| Type | Online platform and community |
| Focus | Digital art, illustrations, digital paintings, 3D models, photography |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Features | Hosts millions of artworks • Provides educational resources • Offers creative tools • Supports aspiring and professional digital artists |
| Founder(s) | Collective of digital artists |
| Headquarters | Not specified |
Deviantart is a pioneering online platform and community for digital artists and creators, founded in 1998 by a collective of digital artists based in California. Over the past two decades, Deviantart has grown to become one of the internet's largest and most influential hubs for all forms of digital art, including illustrations, digital paintings, 3D models, photography, and more. In addition to hosting millions of artworks, Deviantart also provides educational resources, creative tools, and a supportive community for both aspiring and professional digital artists around the world.
Deviantart was launched in 1998 by a group of digital artists who saw the need for a dedicated online space for the growing digital art community. In the late 1990s, the internet was rapidly expanding and digital art was becoming more accessible and popular, but there were few websites focused on showcasing and supporting this new medium.
The founders of Deviantart envisioned a platform that could bring together digital artists of all skill levels and backgrounds, allowing them to share their work, collaborate, learn from each other, and build a vibrant creative community. The early Deviantart community was centered around digital painting, 3D modeling, digital photography, and other emerging digital art forms.
Throughout the 2000s, Deviantart steadily grew in popularity and expanded the scope of its offerings. As digital art techniques and tools became more sophisticated, Deviantart adapted to support a wider range of creative disciplines, from digital illustration and animation to experimental digital sculpture and interactive media.
Recognizing the educational needs of its community, Deviantart also began providing more robust resources for digital art education. This included tutorials, workshops, art technique guides, and creative inspiration from both featured artists and the broader user base. Deviantart's own suite of creative tools and software also expanded to empower artists to create directly on the platform.
Beyond just hosting digital artwork, Deviantart has played a key role in shaping the culture and community surrounding digital art on the internet. Its user-friendly interface, interactive features, and supportive environment have made it a hub for both amateur and professional digital artists to showcase their skills, network, and learn from each other.
Deviantart's diverse community spans a wide range of styles, genres, and creative disciplines - from photorealistic digital paintings to abstract 3D-rendered sculptures to experimental glitch art. This has fostered a rich creative ecosystem where artists can find inspiration, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities.
Today, Deviantart remains an independent, artist-focused platform that continues to evolve alongside the rapidly changing world of digital art and creative technology. While it has faced competition from newer social media platforms, Deviantart has maintained its position as one of the internet's premier destinations for digital art.
Beyond its role as an art hosting and sharing site, Deviantart is credited with helping to legitimize digital art as a serious creative medium, nurturing new generations of digital artists, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible with digital tools and creative software. Its enduring legacy continues to be felt across the broader digital art and creative communities online.
