Now in its fifth year, Into the Pixel (ITP) is the one annual opportunity for published video and computer game artists to be recognized by renowned fine art experts, the art-loving public and by their peers in the video game industry. Artists must submit their work by May 21, 2008, for consideration by the ITP jury.

Each year Into the Pixel convenes a jury of world-renowned museum curators, gallerists, educators, artists and interactive entertainment art veterans to review the art submitted by video game artists from all over the world. Only sixteen pieces are ultimately selected by the jury to be printed by a master printer, framed and hung in the ITP gallery, which then travels around the US and abroad. The highly anticipated 2008 art exhibition will be unveiled to the game industry at the E3 Media & Business Summit, July 15-17, and will open to the public at "Entertainment for AllTM Expo" (E for All), October 3-5, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

"As an art historian and museum curator for traditional prints and drawings, Into the Pixel has been something of a revelation to me," said Louis Marchesano, ITP Co-lead Juror and Curator of Prints and Drawings, at the Getty Research Institute. "What I've found is that the artistic quality of some of these images is sometimes poetic, sometimes nostalgic, and sometimes downright brilliant."

Into the Pixel was created by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) and the Prints and Drawings Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

"Over the course of four years, we have seen submissions of some amazing art, and expect to see some tough contenders for the 2008 collection," said Joseph Olin, president, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. "The Academy and ESA are thrilled to once again showcase the artistry and creative genius of the men and women within the interactive entertainment industry and like years past, the selected pieces are sure to be impressive."

The newly appointed 2008 Into the Pixel Jury:

• Louis Marchesano, Curator of Collections, Prints & Drawings, Getty Research Institute
• Kevin Salatino, Curator of Prints & Drawings, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
• Daniel Dociu, Chief Art Director, NCsoft North America
• Richard Duardo, Managing Director and Master Printer, Modern Multiples Fine Art Studio
• Tracy Fullerton, Assistant Professor, USC School of Cinematic Arts, and Co-Director, Interactive Media Division/Electronic Arts Game Innovation Lab
• Lorne Lanning, Co-Founder and President, Oddworld Inhabitants
• Glenn Phillips, Consulting Curator, Getty Research Institute
• Kiki Wolfkill, Executive Producer, Microsoft Game Studios

Submissions must be art from published or soon-to-be-published computer and video games, or art that was used in the creation of the games. Artists may submit up to three (3) original works. Deadline is May 21, 2008 at midnight (Pacific). Interested artists should visit www.IntoThePixel.com for more detailed information or to submit artwork.

Into the Pixel is the world's only curated art exhibition that brings together the traditional fine art and digital art worlds to explore and celebrate the art and artists behind the video game. Each year, a jury of world-class museum curators, cutting-edge gallery owners and interactive entertainment industry experts evaluate and select the art to be featured in the collection. Now in its fifth year, Into the Pixel has established itself as the annual opportunity for computer and video game artists to receive critical review of their creative achievements by both peers in the digital art world and renowned fine art experts. The program is a joint effort of the Entertainment Software Association, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, and the Prints & Drawings Council of LACMA.

For more information, please visit the official Into the Pixel website.