Augmented Reality Art: Your full guide
Art has always been a dynamic form of expression, evolving alongside technological advancements. Augmented Reality (AR) art is a contemporary manifestation of this fusion, where AR artists intertwine digital elements with the physical world, inviting audiences to experience art like never before.
Augmented Reality art has transformed the art world by blending the digital and physical realms into captivating, immersive experiences. From its modest beginnings to its current standing as a powerful medium of artistic expression, AR art continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Here’s an introduction to the origins of AR art, its meaning from conception to mainstream popularity, and a guide on how to create your own augmented reality artwork.
AR art: |\|{=\/{=|*\ \/\/()|*\|{;|\|(; by Eceertrey
What is augmented reality for beginners?
Augmented Reality (AR) means that computer-generated images, videos, or effects are superimposed over a user's real-world view. For example, these digitally created shapes are added into the physical world via the AR filter on Instagram app. One can experience the real world enhanced, elevated, therefore “augmented” using AR.
What is an AR in art? What does AR mean in digital art?
AR stands for Augmented Reality, and is also known as Mixed Reality.
What is the difference between VR and AR?
VR stands for Virtual Reality — VR requires a headset device so the users can find be fully immersed in a completely fictional world. They don’t see any element from their actual environment while in the VR realm.
On the other hand, AR is intended to enhance the real world by adding elements of a fictional world. The AR users are not cut off from their real environments, they simply experience digitally added features within their physical world. AR is typically less expensive to develop and requires less specialized technology for both creators and users than VR.
Origins and Evolvement of AR Art
The roots of AR art can be traced back to the late 20th century, where artists began experimenting with digital technologies to enhance traditional art forms. However, it wasn't until the advent of smartphones and accessible AR technology that AR art truly took off.
One of the earliest notable instances of AR art is the ARQuake project in 2000, where researchers at Columbia University modified the popular game Quake to be played in a physical space using AR goggles. This marked the first instance of overlaying digital content onto real-world environments.
AR art: GO_01_Statue of Liberty_01 by CHIKA
Similarly, the Pokémon GO app that completely took over a few years ago the world uses AR technology — the players find Pokémons within their environments using the app and catch them for their collection.
As mobile devices became more powerful and AR apps gained traction, artists seized the opportunity to create interactive and immersive experiences. Notable examples include the works of contemporary artists like Olafur Eliasson and Rafman Jon, who integrated AR into their installations.
These artists can offer viewers a new perspective on reality as AR can provide artists with more space for meaning when used as an addition to the physical piece. Museums also use AR to add descriptions, explanations, or any other supplementary content to their exhibition by utilizing augmented reality art.
Nowadays a lot of digital artists create AR artwork that users can experience as filters over their faces or environments using apps like Snapchat or Instagram. The accessibility of AR technology is a wonderful way for people to connect with the artists they admire by inviting the artists’ creative minds and imaginations into their reality.
Daniella Loftus, the creator and influencer behind This Outfit Does Not Exist, famously uses AR outfits to establish digital fashion as the future of the industry.
AR works can also incorporate music — for example, Botina creates AR art that plays with movement and is completed by sound that the artist composes for the artwork. Read our interview with Botina to learn more about his art, creative process, and inspirations!
Ines Alpha, for instance, is known for her 3D makeup art — she pushes the boundaries of makeup using 3D softwares and AR with a goal to encourage a fun and creative approach to beauty.
Several museums and galleries have already been experimenting with AR immersive displays, and benefiting from the interconnectedness of digital and physical to elevate the art enthusiasts’ experiences. For example, Whitney Museum of American Art has showcased Auriea Harvey’s AR sculpture alongside the physical sculpture as part of their recent show, Refigured.
How does augmented reality art work?
Diagram of how AR works. Source: Anticipating the Augmented Reality Revolution.
Augmented reality adds new dimensions of shape, motion, and significance to existing works of art or physical locations. To experience augmented reality art, users often need a mobile app or a smart device that can read a QR code which directs to the artwork — the AR art manifests itself in the 3D space wherever the camera is pointed.
For example, Laura Shepherd’s beautiful flowerhead avatars elevate any room — try it yourself via this link!
In some cases, the AR art may be programmed as a face filter. In that case the user experiences the art over their face using their front camera. For example, the playful face filters Huntrezz creates celebrates empowerment and self-realization for anyone.
Sometimes, the digital artist creates AR artwork that come to life only at predetermined locations. For instance, CADAF organizes Digital Art Month, a public festival that travels to cities and showcases AR art in designated locations — participants can find the AR art in public spaces using QR codes scattered around popular neighborhoods.
How to make augmented reality art
Amazing, you love AR art and want to create your own! But how do you create an augmented reality image? Creating AR art involves a blend of artistic vision, technical skills, and an understanding of AR platforms.
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Conceptualization: Begin with a clear artistic concept. Consider how the digital elements will interact with the physical world and enhance the viewer's experience. Think about the emotions, narratives, or messages you want to convey through your AR art.
Choose an AR Platform: Select an AR platform or software that suits your skills and artistic vision. Popular options include ARCore (for Android) and ARKit (for iOS), as well as platforms like Unity or Unreal Engine for more complex projects. (see below for more)
Gather Assets: Collect the digital assets you'll need, such as 3D models, animations, and sound effects. These assets should align with your artistic concept and add depth to your AR experience.
Create and Design: Use your chosen software to integrate your digital assets into the real world. Design how they'll appear and interact with the environment. Make sure that the scale, lighting, and perspective are coherent with the physical space.
Coding and Programming: If your AR project requires interactivity, you might need to write code. This could involve scripting interactions, animations, or triggers to make your AR elements responsive to user actions.
Testing and Refinement: Regularly test your AR art on different devices and in various environments. Refine the experience based on user feedback and technical adjustments.
Share it! Once you're satisfied with the result, it's time to share your AR art with the world. You can do this through AR apps, websites, or even physical installations that viewers can access via their smartphones. You may publish them as filters on Snapchat or Instagram.
Share them with us for a chance to get featured on DAB!
Is it easy to create augmented reality?
Depending on the complexity of the AR artwork you’re aiming to create, creating augmented reality can be relatively easy thanks to all the apps and softwares available to creators.
PlugXR AR Creator and Overly AR Creator, for instance, are platforms that enable combining artwork with digital media without the need of any technical knowledge. Similarly, World Brush is an AR experience where users paint on the world for others to discover and the user doesn’t need to have coding or 3D design skills.
However, if you’re a digital artist looking to create more complex AR artwork, you may need to familiarize yourself with more advanced AR art apps and generators. Here’s a few of them.
AR art apps and generators:
Adobe AERO: This is Abode’s software for creating AR experiences which allows artists to create spatially aware interactive experiences for any space. Creators can combine 3D, 2D, and audio assets for multimedia experiences without any coding needed.
ARKit (for iOS): RealityKit and RealityComposer are powerful tools that makes it easy for creators to create interactive augmented reality experiences with no prior 3D experience. Reality Converter converts the existing 3D models to USDZ so it works seamlessly in their tools and on all AR-enabled iPhone and iPad devices.
ARCore (for Android): ARCore is Google’s augmented reality SDK offering cross-platform APIs to build new immersive experiences on Android, iOS, Unity, and Web. ARCore enables creators to seamlessly blend physical and digital worlds using easy to integrate workflows and our learned understanding of the world through Google Maps.
Unreal Engine: Probably the most advanced real-time 3D creation tool for photoreal visuals and immersive experiences. Many artists use Unreal Engine to create 3D art to be rendered as AR.
Unity: Another great option for building custom real-time 3D experiences for AR is Unity.
ZapWorks: This is a commercial software to create AR experiences where you can create, manage and publish augmented reality experiences from one place.
AR art galleries:
ARTECHOUSE is an innovative art gallery/museum in the field of digital and experiential art. They showcase cutting edge technology-driven exhibitions and experiences.
Arcadia Earth is the first multi-sensory storytelling agency of its kind. They combine AR, VR, and physical installations to educate visitors on climate change and earth sciences.
dArt is a multi-sensory creative incubator. They represent a diverse roster of multidisciplinary artists who use mixed reality technology and create immersive art experiences that people see, hear, feel, touch, and smell.
Also, here’s a list of the best galleries to see digital art in NYC — some of the best digital art exhibitions utilize AR technology to enhance the experience and meaning of their collection.
AR art examples:
Follow DAB on Instagram for more augmented reality art and AR artist spotlights!
Read next:
Feeling inspired? Let us know what you think about AR art and join the conversation!
We share works by digital artists as well as digital arts exhibitions, events, and open calls daily on our Instagram — follow us for more and subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss new blog posts.
