Beeple’s ‘Regular Animals’ Stirs Art Basel with Tech Tycoon Robot Dogs

Digital artist Beeple has unveiled a provocative new installation at Art Basel Miami Beach. The work features $100,000 robotic dogs with the faces of famous tech billionaires. It merges physical robotics, AI, and digital art in a unique critique of modern culture.

The exhibit, titled “Regular Animals,” is open to the public through Sunday. According to the Wall Street Journal, it represents a bold return for the artist after the NFT market’s volatility. Beeple has placed his own likeness among the elite figures, a move he openly described as ambitious.

Inside the High-Tech Installation and Its Pricey Poop

Five robot dogs roam inside a clear plexiglass pen. Their hyper-realistic heads depict Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol. A sixth unit features Beeple’s own face, which reportedly sold first.

The robots are equipped with chest-mounted cameras. They capture images of the surrounding crowd and environment. An on-board AI processes these images to create unique digital art pieces.

The system then prints these artworks on demand. The prints are dispensed from the rear of the robots in a humorous gesture. This act mimics a biological function, with outputs packaged in bags labeled “Excrement Sample.”

Of these printed artworks, 256 contain a special QR code. This code grants the owner a free Non-Fungible Token (NFT). This directly links the physical performance to the digital art world where Beeple first found massive fame.

A Return to the Spotlight for the Digital Art Pioneer

This project marks Beeple’s major return to the physical art world spotlight. His digital collage “Everydays: The First 5000 Days” sold for $69 million at Christie’s in 2021. That sale catapulted NFTs into mainstream consciousness and sparked a market frenzy.

The subsequent crash in NFT values makes this new work particularly significant. It demonstrates the artist’s continued evolution beyond a single market trend. By combining satire, robotics, and tokenized art, Beeple comments on the cycles of hype and innovation surrounding tech leaders and the art market itself.

The “Regular Animals” exhibit reinforces Beeple’s role as a central provocateur in contemporary art. His latest work at Art Basel successfully bridges physical spectacle and digital ownership, ensuring his relevance continues beyond the NFT boom.

Thought you’d like to know

What is Beeple’s “Regular Animals” installation?

It is an art exhibit at Art Basel Miami Beach featuring expensive robotic dogs. The dogs have heads modeled after tech CEOs and famous artists. They create and dispense AI-generated art prints for visitors.

How do the robot dogs create the art?

Cameras on the dogs’ chests capture footage of the gallery and crowd. An internal AI processes this footage into a unique digital image. The system then prints the image, dispensing it from the rear of the robot.

Is there an NFT component to the artwork?

Yes. A limited number of the physical printouts include a QR code. Scanning this code claims a corresponding free digital NFT for the collector. This connects the physical event to the blockchain.

Why are the tech billionaires featured in the piece?

Beeple’s work often critiques modern digital culture and power. Including Musk, Zuckerberg, and Bezos places today’s influential tech leaders alongside historical art icons. It prompts discussion on their impact on culture and creativity.

How does this relate to Beeple’s previous work?

Beeple is famous for his landmark $69 million NFT sale in 2021. This new installation shows his movement into large-scale physical installations. It continues his exploration of technology’s role in art creation and value.