October 2, 2025 | Initiatives
Des Moines, Iowa: The Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation (Foundation) and Principal Financial Group® (Principal) announce a collaboration to bring renowned Dutch artist Leon Keer to Des Moines to paint an 8000+ square foot hyper-realistic mural at 901 Grand. The installation will be enhanced with a new, free iOS app developed by the Foundation, which adds an Augmented Reality (AR) layer that animates Keer’s mural through a smartphone camera.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Leon Keer, whose public art installations have been featured around the globe,” said Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation Director, Alexa McCarthy, PhD. “Keer’s mural with AR technology is groundbreaking for the Des Moines Metro. This installation is the first in a wider initiative to install AR-compatible murals across the city, providing opportunities for local and regional artists. We are grateful to the Principal Financial Group for partnering with us to launch this exciting experience.”