The Modern Arcana
Reimagining Tarot Through Queer Futures with Generative AI
This generative AI art series reinterprets the Tarot’s Major Arcana as living, modern archetypes. Each card was reimagined through a queer and trans lens, blending ancient symbolism with contemporary storytelling. Created using Runway ML, the project explores how AI can be a tool for both artistry and identity reclamation.
The Process Behind the Project
Tarot, Tradition, Technology
Tarot has inspired me for years as both a personal practice and a design metaphor. With this project, I wanted to see what would happen if I evolved that tradition using generative AI. By weaving together archetypal imagery, queer storytelling, and modern creative technology, I created a series that honors the past while imagining new, inclusive futures.
Prompt Alchemy
I crafted prompts that fused classical tarot symbolism with modern, cinematic detail — experimenting with lighting, fabric, and setting to evoke archetypal energy.
Curation + Iteration
Dozens of generations were explored. The final images were selected not just for beauty, but for how well they spoke to both tradition and reinvention.
Queer Lens
Each figure is recast as unapologetically queer, trans, or fluid — reshaping who gets to embody wisdom, power, joy, and transformation.
