Beeples billionaire robot dogs — Musk, Zuckerberg, and Bezos — are pure nightmare fuel
Art Basel Miami Beach has once again become a stage for provocative and boundary-pushing art, with a new installation titled “Regular Animals” by digital designer and artist Mike Winkelmann, better known as Beeple. This thought-provoking exhibit features robot dogs adorned with hyper-realistic faces of some of the world’s most recognizable billionaires and cultural icons, including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso. The installation has sparked a mix of fascination and discomfort among viewers, as these robotic canines not only roam the space but also engage in a rather bizarre act of “defecating” AI-generated Polaroid photos, which they then offer to spectators. This surreal performance art piece raises questions about the intersection of technology, celebrity culture, and the commodification of art.
The installation’s mechanics are as striking as its visuals. Each robot dog captures images of onlookers and subsequently produces what are termed “Excrement Samples,” which are printed photographs linked to NFTs—non-fungible tokens that have gained prominence in the art world. These samples are being marketed at a staggering price of $100,000 each, positioning the work at the crossroads of high art and the digital economy. While some may find deeper meanings in the juxtaposition of these billionaire figures and the absurdity of their robotic counterparts, others, like the article’s author, express a more visceral reaction, preferring to disengage from the spectacle in favor of mundane daily tasks.
Beeple is no stranger to controversy; he gained international fame in 2021 when he sold a digital artwork for an eye-popping $69 million, marking a significant moment in the NFT boom. “Regular Animals” continues his trend of challenging societal norms through art, forcing audiences to confront their own perceptions of wealth, fame, and the role of technology in modern life. As the installation draws crowds at Art Basel, it serves as a reminder of the fine line between art and absurdity, leaving many to ponder the implications of such a bizarre yet captivating display.
Hey man, I don’t know what message you’re trying to send by plastering extremely realistic-looking billionaire faces onto robot dogs — that’s between you and your higher power, or lack thereof — but no thanks. I’m good, actually, thanks for offering.
I actually
do not
need to witness Elon Musk’s smirking visage attached to a robot that then defecates AI-generated Polaroids to the audience. I’ve got errands to run.
Look at these damn things.
The exhibit at Art Basel Miami Beach is called “Regular Animals.” Created by digital designer and artist Mike Winkelmann, who goes by Beeple, it features robot dog versions of Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso, according to Storyful.
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— The Wall Street Journal (
@wsj.com
)
December 5, 2025 at 11:22 AM
“Regular Animals”, an art installation by Beeple 🤮 at Art Basel in Miami, features billionaire-faced robodogs that take photos of spectators & then “defecate” the so called “artistic impressions”, some of which link to NFTs. Printed “Excrement Samples” sell for $100k. Creepy af innit?
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— trish (
@omerta22.posts.art
)
December 4, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The art installation I’m referring to is called
Regular Animals,
located in Miami during Art Basel. It’s a creation by Mike Winkelmann, aka Beeple, the artist
who sold his NFT art
for $69 million during the 2021 NFT boom.
The penned-up billionaire dogs include Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, as well as art-world figures like Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, and Beeple himself. It’s unnerving and weird to see the hyper-realistic faces wandering around on the picture-pooping dogs. Some folks might be tempted to draw some meaning from the installation. Not me, I’ve got laundry to do. No thanks.
