Letter from the Editor: Welcome to Pixelated Revolution!

I’m Margaret Guzman, creator and editor of Pixelated Revolution, which is a bi-weekly newsletter that highlights graphic designers and illustrators of color who are trailblazing the relationship between art and activism in the social media sphere.

Welcome!

I conceptualized Pixelated Revolution from thinking about the following quotes:

“As a cultural worker who belongs to an oppressed people my job is to make revolution irresistible” - Toni Cade Bambara, 1982

“The revolution will not be televised.” - Gil Scott-Heron, 1971

I first encountered Bambara’s quote from Kelly Marcelle Malka’s viral Instagram post from June of this year, right at the peak of the protests and activism sparked by George Floyd’s murder. 

The slideshow post only included a portion of Bambara’s words, expanding the quote to artists in general, rather than specifically for “cultural [workers] who [belong] to an oppressed people.” The post’s cool blues and pastel hues, coupled with its bubble font, is surely engaging and thought-provoking, but I couldn’t help but think of the complications and missed opportunities in making complex issues digestible.

“Well, naturally, social media could only do so much,” I thought to myself. I liked the post and bookmarked it. 

Though I continued to scroll through my feed, I never looked at another Instagram illustration, infographic, or slideshow post the same again.

I began to reflect deeper on the relationship between art and activism, in the context of not only demanding change, but advocating for a revolution as an artist who identifies as a part of marginalized communities.

My thoughts lingered over the word “revolution,” which led me to think about the famous words of Gil Scott-Heron — a sentiment I am fortunately reminded almost everyday whenever I pass by Antonio “Chico” Garcia’s mural in my neighborhood.

For every viral social justice-related post I encountered on Instagram since George Floyd’s death, coupled with Scott-Heron’s poem, the more I became increasingly intrigued in the ways in which social media contributes to the power of art in making the revolution irresistible beyond our televisions, and now, beyond our phone screens.

I didn’t want to reach a conclusion rooted from my own perspectives or individual research. I alternatively wanted to give the torch to the artists themselves - creating a space that amplifies, inspires, and informs like-minded artivists of each other’s distinct voices and visions.

By dedicating each post to one artist, I have the pleasure and privilege to interview some of the most influential visual artists on social media today.  

At the heart of Pixelated Revolution is one question I emphasize to all the artists I interview:

“What do you think is your responsibility as a digital artist in the age of social media?"

Pixelated Revolution ultimately aims to showcase the nuanced relationship of art and activism, while also providing further exposure and recognition for artists of color in the digital space. 

This fall, the newsletter focuses on visual artists of color primarily navigating the intersection between art, design, and activism on Instagram.

Stay a while and read about these cultural trailblazers, and what they have to say about the revolution at our fingertips.