This collection of 30 dystopian painting prompts delves into the darker side of the human experience, showcasing a variety of bleak and oppressive future worlds. From the corroded metal structures of industrial dystopias to the desolate wastelands of post-apocalyptic societies, these prompts provide artists with a rich palette of themes, styles, and techniques to explore. The color palettes range from cold and muted to fiery and apocalyptic, with lighting and shading designed to accentuate the mood of each scene. Whether you prefer the realism of Edward Hopper, the expressionism of Francis Bacon, or the surrealism of Salvador Dali, these prompts offer something for every artist seeking to capture the unsettling realities of dystopian futures.

30 text-to-image prompts for creating dark dystopian paintings

1. A massive, decaying metropolis looming in the background as a group of oppressed citizens huddle together in the foreground; Dystopian; Realism, Surrealism, Cyberpunk; Oil paint, Mixed media, Digital; Dimly-lit, bleak lighting with occasional neon accents; Grayscale with pops of vivid, unnatural colors; by Edward Hopper, Zdzisław Beksiński, and Syd Mead; Unreal engine 5
2. A desolate wasteland with rusted, abandoned machinery dotting the horizon; Dystopian; Post-apocalyptic, Industrial; Charcoal, Ink, Digital; Harsh, unforgiving lighting with heavy shadows; Muted earth tones with occasional bright accents; by Ralph McQuarrie, Simon Stålenhag, and James Gurney; Unreal engine 5
3. A group of heavily armed soldiers standing guard over a fenced-in city, surrounded by the ruins of what used to be a thriving metropolis; Dystopian; Cyberpunk, Military; Acrylic, Oil paint, Digital; Stark, artificial lighting with occasional flashes of neon; Cool blues and grays with pops of vivid reds; by William Gibson, Simon Bisley, and Hajime Sorayama; Unreal engine 5
4. A lone figure standing on a deserted street, surrounded by decaying, empty buildings; Dystopian; Realism, Surrealism; Watercolor, Charcoal, Digital; Soft, diffused lighting with occasional beams of light; Muted, earthy tones with occasional pops of bright colors; by Edward Hopper, René Magritte, and Dorothea Lange; Unreal engine 5
5. A massive wall separating the haves from the have-nots, with the latter living in squalor on the other side; Dystopian; Realism, Social commentary; Oil paint, Digital, Mixed media; Stark, harsh lighting with occasional flashes of hope; Muted earth tones with occasional bright accents; by George Orwell, Banksy, and Shepard Fairey; Unreal engine 5
6. An abandoned metropolis overrun with nature and wildlife; Post-Apocalyptic, Surrealism; Oil, Spray Paint; Harsh, Contrast Lighting; Monochromatic with pops of neon green; by Edward Hopper, Salvador Dali, and Banksy; Unreal engine 5
7. A futuristic society with a stark divide between the rich and poor; Cyberpunk, Realism; Digital, 3D Modeling; Neon, Glitchy Lighting; Muted tones with accents of metallic silver; by George Tooker, Fritz Lang, and Ridley Scott; Unreal engine 5
8. A landscape ravaged by climate change and pollution; Environmental, Abstract Expressionism; Mixed Media, Collage; Hazy, Diffused Lighting; Muted tones with bursts of fiery red and orange; by Anselm Kiefer, Banksy, and Jackson Pollock; Unreal engine 5
9. A society where emotions and individuality are suppressed; Orwellian, Expressionism; Charcoal, Graphite; Stark, Harsh Lighting; Monochromatic with deep shadows; by Francisco Goya, Edward Hopper, and Edvard Munch; Unreal engine 5
10. A world in which technology has replaced human connection; Futuristic, Pop Art; Digital, Photography; Bright, Fluorescent Lighting; Vibrant colors with a focus on electric blue; by Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Nam June Paik; Unreal engine 5
11. A digital painting of a towering, polluted cityscape with dark clouds and acid rain; Cyberpunk, Surrealism; Digital Painting, Matte Painting; Neon lighting and harsh shadows; Monochromatic with shades of grey and green; by H.R. Giger, Syd Mead, and Simon Stalenhag; Unreal Engine 5
12. An oil painting of a deserted wasteland with rusted cars and abandoned buildings; Post-Apocalyptic, Realism; Oil Painting, Impasto; Low-key lighting and dramatic shadows; Monochromatic with shades of brown and orange; by Edward Hopper, Anselm Kiefer, and Thomas Cole; Unreal Engine 5
13. A watercolor painting of a flooded city with submerged buildings and rusted ships; Steampunk, Impressionism; Watercolor, Wash; Soft lighting with hints of blue and green; Monochromatic with shades of grey and blue; by J.M.W. Turner, William Turner, and John Everett Millais; Unreal Engine 5
14. A digital painting of a futuristic society with a divided class system and advanced technology; Cyberpunk, Futurism; Digital Painting, Concept Art; Harsh and colorful lighting; Monochromatic with shades of blue and red; by William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, and Bruce Sterling; Unreal Engine 5
15. An acrylic painting of a barren, lifeless planet with a dark, ominous sky; Space, Realism; Acrylic Painting, Glazing; Low-key lighting with hints of purple and orange; Monochromatic with shades of grey and black; by Chesley Bonestell, Robert McCall, and Michael Whelan; Unreal Engine 5
16. A deserted metropolis with a towering skyscraper looming in the background; Futuristic, Expressionism, Abstract; Oil on canvas, Digital painting; Stark, artificial lighting casting deep shadows; Monochromatic with neon accents; by Edward Hopper, Edward Ruscha, and Yves Tanguy; Unreal engine 5
17. A massive, rusted machine emerging from the depths of the sea; Industrial, Surrealism; Mixed media, Charcoal; Harsh, overhead lighting casting deep shadows; Black and white with rusted metal accents; by Salvador Dali, H.R. Giger, and Frida Kahlo; Unreal engine 5
18. A barren wasteland with twisted, gnarled trees reaching towards a dark sky; Gothic, Expressionism; Ink on paper, Photography; Low key, dramatic lighting casting long shadows; Black and white with deep shadows and high contrast; by Caspar David Friedrich, Edvard Munch, and Ansel Adams; Unreal engine 5
19. A crowded, neon-lit alleyway filled with people in gas masks; Cyberpunk, Pop art, Surrealism; Digital painting, Spray paint; Glaring, artificial lighting with vibrant neon accents; High contrast with neon colors; by Keith Haring, Takashi Murakami, and Banksy; Unreal engine 5
20. A decaying, abandoned factory with twisted pipes and rusted machinery; Industrial, Realism, Expressionism; Oil on canvas, Charcoal; Dim, eerie lighting casting long shadows; Monochromatic with rusted metal accents; by Diego Rivera, Georges Braque, and Edward Hopper; Unreal engine 5
21. A massive, deteriorating skyscraper, dwarfing smaller buildings in the distance; Dystopian, Surrealism; Oil on canvas, Mixed media; Dim, artificial lighting casting stark shadows; Grey, with accents of rusty red; by Edward Hopper, Salvador Dali, and Francis Bacon; Unreal engine 5
22. An overcrowded city square, filled with robotic figures, with a single organic figure standing in the center; Cyberpunk, Pop art; Digital painting, Graffiti; Neon lights and screens casting an eerie glow; Neon colors with black and white accents; by Takashi Murakami, Banksy, and Hajime Sorayama; Unreal engine 5
23. A ruined wasteland, dotted with remnants of industrial machinery; Post-apocalyptic, Expressionism; Charcoal, Photography; Harsh, direct sunlight creating high contrast; Monochromatic with shades of black, grey and white; by Anselm Kiefer, Jackson Pollock, and Gerhard Richter; Unreal engine 5
24. A city skyline, obscured by dense smog and pollution, with gas masks-clad figures in the foreground; Environmental, Realism; Acrylic, Digital painting; Hazy, muted lighting creating a suffocating atmosphere; Muted colors with a focus on grey and brown; by Banksy, Edward Burtynsky, and Ai Weiwei; Unreal engine 5
25. A solitary figure, alone in a vast desert, staring up at a dark, foreboding sky; Isolation, Minimalism; Ink wash, Digital painting; Stark, high contrast lighting; Monochromatic with shades of blue and black; by Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, and Kazimir Malevich; Unreal engine 5
26. A towering metropolis engulfed in smog, with flickering neon lights illuminating the shadows; Futuristic, Cyberpunk; Digital painting, Mixed media; Dimly lit alleys and bright neon lights; High-contrast with deep blues and oranges; by Syd Mead, Simon Stålenhag, and Hajime Sorayama; Unreal engine 5
27. A group of rebels fighting against a totalitarian regime in a barren wasteland; Post-apocalyptic, Action; Oil painting, Impressionism; Harsh sunlight and dusty winds; Earthy browns and greys with pops of red; by Kathe Kollwitz, Diego Rivera, and Edward Hopper; Unreal engine 5
28. An abandoned factory complex overtaken by nature in a dystopian world; Industrial, Decay; Photography, Black and white; Low-key lighting with stark contrasts; Monochromatic black and white with hints of green; by Edward Burtynsky, Bernd and Hilla Becher, and Sebastião Salgado; Unreal engine 5
29. A group of survivors navigating a flooded cityscape in a world ravaged by climate change; Environmental, Survival; Watercolor, Ink wash; Soft, diffuse lighting with occasional sunbeams; A muted color palette with blues and greys; by J.M.W. Turner, Winslow Homer, and George Inness; Unreal engine 5
30. A society where technology has completely taken over and humans are isolated in a virtual world; Cybernetic, Isolation; Digital art, Augmented Reality; Glitchy, neon lighting with stark contrasts; Vibrant, saturated colors with pops of neon; by William Gibson, Nam June Paik, and Cory Arcangel; Unreal engine 5