Pixelism is a contemporary art movement that explores organic images through regular mathematical grid forms. A single block of a 2 dimensional grid is known as a pixel, a contraction of picture element.

The Pixelist movement is unusual as it evolved naturally from observations of computer generated imagery. Artists worldwide are exploring the theme and are often unaware of each other's similar interest. Pixelism started around 1980 when personal computers became popular. The necessary limitation of computer imagery immediately appealed to artists eager to explore these digital aesthetics in the real world.

Unlike Cubism, pixelism always has as its base an underlying grid, with each painted block the same size.

While the pixel painting meme is a modern phenomenon (1980-), the concept of painting images in mosaics is an ancient artform dating back to the Greek and Roman mosaics dating before 2BC. Modern Pixelism explores the ironic devolution of images into pre-renaissance mosaic, bringing fine art full-circle.

Many pixel artists work purely in digital form, however, Pixelism refers specificaly to traditional artwork (painting, mosaic, sculpture) that exhibits Pixellated traits.

Pixelist paintings are instantly recognisable in their style. While the imagery appears similarly constructed, each artist approaches the production of such a painting differently. Some artists paint the image from top to bottom, left to right, mixing each colour as they paint. Others pre-mix a palette of colours and select the nearest colour from the palette (jokingly called 8bit artists, referencing the computer term for creating digital images from an 8bit/256 colour palette).

Pixelist paintings usually reference digitial photography, but there are rare examples of pixel paintings taken from life. Subject matter varies greatly from realism to cartoon characters.

Pixelist imagery can be found in paintings, woven into handbags, printed and constructed clothing. It is arguably the most recognizable movement of the early 21st century.