Emojis have changed the way we communicate. But the playful Japanese icons aren't just a whimsical form of texting — they are the art of the 21st century.
To honor the most creative uses of emoji in the art world, Mashable is partnering with the Emoji Design and Art Show in New York City. The event strives to showcase innovative ways the smileys are popping up in pop culture.

See also: 10 Emojis We Wish Existed
"From cave paintings, to hieroglyphics, to religious and mythological symbols encoded in traditional painting and sculpture, we’ve been communicating through images since the dawn of mankind — but its dominance in culture today, especially among millennials, seems to indicate a greater shift in our approach to self-expression," the event's organizers shared.
The showcase will include art in any medium, including on and offline paintings, sculptures, videos or performances.
Submissions are due by Nov. 8 on the event's website.
BONUS: Read 20 Great Books in 2 Minutes, Emoji Style
Let's start with an easy one for all you nerds. No doubt you've read this already. Answer: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein
Answer: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Answer: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Answer: Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Here's one that gives you a clue to the plot of the book rather than its title.
Answer: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Answer: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Answer: Carrie by Stephen King
Answer: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Answer: 1984 by George Orwell
Answer: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Answer: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Answer: Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
Answer: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Answer: A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin
Answer: Rabbit Run by John Updike
Answer: Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
Answer: War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
Answer: Watership Down by Richard Adams
Answer: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Answer: Farewell My Lovely by Raymond Chandler
Image: Mashable composite, image courtesy of Open Clipart Library, ricardomaia