Courtesy of Occupy White WallsScience & Tech / NewsScience & Tech / NewsDigital smugglers virtually heist the National Gallery’s art collectionOccupy White Walls uploaded thousands of priceless artworks online for people to add to their own virtual museumsShareLink copied ✔️July 9, 2020July 9, 2020Text Günseli Yalcinkaya Digital smugglers have lifted the National Gallery in London’s entire art collection and uploaded it onto the virtual gallery game, Occupy White Walls (OWW). Now, the artworks are available for anyone to hang in their (virtual) collections – all you need is a computer and a Steam account. Occupy White Walls is a sandbox multiplayer online game that lets you slowly build up your own gallery, employing architectural elements and the help of an AI that learns what art you like. In-game museums are populated with pieces from collections such as Washington’s National Gallery and New York’s Metropolitan Museum – hi-res images that have been pilfered from the museums’ websites. Think of it like those virtual art galleries on Animal Crossing, only with way more art. “I like to think of it as liberation,” Yarden Yaroshevski, CEO of Stikipixels, who created OWW, told Wired. “But this is the first time we’ve done a whole collection, like this.” There are 2,400 digital artworks available from the National Gallery, which is basically its entire collection, bar two pieces. High-res images of the artworks were taken from the institution’s website, before being treated on Photoshop and an open-source tool, Dezoomify. Is this legal? Technically, yes. Most of the National Gallery’s collection is made up of paintings whose copyright has long expired, putting them firmly in the public domain for anyone to use for free. You can find out more on Occupy White Walls here. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.TrendingIs this the most corrupt World Cup ever?From Donald Trump’s alleged meddling to theories of a pro-Argentina conspiracy, accusations of foul play are taking over the 2026 World CupLife & CultureLife & CultureWhy the smartest person you know is watching Love IslandDODOFashionDoDo is longing for an escapist Italian summer – aren’t we all!Dazed LeagueInside an intimate soccer watch party in New YorkBeauty10 of the hottest Instagram accounts fusing art, sex and eroticaMusicOlivia Rodrigo: ‘A breakup can be an opportunity to redirect your life’BeautyNude awakening: Meet the young people embracing naturismMusicEthel Cain responds to a ‘massive smear campaign’ that unearthed old postsReplitLife & CultureWhat Went Down at the inaugural vibeconEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy