I'm dreaming of a byte Christmas. Mathieu Labrecque's pixel art is packed with nostalgia
The illustrator was inspired by holiday symbols, but his 8-bit take on the CBC logo is inherently festive
Every month, we feature a new take on the CBC Arts logo created by a Canadian artist. Check out our previous logos!
Consider the pixel. Alone, it's not an obvious nod to the holiday season — like snowflakes or reindeer or loads of red and green. But create a picture using dozens, if not hundreds, of colourful squares, and the zigzagging shapes will throw you right back to Decembers of yore. Pixel art is memories of matching family sweaters and the cross-stitched tablecloth your nana saved for Christmas supper. For those of a certain vintage, it's all about 8-bit nostalgia — and the games you begged Santa to bring you.
Mathieu Labrecque is an artist from Montreal who has his own reasons for loving the pixel. In recent years, he's discovered the joy of creating artwork one square at a time — an approach he brought to this assignment, a festive digital logo design for CBC Arts.
"I'm an illustrator and animator who enjoys experimenting with different ways of working and collaborating with other creatives. To me, being an artist is a lot about keeping that sense of curiosity and play we all have as kids, even if now it comes with a bit more focus and intention," Labrecque told us over email.
"I love pixel design because it allows me to embrace abstraction and simplify my work," he says, explaining how he revels in the challenge of it all. Realizing his vision — all while constrained to a grid — isn't easy, he says, but it sure is exciting.
"Just one pixel can change the entire meaning of an image, which ties into my natural tendency to strip away the unnecessary and keep only what's essential," says Labrecque. He told us more about his practice and the art that inspires him when we reached him by email. Read on!
Name: Mathieu Labrecque
Homebase: Montreal
What sources do you often turn to for ideas and inspiration?
I get inspired by two main things: the work of others, like illustrators, designers, filmmakers or musicians. (That shifts how I see things.) And the physical, instinctive ways we interact with the world. There's something about balancing the real, three-dimensional experience of life with the flat, two-dimensional space of art that keeps me curious and creative. I connect with other artists when I sense a shared way of thinking, even if their style is completely different. It's more about how they approach ideas than how their work looks.
You work in a variety of styles, but how did you start creating pixel art?
I started working with pixel-based design because the constraints of limited pixels surprisingly gave me more creative freedom. The underlying grid structure guides every choice, and when creating a piece, it feels like each pixel is exactly where it needs to be. Everything clicks together, and the design comes together in a way that feels complete.
Let's talk about your logo! What inspired the concept?
Since the design was intended for publication in December, I wanted to experiment with classic holiday shapes and icons, like red and white stripes, snowflakes and snowmen. The hypnotic effect of the iconic CBC logo inspired me to take a more psychedelic approach. For the animation, my goal was to enhance the composition's readability while making it lively and playful.
What's new in your world? What are you working on these days?
I've been creating weekly animations for the New York Times crosswords for over 75 weeks now and I'm still enjoying it. Over the next few months, I'll be working on a campaign for a theatre, which I'm really excited about. It's a chance to revisit an older style of mine that I don't get to use much, and I'm eager to explore it again, especially after focusing on pixel-based design lately. I'm also slowly working on a comic book, embracing a more traditional pen-and-paper process. The goal of this project is to explore how my intuitive approach can evolve across multiple pages, rather than just one image. Here's a hint: it's been a challenge not to end up with a big mess so far.
What's the project you're most proud of?
Probably my children's book Un camion! Quel camion?, written by Pierrette Dubé.
What's your favourite place to see art?
I like Plural (formerly known as the Papier Art Fair), a contemporary art fair held annually in Montreal.
Who's the last artist you discovered online?
I can't pick just one, but any new work by one of my favorite artists feels like discovering a whole new artist, if that makes sense.
What work of art do you wish you owned?
L'Escargot by Matisse, which measures 287 × 288 cm, is a work I was familiar with from the cover of a small book. But when I saw it in person at the Tate Museum, I was completely unprepared for the experience. The sheer size and presence of the piece was overwhelming.
Are there any arts events on your radar this December? What are you excited to check out?
I'm going to see a stand-up comedian I like, Todd Barry. It'll be my first time attending a stand-up show!
Where can we see more from you?
This conversation has been edited and condensed.
