diff --git a/backend/app/services/artist_service.py b/backend/app/services/artist_service.py
index 2c5ca97..d7b6b5a 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/artist_service.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/artist_service.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Dates come from Post.post_date via ImageProvenance.post_id.
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 
 from sqlalchemy import and_, func, or_, select
+from sqlalchemy.exc import IntegrityError
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
 from ..models import (
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ from ..models import (
     Tag,
 )
 from ..models.tag import image_tag
+from ..utils.slug import slugify
 from .gallery_service import decode_cursor, encode_cursor, thumbnail_url
 
 
@@ -191,3 +193,49 @@ class ArtistService:
             ],
             next_cursor=next_cursor,
         )
+
+    async def find_or_create(self, name: str) -> tuple[Artist, bool]:
+        """Return (artist, created). Slug-keyed; idempotent under races."""
+        cleaned = (name or "").strip()
+        if not cleaned:
+            raise ValueError("artist name must not be empty")
+        slug = slugify(cleaned)
+
+        existing = (await self.session.execute(
+            select(Artist).where(Artist.slug == slug)
+        )).scalar_one_or_none()
+        if existing is not None:
+            return existing, False
+
+        artist = Artist(name=cleaned, slug=slug)
+        self.session.add(artist)
+        try:
+            await self.session.flush()
+        except IntegrityError:
+            await self.session.rollback()
+            existing = (await self.session.execute(
+                select(Artist).where(Artist.slug == slug)
+            )).scalar_one()
+            return existing, False
+        await self.session.commit()
+        return artist, True
+
+    async def autocomplete(self, prefix: str, limit: int = 20) -> list[Artist]:
+        cleaned = (prefix or "").strip()
+        if not cleaned:
+            return []
+        like = f"%{cleaned.lower()}%"
+        prefix_like = f"{cleaned.lower()}%"
+        # Rank: exact (0) < prefix (1) < substring (2).
+        rank = func.case(
+            (func.lower(Artist.name) == cleaned.lower(), 0),
+            (func.lower(Artist.name).like(prefix_like), 1),
+            else_=2,
+        ).label("rank")
+        rows = (await self.session.execute(
+            select(Artist, rank)
+            .where(func.lower(Artist.name).like(like))
+            .order_by(rank, Artist.name.asc())
+            .limit(limit)
+        )).all()
+        return [a for a, _ in rows]
diff --git a/tests/test_artist_service_find_or_create.py b/tests/test_artist_service_find_or_create.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4bc3959
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_artist_service_find_or_create.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import pytest
+
+from backend.app.models import Artist
+from backend.app.services.artist_service import ArtistService
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.integration
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_find_or_create_creates_new(db):
+    svc = ArtistService(db)
+    artist, created = await svc.find_or_create("Brand New")
+    assert created is True
+    assert artist.id is not None
+    assert artist.slug == "brand-new"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_find_or_create_idempotent_on_same_name(db):
+    svc = ArtistService(db)
+    a1, c1 = await svc.find_or_create("Alice")
+    a2, c2 = await svc.find_or_create("Alice")
+    assert c1 is True
+    assert c2 is False
+    assert a1.id == a2.id
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_find_or_create_rejects_empty_name(db):
+    svc = ArtistService(db)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        await svc.find_or_create("   ")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_autocomplete_ranks_exact_prefix_substring(db):
+    db.add_all([
+        Artist(name="Alice", slug="alice"),
+        Artist(name="Alice Cooper", slug="alice-cooper"),
+        Artist(name="Malice", slug="malice"),
+        Artist(name="Bob", slug="bob"),
+    ])
+    await db.flush()
+    svc = ArtistService(db)
+    rows = await svc.autocomplete("alice")
+    names = [r.name for r in rows]
+    assert names[0] == "Alice"                       # exact first
+    assert names[1] == "Alice Cooper"                # then prefix
+    assert "Malice" in names                         # then substring
+    assert "Bob" not in names
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_autocomplete_empty_query_returns_empty(db):
+    svc = ArtistService(db)
+    assert await svc.autocomplete("") == []