AI-Assisted Art · Since 2016

Daniel Joy Grimes

formerly Dani Joy Art

Computational Artist · Generative AI Engineer · Grass Valley, CA
Now at visual-synthesizer.com

I began working with AI as an artistic medium in 2016, starting with DeepDream and Style Transfer—documenting the process on YouTube by 2017—before moving into training my own Generative Adversarial Networks by 2018. I was among the first 400 users of Stable Diffusion, contributed to the Simulacra Aesthetics dataset, and coined the term Multi-Modal Neural Network (MMNN) art.

My practice, which I call Computational Muralism, merges 15+ years of traditional fine art—oil painting, airbrush, figure drawing, concept art—with cutting-edge generative AI pipelines. The work is rooted in a simple belief: don't try to beat AI, merge with it.

This domain was my original portfolio under the name Dani Joy Art. All current work lives at visual-synthesizer.com.

Exhibitions & Juried Shows
2024 CVPR AI Art Gallery MMNN Art, Seattle
2019 NeurIPS AI Art Gallery as Dani Joy, Vancouver
2018 NeurIPS AI Art Gallery — Metamers as Dani Joy, Montréal
2017 AI-Assisted Drawings early process videos, YouTube
Notable Work

Pamblo Project — Created the first visual representation of Chief Pamblo in collaboration with the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe through CHIRP's Visibility Through Art Initiative. Developed custom LoRA models and extensive digital painting from a historically sparse dataset.

MMNN Art (2022–2023) — World-first Multi-Modal Neural Network artworks achieving resolutions up to 1 billion pixels, suitable for mural-scale installations up to 26×14 feet at photographic resolution. Exhibited at CVPR 2024.

Commercial AI Art — Work has appeared in luxury fashion campaigns and national television advertising. Clients engage me for bespoke AI model development, concept art, and gigapixel canvas production.

Press & Features
The AI Art Corner · Medium
Dani Joy and The Art of Neuromancy
In-depth interview on the journey from traditional painting to AI-assisted art, the influence of Kasparov's cyborg chess philosophy, and building a custom deep learning server on Arch Linux.
Cueva Gallery · Medium
Explorations of AI Art — Episode 22
Feature on synthesizing traditional and digital art practices, with work exhibited alongside the early AI art community at Cueva Gallery.
The AI Art Corner · AI Artists Directory
Dani Joy — Artist Profile
Directory listing in the AI Artists Directory, previously featured on Cueva Gallery.
CHIRP / UBASEO
Pamblo: Remembering a Forgotten Leader
The first visual representation of Chief Pamblo, created in collaboration with the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe through CHIRP's Visibility Through Art Initiative.
The Union · Nevada City
Maasai Life and Culture Art Exhibit
Coverage of art exhibit on display in Nevada City.
Current & Archive