Beeple unveils robot dogs with billionaire heads at Art Basel

Digital artist Beeple debuted Regular Animals at Art Basel Miami Beach, featuring robotic dogs with hyper-realistic heads of tech billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg alongside artists Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso, with all editions selling out at $100,000 each during Wednesday’s VIP preview.theartnewspaper

The animatronic canines continuously photograph their surroundings and enter “poop mode” to produce AI-reinterpreted prints styled after each figure—Warhol’s in pop art, Picasso’s in cubism, and Zuckerberg’s with a metaverse aesthetic—before ceasing operation after three years.theartnewspaper

Beeple said the installation critiques how technologists who control algorithms increasingly shape how society views the world, presented in the fair’s new Zero 10 digital art section showcasing his return to prominence after selling an NFT for $69.3 million in 2021.theartnewspaper

Beeple Unleashes Robot Dogs With Billionaire Heads at Art Basel Miami Beach

Digital artist Beeple debuted his latest installation “Regular Animals” at Art Basel Miami Beach on December 3, featuring robotic dogs fitted with hyper-realistic heads of tech moguls Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos alongside artists Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. The provocative artwork, showcased in the fair’s new Zero 10 digital art section, sold out completely during Wednesday’s VIP preview at $100,000 per edition.theartnewspaper

The installation features animatronic canines that roam a specially constructed pen, continuously photographing their surroundings with built-in cameras. When the robots enter “poop mode”—displayed on screens attached to their backs—they produce printed photographs reinterpreted through AI in styles corresponding to each figure’s artistic or technological influence. Warhol’s robot generates pop art compositions, Picasso’s creates cubist imagery, while Zuckerberg’s outputs have a metaverse aesthetic and Musk’s are rendered in black and white.cnn

The hyper-realistic silicone masks were crafted by special-effects artist Landon Meier. Each robot costs $100,000 in editions of two plus one artist’s proof, though the Bezos piece is not for sale. Beeple, whose real name is Mike Winkelmann, also included two robots bearing his own likeness.foxbusiness

Commentary on Algorithmic Control

“It used to be that we saw the world interpreted through the eyes of artists, but now Mark Zuckerberg and Elon, in particular, control a huge amount of how we see the world,” Winkelmann told Page Six. “We see the world through their eyes because they control these very powerful algorithms that decide what we see.”gizmodo

According to CNN, the robots are designed with a limited lifespan—their primary function of capturing images and storing them on the blockchain will cease after three years. The free certificates dispensed by the robots humorously declare the artwork “100% pure GMO-free, organic dogshit”.cnn

Digital Art’s Mainstream Moment

The installation anchors Zero 10, Art Basel’s new curated platform for digital and new media art, presented with support from OpenSea. The section brings together 12 exhibitors and marks a turning point for digital art’s acceptance in traditional art spaces.artbasel

Beeple rose to prominence in 2021 when his NFT artwork “Everydays: The First 5000 Days” sold for $69.3 million at Christie’s, instantly making him one of the most valuable living artists. Before the pandemic, he worked as a graphic designer creating concert visuals for performers including Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber.theartnewspaper

Art Basel Miami Beach runs December 5-7, 2025, featuring 283 galleries from 43 countries at the Miami Beach Convention Center.artbasel