Drawn to Life: Engineering a Robotic Portrait Experience

Robotics
AI
Communication Protocol
Real-Time Motion Control
Orchestration Protocols
Autoportrait

Overview

“For a moment, visitors weren’t just subjects of a portrait — they were part of a performance between art and machine.”
“For a moment, visitors weren’t just subjects of a portrait — they were part of a performance between art and machine.”
Autoportrait was an interactive exhibition where visitors sat for a robotic portrait, sketched live by an industrial arm in ink. Created with Tellart and Visionaire and sponsored by Cadillac, the project merged art, robotics, and human experience. All images courtesy of Visionaire and Tellart.
Man wearing VR glasses
Autoportrait

The Challenge

Create an interactive art experience that seamlessly blends technology and creativity—demonstrating that art and engineering are not at odds, but deeply complementary.
Create an interactive art experience that seamlessly blends technology and creativity—demonstrating that art and engineering are not at odds, but deeply complementary.
Mockup
Mockup
Mockup
Mockup
Mockup
Mockup
VR Glasses
VR Glasses
VR Glasses
The installation needed to engage the public in a personal, expressive way while showcasing the precision and potential of robotic systems. It wasn’t just about spectacle—it was about designing a moment where human expression and machine intelligence intersected, face-to-face.
The installation needed to engage the public in a personal, expressive way while showcasing the precision and potential of robotic systems. It wasn’t just about spectacle—it was about designing a moment where human expression and machine intelligence intersected, face-to-face.
Autoportrait

The Solution

LeafLabs engineered the orchestration layer that turned an ABB IRB1440 factory welding robot—running a controller built for rigid, repeatable moves—into a live portrait artist that sees a face and sketches it in real time. To pull it off, LeafLabs built the orchestration layer: integrating AI-driven computer vision to capture faces, real-time motion control to direct the robot’s arm, and communication protocols to sync the entire system. The challenge wasn’t just technical execution, but making the performance feel alive to each participant.
LeafLabs engineered the orchestration layer that turned an ABB IRB1440 factory welding robot—running a controller built for rigid, repeatable moves—into a live portrait artist that sees a face and sketches it in real time. To pull it off, LeafLabs built the orchestration layer: integrating AI-driven computer vision to capture faces, real-time motion control to direct the robot’s arm, and communication protocols to sync the entire system. The challenge wasn’t just technical execution, but making the performance feel alive to each participant.
the autoportrait robot holding a marker
the autoportrait robot holding a marker
the autoportrait robot holding a marker

AI Computer Vision Motion Control Systems Orchestration Protocols

a robot drawing a portrait
a robot drawing a portrait
a robot drawing a portrait
a portrait drawn by a robot
a portrait drawn by a robot
a portrait drawn by a robot
Autoportrait

Performance Results

The Autoportrait system proved that an industrial robot, designed for precision welding, could be reimagined into an expressive performer. By synchronizing computer vision, motion control, and orchestration software, the installation transformed rigid factory hardware into a fluid artist capable of sketching unique portraits in real time.
The Autoportrait system proved that an industrial robot, designed for precision welding, could be reimagined into an expressive performer. By synchronizing computer vision, motion control, and orchestration software, the installation transformed rigid factory hardware into a fluid artist capable of sketching unique portraits in real time.
Portraits Drawn
Portraits Drawn

7,000+ across exhibitions in New York, Miami, and beyond

5K+
5K+
5K+
Average Sketch Time
Average Sketch Time

3 minutes per portrait from face capture to completed drawing

6min
6min
6min
Exhibition Visitors
Exhibition Visitors

50,000+ engaged participants and viewers

37K+
37K+
37K+

Autoportrait demonstrated how engineering can serve culture — showing that robots can be more than tools of industry, but collaborators in creativity and human expression.

Autoportrait

Publications & Info

Tellart Program Overview - Autonomous Portrait Artist

GM Authority - Cadillac Unveils Its Masterpiece-Making Machine, ‘AutoPortrait’

Mandatory - Cadillac House SoHo Exhibit Features New Robot Artist

The Knockturnal - Visionaire and Cadillac launch ADA0002 and Escala at Cadillac House

Previous Project
Lotus
Lotus
Next Project
Maple
Maple
Previous Project
Next Project

We build hardware that works.
Your system is next.

book a call
book a call
book a call
The teams who trust us with their hardest problems.
The teams who trust us with their hardest problems.
The teams who trust us with their hardest problems.
Team working in an office watching at a presentation
Clicky