Kate Lynn Lewis

Artist
Location: Chicago

South Florida and Chicago-based artist Kate Lynn Lewis created a robot design inspired by illusion, architecture, coastal details, and the joy of seeing something unexpected move through the city.

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Artist Bio

Kate Lynn Lewis is a South Florida and Chicago-based artist known for large-scale mural installations, illustrative design work, and brand collaborations. Her work is recognized for clean, hard lines, bold color, and an interest in “impossible architecture,” drawing inspiration from artists like M.C. Escher and Oscar Reutersvard.

Her practice often explores the space between precision and imagination. Through murals, installations, and design work, Kate creates pieces that make viewers pause, look twice, and question what they think is possible.

For Moving Canvas, Kate brought that same sense of visual surprise to a new kind of surface: a Serve robot moving through the real world.

The design

Kate’s design is built around curiosity, depth, and visual play. Inspired by shapes and objects that appear impossible, the artwork gives the robot a spunky, curious personality and turns it into something meant to stand out.

Rather than trying to blend into the street, Kate leaned into the robot’s unusual presence. Her design treats the robot as a conversation starter, a moving object that can be dressed boldly and still feel at home in public space.

Design inspiration: Impossible architecture, archways, cast iron balcony patterns, cafe awnings, coastal geography, and the idea of making the impossible feel real.

Q&A with Kate Lynn Lewis

• What inspired your design? I’ve always been inspired by artists who play with shapes and objects in ways that appear to be “impossible,” or create depth in unexpected ways.
• What excites you the most about bringing your design to the community by way of Serve? I love the joy that people experience when they encounter a Serve robot, and that my creativity gets to play a part in that. I love that we get to give the very human gift of personality, style, and flavor to something that people interact with.
• How do you see the robot fitting into the community visually? I see the robot actually standing out, rather than fitting in, in the same way that a tall person stands out in a crowd, or a wild outfit draws conversation. I think the fun of it is that you can dress it as loud and flamboyant as you want, without worry that it might not fit in, because it’s not meant to.
• Are you aiming for the robot to blend in, stand out, or spark conversation? I’m aiming for the robot to both stand out and spark conversation. I love ideas that ignite more ideas, and that’s what I see this as. I always say my goal in life is “to inspire, and be inspired.” Working on this project nailed both at once.
• Did you draw on any local culture, landmarks, or traditions in your design? I researched local architecture and was inspired by the archways, the cast iron pattern work woven into balconies, the cafe awnings, and the coastal geography.
• How do you want people to feel when they encounter the robot? I hope people feel surprised & joyful when they encounter the robot. I hope they leave thinking, and soon telling their friends, “I just had the craziest experience..."
• What story or message does your design tell about the community? By being commissioned by Serve to design their robot art for Cannes Lions, a festival celebrating creative filmmakers from around the world, we’re designing together a world of infinite possibilities, one that we could only dream of existing before humans made the impossible possible.
• How would you describe the personality your design gives the robot? Spunky and curious!