ZURICH, Switzerland, Sep 15, 2025 – ABB used its IRB 5500 robot with artificial intelligence (AI) to create a mural at the City=Gallery street art festival in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic. The mural design came from public submissions and was created in collaboration with the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund, Škoda Auto, PPG, and the festival organizers.
“We are thrilled to take robotics out of the factory and into the heart of the community,” said Joerg Reger, managing director of ABB Robotics automotive business line. “We’re not only demonstrating precision engineering – we’re showcasing how technology can respond to people’s creative ideas and bring them to life in a way that’s interactive and inspiring.”
Through an online vote, the public selected the mural’s style, mood, and themes. Škoda Design translated the same into inputs for the AI tools that generated the artwork. An ABB robot applying PixelPaint technology – which uses 1,000 individually controlled nozzles similar to an inkjet printer – painted the design on the wall of the Pastelka Art School.
“As an international company, Škoda Auto knows that innovation and sustainability are only possible with strong local roots. Through the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund, we have long supported public space, education and innovation in the Mladá Boleslav region. The robotic artist project is a perfect example of this – bringing together art, new technologies and community participation in a way that makes those values visible on the walls of our city. It shows how strengthening local communities also strengthens the company. That’s why we act locally to remain strong internationally, and why we are proud to co-organize the City=Gallery festival for the fourth time,” said endowment fund director Ladislav Kučera.
PPG provided a waterborne basecoat for ABB’s PixelPaint. For the mural, PPG’s coating system was adapted to the street art, featuring a fast-drying primer and a topcoat that provides UV protection and weather resistance.
The live robot painting, held on Sep 4 and 5, was a front-page feature of the City=Gallery festival. The collaboration between ABB, the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund, Škoda Auto and PPG marked the event’s first use of a robot artist. This year’s festival combined art, technology and community to turn public spaces into open-air galleries.
Source: ABB
About ABB
ABB is a global technology company specializing in electrification and automation, with headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland, and Västerås, Sweden. Formed in 1988 through the merger of Sweden’s ASEA and Switzerland’s Brown, Boveri & Cie, the company traces its roots to 1883. ABB operates in more than 100 countries and serves industries including utilities, transportation, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Its portfolio includes robotics, industrial automation, electrification products, and motion solutions. In 2024, ABB reported about $33B in revenue and employed roughly 110,000 people worldwide.
About ABB Robotics
ABB Robotics is a business unit of ABB Group, headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland. It provides industrial robots, autonomous mobile robots, AI-enabled software, and control systems for industries including manufacturing, automotive, transportation, utilities, and logistics. In 2024, ABB Robotics reported about $2.3B in revenue, representing roughly 7% of ABB Group’s total sales.