Where to find artists for your indie game (2026)

Updated October 30, 2026

Every one of these works for somebody. Here's what each place is actually good for, the catch, and which one I'd start with.

Full disclosure: I founded IndieGuild, so it's on this list. I've tried to be fair about everything else too, and I've put the downside of IndieGuild right next to the others.

The list

• ArtStation

  Good for: browsing a huge range of professional portfolios in one place, plus a jobs board where you can post a role. If you want to see someone's best work before you write to them, it's hard to beat.

  Downside: a lot of it is film and AAA work, and plenty of artists there aren't taking freelance jobs. Look for people who show game-ready assets like sprite sheets, tilesets or real-time 3D, not just finished illustrations.

• r/gameDevClassifieds and r/INAT

  Good for: r/gameDevClassifieds is where people post paid gigs, and artists post their own for-hire threads. r/INAT ("I need a team") is for rev share and hobby projects. Posting is free and you'll usually get replies.

  Downside: you'll sort through a lot of DMs and the quality varies a lot. Read each sub's posting rules first, and be upfront about pay so nobody wastes a reply.

• Work With Indies

  Good for: a job board built for indie games, with an Art & Animation category. Good when you're a studio hiring for a real role, like a pixel artist or a 3D environment artist, and want applicants who already want to work in indie games.

  Downside: studios pay to post a job, and it's a listing, so you wait for people to apply. It fits a proper role better than a one-off piece of art.

• Fiverr and Fiverr Pro

  Good for: fast, fixed-price gigs with buyer protection and payment handled for you. Fiverr Pro is the tier where Fiverr says its experts check every freelancer before they're accepted, aimed at businesses.

  Downside: most sellers are general freelancers, not game specialists, and there are fees on both sides. Check for actual game work (sprite sheets, animation frames, engine-ready files) before you order.

• Discord servers

  Good for: most big game dev and game art communities have a hiring or for-hire channel. You can meet artists who already hang out with devs, and see how they talk about their work.

  Downside: every server has its own rules about hiring posts, and posts scroll away fast. You often need to be a regular member before anyone pays attention.

• itch.io, Bluesky and X art communities

  Good for: finding artists whose style you already love. If an itch.io asset pack looks like your game, its maker may take commissions. On Bluesky and X, #PortfolioDay posts are artists openly saying they're looking for work, with their best pieces attached.

  Downside: you have to reach out one by one, and rates and availability usually aren't listed anywhere, so expect some back and forth before you know if it fits.

• IndieGuild

  Good for: browsing game artists for hire by style (pixel, 2D, 3D, anime, isometric and more), with each artist's portfolio and rates on one page. Or post a role on a free studio page, name the art style you want, and artists who fit can pitch you. You can tick "Human-made work only" on a role, and portfolio work on IndieGuild has to be human-made, no AI art. It's free and takes no cut, and you message the artist directly.

  Downside: it's new for artists (since October 2026), so there are fewer portfolios today than on the big sites. If you don't find your style yet, post a role so artists can come to you.

Which one should I use?

• You want to browse first and pick a style: ArtStation, or IndieGuild's game artists if you want rates up front and to filter by style.
• You'd rather artists come to you: post a role on IndieGuild, r/gameDevClassifieds or a Discord hiring channel. Studios hiring for a longer role can add Work With Indies.
• Rev share or hobby project: r/INAT, or an IndieGuild role labeled rev share or hobby.
• You need one small piece fast and want payment handled: Fiverr, or Fiverr Pro if you want a vetted seller.
• You already know the look you want: search itch.io packs and #PortfolioDay for artists who already draw that way, then message them.

Whichever you pick, send a clear brief with your style references and a full asset list. My guide on how to find an artist for your indie game walks through the brief, reading portfolios and agreeing on rights. If you're still deciding between hiring and asset packs, see where to find art and VFX for your indie game.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find artists for my indie game?

The main places are ArtStation (pro portfolios and a jobs board), r/gameDevClassifieds for paid work and r/INAT for rev share and hobby teams, Work With Indies (a job board for indie studios), Fiverr and Fiverr Pro (fixed-price gigs with buyer protection), the hiring channels of game dev Discord servers, artists on itch.io, Bluesky and X (#PortfolioDay), and IndieGuild, where you can browse game artists by style, see their portfolios and rates, or post a role and let artists pitch you, free with no cut taken.

How much does it cost to hire an artist for an indie game?

It depends on the style, the detail, how many assets you need, animation, and how fast you need it. Artists charge per piece, per asset, per animation frame, per hour or per project. My guide on how much game art costs has sourced price ranges.

Where can I find a pixel artist for my game?

Look at the makers of itch.io pixel art packs you like, pixel art communities, #PortfolioDay on Bluesky and X, r/gameDevClassifieds, and the Pixel art style on IndieGuild. Lock your sprite size, palette and frame counts first. The full process is in how to find a pixel artist for your game.

Where can I find a 3D artist for my game?

ArtStation, Sketchfab, Polycount and IndieGuild are good places to start. Decide low poly, stylized or realistic, send a spec with your engine, poly budget, textures and file format, and judge wireframes and real-time work. The full process is in how to find a 3D artist for your game.

Can I find an artist for a rev share or hobby game?

Yes. r/INAT is the subreddit for rev share and hobby teams, and on IndieGuild every role is labeled paid, rev share or hobby, so artists know up front what they're saying yes to. Be clear about it in your first line.

Is IndieGuild free?

Yes. IndieGuild is free while in beta for game devs and artists, and it takes no cut. You message artists directly and agree on payment and rights between you.

More guides

• How to find an artist for your indie game
• Where to find art and VFX for your indie game
• How to find a pixel artist for your game
• How to find a 3D artist for your game
• How much does art cost for an indie game?
• Need art for your game? Where to find artists and VFX
• All guides