Chrome, Google’s flashy new web browser, is now offering themes designed by artists such as Jeff Koons, Jenny Holzer, Tom Sachs and Dale Chihuly.
What’s a theme? It’s the thing behind the webpages you are looking at. All you usually see is that little strip on top, a gray bar. New themes by artists, designers and fashion celebrities can spice up that little gray bar for you. You can see more of the theme when you click on the “add a tab” button on the top of the page, which shows you your most visited sites in smaller thumbnail images and exposes more of the background.
The Jeff Koons theme is three shiny rabbits on a multi-faceted blue background. Jenny Holzer’s theme looks like one of her light pieces.
Additional theme options were created by Donna Karen, Todd Oldham, Kate Spade, Oscar de la Renta, Karim Rashid, Dolce & Gabbana, Wes Craven, and Michael Graves. In total, the new gallery features over 90 themes, ranging from simple photographs (Mariah Carey’s face) and patterns to elaborate custom-made designs.
Google offered the artists no compensation for using their images, relying instead on the appeal of having the images seen by millions of people. Most artists declined the opportunity.
Koons was also selected to design the 2010 BMW Art Car.
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