Digital art pioneer Mike Winkelmann better known globally as Beeple has once again captured headlines and controversy with his latest creation, a bizarre yet compelling installation titled “Regular Animals.” Displayed at Art Basel Miami Beach, the project features robotic dogs worth $100,000 each, but with a twist: instead of traditional heads, these mechanical animals are topped with hyper-realistic likenesses of influential public figures.
Among the faces featured are tech giants Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, along with cultural icons Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. In an unexpected move, Beeple also added his own face to one of the robot dogs a decision he jokingly called “ballsy.” Ironically, his own version sold first, surprising even the notorious digital artist.
The robotic dogs are not just visually shocking they are interactive. Each robot is equipped with a chest-mounted camera that captures photos in real time. Those images are then processed through AI systems and output in the form of prints that the robots humorously “poop out,” according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal.
Out of all prints created, 256 contain unique QR codes, giving buyers access to a free NFT. The collectible prints are packaged inside bags labeled “Excrement Sample,” perfectly fitting Beeple’s signature satirical style.
This installation marks another milestone for Beeple, who famously sold his digital artwork “Everydays: The First 5000 Days” for an astonishing $69 million at Christie’s in 2021. That sale helped trigger one of the most explosive and short-lived NFT booms in art history.
Now, Beeple seems determined to push boundaries once more by merging physical art, blockchain culture, robotics, and humor. His Art Basel display reinforces the idea that modern art doesn’t just provoke thought it disrupts entire industries.
Beeple’s “Regular Animals” isn’t just an exhibition it’s a cultural commentary on celebrity, technology, and the evolving meaning of art. Whether seen as brilliant satire or chaotic innovation, the installation proves once again that Beeple remains one of the most influential and unpredictable artists of the digital era.
