Launchpad NY 2025: A night of art and community

What happens when you bring together DeviantArt’s fiercest creators, fresh tools, and some deviance in both art and attitude? On November 6th, a corner of New York City pulsed with creativity and conversation as artists from every background arrived at DeviantArt’s Launchpad Live DevMeet. Art displayed on the screens sent in from deviants around the world welcomed everyone as they snacked and mingled. Anyone who attended will tell you: it wasn’t just an event. It was a celebration, a learning opportunity, and a night to remember.

Watch the highlights and experience Launchpad Live as if you were there:

"It was really nice to go to an event that was actually in person and speak to people face-to-face." – @AnyaBoz

The evening officially kicked off with @TheLaurenVerse keeping the audience on their toes with a tale of deviance through the years.

Next up, CEO Moti Levy (@Wannabby) took the stage with a keynote on the state of the art on DeviantArt, and how cultural and technological shifts are disrupting the creator economy and introducing new opportunities through community. Reminding the crowd of our 25-year history as the perfect intersection of art and community, he shared insights on how the platform’s 100 million members are harnessing new tools, navigating the creator economy, and shaping the next cultural wave.

Next, emcee Lauren invited Nathan (@TGedNathan) to the stage for an interview about his path from fan to phenomenon. Nathan’s honesty about the messy, nonlinear path of artistic growth rang true for every artist in the room. “If you start your art career just to make money… I’ve got some tough news. Passion for creation needs to come first.”

With each anecdote about burnout, under-priced early commissions, and even self-discovery, knowing nods rippled through the crowd.

Next up, Chief Revenue Officer Liat Karpel Gurwicz (@lollycavalier) led a spirited panel with longtime deviants and top subscription sellers Maura Pompili (@ARVEN92), and team AZ and Niels van Dalen (@AZmaybe9) to ask: How do you go from posting art for fun to building a real career from your work?

Some of the key takeaways included echoing Moti’s earlier advice of finding your subcommunity and leaning into it. “Fail hard and fail fast” before shaping your next success. Cultivate a community of fans who like you for you. And of course, “succeed out of spite.”

Fired up from all the stories of success, the artistic audience was ready for some logistic next steps. Dan Leveille (@danlev) stepped up to the stage to bring out the practical magic. He walked the audience through advanced monetization tools. From analytics to discounts to boosting your art’s visibility, every feature was a step toward artist empowerment. 

Learnings and laughs abounded as Dan shared his screen, and on-screen notifications popped up from attendees +Watching @danlev as they followed along.

After the talks wrapped, the networking began. Artists grabbed DeviantArt’s 25th anniversary coloring books, colored pencils, and filled sketchbooks with inspiration. It wasn’t just a time to color, it was a time to meet mentors, swap stories, and even co-create. 

Among attendees were @What-the-Gaff, @AnyaBoz, @Soul-Fyre, @CLE-Photography1, @Dicentrasterisk, @Cxppu, and many more!

"The atmosphere was so palpable and it felt just so right to be there! Could go up to anyone, even someone very shy, and strike up a long conversation about art!" – @AZmaybe9

Thank you to every artist who attended, shared their story, or submitted to the #LaunchpadNY25 gallery. You made Launchpad Live what it was: a true celebration of what happens when creative people connect in person.

Relive the best moments from the event, check out these photos. 

See you at the next one!

Explore the art that lit up the screen at Launchpad NYC 2025.

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Find out more and apply to DeviantArt’s Launchpad program today.