Robot Dogs with Billionaire Heads at Art Basel: A Digital Art Breakthrough

Digital art pioneer Beeple stunned visitors at Art Basel Miami Beach with his latest installation, “Regular Animals,” unveiled on December 3. The piece features robotic dogs fitted with hyper-realistic heads of tech titans Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, alongside legendary artists Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. Displayed in the fair’s new Zero 10 digital art section, the work sold out entirely during the VIP preview at $100,000 per edition.

A Fusion of Technology, Performance, and Artistic Commentary

At the heart of the installation are animatronic dogs that roam within a specially constructed enclosure, continuously capturing their surroundings with built-in cameras. When the robots enter “poop mode”—shown humorously on screens mounted to their backs—they print photographs reinterpreted through artificial intelligence.

Each robot produces images reflecting the stylistic or technological influence of its assigned figure:

• The Warhol dog outputs pop-art compositions,

• The Picasso version generates cubist imagery,

• The Zuckerberg robot produces metaverse-inspired visuals,

• The Musk model prints stark black-and-white renderings.

The lifelike silicone masks were created by special-effects artist Landon Meier. Each robot comes in editions of two plus an artist’s proof, priced at $100,000, though the Bezos robot is not for sale. Beeple also introduced two robots featuring his own likeness.

A Critique of Algorithmic Influence

Beeple (Mike Winkelmann) emphasized the work’s message in an interview:
“Once, we experienced the world through the eyes of artists. Now, people like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk control what we see through powerful algorithms. We see the world through their eyes.”

CNN reported that the robots have a built-in lifespan of three years, after which their image-capturing and blockchain-storing functions will stop. The certificates dispensed by the robots poke fun at modern tech culture, reading: “100% GMO-free, organic dogshit.”

Digital Art’s Mainstream Rise

“Regular Animals” serves as the centerpiece of Zero 10, Art Basel’s new curated platform for digital and new media art, presented with support from OpenSea. Featuring 12 exhibitors, the section marks an important milestone in digital art’s acceptance within the traditional art world.

Beeple became a global sensation 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. Prior to the pandemic, he worked as a graphic designer creating concert visuals for performers such as Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber.

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