Hidden QR code art may be lurking in the scenes without anyone noticing. Are you able to spot and scan one?
Contemporary artists and designers take the words ‘creative expression’ to another level by carefully hiding functional QR codes in their visual art forms. Yes, these digital tools are also making an impact among creatives.
Who would have thought that these pixilated squares could actually be useful in making a static artwork interactive and even become masterpieces themselves? It is definitely a state-of-the-art approach that one shouldn’t miss.
In this blog, we have curated some of the most popular artwork that hides QR codes from which you can draw inspiration and an easy-to-follow guide to making QR codes together with Free QR Code Generator.
Table of Contents
- The innovative expression behind QR codes in art
- Must-see: Hidden QR code art that will leave you in awe
- Steps on how to create an artistic QR code for your artwork
- More applications of QR code artwork you can try
- Why use Free QR Code Generator to create your QR codes?
- Bring out your creativity through hidden QR code art
- People also ask
The innovative expression behind QR codes in art
QR code art is emerging here and there as more artists and designers fuse art and technology in their crafts.
These digital tools are known for storing large amounts of information, offering customization, and easily integrating into various physical media.
However, creating this kind of art goes beyond sculpting or 3D printing. Some contemporary artists and designers embed hidden QR code art within their pieces, allowing audiences to engage with the work beyond what the eye can see.
For instance, a seemingly ordinary museum painting may conceal a QR code that, when scanned, leads viewers to the artist’s portfolio or an advocacy campaign.
That is something you don’t often see in the art scene, and artists and designers who have used this method have built unique branding over their work.
With QR codes providing artists and designers additional canvases to expand their creativity beyond their crafts, you, too, can transform your static artwork into interactive and impactful visual art for your audience.
Must-see: Hidden QR code art that will leave you in awe
In the world of arts and creativity, QR codes are not just couriers of information; they have also become art themselves.
Let’s look at how these contemporary artists used customized QR code technology to generate delight in their craft and even usher in a new art form from these pixelated squares.
Ola Volo’s The Wall for Women
Source: abriennemiller.co
Let's play a game: hide a QR code for a cause, but oops, Maybe not anymore, because Ola Volo nailed it already!
YWCA Metro Vancouver collaborates with the Canadian mural artist to create The Wall for Women, which aligns with their advocacy towards ending intimate partner violence.
Volo’s work is a striking example of how hidden QR codes in art can serve both aesthetic and social purposes. She seamlessly concealed the QR code within the mural, easily overlooked unless viewers examine the intricate details.
The hidden QR code serves as a digital portal that leads viewers to statistics and resources about domestic violence and supports the organization’s housing project for women who have suffered abuse.
Yiying Lu’s Portal to the Unknown
Source: yiyinglu.com
While watercolor painting can be challenging, Yiying Lu takes it head-on by carefully integrating scannable art QR code design into her three Portal to the Unknown art series.
These QR codes lead viewers to a time-lapse video showing the process of making the painting.
Lu’s aim is to combine art and technology to let users see her creative process, giving them a fresh experience beyond the static illustrations.
Kid Cudi’s Entergalactic
Source: netflix.com
Entergalactic is not your typical animated film. It has hidden QR codes in it!
Visual art forms like cinema are now embracing the movie QR code trend, using scannable elements to enhance storytelling and viewer interaction beyond the screen.
Kid Cudi, for instance, embedded QR codes in his Entergalactic film that lead users to its comic book and soundtrack album. Other hidden QR codes also direct viewers to the Netflix Shop, where they can purchase merchandise.
Tony Taj’s cityscape painting
Source: installationmag.com
As part of his grand plan to fuse together art and technology, Tony Taj hides QR codes within his metropolis-themed paintings to turn them into immersive experiences.
Since cities converge people, culture, and technology, Taj finds it fascinating to let viewers immerse themselves in these things through his creation.
The hidden QR code art within the painting leads viewers to animations, music, and short films, among others, that let them experience city life more.
Scott Blake’s QR code portrait
Source: weburbanist.com
Zoom in, and you’ll see that this portrait of a woman is very much QR-coded.
Artist Scott Blake experiments with QR code technology by making a portrait of journalist Amy Goodman of the independent news program Democracy Now! out of them.
Blake arranged each code according to their color contrast to make the artwork. The detailed portrait was completed using 2,304 QR codes in total.
When viewers scan them, they can access all the coverage of Amy Goodman in the span of nine years, showcasing her dedication to investigative journalism.
Tony Taj’s Skyline Painting
Seattle-based artist Tony Taj merges his skyline landscapes with digital technology through his Ambient Media Portal (AMP) series.
His paintings feature stylized urban skylines where QR codes are subtly woven into the architecture.
Scanning these hidden codes reveals animations, soundscapes, and short films that extend the narrative beyond the canvas.
Taj’s AMP technique transforms the static medium into an interactive one, connecting physical brushwork with immersive digital storytelling.
Trevor Jones’ “QR Code Paintings”
While most of these artists hide their QR codes within intricate designs, some take a different approach, making the QR itself the focal point of the artwork.
Scottish painter Trevor Jones transforms the once-mundane QR pattern into a full-fledged QR code painting.
His QR Code Paintings series (2012) features canvases where every block of paint forms a fully functional QR code that viewers can scan. Each painting links to a unique online experience, extending the artwork into the digital realm.
Though overt, Jones’s QR codes show how digital and traditional art can seamlessly converge, a counterpoint to artists who conceal theirs.
Jenny Mehrtens’ “Q-ARTcode Series”
In her Q-ARTcode Series, Jenny Mehrtens transforms QR codes into expressive, mixed-media compositions that remain fully functional.
Her work plays with color, texture, and form while preserving the code’s ability to link to hidden digital narratives, ranging from videos to personal messages.
By balancing aesthetic freedom with digital precision, Mehrtens reinforces how visible integration can be just as conceptually rich as hidden design, inviting viewers to reflect on the dialogue between the physical canvas and its digital extension.
Steps on how to create an artistic QR code for your artwork
You don’t need complicated tools to create QR codes for your artwork. You can always make one online and for free using a reliable QR code software.
Simply follow the steps in the guide below to create functional and aesthetic QR codes.
1. Open Free QR Code Generator on your browser.
2. Select a QR code solution and input the information you want to store in the QR code.
3. Generate the QR code.
4. Personalize the QR code design to integrate it with other elements easily.
5. Test the QR code to see if it’s working and download.
Be sure to blend the QR code well with the artwork or design you have and let viewers try to discover it themselves!
💡 Tip: For best results, use a trusted QR code maker that allows color customization, logo insertion, and design flexibility to help your code complement your artistic vision.
More applications of QR code artwork you can try
With how blendable QR codes are to art and designs, you shouldn’t miss the chance to experiment and try your hand at using the technology in your craft as well.
Here are some practical ideas you can try that can reshape marketing strategies, enhance product experiences, and add an element of mystery to everyday life.
Marketing gimmicks
Numerous brands are now using QR codes in marketing to reach a wider audience and drive stronger engagement with their products and campaigns..
If you also want to employ the technology in your strategy and make your campaign stand out, don’t just simply place QR codes in your marketing materials.
Add some twists, like incorporating a QR code hidden in image layouts such as concealing coupon QR codes within your visual designs. Just make sure to maintain a good QR code size to keep them easily scannable.
The element of surprise and discovery can definitely fuel consumers’ competitive spirits, compelling them to locate the QR code, scan it, and claim the reward themselves.
Interactive product packaging
Don’t settle for ordinary packaging. Turn it into interactive art pieces by integrating a functional QR code artwork that consumers can collect and scan, allowing them to unbox exclusive experiences.
You can link a hidden product packaging QR code to specific content, such as discounts, products, or messages from celebrities you collaborate with.
This attracts more customers to purchase your products to find and collect the treasures they hide.
Artistic business cards
Do you want a business card that infuses both art and technology? You can create a vCard QR code that leads to your contact details and blend it into your artwork for the business card design.
This allows potential clients to scan QR code from image easily, whether from a printed card or a digital version, and instantly access your contact information or portfolio.
This is definitely a must-have tool for creative professionals, something that traditional business cards simply can't match.
Scavenger hunt games
Scavenger hunt games have long been a favorite activity for groups looking to put some excitement and camaraderie into their gatherings.
You can add a more challenging way of finding clues during the game by letting them locate and decode a QR code embedded in images. Mix them with dummy images and scatter them around the venue.
Once they find the images or artwork with hidden QR codes, they can scan them to access riddles and tasks they need to complete before proceeding to the next location.
This lets participants become more immersed and engaged with the game, bringing out their competitive and collaborative spirits.
QR code tattoos
Tattoos are also a form of art, and it is actually possible to ink a QR code tattoo that allows individuals to carry their stories with them wherever they go.
Create an artistic QR code containing a heartfelt message from a loved one, a link to your favorite song, a quote that resonates deeply with you, or even your contact information.
Blend it well into the tattoo design and etch it on your body, carrying with you a personal mark that defines who you are.
Event posters and flyers
You can make your event promotions more engaging by turning event posters or flyers into interactive designs.
Embed a discreet QR code within the layout that leads people to RSVP pages, event details, artist lineups, or exclusive previews.
It not only boosts attendance but also adds an element of discovery for those who notice and scan it.
Music album art
Musicians and designers can also use QR codes creatively on album covers.
By blending the code seamlessly into the artwork, fans can scan it to access bonus tracks, lyric videos, or behind-the-scenes clips.
This approach enhances fan engagement while keeping the album visually striking and meaningful.
Why use Free QR Code Generator to create your QR codes?
If you’re looking for a QR code platform where you can make functional and aesthetic QR codes efficiently, then you don’t have to look far, as we offer all you need to do this.
Here are some of the top reasons our QR code software is the best option you’ll ever find.
Free and safe to use
As the name suggests, this QR code software is free to use. You can create unlimited static QR codes and dynamic QR codes on the platform when you sign up for a free account.
No need to worry! We won’t ask for your credit card details and will not charge you for anything, allowing you to make QR codes with ease.
Wide variety of QR code solutions
It offers 20 different QR code solutions, including but not limited to URL, Wi-Fi, vCard, and multi-URL. With this, you can create QR codes for your specific needs without hassle.
User-friendly customization tools
Of course, it’s highly important to use a QR code software that allows you to design your QR codes aesthetically, like creating a QR code with logo, for example, and we offer you that option.
We have the following personalization tools: color, eye, logo, frame, and pattern to enhance the design and scannability of your QR code. We also provide free design templates that you can use.
Bring out your creativity through hidden QR code art
Creativity knows no bounds. Artists and designers always have the desire to make art that is different from the conventional, and the emergence of QR code technology has allowed them to do that.
The applications of QR codes are as diverse as they are intriguing. Aside from storing information, they, too, can be hidden as artwork themselves, turning a simple illustration into an immersive work of art.
Bring out your creativity by using QR codes in your art or designs. Visit Free QR Code Generator to get started.
People also ask
How to hide QR codes in art?
usually done by integrating the QR’s pixelated structure into patterns, colors, or textures that naturally fit the piece, such as backgrounds, brushstrokes, or geometric elements.
Digital artists may also modify the QR code’s color palette and opacity without compromising scanability, allowing it to remain functional while being visually subtle.
The goal is for viewers to discover the code rather than see it immediately, turning scanning into part of the artistic experience.
What is hidden QR code art?
Hidden QR code art is a creative form that embeds functional QR codes within a visual artwork in a way that’s not instantly noticeable.
These codes often link to digital extensions of the artwork, such as videos, soundscapes, or artist statements.
By concealing QR codes within a painting, mural, or illustration, artists invite audiences to interact with the piece, bridging physical art with digital storytelling.
How do I decode a QR code from an image?
To scan the QR code from an image, you only have to use a smartphone with any of the following QR code scanners: camera app, Google Lens, browser, or reliable third-party scanner.
Make sure to hold your phone towards the QR code properly to allow the camera’s viewfinder to recognize the code.
Wait for your device to automatically direct you to a designated landing page or tap the pop-up link or notification to open the content.
