Barcode Art on KETV Channel 7 News in Omaha Video

Bar code artist Scott Blake puts the ubiquitous signs of consumerism together to create images of the famous and infamous, and he said people often perceive his work as critical of his subjects.

"I think I'm really fascinated with people I portray," Blake told KETV NewsWatch 7. Blake has traveled around the country with his project.

His portraits of Andy Warhol, Bruce Lee, Oprah Winfrey, Elvis Presley and Warren Buffett and other celebrities come with a hand scanner.

Images: Scott Blake-Barcode Artist

When bar codes on each portrait are scanned, "a whole light table of activity is going on," Blake said.

Scanning Buffett's face prompts an interactive display of Berkshire Hathaway products, like a pouring Coca-Cola can.

Scanning Warhol's face dumps a 3-D can of the iconic Campbell's soup into a bowl.

Scanning Lee's face prompts a virtual fight from one of Lee's movies.

"It's 3-D. You can taste it, smell it and scan it," Blake said. "It's not digital art; it's more like a marathon of art projects."

The Buffett piece was actually commissioned for the Berkshire Hathaway weekend. Blake showed it to shareholders.

Blake's work is also featured in a Ripley's Believe It Or Not book titled "Seeing Is Believing." Blake hopes to personally show Buffett his work.

"It would be real cool to see Warren scan his own bar codes. I think he'd love it. It's very true to who and what he is," Blake said.

Blake's work and ideas can be found at his Web site, http://www.barcodeart.com