Pixel
QR codes are encoded with Reed-Solomon error-correcting codes, so that a QR scanner does not have to see every pixel correctly in order to decode the content. The error correction makes it possible to introduce a few errors ) in order to make an image.
The following is an example with my face as pixel art embedded into the QR-Code linking to this website. (I know, could be any face, lol)
Here is another QR code with the avatar I use: