A large, AI‑style Christmas mural in Kingston upon Thames drew mixed reactions after viewers spotted warped faces, a snowman with odd features and dogs with bird heads. A Santa‑like figure with a half‑orange, half‑white beard appears pained in the water beneath the scene. Social media responses ranged from horror to bemused praise, and the council says it was not involved; the landowner will remove the installation.
Bizarre AI‑Style Christmas Mural in Kingston upon Thames Divides Londoners
A large, AI‑style Christmas mural in Kingston upon Thames drew mixed reactions after viewers spotted warped faces, a snowman with odd features and dogs with bird heads. A Santa‑like figure with a half‑orange, half‑white beard appears pained in the water beneath the scene. Social media responses ranged from horror to bemused praise, and the council says it was not involved; the landowner will remove the installation.
10:42 AM, 11/20/2025Culture
A large mural that appears to be AI‑generated has divided opinion in Kingston upon Thames after passersby noticed disturbing, surreal details beneath an otherwise festive scene.
From a distance the installation looks like a cheerful crowd celebrating the holidays, but a closer look reveals warped faces, a snowman with unusual features and dogs with bird‑like heads — all oddly depicted splashing through water.
A Santa‑like figure is shown at the base of a rock, partly submerged with eyes closed and a beard that is half orange and half white, giving the image an unsettling tone.
Public reaction
The mural, painted on a large riverside wall above several popular restaurants, prompted a flood of comments on social media. Reactions ranged from amusement to alarm.
'The entire thing is horrendous,' one viewer wrote.
'I'm equal parts delighted and horrified,' another posted.
'It beggars belief that if you're going to use AI you wouldn't even take a fraction of the time you've allegedly saved to at least check it a bit,' a critic added.
'This is magnificent,' read another reaction, followed by: 'It's worse every time you look.'
Kingston upon Thames Council said it had no involvement in the planning or funding of the display. The landowner has since confirmed that the installation will be removed.
Whatever the origin — human or machine-assisted — the mural has sparked a wider conversation about the use of AI in public art and the need for oversight and quality control before installations go on display.