This month, I had the privilege of representing Zynga at the 3rd International Youth Art Contest, and to put it simply, I was completely blown away. Hosted at the International Art Museum of America (IAMA) in San Francisco, the event brought together incredible young creators aged 8-18 from around the world, shining a bright light on the next generation of visual storytellers.

Building on the momentum of past events which drew over 1,600 artists and 3,800+ works from more than 65 countries, this year’s contest celebrated technical skill, creativity and artistic voice. Beyond the sheer technical talent on display across traditional and digital media, I was deeply moved by the emotional depth these young artists poured into their work.

At Zynga, creativity and community are at the core of everything we build, so we were delighted to join this year’s event as an official sponsor and present the Zynga Award for Digital Art 2026. Recognizing outstanding achievements across three age categories, the top artist in each group took home a trophy, while the overall first-place digital art winner was awarded a Zynga-sponsored Huion Drawing Tablet to help them continue honing their craft.

It was an honor to celebrate these talented creators during an inspiring ceremony led by Guy Djoken, Executive Director of the UNESCO Center for Peace, alongside industry insights shared by Jury Committee Chair Professor Adam Caldwell of the Academy of Art University, San Francisco.

In addition to presenting the awards, I had the opportunity to lead an exclusive masterclass titled “The Secret Language of Game Art”. During the session, we explored how games use color theory, shape language, and style to communicate with players on a subconscious level, evoking emotion and enriching visual storytelling through diverse cultural influences. To wrap things up and demystify the game development process for aspiring creators, we walked through how our teams at Zynga take a character all the way from early concept art to full in-game implementation.

To top off the festivities, we hosted a featured gallery exhibit highlighting the “Dogs of Zynga.” Visitors got a fun look at how our studio brings canine companions to life across popular titles including FarmVille: Country Escape, Color Block Jam, and Words With Friends.

Engaging with the local Bay Area community while celebrating global youth talent was immensely inspiring. The future of the creative industry is extraordinarily bright, and I can’t wait to see how these talented artists continue to leave their mark on the world.

• Jeffrey Himmelman, Art Director, Zynga