Video game publisher iam8bit is hosting a free art gallery in DTLA to celebrate their 20th anniversary show.
The two-day event this weekend will honor the iconic video games, consoles, and beloved characters that defined the 1980s and 90s scene through contemporary art. According to a press release, “the iam8bit 20th Anniversary Art Show is a tribute to the legacy of the artists, fans and creators who helped shape games and pop culture.”
“This show has been a real labor of love from the entire team at iam8bit and the artists who helped bring it to life,” said iam8bit co-owner and co-creative director Jon M. Gibson in a statement. “It was extremely important for us to do something that called back to our roots as a company. 20 years after we started, we’re just as passionate today about showcasing how special video games can be as a pop culture art form.”
“This event celebrates our love of the industry, ambition, sense of nostalgia, and what we love to celebrate at iam8bit,” said iam8bit co-owner and co-creative director, Amanda White, in a statement. “We’ve really gone above and beyond in making this a show for 2025 that highlights how far we’ve come over the past 20 years.”
The participating artists include:
- Alex Pardee – Alex Pardee is a LA-based artist, illustrator and apparel designer who designed the artwork for Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch. His distinctive “brightmares” aesthetic fuses cute and horrific elements and are vivid, nightmarish creations inspired by horror movies, pop art, and graffiti.
- Cobcris – Cobcris’ work blends still images with claymation-style animation to craft surreal, tactile worlds that feel hand-built and alive, melding digital artistry with analog charm.
- Drew Wise – An artist and illustrator whose bold, graphic sensibility bridges pixel art and modern design. His work has appeared in iam8bit gallery shows and across official game and soundtrack collaborations.
- Hayden Evans – Hayden Evans blends mid-century flair with irreverent charm to celebrate pop culture icons, His vibrant illustrations combine nostalgic design language with contemporary wit and warmth.
- Johana Molina – An award-winning illustrator and animator whose ethereal digital compositions explore memory, place, and time. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times and international exhibitions.
- Keita Takahashi – Acclaimed creator of the Katamari Damacy series, Wattam and To a T, Takahashi’s whimsical and genre-defying style blends playfulness with emotional depth and heartwarming themes.
- Lee Gatlin – Illustrator and cartoonist whose introspective comics and pop-culture homages blend humor and poignancy. His recent work includes contributions to Amazing Spider-Man #50 (Marvel, 2024).
- Luke Chueh – Pop-surrealist painter celebrated for juxtaposing cute, cartoonish figures with dark emotional undertones. Chueh’s instantly recognizable characters have appeared in galleries worldwide and inspired a generation of designer-toy artists.
- Mark Borgions – Award-winning designer whose distinct visual style blends bold graphics and surreal humor. Borgions’ charming illustrations are the cover art for iam8bit’s Joystick Jazz collection, featuring jazz versions of videogame soundtracks.
- Maya Quintero – Maya Quintero’s work channels a visceral intimacy, blending figurative forms with gestural abstraction and color charged with emotion. Her images often feel like moments suspended between vulnerability and strength.
- Natalie Andrewson – Illustrator, comics artist, and Risograph printmaker known for The Nutcracker and the Mouse King: The Graphic Novel. Andrewson’s narrative artwork captures intimate worlds through expressive color and texture.
- Paul Robertson – Acclaimed pixel-art animator behind Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, Mercenary Kings, and TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge. His intricate pixel worlds helped define the visual language of modern indie games.
- Rex Crowle – BAFTA-winning creative director and artist known for Tearaway, LittleBigPlanet and Knights and Bikes. Crowle’s whimsical, handcrafted aesthetic bridges illustration, animation and interactive storytelling.
- Scott Campbell – Illustrator, author, and former Double Fine art director (Psychonauts, Brütal Legend). Creator of the beloved Great Showdowns series, Campbell’s work radiates warmth, humor and heart.
Many more artists are also featured.
In-person attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase the unique art on display. Select pieces will also be available to purchase as prints at a later date.
📍 Where: Studio 8, 614 E 12th St., Los Angeles, CA 90015.
📆 When: The exhibit is open to the public on Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9
🎟️ Tickets: You can find tickets to the event here.