The Download Munkey : Tracking the Treasure Down …

Caught the website for The Art of Games off Kekai Kotaki’s blog (he’s the concept art lead for ArenaNet’s Guild Wars 2). This Italian exhibition showcases 14 artists, some whose artwork will be instantly recognizable to gamers. Perhaps you’ll even discover the names behind some of your favourite concept art like I did

Well-known artists like Craig Mullins have been delivering quality concept art for computer games for years – The Art of Games showcases his more recent work for Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties and the iconic Master Chief from Bungie’s Halo – but I have seen some of his fantastic stuff for the Myth series (also by Bungie) published a decade back.

While many of these artists have been featured on the web through art and occassionally, game magazines, there’s a couple of artists who are entirely new to me (or I haven’t been looking hard enough). One is Alessandro Taini who is the artist behind several gorgeous concepts of the fiery redhead Nariko from Ninja Theory’s Heavenly Sword and the other is Jim Murray – I’m not too sure which games some of his artworks were commissioned for, but it’s all good

And of course you shouldn’t miss out on Kekai Kotaki’s incredible fantasy art and character designs at the The Art of Games and his own site at www.kekaiart.com – especially if you’re a fan of Guild Wars 2’s character designs.

For those who like to collect digital art, check out the press kit (look under About > Press Kit). There’s a trio of works from the press kit that I like a lot – Craig Mullins’ Master Chief, Stephen Martiniere’s Spring (apparently a book cover) and this artwork titled MEDIUM_Armor_F.tif (absolutely no idea by which artist or for which game – sorry!).

© Craig Mullins

© Stephen Martiniere

It’s not often that you encounter exhibitions that celebrate the art of computer games yet it’s surprising that they don’t seem to receive much attention through the mainstream gaming press. Really strange since the graphical and visual aspects of games nowadays are often their main selling points.

Check out the The Art of Games. The website is available in English, French and Italian.

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
Into the Pixel 2006 – Computer and Video Game Art Exhibition
Age of Empires III : The Asian Dynasties Wallpapers
John Wallin Liberto’s WWII Military Aviation Art
The Art of Phil Wohr – Halo Wars & More!
startdrawing.org – Asia’s Drawing Portal