In the dynamic world of contemporary art, tracking emerging trends offers invaluable insight into the shifting tastes of collectors and enthusiasts alike. Over the past two years, certain artists have experienced remarkable surges in inquiries on Artsy, reflecting their growing appeal and cultural relevance. This article delves into the data, spotlighting the creators whose works have captured the attention of a global audience. From bold newcomers to seasoned talents breaking new ground, these are the names shaping the art market’s future.
1. Olaolu Slawn, Nigeria – UK
Born in 2000 in Lagos, Nigeria, is a British-Nigerian artist and designer renowned for his dynamic fusion of street art and abstract expressionism. His work delves into themes of politics, race, and identity, reflecting his Yoruba heritage and Nigerian upbringing.
Slawn’s creative journey began at Wafflesncream, Nigeria’s first skate shop, where he designed for the brand and became a prominent figure in Lagos’s skateboarding scene.
In 2018, he co-founded the apparel group Motherlan, which gained popularity across Nigeria and received recognition from Virgil Abloh.
Relocating to London, Slawn quickly became a significant presence in the city’s art scene, collaborating with brands like Louis Vuitton and Rolex. His graffiti-style artworks, often featuring a recurring ominous face, have been showcased in major exhibitions, including a solo show at Saatchi Yates gallery. Despite lacking formal training, Slawn’s self-expression and community-oriented approach continue to captivate audiences, solidifying his status as a rising star in contemporary art.
For more infroamtion, please visit https://olaoluslawn.com/.
2. LeRoy Neiman, USA
LeRoy Neiman (1921–2012) was an iconic American artist best known for his vibrant, energetic paintings of sports events, leisure activities, and celebrities. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Neiman developed a distinctive, colorful style that captured the movement and excitement of his subjects. His career took off when he became a regular contributor to Playboy magazine, creating the famous “Femlin” character and lively illustrations.
Neiman’s work transcended traditional art, making him one of the first artists to focus extensively on modern sports culture. He painted live at events such as the Olympics, Super Bowl, and boxing matches featuring Muhammad Ali. Over his prolific career, he produced thousands of pieces that celebrated human achievement and vitality.
His legacy continues through the LeRoy Neiman Foundation, which supports arts education and promotes creative expression for future generations.
For more information, please follow https://www.instagram.com/leroyneimanfoundation/.
3. Ferrari Sheppard, USA
Ferrari Sheppard, born in Chicago in 1983, is a contemporary artist based in Los Angeles, renowned for his work that blurs the lines between abstraction and figuration. His mid to large-scale paintings celebrate the humanity of Black people in the Americas and the diaspora, drawing inspiration from memories, dreams, and lived experiences to evoke a sense of nostalgia.
Sheppard’s diverse background includes experiences in journalism, music production, and photography, all of which inform his artistic practice. His work has been exhibited internationally and is included in permanent collections worldwide.
In addition to his visual art, Sheppard has been involved in activism, providing relief aid in Haiti and shaping conversations around social justice through his creative endeavors.
His paintings often feature rich textures and a dynamic interplay of colors, reflecting his deep engagement with the collective consciousness of humanity. Sheppard continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art, inviting viewers to explore complex narratives through his compelling visual language.
For more information, please follow https://www.instagram.com/ferrarisheppard/.
4. Charlotte Keates, UK
Charlotte Keates, born in 1990 in Somerset, UK, is a British artist celebrated for her paintings that blend architectural interiors with elements of the natural world. She earned a First Class BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Falmouth University in 2013.
Keates’s work is inspired by her travels and architectural compositions, seamlessly integrating modernist structures with natural landscapes. Her paintings evoke a sense of stillness and anticipation, often depicting imagined interiors that invite viewers into serene, airy spaces.
She has exhibited widely, including solo exhibitions at Arusha Gallery in London and participation in group shows at Cristea Roberts Gallery. Her work has garnered international attention, with pieces held in collections across the UK, Europe, the US, and Asia.
Keates’s paintings are characterized by their meticulous attention to detail, harmonious color palettes, and the interplay between geometric forms and organic elements, creating dreamlike environments that resonate with a sense of nostalgia and tranquility.
For more information, please follow https://www.instagram.com/charlottekeates/.
5. Jeffrey Cheung, USA
Jeffrey Cheung, born in 1989 in Castro Valley, California, is a Chinese-American artist and activist based in Oakland, California. He earned his degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he embraced printmaking as a medium to explore his sexuality.
Cheung is renowned for his vibrant, figurative artworks that celebrate queer identities. His paintings and drawings often feature richly colored nude figures intertwined in playful embraces, reflecting themes of freedom, identity, and intersectionality.
In addition to his visual art, Cheung co-founded Unity Press and Unity Skateboarding, platforms dedicated to supporting and uplifting queer and trans people of color (QTPOC) within the skateboarding community. Through these initiatives, he has hand-painted over a thousand custom skateboards, distributing them at meetups to foster inclusive spaces for self-expression.
Cheung’s work has been exhibited internationally, with solo exhibitions at New Image Art in Los Angeles, Hashimoto Contemporary in San Francisco, and BimBam Gallery in Paris. His art and community efforts have been featured in publications such as The New York Times, highlighting his impact on both the art world and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
Through his dynamic art and community engagement, Jeffrey Cheung continues to challenge norms and create inclusive spaces that celebrate diversity and self-expression.
For more information, please follow https://www.instagram.com/jeffcheung1/.
6. Erwin Wurm, Austria
Erwin Wurm, born in 1954 in Bruck an der Mur, Austria, is a contemporary artist celebrated for his innovative approach to sculpture. He studied art history and German literature at the University of Graz before pursuing art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna.
Wurm gained international recognition in the late 1990s with his “One Minute Sculptures,” a series where participants follow his instructions to create temporary sculptures using everyday objects. These works challenge traditional perceptions of sculpture by emphasizing the transient and participatory nature of art.
Throughout his career, Wurm has expanded the boundaries of sculpture, incorporating humor and absurdity to explore themes of consumerism, the human body, and the mundane aspects of daily life. His works often present familiar objects in unexpected ways, prompting viewers to reconsider their perceptions.
Wurm’s art has been exhibited globally, including at prestigious venues such as the Albertina Museum in Vienna, which honored him with a comprehensive retrospective in 2024 to celebrate his 70th birthday.
His influence on contemporary art is significant, as he continues to challenge and redefine the concept of sculpture through his inventive and thought-provoking works.
For more information, please follow https://www.instagram.com/erwinwurm/.
7. OSGEMEOS, Brazil
OSGEMEOS, meaning “The Twins” in Portuguese, is the artistic duo of identical twin brothers Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo, born in 1974 in São Paulo, Brazil. They began their artistic journey in the 1980s, influenced by hip-hop culture and the burgeoning graffiti scene in São Paulo. Their distinctive style blends Brazilian cultural elements with surreal, dream-like imagery, often featuring their signature yellow-hued characters.
OSGEMEOS have exhibited their work internationally, including at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C., and have created large-scale public murals in cities around the world. Their art encompasses various mediums, such as painting, sculpture, and installation, reflecting their dynamic and imaginative universe.
For more information, please follow https://www.instagram.com/osgemeos/.
8. Madeline Donahue, USA
Madeline Donahue, born in 1983 in Houston, Texas, is a Brooklyn-based artist whose work delves into the complexities of motherhood and the female experience. She earned her BFA from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in 2006, followed by an MFA from Brooklyn College in 2018.
Donahue’s practice encompasses painting, drawing, and ceramics, focusing on themes of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum body. Her art captures the surreal reality, physicality, and emotionality of motherhood, portraying intimate scenes that blend the abject and sublime facets of parenting.
Her work has been exhibited in various solo and group exhibitions, including “Strange Magic” at Hesse Flatow in New York (2022) and “FUN HOUSE” at Praise Shadows Art Gallery in Boston (2021). Additionally, her pieces are part of notable collections such as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the High Museum in Atlanta.
Donahue’s art has been featured in publications like The Cut, where she discusses the intersection of motherhood and creativity, highlighting how her personal experiences inform her artistic practice.
Through her vivid and expressive works, Donahue offers a nuanced perspective on the maternal experience, inviting viewers to engage with the intimate and often overlooked aspects of motherhood.
For more information, please follow https://www.instagram.com/madelinedonahue/.
9. Julie Mehretu, Ethiopia – USA
Julie Mehretu, born in 1970 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is an internationally acclaimed contemporary artist known for her large-scale abstract paintings that explore themes of history, migration, and the dynamics of urban landscapes. She moved to the United States as a child and earned her MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1997.
Mehretu’s works are celebrated for their intricate layering of marks, lines, and symbols, blending architectural and cartographic elements to create visually complex narratives. Her art often examines social and political structures, addressing issues of displacement and globalization.
Her paintings are part of major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Tate Modern in London. Mehretu has received numerous awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship, and has exhibited globally, including solo shows at the Whitney Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
She continues to challenge the boundaries of abstraction while addressing the pressing issues of our time.
For more information, please follow https://www.instagram.com/juliemehretu/.
10. Mia Chapling, South Africa
Mia Chaplin, born in 1990 in South Africa, is a painter and sculptor based in Cape Town. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Michaelis School of Fine Art in 2011.
Her expressive works, characterized by rich impasto surfaces and visible brushwork, explore themes of femininity, intimacy, and the human form. Working primarily with oil on canvas and paper, as well as bronze and plaster sculpture, Chaplin’s intuitive style heightens the emotional resonance of her pieces.
Chaplin has exhibited internationally, with solo exhibitions including “Swamp” (2022) and “Mouth” (2018) at WHATIFTHEWORLD Gallery in Cape Town, and “Twister” (2021) at No Man’s Art Gallery in Amsterdam. She has participated in artist residencies at the Fountainhead Residency in Miami (2023) and Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris (2018).
Her work is held in various collections, such as the Spier Arts Trust in South Africa and the Lam Museum in the Netherlands. Through her art, Chaplin offers a nuanced perspective on the female experience, engaging viewers with her distinctive and emotive visual language.
For more information, please follow https://www.instagram.com/miachaplin/.
