Vasya Kolotusha for Food and Wine USA

Ukrainian digital artist Vasya Kolotusha, known for his realistic and colorful style that combines bright patterns with innovative neon-themed pieces, has created stunning artwork for Food & Wine's July 2025 feature on restaurant automation. Kolotusha, who specializes in taking recognizable objects and giving them a digital shine, applies his signature "iridescent" technique to transform the potentially sterile world of restaurant robots into something visually captivating and approachable.

His commissioned illustrations include a charming delivery robot with expressive green eyes and an automated salad assembly system, both rendered in Kolotusha's trademark chrome-like surfaces and rainbow gradients that make technology feel friendly rather than intimidating.

Originally trained as an architect before pursuing his passion for illustration, Kolotusha's work is characterized by carefully constructed compositions that blend realism with surreal, nostalgic elements. For this Food & Wine piece about automated restaurant equipment like Chipotle's avocado-processing "Autocado," his artistic approach perfectly captures the intersection of culinary tradition and technological innovation.

The artist's unique technique for reproducing metal chrome and neon effects transforms what could be seen as cold, industrial machinery into vibrant, almost magical objects that celebrate the positive potential of automation in hospitality. The result is artwork that makes readers excited about the future of dining rather than apprehensive about robots replacing human workers.

For more information on Vasya Kolotusha, visit his portfolio page!