Transforming Buildings into Works of Art: Murals For Every Interior
Technological advancements have revolutionized our daily lives, altering our perspectives and expanding our possibilities. We now envision a future where a room can be painted with a single click or wallpapered instantly, much like the Sims. In art and design, technology is cautiously yet confidently making its mark. Robots, along with computers and tablets, are emerging as new tools for artists, actively contributing to creation and becoming integral to the design process.
I am Vladimir Tsimberg, founder of Robohood Inc. We taught an industrial robotic manipulator to paint with brushes on various surfaces, including creating murals. In this article, I will explore how a robot can produce stunning paintings akin to museum frescoes and discuss why technology is revitalizing this ancient form of mural art, transforming its creation into a true work of art.
Walls have served as some of the earliest canvases in human history. From depictions of hunting rituals on cave walls to biblical frescoes in churches, humans have adorned walls with diverse drawings. Robotic artists offer an exciting opportunity to reintroduce mural painting into interiors, bridging the gap between ancient art and modern tools.
The fauna and primitive people of Neolithic North Africa. Cave of the Beasts, Egypt.
Robohood technology makes it possible to paint large vertical surfaces using an industrial manipulator. This is not just the “effect” of painting, but the actual creation of images on walls.
Robohood was initially conceived as a project to simplify art creation, make it more accessible, and enable the creation of memorable interiors. As we delved deeper, we realized how much commercial and residential real estate and infrastructure resemble blank canvases waiting to be painted. In this context, art becomes a necessity rather than a luxury — something that engages people, reduces aesthetic apathy, and distinguishes entire building complexes.
We expand beyond the confines of a single canvas and tackle a larger scale — the walls. We had already created large canvases with our robot, and the technology allowed us to overcome size limitations.
The robot can continuously create boundless paintings directly on walls, either freestyle or according to a designer’s concept. Unlike a human artist, its physical and creative resources are limitless. The robot never stops painting, endlessly layering new strokes atop existing ones. This transforms the process into a performance, adding not just static decoration to an interior but creating an entire spectacle where the painting comes to life before the audience’s eyes. The continuous work by the robot generates a dynamically evolving design. Instead of focusing on the final result, the attention shifts to the process itself — the captivating story of how this timeless masterpiece of cultural significance was created. The essence lies in the work, which has no end, inviting everyone to participate in this performance.
Collaboration defines 21st-century art, reaching peaks of participation that evoke positive emotions and impressions. Professional designers and residents alike can contribute to the project. For example, many condominium owners work with landscape designers and developers to design common areas, plant trees, and create gardens. Research shows that creating art has numerous benefits, such as reducing anxiety and combating social isolation. A 2018 survey in London revealed that 84 percent of participants felt that engaging in art projects positively affected their well-being. Involvement in this process fosters a strong connection to the place where people spend significant time. Interaction with technology like the Robotic artist intensifies these emotions, especially when people have the chance to participate.
The robot opens up the possibility of creating vibrant, highly individualized designs. Each mural becomes unique, a distinctive feature of Robohood technology that ensures no two images are the same. This makes each space distinctive and increases its value. Mural painting is not just about form; it encompasses content and ideas with specific value.
The creator of the artwork plays an essential role. The Robotic artist makes a bold statement and generates additional interest. Social media remains a primary platform for native advertising, and the performance of a robot painting a wall highlighted in someone’s feed grabs attention. According to Hubspot’s research, unconventional advertising is key to engaging millennials who dislike direct approaches. Art installations often attract long lines of people eager to take pictures.
A study by the Sign Research Foundation found that 60% of businesses saw a 10% increase in sales after incorporating large paintings and murals into their spaces.
In the United States, a developer experimented with frescoes on two buildings. The company’s marketing director found that curious onlookers often moved from taking selfies to requesting tours of the complex. This helps differentiate the brand from many others. As director Woody Allen famously said, “Being visible is 80 percent of success.”
British art curator and entrepreneur Ed Bartlett notes in his book Street Art that murals are thriving in cities such as Amsterdam, Athens, Berlin, Lisbon, New York, Chicago, Mexico City, Istanbul, and Buenos Aires. Murals serve as acts of creativity and as playful, unobtrusive methods of communicating information. Major companies like Netflix, Microsoft, and Slack have adorned their buildings with murals that reflect their values and traditions.
Microsoft has fully embraced technology in its wall designs, creating living screens that change colors and motifs. Unlike these scripted screens, the dynamic design of a Robohood robot always offers the unexpected. This unpredictability provides the “wow” factor that sets Robohood apart.
Interior murals are becoming increasingly popular as the importance of mental health is recognized. In his book, The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace,” American psychologist Ron Friedman explains how the aesthetics of office walls affect our work. Researchers in workplace psychology suggest that the design of wall space can have a significant impact on our motivation, creativity, and ability to learn.
Many frescoes have added historical value to buildings. Churches and merchant houses with monumental works of art are revered for their cultural significance.
Before the widespread use of canvas, walls were the primary medium for paintings. The term “fresco” typically conjures up any mural painting, but it refers specifically to a technique of painting on fresh plaster. Walls were coated with a mixture of chalk and animal glue and then painted. This method required speed and precision, as the work had to be completed before the lime set, and any mistake meant removing the plaster entirely.
Frescoes adorned walls and ceilings in Ancient Greece, Rome, Byzantium, and Russia from the 10th to the 12th century. The Renaissance saw a revival of the technique, with artists such as Cennino Cennini, Raphael, Michelangelo, Vasari, Tintoretto, Luca Giordano, and Tiepolo decorating Italian church walls with biblical stories.
The Creation of Adam. Michelangelo Buonarroti. Sistine Chapel, Vatican.
One of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous works, “The Last Supper,” was created using a slightly different technique known as fresco-secco. This method allowed Leonardo to correct mistakes during the painting process, resulting in a masterpiece that requires careful monitoring by restorers because of its sensitivity to external influences.
The Last Supper. Leonardo da Vinci
In the 19th century, simpler techniques like murals and monumental painting replaced frescoes. Unlike graffiti, these art forms are known for their complex and expressive ideas. This era coincided with the avant-garde movement, in which artists sought to break away from classical painting, challenge academic rules, and bring revolutionary art to the masses. Biblical stories gave way to provocative themes. For instance, a major scandal erupted when Mexican artist Diego Rivera created a controversial mural at Rockefeller Center. Headlines read, “Rivera Paints Communist Scenes, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Foots the Bill.” The mural depicted scenes of chemical warfare and social unrest, including “Man at the Crossroads,” which depicted a May Day demonstration in Moscow and Vladimir Lenin. The mural was destroyed before it could be unveiled to the public.
Fragment of the mural "Man at the Crossroads". Rockefeller Center. Photograph taken by Rivera's assistant in May 1933.
In contemporary architecture, mural painting on walls and interiors remains a fascinating tradition. Rich and intricate frescoes still adorn many building facades as decorations. However, this form of painting is less common in the interior of buildings. This decline may be because of a reduced number of traditional academic artists or a decrease in demand for fresco as a cultural practice. In recent decades, the art world has seen the rise of various competing technologies, such as digital and large-format printing, which can produce giant photo murals and other innovative design solutions.
Robohood offers a chance to revive this culture and enhance its impact by incorporating robots and the captivating stories of their creation. Historically, viewers have tended to appreciate paintings with an interesting narrative more than a simple, albeit talented, image. Robots and murals painted with their brushes are currently capturing genuine attention and admiration from audiences, as this practice is not yet widespread.
