Technology has always had a role in art, from the paintbrush to the camera. However, in recent years, the convergence of art and technology has become more intimate, as artists have become more creative in their expression and have pushed the boundaries of art and its experience. Two people navigating this wave of technology are founders Larry Jones And the Adam Gross From ADLAR studiothe world’s leading print.
Darcy Ripley, studio owner Analia Saban
ADLAR Studio collaborates and helps famous artists integrate fine art with augmented reality to produce an immersive experience. Once the piece is scanned via a mobile app, the adventure begins in opening collectors to a new world of art as an experience. Current releases from the studio with famous artists Analia Sanban, Kenny Scharf and Shane Govog.
Jones and Gross have a strong and broad background in business, creativity, and the arts. This involves collecting, curating, exhibiting and creating content, including building and marketing multi-billion dollar global brands, giving the couple good knowledge and perspective on the arts and technology.
In this interview, Jones and Gross talk about how they got started in the arts, why they chose to combine augmented reality with art, and what the future holds for ADLAR studio.
Q: Hi Adam and Larry. Thank you for the time you took to talk to us. Can you introduce yourselves to those who don’t know you?
LJ: I’m Larry Jones. I have years of experience working for Viacom/CBS creating digital and linear content while building and marketing multi-billion dollar international brands. For the past six years, I’ve been working with Academy Award winning VFX professors to create 6DOF (Six Degrees of Freedom) content in VR. I’ve been collecting artwork for the past three decades, and ADLAR is the perfect blend of all my passions…artists, art, technology, and content.
AG: I am Adam Gross. My background is in fine arts, with over 25 years working with artists to produce content, exhibitions, projects, and many, many publications. Prior to ADLAR, I ran Lapis Press, where I had the great honor of working with some of the most talented artists and art professionals. Working with artists to amplify their voices and help them deepen their interaction with their audience has been at the heart of my efforts to bring all of these interests together.
Q: Can you tell us how you both got started in the art industry, how art played a role in your life, and why you decided to work in the arts?
LJ: For years, I’ve been working with writers and actors creating television sitcoms so exposure and involvement in the creative process becomes an addiction. In my personal life, as a collector, acquaintance with plastic artists has been a pleasure all my life. Today, at ADLAR, being able to help visual artists bring their practice digitally alive in augmented reality is truly satisfying. Many of the artists we spoke with didn’t get to see the possibilities of what augmented reality could do, so it was fun to open their eyes to these opportunities.
AG: I started as an art collector in my mid-twenties, but didn’t think of an arts career until my late twenties. Art now plays a central role in my life. I can’t imagine life without being surrounded and inspired by art, a joy I want to share with others. Once I realized how important art was to me, I decided that if I could, I would work in the arts. And that’s exactly what I did. Now, with ADLAR, I’ve finally found a place where my interests in sharing art and collaborating with artists can flourish.
Q: ADLAR Studio is at the forefront of augmented reality, opening up a new world of possibilities for artists and art collectors, and offering fine art versions from famous artists. Can you tell us more about the releases and technology and why you choose to combine augmented reality with art?
LJ: How many times have you looked at a piece of art to say, “I can only see movement in this.” With ADLAR AR Prints, we can really make this action happen! All versions begin with a conversation, and we let this creative process guide our decisions. The printing technology used (whether silkscreen, lithography, digital, etc.) is chosen by the project itself. We find that when we let the project lead us, many decisions about dimensions, release size, etc., all fall into place.
AG: In the past year or so, we’ve heard a lot about NFTs, which aren’t really at our core, but it’s a possibility for us if an artist is interested because this is all about technology. As we combine this cutting-edge technology with traditional fine art typography, we feel our works fit perfectly in between. It is a space where we hope to interact with a lot of artists and art collectors.
Q: In the past few years, brands, companies, and artists have seamlessly integrated the physical and digital worlds to deliver a more authentic and realistic experience for their customers, community, and fans. What do you think is driving this approach?
LJ/AG: Because we can, I think it’s driven by people who are looking for new ways to engage and connect…whether that’s with artists or our clients or each other. With the increased deployment of 5G, edge computing, and Web 3, technological capabilities will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the coming years. Much of this technology is used by large corporations and corporations. We at ADLAR are excited to ride this wave into the future by making this technology available to artists and the broader art audience.
Q: With the increasing integration of technology into the arts, do you think the future of art will be more about digital media and less about traditional media?
LJ/AG: The wave we are currently experiencing will give more people more choices about how they want to consume art. It is not about making one broker obsolete. It’s about engaging new users and getting them excited about art and artists who express themselves.
Q: In the past year, have you come across any artists you’d like to have their work released in an augmented reality version?
LJ/AG: There were so many artists we wanted to work with, too many to name! We are engaged with a variety of artists from every medium, so this is a very exciting time. Stay tuned!
Q: What’s next for ADLAR Studio?
LJ/AG: More art. More activations. More artist collaborations.
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Lynn is Curator and Writer at Art Plugged, a contemporary platform inspired by a passion for displaying exceptional artists and their work, and he also teaches an MFA in curation format at Goldsmiths London.