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In a striking exhibition at Berlin’s New National Gallery, artist Beeple (Mike Winkelmann) presents a thought-provoking installation featuring robot dogs with hyper-realistic silicone heads modeled after prominent figures such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso. These mechanical creatures roam the gallery, intermittently “pooing” printed images of their surroundings-captured by integrated cameras and transformed by artificial intelligence to reflect the artistic style or worldview associated with their human counterparts. For example, images from the Picasso-headed dog adopt a Cubist aesthetic, while those linked to Warhol’s likeness take on pop art characteristics.
The installation, titled “Regular Animals,” serves as a commentary on how modern perceptions are increasingly shaped by algorithms controlled by powerful technology moguls rather than traditional artistic vision. Beeple explains that while historically artists like Picasso and Warhol influenced how society interpreted the world, today’s digital landscape is dominated by the invisible hand of tech billionaires who can alter public perception simply by tweaking their platforms’ algorithms. “They don’t need to lobby governments; they just change the algorithms overnight,” Beeple remarked.
The artist himself is also represented among the dogs, further emphasizing the interplay between creator and technology. Curator Lisa Botti highlights the exhibition’s relevance, noting that artificial intelligence is among the most transformative forces impacting society today and that museums provide a vital space for reflection on such changes.
Originally debuted at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2025, Beeple’s “Regular Animals” underscores his broader body of work, which includes daily digital creations that have established him as a pioneering figure in 3D graphics and digital art. According to Christie’s auction house, Beeple ranks as the third most valuable living artist by auction sales, trailing only David Hockney and Jeff Koons. His landmark digital collage “Everydays: The First 5000 Days” sold in 2021 for over $69 million, marking a milestone as the first major auction sale of a digital-only artwork authenticated via a non-fungible token (NFT) and purchased with cryptocurrency.
NFTs function as digital certificates of authenticity secured by blockchain technology, representing a rapidly growing segment of the art market. At Art Basel 2025, Beeple distributed the robot dogs’ printed images to gallery visitors, accompanied by humorous certificates declaring the prints “100% organic GMO-free dog shit.” Some prints included QR codes granting access to free NFTs, effectively allowing recipients to own and potentially profit from his digital art.
Beeple’s installation invites visitors to consider the evolving relationship between technology, art, and influence in the digital age, posing critical questions about who controls our collective view of reality.