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 brushed metal, 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
- 2009Named favourite artist by Kanye West, London
- 2011Pioneered augmented reality in painting
- 2018Subject of fine arts thesis, University of Urbino, Italy
- 2019Won the Ashurst Art Prize, London
- 2021BAFTA-winning documentary collaboration, Locked In – Breaking the Silence
- 2021Exhibited at The Untitled Space, New York
- 2025Co-founded ArtBeat Art Fair, Lisbon
It moves. It plays.
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.
- 1Download the free Artivive app
- 2Point your camera at the piece
- 3Watch it move
- Download on App StoreGet it on Google Play
Follow the studio
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.