Trends come and go, and it can be hard to keep up with the latest developments in the art world. It’s easy to get caught up in the glossy images and artist profiles displayed daily on Instagram. But who are the emerging figures that are exciting the critics? Whether you’re keen to learn about award-winning artists with major exhibitions or are interested in those causing a stir with successful solo shows, we’ve selected five of the most-wanted artists on today’s scene.
Adrian Gheny
This Romanian artist has been garnering international attention recently. After graduating from the most prestigious art school in Romania, he opened an art gallery in Cluj, and another branch in Berlin. From 2007 onwards, his work has been exhibited in a variety European art spaces, but it’s only in the last few years that he’s been pegged as a rising talent in the art market. In 2013, the Pace Gallery curated a personal exhibition of his work and he represented Romania in the 56th Venice Biennale. Through a provoking aesthetic, Adrian Gheny seduces the art world. A fresh name at the top of the market, it will be interesting to see if he can hold on to his position.
Camille Henrot
Thanks to her multifaceted work, Camille Henrot has exhibited in some of the world’s most reputable institutions, such as the New Museum, Moma and Pompidou. Her many prestigious awards include the Silver Lion of the Venice Biennale in 2013. The artist uses drawing, sculptures and video to explore an intellectual perspective on life. Last year, she had ‘carte blanche’ at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris – possibly the pinnacle of her career so far.
Ayesha Sultana
Coming from Bangladesh and living in Dhaka, Ayesha Sultana’s work encompasses a variety of media, including drawing, sculpture, sound, and photography. With a strong interest in the relationship between space and her chosen material, she explores her surroundings poetically and aesthetically. Part of a new generation of artists, she’s enjoyed a rapid rise since her presence at Art Basel over the last two years. The minimalist work of Sultana has also impressed organisers of the international contemporary art fair FIAC, where she exhibited in 2017.
Oscar Tuazon
For the FIAC 2017, the American artist installed gigantic water pipes in the Place Vendôme, changing the landscape of this iconic spot for two weeks. Oscar Tuazon chooses to use sculpture and architecture to develop his reflections about spaces and humans. For him, a sculpture is lifeless unless it is considered as an entity that could be inhabited by a human. His large-scale works regularly impress the art scene with shows in important institutions such as the Palais de Tokyo. Tuazon is also the co-founder of Castillo/Corrales, a collaborative space composed of writers, artists, curators, and critics.
Marianna Simnett
This London resident creates storytelling, film, sound, and light installations to explore the violence and domination inflicted on our bodies. Her films can be visually shocking with their provocative display of organs, infections, and body parts. Simnett’s videos have earned her several awards, and the artist received internationally exposure in institutions such as the New Museum in New York.
Featured image: © Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
