On September 16, 2026, Grace Ebert, Editorial director, Colossal, published a letter that makes a clear case for art made by humans, for humans. Framed by a moment in which The New York Times asked dozens of 10-year-olds to imagine 2050—visions that ranged from a woman finally becoming U.S. president and universal pet foxes to world wars, monarchic rule, embedded brain sensors, and even the end of human civilization—the letter confronts how often A.I. now anchors our collective future-thinking.
Ebert argues that A.I.’s rapid expansion has intensified anxieties and, for artists, illustrators, designers, and writers, threatens not just livelihoods but “the very substance of our humanity.” The point, she writes, isn’t whether a bot can achieve technical polish, but what is lost when we outsource the human technology of making meaning. Art, for her, remains an act that fosters empathy and connection—and, as she’s learned over the past seven years in conversation with thousands of creative people, an act of faith that invites others to participate in hope.
A people-powered magazine
Colossal, she notes, operates on generosity rather than algorithms: a devoted team of just four people handles everything by hand, from selecting images and writing headlines to compiling the daily newsletter. The goal is to put a wide array of readers—including students, educators, fellow creatives, and art appreciators—in contact with work they may not otherwise encounter. Embracing “friction,” Ebert writes, is central to supporting the artists and illustrators who share their dreams.
That intentional process, however, requires resources. Less than 0.5% of the magazine’s weekly readership currently contributes financially. Ebert states that reaching 1% would cement Colossal’s long-term survival and sustain the celebration of unbridled human creativity that has defined the publication for the last 16 years.
Membership, in practice
Becoming a Colossal Member is presented as both an act of generosity and a direct line to the work that matters. Membership is available at $7/month or $75/year, with benefits that include:
- Hide advertising
- Save your favorite articles
- Get 15% off in the Colossal Shop
- Receive members-only newsletter
- Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms
The letter appears alongside a credit to Marija Tiurina, Forward Together (2022), created for Rexenera Festival in Carballo, Spain—an apt reminder of the living artists and public contexts that Colossal continues to champion. Ebert signs off simply: with hope.
