Today, our eyes are so used to seeing smooth and clean images that a pixelated photograph is perceived as a resolution error. However, there is a real trend towards pixel art, which we can call "Pixel Art". Between nostalgia and modernity, discover the best artists who have marked this movement.
In broad strokes and small squares... An artistic movement that always captivates
Pixel Art emerged in the 1970s with the arrival of computers in homes, and largely thanks to the birth of graphic design, especially video games. Among them were arcade games like Space Invaders and Pac-Man. Thanks to progress, more and more people had access to computers and were confronted with pixels every day. The term Pixel, however, is much older. Etymologically speaking, the word pixel comes from the abbreviation of two English words "pictures" and "elements". Literally, it can be translated as "picture element". Now that this literary anecdote has amazed you, let's move on!
From a technical point of view, the Pixel appeared as early as the 1880s with the arrival of the first screens. These are the points of an electronic image. This invention is credited to computer scientist Russel Kirsch, a pioneer of digital imaging.
The pixel draws its source from very ancient arts. One could even say it is an ancestral technique, as it was already used for mosaics in antiquity, for example. In reality, these images made up of small colored units can be found in many traditional art techniques throughout the centuries. In impressionism, cubism, and even embroidery.
Visually, Pixel Art has always been present in art, but it was in the 1980s and 2000s that the term emerged, and with it, many artists. Pixel Art is a varied art, rich in proposals and, above all, limitless. The recipe? Imagination, small squares, colors, and voilà (well, almost...)
Does that tempt you? To inspire you, here are some of the best Pixel Art artists.
Pioneering artists of the movement
Invader: the artist who breaks the rules by integrating Pixel Art into street art
He was born in Paris in 1969. A student at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He began his career in 1996 in Paris, by plastering his works on walls, then he went on to conquer the world by plastering in major international cities. Adopting an "old-school" style, he creates his works from specific materials such as tile mosaics or tesserae.
He defines himself as a hacker of public space, spreading a mosaic virus through the streets. Moreover, his works are not placed at random. The artist meticulously chooses the ideal spot to implant his virus. The artist prefers to exhibit in highly frequented places. Like a website, his virus must be able to penetrate the system. But sometimes he also chooses more isolated spots. He sees himself as an urban acupuncturist. Each of his works is unique. His characters were initially inspired by his childhood game "Space Invaders". Today, he expands his repertoire to offer us numerous references to pop culture.
Today he has already created more than 4000 works in 79 different cities. And yet, no one has ever seen his face! In short, he is a very versatile artist who offers us a mix of street art and Pixel Art to create unique works and captivate the world.
So, has Invader inspired you as much as us?
The Pixel Art of the eboy collective
Eboy is a Los Angeles-based collective of Pixel Artists founded in 1997 by Kay Vermehr, Steffen Sauerteig, and Svend Smital (3 Berliners and 1 New Yorker). Their complex "modern" illustrations are always full of cinematic, musical, and cultural references. This results in rich, colorful creations where you can always find a reference that will make you smile. Not to mention their humorous touch, which can be found on their various posters. Their works have been made into t-shirts, souvenirs, and posters. Some are even exhibited in galleries. But remember that art transportation is an art in itself!
They started working with pixels because they liked the idea of creating and imagining a universe made of pixels.
They mainly work with Photoshop, but also with the Pen tool. It's a simple tool that works like a pencil. With this process, they create basic elements, trees, houses, and human beings that they store in a database. After that, they compress them into their library and then merge and articulate them together. They are particularly known for the finesse of their very playful lines.
Strongly inspired by Pop Culture
Their influences are inspired by Pop Culture. TV, toy commercials, LEGO universe, computer games, news, and magazines. Kai was greatly inspired by the Nintendo universe because he played the Nintendo DS. The other group members lived in East Germany, where video games were very rare or even non-existent.
Their work reflects a colossal investment: "If we're not working on other projects at the same time, it takes about six to eight weeks to finish a very detailed cityscape, with three eBoys working almost full-time on it. But if we have to do it in our spare time, which often happens, it could take years to finish a picture since we can't dedicate as much time to it." Their style has earned them a cult following among graphic designers worldwide and a long list of clients. They have carried out other projects such as the Peecol plastic toys with Kidrobot, and a line of wooden toys is to be produced under their own label. In short, we're dealing with a versatile, creative, and ultra-productive collective, so what do you think?
Pointillism and Pixel Art: Ced Vernay
Ced Vernay is a French artist who lives and works in Marseille. He uses the technique of dots or pixels. Heavily inspired by Roman art, his art is situated between Roman mosaic and pixel art. A mix of modernity and tradition, a form of contemporary pointillism articulated around mathematical notions.
A bit complicated, all that! But you'll see it's worth it. A unique contemporary art concept, he draws inspiration from modern art galleries or artists like Andy Warhol, Roman Opalka, or Yayoi Kusama. Does that not ring a bell?
These are innovative artists playing with pointillism. Ced Vernay did not enter the world of Pixel Art coupled with pointillism by chance. He worked for many years in web design and IT. By working with pixels, he intends to question our relationship with the screen and also explore an abstract and figurative universe.
Pixced: an artistic concept and monumental, dissociable paintings to share
The artist has embarked on ambitious projects. One of the characteristics of this atypical work is the assembly of 20 x 20 cm squares, all different, which he calls PixCeds.
"Each one is unique, with characters, symbols, mathematical formulas, drawings from his imagination or associated with things he wanted to express." It is also a participatory work; in fact, you can add your own pixel to the piece. Buying one or more PixCeds also means becoming part of a community around a work of art: the Pix'Ced Community. This community may one day gather to bring these monumental works back to life. Purchasers could, therefore, one day become the actors in the reconstruction of the monumental work. Furthermore, for every pixel purchased, a tree is planted through the Reforest'Action association. Ced VERNAY decided to offer this green gesture to his collectors because he is particularly sensitive to environmental issues. He has always tried to create works where the material is recycled. Pretty cool, right? So, why not you?
Aire does its Pixel Art with PIXI Aire
We're so inspired at Aire that we offer you the chance to create custom Pixel Art. Not bad, right? And yes, we're also big fans of Pixel Art (you probably already figured that out!). That's why we launched the Pixi Aire operation some time ago. It's a Pixel Art game in puzzle form. Depending on your preferences, you can get a kit of 50 black and 50 white pixels or 100 colored pixels. Then let your imagination run wild!
The Pixi Aire has a magnetic fastening system that allows you to hang it on your door or fridge. Of course, the Pixi Aire also attaches to a pegboard thanks to our 3D parts kit. You can bring your ideas to life and ignite your creativity by drawing inspiration from the great figures of the Pixel world. Feel free to repurpose the Pixi Aire to create an original signage solution. You can now become a true artist and create your own Pixel Art models or draw inspiration from your favorite references! The Pixi Aire is an infinite and easy-to-configure puzzle.
In short
In conclusion, the aesthetic notion of Pixel Art creations is recent. It is a varied universe, born from techniques as old as the world. It is an artistic movement that itself includes other artistic movements. In short, it is a super varied universe that offers content for all tastes. Appreciating Pixel Art means highlighting the beauty of both pixelated graphic images and the technique with which they were created. The beauty of this art lies in its simplicity: arrangements of large blocks of colored pixels in a square format. Whether one likes Pixel Art or not, it must be acknowledged that this new form of graphic art is a style of expression that is part of pop culture. It has left its mark on its era and will surely continue to mark generations.
So, are you won over by the world of Pixel Art? Go for it!
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