BERLIN – In a fascinating exhibit at Berlin’s New National Gallery, robot dogs sporting hyper-realistic silicone heads modeled after famous figures like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso are turning heads and raising eyebrows. These robotic canines not only roam the gallery but also “poo” out printed images of their surroundings, which they’ve captured with integrated cameras.
This interactive installation is the brainchild of American artist Beeple, whose real name is Mike Winkelmann. Each image produced by the dogs reflects an artistic style associated with the celebrity figure they represent. For instance, the Picasso dog generates images in a Cubist style, while the Warhol dog produces pop art-inspired prints.
The installation serves as a thought-provoking commentary on how modern technology and algorithms shape our perceptions of reality. As noted by the exhibition’s organizers, “In the past, our view of the world was shaped in part by how artists saw the world.” Beeple emphasizes that today, tech billionaires hold significant power over the information we consume, often changing algorithms at the click of a button without needing to navigate bureaucratic processes.
“That’s an immense amount of power that I don’t think we’ve fully understood,” Beeple stated, highlighting the control these figures have over our digital landscapes.
Interestingly, the dogs also wear heads modeled after Beeple himself. According to Lisa Botti, curator of the exhibition, artificial intelligence is one of the most significant influences on our lives today. She asserts that museums provide a space for society to reflect on these changes, making Beeple’s work particularly relevant.
The artwork, titled “Regular Animals,” was initially showcased at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2025. Beeple is renowned for his digital artwork and is a key figure in the “everyday” movement of 3D graphics, having created and shared a new piece daily for years.
His prominence in the art world has been cemented by his record-breaking auction sales; he is now the third most expensive living artist, following David Hockney and Jeff Koons. Notably, his digital collage “Everydays: The First 5000 Days” sold for over $69 million at Christie’s in 2021, marking a significant moment in the art market as it was the first digital-only artwork sold at a major auction house.
At the Art Basel 2025 event, Beeple engaged with the audience by giving away the prints produced by his robot dogs, complete with a humorous certificate claiming they were “100% organic GMO-free dog shit.” Some prints even included QR codes linking to free NFTs, allowing attendees to gain access to exclusive digital art that they could potentially monetize.
This blend of art, technology, and humor not only entertains but also encourages us to think critically about the influence of algorithms and digital media on our lives.
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Ciobanu reported from Warsaw, Poland.
