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Texture Artist Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Artist Principal Lead

Chicago, IL

$130K - $156K/yr

Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Arts, 2D Animation, Motion Graphics, or similar discipline preferred ... Possesses understanding of 3D modeling, texturing, rigging, and animation. Demonstrated ability to ...

Artist Principal Lead

Chicago, IL

$130K - $156K/yr

Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Arts, 2D Animation, Motion Graphics, or similar discipline preferred ... Possesses understanding of 3D modeling, texturing, rigging, and animation. Demonstrated ability to ...

Be Seen First

Work confidently with diverse hair textures * Build confidence in round brushing, diffused styles ... Artist, and MUA. READY TO BUILD A CAREER -- NOT JUST FILL A CHAIR? Apply today and grow with us at ...

Be Seen First

Work confidently with diverse hair textures * Build confidence in round brushing, diffused styles ... Artist, and MUA. READY TO BUILD A CAREER -- NOT JUST FILL A CHAIR? Apply today and grow with us at ...

Accompanist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$53/hr

... arts, communications, and public relations. We constantly aim to reach our full potential as an ... European Classical piano textures for ballet, traditional West African hand drumming styles for ...

Accompanist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$53/hr

... arts, communications, and public relations. We constantly aim to reach our full potential as an ... European Classical piano textures for ballet, traditional West African hand drumming styles for ...

Be Seen First

Model, texture and light all elements involved with the project * Understand the varieties of light setups from clean studio renderings to vibrant stage rendering * Coordinate with the rest of the ...

... natural textures and intentional design. Thoughtfully sourced meats, seafood, and vegetables hit ... Prior experience in Japanese culinary arts is advantageous. * Ability to remain calm during high ...

Executive Chef

Burr Ridge, IL · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

... textures, and other meal accommodations * Use resident feedback, participation trends, financial ... Degree or formal education in culinary arts, foodservice management, hospitality management ...

Executive Chef

Burr Ridge, IL · On-site

$110K - $115K/yr

... textures, and other meal accommodations * Use resident feedback, participation trends, financial ... Degree or formal education in culinary arts, foodservice management, hospitality management ...

... texture, and presentation of food for all outlets. * Reviews and updates usage, guest count, and ... Equivalent to a college education with a thorough knowledge of Culinary Arts. * 9 -10 years of food ...

Texture Artist information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$11.3K

$157.7K

How much do texture artist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for texture artist in Chicago, IL is $156,705.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $156,700.00 and $156,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a texture artist?

A texture artist develops 2D and 3D art and textures for video games, movies, and other forms of digital media. Their job duties include painting the exterior textures, such as sweat, wrinkles, fur, water, on digital shapes, characters, and surfaces for the images to be as realistic as possible. This job involves working on a variety of animation software platforms. A texture artist often works with a team of artists responsible for the entire visual layout of the media.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a texture artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Texture Artist, you need a strong understanding of digital art, color theory, and UV mapping, usually supported by a portfolio demonstrating expertise in creating high-quality textures. Proficiency in tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Substance Painter, and 3D software like Maya or Blender is typically required. Attention to detail, creativity, and the ability to collaborate effectively are crucial soft skills in this role. These skills ensure that texture artists can produce visually compelling, realistic assets that enhance the overall quality of films, games, or other digital media projects.

How does a texture artist typically collaborate with other members of a game or film production team?

Texture Artists work closely with 3D modelers, lighting artists, and art directors to ensure that textures enhance the visual quality and realism of models. They often receive models from 3D artists and feedback from art leads, adjusting their work based on technical constraints and creative direction. Regular team meetings and asset reviews are common, making strong communication and adaptability essential skills. This collaborative process helps maintain a consistent art style and ensures assets integrate seamlessly into the final project.

What is the difference between Texture Artist vs Environment Artist?

AspectTexture ArtistEnvironment Artist
Primary FocusCreating detailed textures for 3D models and surfacesDesigning and building entire 3D environments and scenes
Skills & ToolsTexturing software (Substance Painter, Photoshop), UV mapping3D modeling, level design, environment layout
Work EnvironmentVFX studios, game development, filmGame studios, film sets, virtual production
Common UsageEnhancing surface realismCreating immersive worlds

While both roles involve 3D art, Texture Artists focus on surface details and textures, whereas Environment Artists craft entire scenes and environments. Both collaborate closely in game and film production but specialize in different aspects of visual creation.

Are texture artists in demand?

Texture artists are in demand in the video game, film, and animation industries, especially as these fields continue to grow and adopt advanced rendering techniques. Strong skills in software like Substance Painter, Photoshop, and 3D modeling are valuable, and demand often correlates with the overall health of the entertainment and digital media sectors.

How do you become a texture artist?

To become a texture artist, you typically need a strong foundation in art and design, proficiency in software such as Adobe Photoshop and 3D tools like Substance Painter or Mari, and a portfolio showcasing your work. Many professionals pursue a degree in art, computer graphics, or a related field, and gain experience through internships or personal projects to develop their skills and understanding of materials and surface details.

How much do texture artists make?

Texture artists typically earn between $50,000 and $85,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced artists with specialized skills in software like Substance Painter or Photoshop can earn higher salaries.

What are the most commonly searched types of Texture Artist jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Texture Artist jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Texture Artist jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Texture Artist jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Texture Artist jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Texture Artist jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Infographic showing various Texture Artist job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 60% Full Time, 39% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $156,705 per year, or $75.3 per hour.

Technical Artist (Video Games) at DISBELIEF Chicago, IL

Downtown Boulder Partnership

Chicago, IL • On-site

$80 - $100/hr

Other

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

Technical Artist (Video Games) job at DISBELIEF. Chicago, IL.

Job Title

Technical Artist

Type

Full time

Who We Are

Disbelief is a game development studio focusing on contracting and consulting services. We’ve worked with both AAA and independent studios to help their projects ship. Notable projects we’ve worked on include Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, Minecraft, Borderlands 3, Gears Tactics, Gears 5, and Pacific Drive.

At Disbelief we value work-life balance, and want to create an alternative to the crunch-culture prevalent in game development. We also believe strongly in investing in our talent and our team. Disbelief is a place to puzzle out the solutions to cutting-edge problems for industry leading projects, but also a place where people can grow their careers and skills as valued members of a stable and close-knit team.

Description

Currently, we’re looking for a Technical Artist. This opportunity is for a full-time position in Chicago, IL. Technical Artists at Disbelief are self motivated problem solvers. Our technical artists are equally capable of discussing performance, rendering and gameplay issues with engineers, as they are in critique and creative discussion with the artist and designers. They act as a bridge between the technical and artistic aspects of game development, empowering both programming and art to achieve more than either could on their own. Our Technical Artists work in a variety of areas including scripting for tools and gameplay, modeling, materials, texturing, animation, FX, UI, and writing documentation.

At Disbelief we work with leading edge technologies to make them perform at the top of their capabilities, and we take pride in solving problems others can't. We believe a diverse team is a stronger team, and we encourage marginalized candidates to apply.

Key Responsibilities
  • Solve technical problems from an artist’s point of view
  • Solve performance problems while championing visual quality standards
  • Act as a bridge between art, engineering and gameplay teams
  • Continue to explore new software and techniques, including novel solutions
  • Prototype new workflows and systems
  • Make improvements to existing pipelines as part of a team
  • Clearly communicate your work to others
  • Estimate the time it takes to complete tasks
Skills and Requirements
  • Degree in Tech Art or equivalent experience
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
  • 1+ years in game development, or 3+ in a related industry
  • Understanding of real time rendering
  • Experience with version control with Perforce, Git, or equivalent
  • Portfolio demonstrating AAA quality technical art ability
  • Gameplay or pipeline scripting
  • Proficiency in cross disciplinary tasks
Location

Chicago, IL

Relocation Assistance

Available where applicable

Hybrid

Technical Artists are in the office based on project needs, but can sometimes work from home. Some of our projects require access to physical infrastructure.

Visa Sponsorship

No. Disbelief does not offer visa sponsorship at the current time.

We are an E-Verify employer.

Technologies

Our DCC tools vary depending on the project, but will typically involve a combination of Houdini, Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, Substance, Photoshop. Our real-time work often requires knowledge of animation, physics, material and particle systems. Primarily we work with Unreal Engine, but we also work with custom game engines. Scripting in Python, Maxscript, Mel, Javascript, C# and Unreal Blueprint is often required to solve pipeline and workflow problems.

Salary

This position has a salary range of $83,000 - $100,000. When making a job offer there are many factors that are taken into consideration at Disbelief. This includes, but is not limited to, experience and skills, comparable jobs in the industry/geographical area, and relocation benefits. Therefore the upper end of the shared salary range is oftentimes dedicated to those who showcase strong performance in the role. To learn more about how salary is determined at Disbelief please visit Open Salaries At Disbelief at

Benefits

Please visit Disbelief's company career page at to learn about the amazing benefits we offer.

Contact

Please submit resume and portfolio to jobs@disbelief.com

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