Bringing Art to Life: Jenn Liv’s Lasting Mark on the Lundgren Digital Makerspace

When visitors enter the Lundgren Digital Makerspace, they encounter more than a colorful interpretation of Tucson and the Southwest. They discover a mural designed to come alive.

Created by artist and illustrator Jenn Liv during her time as an assistant professor in the University of Arizona School of Art, the mural blends traditional painting with augmented reality (AR). Although Liv has since joined the Savannah College of Art and Design as a professor of illustration, her work remains a vibrant part of the U of A. More importantly, it invites others to explore the possibilities that emerge when art and technology intersect.

“When new technology emerges, it really questions the artist’s position in relation to it,” Liv said. “It is not meant to be an easy process. It is meant to be a struggle. But that’s sort of the beauty in it.”

Exploring new dimensions of art

With a background in freelance illustration, Liv began incorporating augmented reality and public art into her creative practice. She also introduced AR to students in the School of Art’s Illustration, Design and Animation program, encouraging them to experiment with technology and expand how they approached their work.

“What’s been interesting to see is that it’s gotten them to really explore animation for the first time,” Liv said. “I welcome technology in that way—to expand upon their practice.”

That same spirit of experimentation shaped her vision for the Lundgren Digital Makerspace mural. Asked to develop a design inspired by Tucson and the Southwest, Liv proposed an interactive concept that aligned with her growing interest in augmented reality.

By holding up a mobile device, viewers can experience animated elements layered over the physical artwork. The result adds movement and a new dimension to the mural, creating an experience that bridges the physical and digital worlds.

“Being able to hold up a device and see the mural come alive through animations really adds a nice immersive quality and engagement with the viewer,” Liv said. “That is what the appeal of augmented reality is for me.”

Stepping through new realities

At the center of the mural, a figure appears to leap through a series of panels, an element Liv designed to symbolize movement through extended reality environments.

The imagery also reflects the creative possibilities available within the Lundgren Digital Makerspace, where members of the university community can experiment with multimedia tools, emerging technologies and new approaches to storytelling.

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The project represented a leap for Liv as well: It was the first mural she had ever created.

“Being trusted with a mural this size as your first mural is quite a huge undertaking,” she said.

Completing the work required considerable physical and mental effort, along with collaboration from people who helped bring its technological components to life. Seeing the finished mural embraced by the university community made the challenge worthwhile.

“It’s been great to see the mural being received so well,” Liv said. “It’s nice to know that I’m being supported through amazing people—so many talented folks who can help me figure out the technology and keep the component alive.”

A lasting invitation to experiment

Liv’s mural continues to embody the curiosity and creative exploration at the heart of the Digital Makerspace. It demonstrates how established artistic practices can evolve through emerging technology and how experimentation can transform a familiar space into an immersive experience.

For Liv, the project was not an endpoint but the beginning of a larger creative journey.

“I’m just excited to keep going and keep seeing how it evolves,” she said. “Augmented reality is cool, and we should still keep exploring it.”