About
Roberto Grosso is a multisensory artist working across painting, augmented reality, music, and AI. Born in Italy, he has lived and worked in London, Brazil, and Lisbon — each city leaving a distinct mark on his creative language.
His work is created on unique mediums including brushed metal and perspex, and brought to life through the Artivive app, which layers animation, sound, and augmented reality directly onto the physical surface. Every piece is simultaneously a painting, a composition, and an interactive experience.
In 2009, during his tenure at Yahoo! and MySpace in London, Kanye West named Roberto his favourite artist — a moment that coincided with a growing exhibition presence across Europe and recognition in New York and London, including the Ashurst Art Prize.
In 2018, his artistic method was the subject of an academic thesis at the University of Urbino — Raphael's alma mater — where a student incorporated one of his augmented paintings into her fine arts thesis.
In 2021, Roberto collaborated with composer Franz Kirmann on the soundtrack for the BAFTA-winning documentary 'Locked In – Breaking the Silence', directed by Joe Pomeroy — a project born during lockdown from a desire to support the NHS and give voice to artists in isolation.
His works have been exhibited in Italy, the UK, the USA, Portugal, and Spain. He is currently based in Lisbon.
Selected Achievements
Follow on Instagram
Studio updates, work-in-progress shots, exhibition moments, and behind-the-scenes looks at new pieces. This is the closest integration to my day-to-day practice.
Augmented Reality — Since 2011
I was one of the first artists to introduce augmented reality into physical painting. Through the Artivive app, every piece I create has a hidden layer — animation, music, and movement that only reveal themselves when you point your phone at the artwork. It's not a gimmick. It's a second dimension of the same creative act.
For a wider view of the tools in this space, see my guide to the top augmented reality art apps for collectors and artists.
Experience in Augmented Reality
Download the free Artivive app to bring this artwork to life.