopes students take away an awareness of AI’s limitations and the critical thinking needed to use it effectively.
“They’re learning that AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity,” Birch said. “It requires direction, critique, and imagination to turn the imperfect into something meaningful.”
Beyond introducing students to AI, Birch has used the project as a gateway to art history.
Through the lens of AI, students explore how artists across time have reimagined the world and how they, too, can push the boundaries of artistic expression.
As students wrap up their final pieces, the variety of results is staggering. Even those who used the same prompt produced dramatically different outcomes.
In the end, Birch believes projects like this prepare students for much more than art.
“They’re learning to adapt, to think critically, and to use technology responsibly,” he said. “And along the way, they’re creating something they can be proud of.”
The contrast of AI’s efficiency with the time-consuming nature of traditional art reminds students that both approaches have their place. Together, they create something that feels entirely new—a skill set that will serve these students well in whatever future they choose to create.
