21st Pictoplasma Festival: Open House + Character Market

Pictoplasma reexamines the myth of originality, exploring the genealogies of character creation amidst the rise of generative AI and shifting cultural codes.

Pictoplasma returns to Berlin with a stellar line up of artists, illustrators, filmmakers and designers looking to the future and reimagining the visual culture. This year, the world's leading conference on contemporary character design and art dives deep into the genealogies of character creation, peeling back multiple layers of influences, trends and contexts. It flips the script on the myth of 'the original', often touted as an artist’s singular autograph and guided by an inherent genius or talent, and asks instead: to what extent are our creations our own, and how do we even determine the dimensions of originality, or indeed, imagination?

Sunday Open House // May 4

To conclude the festival, Pictoplasma invites everyone to the Public Day. A vibrant design market offers the chance to stock up on rare prints, editions, zines, sculptures, and other lovingly crafted objects from around the world—and to meet their international creators in person. The festival’s animation program, featuring over 90 short films, music videos, and experimental clips across 7 curated screenings, will be replayed in full—a true visual marathon.

An exhibition showcases the work of this year’s conference artists, including vases by Jimmy D. Lanza, sculptures by Saddo and Jonathan Djob-Nkondo, and paintings by Jill Senft. Workshops invite visitors of all ages to come together and get creative.

Sunday, May 4
Betonhalle, Kuppelhalle, Atelier 1+2
1 pm–7 pm
Admission free