GIFS are being displayed in galleries, winning prestigious art prizes, and being commissoned by stalwarts of high culture like The New Yorker, NPR, and The Atlantic. What we’re trying to say: GIFS are a big deal. So to help you navigate this brand new genre of art, we’ve chosen a few of our favorite artists who work, or sometimes work, in the medium of GIFS. Here’s 10 of our faves! Make sure to check out and follow these GIF artists!
Dreamlike, serene, and sometimes indescribably disturbing and/or moving, the work of Cal Burton will give you the feels. You might already know him from illustrating each new episode for Season 2 on the official page for the world’s most popular podcast, Serial.
Based out of Montreal, Canada, Ohara Hale is receiving international acclaim for her “children’s book meets humorous surrealist” ascetic. She’s transformed a number of her works into GIFS and each is a delight.
The work of a LA-based New Media agency composed of Sarah Zucker and Brian Griffith this ambient glitchy analogue work is strangely familiar while being completely like anything else you’ve seen.
Bizarre, lush, and emotional, Japan’s Of Sparrows (the only name she’s known to the public by) spends 15-30 hours composing each of her pieces of GIF art, and we’re sure you’ll agree it’s time well spent.
The hidden wonder and secrets of everyday life are revealed in the work of Australia’s Nancy Liang. Find out what’s going on in your town at night by taking in some of her pieces.
Also hailing from Down Under, pixel artist Paul Robertson’s worked on everything from The Simpsons, the Adam Sandler flick Pixels, and numerous video games. His 8-bit aesthetic strikes a cord across generations and his whimsical creations bore into one’s mind.
You might know St Francis Elevator Ride (AKA Josh Breeden) for his slightly disturbing Miley Cyrus GIFS that were commissioned by MTV to promote the VMAs. If not, you’re going to dig the rest of his oeuvre which is a mashup of nightmares, sweet dreams, and mid-century advertising.
More engaging nightmare fuel, the work of Dave Strick lets GIFS do what they do best: Loop forever until you can’t take it anymore.
Illustrator Rebecca Mock’s work can be found everywhere from the BBC to the New York Times. Her classic clean work hearkens back to a time when every major publication had an illustrator on staff, and she’s the master of telling a complete story in a single image.
Above is Brooklyn artist Carla Gannis’s 21st century update of the 16th century masterpiece The Garden of Earthly Delight. Her work balances humor, politics, and cutting insights into GIFS that are infinitely watchable.
Can’t get enough of these types of GIFs? Check out our Art & Design category for inspiration.
