Where the Best Artists Thrive Today
A common refrain from people who feel out of sync with today’s pop culture is that modern art pales in comparison to earlier movements. They romanticize the masters of the past—the Picassos, Monets, and Van Goghs—claiming that the creativity and skill of contemporary art simply can’t measure up. However, this viewpoint overlooks the fact that we are living in an age of unprecedented artistic diversity and production. Today, there’s more art being created across more styles than ever before.
One of the reasons for this perception gap is the sheer scope of what we consider "art" today. The internet, social media, and global platforms have democratized art in a way that was never possible in earlier movements. There’s no singular defining trend like Impressionism or Renaissance art. Instead, we have a vast ecosystem of styles, ranging from traditional oil paintings to digital art, graffiti, installations, and mixed media. Artists from different backgrounds and cultures have the tools and platforms to express themselves in ways that weren’t accessible in the past, creating a more dynamic and global art scene.
I want to focus on art, particularly digital art, in the traditional sense—think paintings, illustrations, and animation—rather than installations or conceptual pieces often found in places like the Guggenheim. Those who claim contemporary art "sucks" tend to equate modern art solely with these avant-garde installations, overlooking the incredible talent and craftsmanship present in today’s digital and traditional art forms.
The Digital Renaissance: Fine Art in the Digital Age
“I’m like a digital alchemist or shaman. I work with energy, symbols, and the subconscious to create visual experiences that are meant to transcend the limitations of traditional art.”
RAM (2015) by Android Jones - https://androidjones.com/
Andrew Jones, a traditionally trained artist, embraced the digital art revolution to expand his creative vision. After starting as a concept artist on the acclaimed Metroid Prime, he transitioned from commercial projects to focus on his personal art. Jones describes his work as “painting with light and energy,” blending shapes, 3D elements, and geometric patterns into his digital canvases. His visually striking creations have been projected onto iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and featured in large-scale dance festivals, reflecting the psychedelic origins that inspire much of his art.
Andrew Jones adopted the alias "Android" to symbolize his deep connection with digital technology, which had become an extension of himself as an artist. The name not only represented this fusion of human creativity and digital tools but also served as a way to differentiate himself in search results, ensuring a unique and memorable identity in the digital art world.
“Digital art has democratized the creative field by giving artists new tools to share and create. Anyone can try it.”
Veiltail (2021) by Lois van Baarle
Lois van Baarle, widely known as Loish, is a beloved digital artist celebrated for her unique style and mastery of character design. Her work blends whimsical beauty with a sense of narrative, often featuring expressive, fluid characters brought to life through vibrant color palettes and flowing lines. Loish’s art has captivated millions across platforms like Instagram and ArtStation, where she shares not just her finished pieces but also insights into her process, making her both an inspiration and a valuable educator in the digital art community. What makes Loish so adored is her accessibility—her art feels deeply personal, and her willingness to share tutorials and progress shots offers aspiring artists a window into her creative world. With a distinctive style that has become iconic in the digital art sphere, Loish continues to influence and inspire a new generation of artists worldwide.
Video Game Art: Where Creativity Knows No Limits
It’s also important to recognize that much of the top artistic talent today is not necessarily found in galleries or traditional spaces but has moved into new creative industries. Film and video games, for example, have become major hubs for artists who are pushing the boundaries of skill and creativity.
Kratos in God of War Ragnarok - Santa Monica Studio, Jetpack Interactive
The latest installments of the God of War franchise bring refreshing depth to Kratos' character. The artists and writers have gone to great lengths to depict a conflicted protagonist who, despite his overtly masculine persona, reveals moments of vulnerability and personal growth.
Kratos design God of War Ragnarok by Raf Grassetti, Dela Longfish, Jose Cabrera, and Eric Valdes.
The creation of Kratos' character model in God of War (2018) was a collaborative effort involving four talented artists, each contributing their expertise to bring the iconic character to life. These artists worked meticulously to refine the model, focusing on elements like musculature, skin textures, and facial expressions to capture Kratos' imposing yet emotionally nuanced presence. Their combined efforts resulted in a highly detailed and realistic 3D sculpt, which perfectly conveys Kratos' evolution from a rage-driven warrior to a more complex and introspective character. This teamwork highlights the importance of collaboration in the development of such iconic figures in modern gaming.
Aloy in Horizon Forbidden West - Guerrilla Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment (2022)
Aloy’s design in Horizon Forbidden West builds upon her established traits while reflecting her growth. Guerrilla Games aimed to showcase her intelligence, agility, and strength through practical outfits and gear suited for the game’s dangerous environments. Tools like the Pullcaster and Shieldwing were integrated into both gameplay and her visual design, emphasizing her resourcefulness as a machine hunter.
The team also focused on enhancing her emotional expressiveness, using improved facial modeling to reflect her evolving relationships and internal struggles. These updates helped deepen her character while maintaining the iconic elements of her original look.
Horizon Forbidden West - Guerrilla Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment (2022)
A New Canvas: How Fans Analyze Elden Ring Like Fine Art
Concept artists, 3D sculptors, and environment designers are working at the cutting edge of visual storytelling. These artists aren’t merely hobbyists—they are among the most technically skilled individuals in their field. Their ability to create hyper-realistic or fantastical worlds, characters, and environments in games and films demonstrates an artistic prowess that is often overlooked in the traditional art conversation.
Elden Ring (2022) - FromSoftware Inc.
Elden Ring and its DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, showcase breathtaking fantasy vistas that inspire awe and wonder as players explore the Lands Between. Many of these scenes are so striking, they could easily be framed as wall art.
The environmental storytelling in Elden Ring is treated with deep reverence by both the developers and the fans. FromSoftware, known for its intricate world-building, has created a visually stunning and narratively rich universe in Elden Ring. The landscapes, architecture, and character designs aren’t just visually striking—they carry layers of meaning that connect to the game’s lore. The careful placement of objects, environmental clues, and the design of the world itself tell a story, often leaving players to piece together the narrative through exploration and observation.
“I’ve never been a very skilled communicator… I like to leave a little bit of room for people to interpret things their own way. I think it’s more interesting when, rather than me force-feeding the player the story, the player has room to build their own interpretations.”
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (2024) - FromSoftware Inc.
This attention to detail hasn’t gone unnoticed by the fanbase. Entire YouTube channels are dedicated to analyzing the art and lore of Elden Ring, with content creators dissecting the environments, character designs, and hidden details to uncover the deeper meaning behind the game’s world. Some fans even obsess over the smallest details—so much so that they sometimes end up analyzing stock assets or art that have made appearances in other games! Nonetheless, this level of dedication highlights how Elden Ring stands as a masterpiece of environmental storytelling, where every visual element invites players to explore not only the world but the rich stories it holds.
This modern-day analysis of Elden Ring's art and lore mirrors the experience of visiting a gallery and interpreting a traditional artwork. Just as gallery-goers dissect a painting’s use of color, composition, and symbolism, fans of Elden Ring approach the game with the same level of curiosity and depth. They analyze environmental details, character designs, and hidden elements to uncover the deeper meanings behind the world FromSoftware has crafted. This analytical approach shows that the practice of engaging deeply with art is still very much alive today.
The Rise of the Technical Artist
These industries have also allowed for the evolution of a new form of artist, known as the “technical artist”—those who bridge the gap between artistic vision and the more technical aspects of production. Technical artists combine a deep understanding of aesthetics with mastery over complex software and programming tools, enabling them to solve problems related to performance, animation, and real-time rendering. They ensure that an artist’s creative concepts can be brought to life efficiently, without compromising the visual quality, whether in video games, films, or other digital media.
Avatar (2009) Behind the scenes - Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox and Lightstorm Entertainment.
In Avatar, performance capture artists and facial capture specialists played pivotal roles in translating the actors' performances into the digital realm. The actors wore specialized suits equipped with sensors that recorded their body movements, while small head-mounted cameras captured their facial expressions. This combined approach—capturing both body and facial data—is known as performance capture, which allowed for the Na'vi characters to exhibit lifelike expressions and movements.
Steve Giesler, a technical artist at Weta Digital, who played a significant role in the groundbreaking VFX for Avatar (2009). His work on the intricate 3D facial animation system allowed for highly expressive and realistic emotions to be captured and translated onto the Na'vi characters. The complex motion capture system, combined with detailed facial rigging, was crucial in bringing James Cameron's vision to life and set a new benchmark for how digital characters are created and animated in modern cinema.
Consider the level of detail in today’s AAA video games or the environments we see in blockbuster films. Many of these works involve teams of artists who specialize in everything from lighting and texture to character modeling and 3D sculpting. These are the modern-day equivalents of Renaissance sculptors or Impressionist painters, but instead of canvas or marble, they use digital tools to bring their visions to life.
Transformers One (2024)
These creators are artists in every sense of the word, though their medium is different from what some might expect. Concept artists, for example, produce highly refined pieces to guide the look and feel of characters and worlds long before a film is shot or a game is developed. Environment artists and 3D sculptors bring depth and realism to fantastical settings that we engage with on a daily basis, whether it’s through an immersive video game experience or the latest CGI-heavy blockbuster.
This transition of top-tier talent into entertainment industries reflects where much of the audience attention has shifted. The art being made is still bold, innovative, and technically impressive—it’s just being displayed in different formats. If anything, modern art isn’t in decline; it’s thriving in new ways that require us to expand our definitions and appreciation of what "art" can be. The diversity and richness of modern art are stronger than ever; you just have to know where to look.