AI-Generated Art Policy

Our Marketplace Promise
The Mer-Cantile was created to celebrate the skill, imagination, and heart that human artists bring to their work. Every item in our marketplace should carry the story of its maker — whether that’s in the brushstrokes of a painting, the texture of a sculpture, or the details of a digital illustration.

Our Policy
To protect the integrity of our creative community, we do not allow AI-generated visual art to be sold on The Mer-Cantile. This includes:

  • Artwork or images fully created by AI tools

  • Partially AI-generated pieces where AI created any significant visual element of the final work

  • AI-generated modifications or “upscales” of existing images when used to produce prints or digital files for sale

What’s Welcome

  • Art in any medium that is fully created by the seller — traditional, digital, or mixed media

  • Use of software like Photoshop, Procreate, Illustrator, and other digital tools where the creator remains in full artistic control

  • Photography where the images are captured by the artist, not generated by AI

Why This Matters
Our customers choose The Mer-Cantile because they want to support real people, not algorithms. This policy helps ensure that every purchase uplifts a living, breathing artist and the craft they’ve honed over time.

Enforcement
We rely on the honesty of our vendors and the support of our community to uphold these standards. Listings found to violate this policy may be removed, and repeat violations may result in account suspension.