From the gothic underworlds of Breed and Abnormis, to hyper-specific pixel art sites, to larger communities like DeviantArt, the internet presented a breadth of opportunity for all kinds of artists-often of marginalized identities or with artistic interests unrecognized by institutions.ДЄs digital imaging advanced, the internet expanded into the multimedia universe we have today, and, perhaps paradoxically, its art communities dwindled. Until attention spans became a commodity, the internet was dreamed of as a вЂњbastion for people to direct their own education,вЂќ as Charles Broskoski, co-founder of internet bookmarking site are.na, remembers.ДЄrtists, too, forged communities in the spirit of collaboration and learning. вЂњOtherwise, the algorithm decides youвЂ™re not interesting, and will not show your posts to your followers.вЂќД«efore big tech shepherded the vast number of online users onto a handful of sleek websites, there was a scrappier internet-where offbeat chat rooms and eccentric niche websites reigned, and carefully crafted вЂњaway statusesвЂќ were a kind of personal branding-back when you could be away from the internet. вЂњYou have to post constantly,вЂќ Van Baarle, who got her start in the early aughts on DeviantArt, explained. At least, thatвЂ™s how illustrator Lois van Baarle describes it. Today, sharing art on social media is like running on a treadmill forever.

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