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Visual Artist Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

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Visual Artist information

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$39.9K

$118K

$166.8K

How much do visual artist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for visual artist in New York is $117,967.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,800.00 and $166,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a visual artist?

Visual artists are creative professionals who use various mediums—such as painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and digital art—to express ideas, emotions, or concepts visually. Their work can be displayed in galleries, public spaces, online platforms, or commercial settings. Visual artists may work independently or collaborate with organizations, and they often develop unique styles or techniques. The field encompasses a wide range of specializations, including fine arts, illustration, graphic design, and more.

What does a visual artist do?

A visual artist creates works of art using a variety of materials. As a visual artist, your duties may be to draw images, work with paint, develop murals, design in 3D, or create art with mixed media. While many visual artists create art solely to display in galleries and sell to collectors, you can also work in a variety of other fields. Your responsibilities vary with the position, but you can work as an advertising specialist, marketing director, CAD designer, product designer, and more. Visual artists can also work in the movie industry, develop video games, or create brand images for a company. Social media is another growing area where visual artists can create content.

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

To thrive as a Visual Artist, you need a strong foundation in drawing, color theory, composition, and art history, often supported by a degree in fine arts or a related field. Familiarity with digital design tools like Adobe Creative Suite or Procreate, as well as traditional media, is typically expected. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective self-promotion are essential soft skills for standing out in a competitive field. These abilities enable artists to produce compelling work, adapt to evolving media, and build a sustainable career.

How do visual artists typically collaborate with other creative professionals during a project?

Visual artists often work closely with graphic designers, art directors, writers, and marketing teams to bring creative concepts to life. Collaboration usually involves participating in brainstorming sessions, interpreting briefs, and providing sketches or drafts for feedback. Clear communication and openness to constructive critique are essential, as projects may go through multiple revisions. This teamwork not only enhances the final product but also helps artists expand their creative network and skill set.

What is the difference between Visual Artist vs Graphic Designer?

AspectVisual ArtistGraphic Designer
CredentialsArt degrees, portfoliosDesign degrees, software skills
Work EnvironmentStudios, galleries, public spacesOffices, agencies, client sites
Industry UsageFine arts, exhibitions, installationsAdvertising, branding, marketing

While both Visual Artists and Graphic Designers create visual content, Visual Artists focus on personal or fine art projects often showcased in galleries or public spaces. Graphic Designers typically work on commercial projects like branding and advertising, using specific software tools. The roles overlap in creativity and visual communication but differ in purpose, environment, and industry focus.

How much money does a visual artist make?

The average salary for a visual artist varies widely depending on experience, location, and specialization, but typically ranges from $20,000 to $70,000 annually. Many visual artists supplement income through commissions, gallery sales, or teaching, and proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite can influence earning potential.

What are 5 careers in visual artist?

Five careers for a visual artist include becoming a fine artist, graphic designer, illustrator, art director, or muralist. These roles often require proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite and may involve working in studios, agencies, or freelance settings. Each career offers different opportunities for creative expression and project types.

What jobs can you get as a visual artist?

A visual artist can pursue various roles such as fine artist, illustrator, graphic designer, muralist, concept artist, or art director. These jobs often require skills in drawing, painting, digital tools, and a strong portfolio, and may involve working in studios, agencies, or freelance settings.
More about Visual Artist jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Visual Artist jobs in New York?

The most popular types of Visual Artist jobs in New York are:

What are popular job titles related to Visual Artist jobs in New York?

For Visual Artist jobs in New York, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Visual Artist jobs in New York look for?

The top searched job categories for Visual Artist jobs in New York are:

What cities in New York are hiring for Visual Artist jobs?

Cities in New York with the most Visual Artist job openings:

Visual Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Visual Artist job openings in New York as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,967 per year, or $56.7 per hour.

Principal Visual Artist

Fanatics Collectibles

New York, NY

Full-time

Re-posted 26 days ago

Job description

Principal Visual Artist

We're building a small, senior team to create exceptional real-time, web-first interactive experiences across our portfolio. Work that pushes what WebGL can do and sets the bar for high-craft fan engagement. We blend the creative sensibility of top interactive studios with the technical ambition of game development, and we're hiring the founding members who will shape everything that follows.

We're looking for a Principal Visual Artist to lead the visual identity and art direction of our interactive work. You'll partner with the Creative Director to define the look and feel of each project, set the visual standard for the team, and drive that quality from early concept through to production-ready assets across 2D and 3D. As the team grows, you'll lead and mentor artists, shape workflows, and own the visual direction of features end to end.

You care about craft at every stage. You understand that great real-time art starts with smart decisions made early, and you're comfortable taking ownership across disciplines in a small team where your judgment sets the quality bar.

What you'll do

  • Lead the visual direction of features and projects, translating creative vision into clear production direction through concepts, style frames, and visual references
  • Define and maintain the visual language, tone, and quality standard across all output as the team and portfolio grow
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a team of artists, providing feedback, direction, and career development support
  • Produce concept, illustration, and 2D art assets (textures, surface detail, iconography, UI elements, graphic work) that integrate into 3D and interactive environments
  • Model, UV, texture, rig, and animate 3D assets to production standard, working within defined real-time budgets
  • Use motion and animation tools to produce motion references and effects concepts that guide technical implementation
  • Collaborate closely with the wider creative team to ensure clean, well-structured handoff for runtime, iterating based on how art behaves in-engine
  • Shape art production workflows, asset pipelines, and standards as the team scales

What we're looking for

  • A portfolio that spans disciplines: concept and illustration, texture and surface work, 3D modelling, and asset production, showing both range and depth
  • Proven experience leading visual direction on features or projects, with the judgment to make art decisions that serve the overall experience
  • Experience leading, mentoring, or growing artists on a team
  • Strong visual development skills: style frames, mood boards, colour theory, and composition thinking
  • Proficiency in Blender (or equivalent) for 3D modelling, UV layout, texturing, rigging, and animation
  • Strong 2D skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, or equivalent, with a focus on texture creation, graphic design, and illustrative work
  • Understanding of real-time asset constraints: poly budgets, texture resolution and atlasing, material complexity, and what makes assets performant at runtime
  • A collaborative approach: you hand off cleanly, communicate constraints clearly, and take technical feedback without friction

Bonus

  • Background in game development (highly preferred) or experience producing assets for a real-time engine
  • Experience with motion design, animated asset production, or creating animation references to guide a technical team
  • Familiarity with glTF pipelines and well-structured, runtime-ready exports
  • Experience with shader authoring or authoring tools

Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don't fall victim to fraud.  Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Feel free to ask your recruiter for a phone call or other type of communication for interview, and ensure your communication is coming from a Fanatics email address (including @collectfanatics.com).  For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at www.fanaticsinc.com/careers

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