Colossal is an art and visual culture

blog A blog (a truncation of "weblog") is a discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete, often informal diary-style text entries (posts). Posts are typically displayed in reverse chronological order ...

founded by

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

-based editor Christopher Jobson. The site covers topics ranging from art, design, and photography, to visual aspects of science and general creativity.

History

Colossal is an art blog that features 15 to 25 posts per week on photography, design, animation, painting, installation art, architecture, drawing, and street art. It started as a personal blog in the fall of 2010. Web designer by trade, Jobson began his blog as one of one hundred things he wanted to accomplish in 2010. On March 9, 2011, Jobson posted artist

Sagaki Keita Sagaki Keita is a Japanese artist who draws replicas of famous paintings composed of hundreds of tiny, whimsical cartoon characters. As many artists of his generation Sagaki is influenced by Japanese manga and anime culture, which he integrates ...

's surreal, intricately detailed ink drawings to his blog. By 5:00 p.m. that day, so many visitors flooded the site that his server crashed. The blog grew in popularity to the point New York-based advertising agency Nectar Ads asked Colossal to be a part of an "art ad network" with site-specific content.McEntee, Sean
"A Colossal Success"
''Demo'', Chicago, 2014. Retrieved on 11 August 2019. This allowed Jobson to quit his job in 2013 and focus on the site full-time. Jobson explains the mission of Colossal, "I want Colossal to be a place where anyone, from any background, can discover art and aspects of visual culture that are interesting, fun, and approachable. To that end I shy away from criticism and interpretation and instead provide as many resources as possible for visitors to learn more on their own. I want to share art as it is, without justification."

Recognition

Colossal has garnered a Utne Media Award for arts coverage, a Webby Award nomination, and was described as the "Tate Modern of the Internet" by

Fast Company ''Fast Company'' is a monthly American business magazine published in print and online that focuses on technology, business, and design. It publishes six print issues per year. History ''Fast Company'' was launched in November 1995 by Alan Web ...

. The

National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal ...

has called the website a "must read." American blogger

Jason Kottke Jason Kottke (born September 27, 1973) is an American blogger, graphic designer, and web designer known for his blog Kottke.org. He won a Lifetime Achievement Award as a blogger. , his blog is ranked #66 overall and #20 in Science on the Technor ...

describes it as "a top-notch visual art/design blog," and PBS' '' Art:21'' said the publication "brings recognition to under-represented (or even unrepresented) artists." In 2020 Jobson curated an exhibit ''Par Excellence Redux'' at the Elmhurst Art Museum. Colossal was praised by American actor

Neil Patrick Harris Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, singer, writer, producer, and television host. Primarily known for his comedic television roles and dramatic and musical stage roles, he has received multiple accolades throughout ...

as "artistic, smart, and inspiring," and the publication was cited by the

TED TED may refer to: Economics and finance * TED spread between U.S. Treasuries and Eurodollar Education * ''Türk Eğitim Derneği'', the Turkish Education Association ** TED Ankara College Foundation Schools, Turkey ** Transvaal Education Depa ...

blog as one of "100 Websites You Should Know and Use" in 2013..

References

External links

*{{Official website, thisiscolossal.com Online magazines published in the United States Publications established in 2010 Internet properties established in 2010 2010 establishments in Illinois