Google co-founder Sergey Brin was recently photographed riding the NYC subway sporting a stealthy head-to-toe black outfit and a prototype pair of Google Glass eyewear. There has been some speculation that this man in black represents the future of augmented reality (AR), but that commentary is incorrect. The future of AR wears white. The future of AR is Famous New Media Artist Jeremy Bailey, and he just launched a Kickstarter campaign.

Yesterday saw Bailey unveil 'Important Portraits' a crowdfunding venture inviting donors to pitch in to help the artist populate an upcoming solo exhibition with custom-commissioned artwork. Taking place at Toronto's Pari Nadimi Gallery this spring, Bailey's show will attempt to resurrect the lost art of portraiture and–moving beyond the current milieu of dumpy social media photographs and avatars–drag it into the 21st century by deploying AR techniques and the whimsical graphic language featured in his work. More generous backers will receive a visit from a professional photographer who will collect an image that will serve as the basis of a Bailey original, and a print of the work will be included in the exhibition in April.