Bringing about meaningful change in the world through music, art, community and the expression of ideas and creativity.
Robot Heart Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization formed to support artists and the arts, and to advance public appreciation for both. We aim to create a space for artists, thinkers and doers to thrive, express themselves and inspire others to dream big. We uplift self-created, collaborative or commissioned projects that elevate human connection through community and experiences in art, technology, and music.
Community is at our core and has been since our inception over 15 years ago. We care deeply about not only our immediate community, but also having a positive impact and inspiring people worldwide.
We span the globe, we defy genres and borders, we connect dots and champion innovative artistic experience for those in our community and beyond. By giving a platform to the most experimental emerging art(ists) of our time and creating magical moments of sharing, we collectively voyage into the radiant unknown and expand the limits of what is possible.
Below are selected examples of our work in bolstering visionary artists, concepts and transformative experiences.
In November 2023, Robot Heart Foundation set out to bring a temporary community space to the Bay Area, with the intention of sharing music, art installations, educated conversations, a platform for youth to learn about electronic music, wellness, documentary screenings and dining.
Young people learn how to DJ during a youth workshop in partnership with the Museum of Children’s Art of Oakland (MOCHA), with local and international DJs sharing their skills and passion.
The event space – focused around the Seed Barn at The Loom – was built with the assistance of 180 volunteers.
During the Residency, we hosted over 30 activations across 24 days.
Shady Bot, one of Robot Heart’s art cars, was on site for the Residency.
Young people participate in a youth workshop, with both DJing and lighting design lessons offered by Robot Heart resident artists and friends.
Youth lighting design workshop in the Seed Barn.
In partnership with Thrival Guide, we hosted numerous panels, talks and conversations with artists and luminaries.
As always with Robot Heart, music and musical appreciation is at the center of what we do.
As part of the Residency, we hosted a Thanksgiving meal to show our gratitude to our community and our volunteers.
Full house for one of the panel discussions.
Following its debut at Burning Man 2023, BitCube illuminated the Residency nights.
The BitCube installation creates a minimalist, abstract visual narrative that defies the ubiquity of hi-res displays. BitCube embraces the limitations of a low-res medium and encourages viewers to find beauty in simplicity.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, in conversation with Android Jones, during one of the many conversations hosted during the Residency.
We were proud to partner with Summit to host an intimate cocktail and dinner in our epic temporary venue.
At the center of the Multi-Faith Prayer Room project is a database made up of pre-recorded statements by people from all cultural contexts – encompassing all nationalities, genders, and ages. The artists asked the public the following questions, and through a careful orchestration of sound, light, and darkness, revealed their anonymous thoughts to the audience. The interplay between disembodied, anonymous voices and innermost, private thoughts delivers a powerful message of humanity and connection.
How do you foresee the future? Do you have rituals in your life? Do we lack faith for the future?
These pre-recorded statements are projected into the room using spatial audio thus creating a space that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the polyphony of voices. By walking through the installation visitors can single out certain voices depending on how they move around in the space. Each voice is connected to a light source, representing them as beams of light in the room.
The Multi-Faith Prayer Room is agnostic and humanistic at heart. The artists describe it as a “black box of hopes, fears and dreams – collecting today’s utopian ideas and future desires from everyday people and transforming them into a polyphony of inclusivity.”
In Miami, the installation attracted thousands of visitors, who were able to experience this tangible social sculpture in its experimental phase.
Robot Heart Foundation deployed some of its best creative and communications resources to support the initial “MVP” (minimum viable product) launch of the Multi-Faith Prayer Room, along with initial financial support.
Collaborating with Brandt Brauer Frick, a highly respected musical group from the fringe, coupled with technology, inclusion and audio innovation, is a perfect fit for Robot Heart Foundation. It’s art, technology, sound, fun – done in a thought-provoking way. We were glad to help launch this meaningful project at Miami’s Art Basel, disrupting the typically visual art scene with an immersive sound and light installation, and elevating sound and sonic arts as accessible cultural experiences in the process.
An early concept of the Multi-Faith Prayer Room
Brandt Brauer Frick was founded in 2008 with the approach to unite repetitive and grooving formulas of electronic dance music with the sound world of contemporary classical music. The BBC once called the trio’s music ‘concert hall compositions for the clubbing generation’.
The band has so far released five studio albums, collaborating with artists like Nina Kraviz, Gudrun Gut, Catherine Ringer, Jamie Lidell, Emika, Agnes Obel, Vic Mensa and Frank Ocean producer Om’Mas Keith.
As a trio and together with their ensemble, Brandt Brauer Frick have performed over 400 concerts in more than 40 countries in clubs, classical concert halls and festivals since, including Glastonbury Festival, Coachella, Montreux Jazz, Lincoln Center, Mutek, Sónar, Southbank Centre, Centre Pompidou, Kölner Philharmonie, Fabric and Berghain.
BBF also wrote and performed the vogueing opera “Gianni” at Deutsche Oper in 2016 and played shows with symphony orchestras in Caracas and Mexico City.
Brandt Brauer Frick’s full performance at the Multi Faith Prayer Room at Miami Art Basel 2022.
With Fare Forward 2022, our multi-day music and art activation in Central Park, we wrote music history.
Not only was this the first time ever that the original Robot Heart bus came out of the desert dust, but the two days of performances we brought to Central Park’s Wollman Rink, was the first time live music was heard there in over 43 years, since The Pretenders last played in 1979.
We have a deep connection to NYC and lighting. Our founder, George Mueller, was responsible for bringing LED lighting to the masses and his company invented, built and installed the LED lights on the Empire State building, the Winter Garden, the Con Edison Building, the Star displayed in Socrates Sculpture Park, and many others.
We want to celebrate the New York night skyline by bringing out LED-driven artworks and light installations to the park for the first time.
Artistic expression on full display in Central Park’s Wollman Rink as Carlita plays a set on the Robot Heart Bus
Carlita plays a set on the Robot Heart Bus as twilight sets in at Central Park’s Wollman Rink
Bebel Gilberto serenading the Fare Forward crowd
Inflatable mushrooms by Amigo and Amigo brought color and shade during the day and a playful light source in the evening.
Acid Pauli plays a set at Fare Forward in Central Park’s Wollman Rink
Cymande performs on the Robot Heart Bus at Fare Forward in Central Park’s Wollman Rink
The Illustrious Blacks warm up the crowd on with the opening act on Day 1 at Fare Forward
Fare Forward participants attend a tea ceremony
It was a family affair as young children joined the dance floor at Fare Forward in Central Park’s Wollman Rink
Even furry friends had fun at Fare Forward
Young Robots showing how comfortable they already are on stage in front of thousands
Bob Moses plays a special surprise acoustic set on the Robot Heart Bus on Day 2 of Fare Forward, the first time the duo has played an acoustic set live on the Bus
Formerly salutes the crowd on Day 2 of Fare Forward after concluding its debut performance as a group
Be Svendsen praises the crowd during Fare Forward’s closing set
Preparing the Robot Heart Bus for Fare Forward in Central Park’s Wollman Rink
The lights encapsulate a couple grooving to the music at Fare Forward with the New York City skyline overlooking the scene
Robots hang on the (mini) Heart displayed at the Foundation’s fundraiser dinner
Robot Heart board member Clare Laverty addresses the crowd at the Foundation’s fundraiser dinner
Robot Heart board member Justin Shaffer addresses the crowd at the Foundation’s fundraiser dinner
Robot Heart president Gary Mueller addresses the crowd at the Foundation’s fundraiser
Participants take in one of the many performances during the Foundation’s fundraiser dinner
The magnificence of artist LÁOLÚ on display the Foundation’s fundraiser dinner
LÁOLÚ performs at the Foundation’s fundraiser dinner
LÁOLÚ paints the face of Cirque Du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté
Hyungki Joo & Aleksey Igudesman applaud the crowd after performing their duet during the Foundation’s fundraiser dinner
Grammy Winner Diplo plays a set at the Foundation’s fundraiser dinner
The Robot Heart Bus in its original incarnation on playa in 2008
The Robot Heart Bus driving around deep playa in 2009
Mounting the Heart on the Bus during Burning Man in 2010
Robot Heart is very much so a working camp at Burning Man, and this shot of camp in 2010 illustrates all of the tools and technologies that go into building what we build
A Robot Heart camper prepping one of the speakers to be mounted on the Bus at Burning Man in 2011
Prepping the speaker cabinets to mount on the Bus at Burning Man in 2012
Mounting speakers on the Bus at Burning Man in 2012
Programming the lights on the Heart at Burning Man in 2012
So much artistry, science, and creativity go into our production, with this showing some the configuration array that a camper is assigned to whenever the Bus is on the move
Pieces of the Robot Heart Bus lighting fixture being assembled on playa in 2013
Lift each other up, always
Assembling the Heart at Burning Man in 2014
Building the Bus on playa at Burning Man in 2014
A Robot Heart camper conducts a yoga session on playa in front of the Bus at Burning Man in 2015
The Robot Heart sound system has evolved many times over the years and so much time, energy, and effort is invested to cultivating our sound production
Bob Moses performing a live set on the Bus at Burning Man in 2015
Brandeaux getting ready to lift off at Burning Man in 2015
Our most sacred and prized artistic achievement is the ever evolving Robot Heart Sound System.
It is one of the most unique sound systems in the world, truly a piece of art constructed by hand by our team over the past 14 years. Described by musicians who have played it as a Stradivarius, it’s an instrument in its own right.
It has been built, rebuilt and refined and it is an honor for our team to continue to improve it and raise our collective bar on the quality of experience it provides.
The Black Rock Symphony performing in front of an art piece at Burning man in 2017. Such extraordinary artistry, talent, and collaboration fuels our fire.
The Robot Heart camp is an all-hands-on-deck collaboration, where everyone pitches in to bring so much love and beats to the playa
We want to inspire people and create magical experiences, so we look to support others on that same mission whenever we can
Tom from Bob Moses, live on the Robot Heart Bus at Burning Man in 2017
Overlooking the Black Rock orchestra at Burning Man in 2017
The Robot Heart x Mayan Warrior tie-up became the stuff of legends in playa lore, bringing two communities of doer and dreamers together to dance, to love, and to create
Brandeaux, always keeping a loving eye on us
Looking down the Sonic runway at Burning Man in 2018
The Bus on the move at Burning Man in 2018
Just before the sun peeks its head over the horizon brings some of the most magnificent colors you’ll ever see
Hangin’ by the Bus back at camp in 2019
The Robot Heart family is blessed with some of the most talented creative minds, adjoining from all walks of life and a variety of professions
Robot Heart actually has another art car, Shady Bot, which tags along on playa to provide shady comfort and of course some extra love and beats
Brandeaux and the night sky at Burning Man in 2019
A blue Heart shines over John Dill and Holmar Filipsson as they play a set at the Free Burn in 2021
The Bus heading out for a drive on playa at the Free Burn in 2021
Autumn Spire, one of the Foundation’s several art grants made in 2022, is a gothic-inspired 20ft steel tower projecting the colors of Autumn upon nightfall to provoke nostalgic memories, of the changing of seasons and the passage of time. The leaders of this project Eric Coolidge and Zack Caruso are friends, campmates, and co-creators who’ve supported various Robot Heart initiatives in the past including Further Future, NYC Halloween, and Fare Forward.
The lighthouse atop Autumn Spire serves as a beacon, projecting a beam of warm light into the sky. Since participants are meant to engage with the sculpture physically, the light at the top of the spire is connected to the wheel at the base, which participants can turn to change the direction of the light, sending a signal into the night sky.
Autumn Spire continues its journey to be shared with new audiences, and was featured as part of TRANSFIX, the world’s largest touring immersive art experience in Las Vegas in April 2022.
In 2022, SummerStage brought New Yorkers nearly 90 free shows across the city’s parks, including 49 in Central Park. Over 200,000 New Yorkers were able to enjoy top tier artists, such as legendary pianist Herbie Hancock, who performed on Opening Night in Central Park.
In 2022, SummerStage brought New Yorkers nearly 90 free shows across the city’s parks, including 49 in Central Park. Over 200,000 New Yorkers were able to enjoy top tier artists, such as legendary pianist Herbie Hancock, who performed on Opening Night in Central Park. Photo by Ken Spielman
Robot Heart Foundation’s support of the Multi-Faith Prayer Room allowed the artists to take their idea from vision to a successful proof of concept, providing a springboard for the full realization of the project. In addition to appearing at SXSW, BBF is in talks with partners in Europe and North America to bring the MFPR installation to new audiences.
We were proud to be the presenting partner of the Multi-Faith Prayer Room at Miami Art Basel in 2022, an immersive sound and light installation by Brandt Bauer Frick. Designed as a black box time capsule of hopes, fears, and dreams, the Multi-Faith Prayer Room transforms into a multidimensional polyphony of recorded messages for the future. We presented this installation – seen and experienced for the first time ever – as a showcase for several nights, with the participation and support of Layla Benitez, Ameme and Marieme.
Through our work, we seek to elevate the human experience to a frequency of love and push the boundaries of what is possible. We are always moving forward because we believe that perpetual innovation inspires limitless possibilities, and that transformative artistic, technological and musical experiences propel our collective consciousness. We’ve been known to go against the grain, to surprise and tantalize by doing the unexpected. When others zig, we zag.
Central to our values is a strong commitment to deepening communities and human connection, locally and throughout the world, by giving generously of ourselves, leading with love and never taking ourselves too seriously.
Benjamin is an Olympic skier and has over 20 years of DJ experience having performed in over 30 countries, across five continents.
Beginning his professional career in tech and then pivoting to finance, he is now a fortune 100 public speaker and global ambassador for diversity in winter sports.
Benjamin received a Bachelor of Engineering from University College London.
Benjamin Alexander
Board Member
Ting Ji started her career in the modeling industry when she was only 10 years old and had her big break when she was discovered at 15 years old. She went on to work all over the world including in London, New York, LA, Europe and was featured on a TV show that aired all over Asia.
While modeling, Ting invested in and co-founded a DJ/Music Production and Visual arts school in New York, L.A. and online.
Ting is a volunteer and a committee member for the Young Adult Institute and has helped fundraise, provide housing, job opportunities, after work programs and coach basketball team for adults with Disabilities. She is still active in the fashion industry and now a full time mother of 2.
Ting Ji
Board Member
Bio Coming Soon
Tom Katis
Board Member
Clare Laverty’s two-decade career began at world class advertising agencies on multi award-winning campaigns for Unilever and Marks & Spencer.
She held a global leadership role at British conglomerate Swire in Asia for their critically acclaimed hotel group including The Upper House in Hong Kong and subsequently for the Property division and opened Brickell City Centre, the $1.05 billion urban center in Miami. More recent roles include FinTech start up Allinfra, a ConsenSys business.
Originally from the U.K., now residing in LA, Clare received a Bachelor of Science from Royal Holloway, University of London and is a licensed California Real Estate agent.
Clare Laverty
Executive Committee & Board Member
Jody Levy is an artist, designer, storyteller, entrepreneur and music junkie whose favorite artistic medium is business. Jody jumped into the business world with the introduction of the world’s first experience design firm and has been creating multi-disciplinary experiences, immersive theatrical events, and interactive happenings for decades. The work is all about sharing sensory stories that leave an indelible impression for causes, products, brands and companies. This work includes large global automotive and technology launches, touring stage shows for top musical bands and DJ’s, interactive museum installations, festival experiences, immersive Broadway theater, Hollywood television sets and much more.
Levy is a partner, the Global Director and Chief Executive Officer of SUMMIT, a brand and series of companies and experiences committed to connecting the global maker economy. Jody is the founder, Director and Chief Executive Officer of a series of companies dedicated to empowering people’s health and happiness including WTRMLN WTR, a brand committed to redefining how and what we drink to nourish our bodies and sustain our ecosystem. Levy is the founder of The Milk Cleanse, a lifestyle product that alleviates symptoms associated with biotoxic exposure including Lyme Disease. Levy created NeuroPraxis, a digital app featuring modules designed to optimize and condition our mental health.
Levy is a partner, advisor and investor in many category-disrupting brands and companies connected to the advancement of creative expression, community, music, health and happiness, and the commitment to empower people to optimize their purpose. This includes companies that focus on professional development and employment, biohacking, clean energy, personalized medicine, alternative wellness, sustainable fitness, clean food and more. Levy is an independent board director of NASDAQ traded company Lifeway Kefir [LWAY], a founding partner in GEM&BOLT Mezcal, investor and advisor in Supermush, The Multiverse, Parsley Health, The WELL, FullCycle Energy Fund, Bulletproof, Thrive Market, Pinata, Noetic Psychedelic Fund, No Sleep Ventures, Public Records, Gospel, Copper Books, Creator Camp and more.
Jody Levy
Board Member
Bio Coming Soon
Gary Mueller
President & Board Member
Robert Scott is a media, corporate finance and general corporate lawyer with a background in public and private securities offerings, media, venture capital and private equity and general corporate representation to businesses of all sizes.
Robert currently practices law as a partner in the boutique New York City based law firm, HBA (hballp.com). He has worked with a variety of public and private companies, start-ups and individuals in connection with business structuring, financings, acquisitions and operations, and from 2017 to 2022 served as General Counsel of The Arena Group (NYSE: AREN), a public media technology company and publisher of hundreds of media brands, including Sports Illustrated, Parade and TheStreet.
After practicing for a number of years in his native Australia, Robert joined the corporate finance department at Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York, working on large, multi-jurisdictional financings, representing both issuers and underwriters. He later moved to King & Spalding LLP, where he spearheaded a variety of public and private financings, before launching a boutique practice in New York City servicing clients in the startup and venture capital world and rights owners in media and entertainment.
Robert is a founding member of Robot Heart, and serves as Secretary and a Director of the Robot Heart Foundation. Robert also serves on the Board of Trustees of Hope for Ukraine, a 501c3 public charity supporting the victims of the war in Ukraine. In addition, Robert co-founded forward-thinking lifestyle company Further Future, which has produced large scale festivals combining music and cultural content with talks and workshops by world-renowned thought-leaders in a range of fields including business, science and technology and the arts.
Robert holds a Bachelor of Laws (with First Class Honors) and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia, and is admitted to practice in New York, New South Wales and Western Australia.
Rob Scott
Secretary & Board Member
Bio Coming Soon
Justin Shaffer
Executive Committee & Board Member
Bio Coming Soon
Walter Smith
Board Member
Jason has been raising consciousness, creating community and culture around experiences and creativity for the past 23 years, most notably through leadership roles at award winning Wonderfruit, zeitgeist defining Robot Heart and critically acclaimed Further Future. He’s multi-talented, wears many hats and has developed and influenced many brands and artists globally.
His agency Do What You Love has produced, created and curated innumerable experiences working with thousands of industry leaders, from Grammy winners, Michelin starred chefs, Fortune 500 entrepreneurs, wellness gurus, thought leaders and renowned filmmakers, artists and athletes. His client list includes LACMA/UCCA (Art Basel), NetEase, Swire Group, American Express, BitMex, Soho House, Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula, Melco City of Dreams, Edition and much more.
Jason also advises and raises funds for numerous start-ups and projects he is passionate about from wellness tech, Silent Mode, music AI platform Nusic, music education platform FaderPro, digital talent agency Gigwell and The Last Glaciers, a climate change documentary directed by award winning director Craig Lesson, scored by Above & Beyond.
Jason is community board member at Soho House and Art Ambassador at award winning/Michelin starred Duddell’s. He helped launch Point Blank music school in Hang Zhou in conjunction with the Chinese government.
Jason is a director/partner and helped start award winning Wonderfruit which has consistently been labeled one of the best festivals in the world in the eco-consciousness space and beyond.
Separately Jason is an ambassador and director for Seeds/Hypha, a regenerative economy technology platform and community designed to put an end to the wealth gap, re-align incentives and democratize financial incentives to environmentally and society impacting projects worldwide.
He is co-founder of Fever, music eco-system in China with NetEase (4th largest tech company in China, largest music platform in the world) and Bassline is an event/venue SAAS based Data Analytics & Visualization platform.
Over the course of 9 years Wonderfruit has become a world leader and innovator in sustainability, its focus is on raising awareness, impact and activism via measurable action. Wonderfruit has been carbon neutral since 2017. It has banned single use plastics, sources local, created an open source standard in sustainability practices, it is 95% zero-waste via up-cycling, recycling, reusing and composting. Wonderfruit adopts permaculture principles for it’s design, filters all its water via onsite water source and provides carbon offsetting to it’s attendees via carbon calculator and tree planting
He’s a frequent speaker at global conferences, certified plant-based chef, and 500-hour advanced yoga teacher, professional global trotting dj, husband and new father (again).
Jason Swamy
Executive Committee & Board Member
Rob Torti, has over 20 years of experience within the finance industry across trading and risk management, investment banking, private equity, bankruptcy and turnaround management, venture capital, and corporate leadership as a finance and operations professional. Rob began his career as an OTC / NASDAQ trader at Credit Suisse during the 2001 tech bubble crash. He later transitioned to running a proprietary trading book at First New York Securities. The next phase of his career focused on corporate transactions and restructuring: M&A and private placements at Gridley and Company; and then Turnaround, Restructuring and Bankruptcy work at AlixPartners where he worked on AIG during the financial crisis, General Motors, Kodak, and General Growth Properties during their respective bankruptcies. After a successful career as a turnaround professional Mr. Torti began focusing on the earlier corporate lifecycle first as a venture advisor to Chaac Ventures and subsequently as a late co-founder at Authentag, a National Science Foundation funded pharmaceutical track and trace company. In 2020 he co-founded Databased Finance, an inventory finance platform for ecommerce sellers, and currently serves as COO.
Mr. Torti holds a MBA from Columbia University in finance and management and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton in history. He was a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (now lapsed) while he worked at AlixPartners and previously held a Series 7, 3, 55, and 63 (now lapsed).
Rob Torti
Treasurer & Board Member
Hailing from Paris, France and currently based in Los Angeles – but calling Black Rock City home – Penelope is passionate about making the world a better place.
With a wide range of experience in the non-profit, non-governmental and private sectors, she has worked with organizations and supported projects focused on human rights and democracy in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Africa.
Prior to joining Robot Heart Foundation as Executive Director, Penelope co-founded and has been the Chief Operations Officer and Chief of Staff at March On/Future Coalition, a women-led, intergenerational social advocacy organization dedicated to building and sustaining grassroots power here in the US.
Active and engaged for causes she believes in, Penelope has been sharing her energy with a number of organizations, causes and projects over the years, ranging from working with refugees and survivors of war in Ghana and Liberia, to being a lead in her Burning Man camp for several years, to participating in a neighborhood community garden back home in LA.
Penelope Chester
Executive Director
