PXL CON
By Jimmy Something, 2020
Thousands of tiny squares come together to form this bustling imaginary convention called PXL CON, created by Jimmy Something in 2020. At first the whole thing reads as a wall of color and noise, but give your eyes a minute and hundreds of little figures begin to appear. Cosplayers mingle near glowing booths, food vendors call to passing crowds, and neon signs flash above screens advertising made up games. Every corner is stuffed with something happening, a bit like flipping through those "Where's Waldo" puzzles where the joy is in the hunt.
The chunky pixel style is a warm salute to the early years of video games, back when low resolution graphics left plenty of room for the imagination to do the rest. Hidden among the chaos are little jokes and references for fans to discover, including the unmistakable yellow curve of Pac-Man waiting to be found. The timing matters too, since 2020 saw so many real conventions and gatherings shut down, making this celebration of crowded, geeky fun feel a little bittersweet. No single character stars in the scene and no big lesson is being taught. The reward is simply poking around, spotting details, and marveling at how much one artist crammed into a single picture.