The art market is experiencing rapid growth, with experts actively scouting for emerging talents poised for success. According to experts, curators, collectors, and art directors, here are just some of the names to look out for in 2024.

Mark Acetelli
Mark Acetelli, a self-taught American artist, specializes in abstract landscapes and figurative expressionism. Introduced to the art world at a young age by his mother, he explored various art forms before finding his passion in painting. Acetelli’s artistic journey extends across music, painting, photography, and poetry. His creations draw inspiration from the deeply personal introspection of life’s journey, encompassing the complexities of love, loss, birth, and transformation. Rather than focusing on defined images, he aims to convey emotions, describing his work as “simple expressions of complex thoughts, created by capturing the physical mixed with the spiritual.” Acetelli’s art has garnered recognition both in the United States and internationally, finding a place in numerous public and private collections globally. Actively participating in solo and group exhibitions, he recently contributed to the “Dynamic Voices in Contemporary Art” exhibit at the Artspace Warehouse in Los Angeles. This showcase featured visionary artists, each making a lasting impact on the contemporary art scene. Currently, Acetelli is working on a series of oil paintings titled “Nocturnes.”

George Rouy
George Rouy, a rising British artist gaining gradual public acclaim, is renowned for his distinctive approach to contorting figures that push the boundaries of the canvas, breaking free from established norms. Primarily recognized for his depictions of genderless nudes, his work seamlessly blends classical postures with dynamic silhouettes in motion, presenting figures that appear to float within a nebulous space. The essence of his art is characterized by a sensual, hazy, and dream-like quality. Described as “a fever dream of amorphous, fluid embodiment,” Rouy's portraits explore 21st-century desire, embodying physical dissonance, mystery, secrecy, ecstasy, turmoil, proximity, and distance. Rather than capturing people in their truest form, he delves into the complexities and frictions of the human essence. Rouy draws inspiration from classical forms intertwined with the digital culture and technology of our contemporary age. Active since the start of his undergraduate studies in 2013, Rouy has exhibited his work across Europe, the United States, China, and Hong Kong. Notably, his pieces are already featured in major collections, including the ICA in Miami and the Fondation Cartier in Paris. In the upcoming year, he is set to be part of significant exhibitions, such as the group exhibition “Present Tense” at Hauser & Wirth Somerset from January through April, and a collaborative performance-installation with choreographer Sharon Eyal at the ICA London in December 2024.

*Valerie Etitinwo, The Waiting Game, 2023*

Valerie Etitinwo
Valerie Etitinwo, a Nigerian-Swiss artist, specializes in creating abstract figurative paintings that embrace the beauty found in ugliness, awkwardness, and imperfection. For Etitinwo, art serves as a coping mechanism to interpret the intricacies of the world around her and to challenge conventional boundaries and standards of beauty. Expressing her perspective on her work, she states, “I like creating art that catches the eyes not because of how pretty it is but because of how imperfect it looks. I’m really not a perfectionist. I’m quite the opposite. I’m an ‘imperfectionist.’” Etitinwo revels in the disorganization of some of her pieces, employing bold colors and unconventional shapes to represent humans. Although she cites Cubism as her favorite artistic movement, her work does not adhere to its principles. Instead, she appreciates Cubism for its absurd shapes, particularly in portraits, and enjoys painting faces reminiscent of masks. Drawing inspiration from her Nigerian heritage, she incorporates the actions and mannerisms of her Nigerian ‘aunties’ into her paintings. She aims to deconstruct Nigerian culture and stereotypes through her art, challenging and expanding perceptions of beauty and imperfection while offering an alternative narrative to that presented in Western media. Etitinwo’s work was also featured in the Artspace Warehouse exhibition mentioned earlier. Her works have gained recognition on major TV shows such as “Insecure” and “The Flight Attendant” on HBO. Furthermore, her artistic creations have garnered global recognition, finding a place in collections held by influential executives and esteemed film producers.

*Enzo Camacho and Amy Lien, installation views of “Offerings for Escalante”, Para Site, Hong Kong, 2023.*

Enzo Camacho and Amy Lien
Enzo Camacho and Amy Lien are an artistic duo with a collaborative history spanning over a decade. Their work delves into a diverse array of topics such as labor, capital, communities, and land justice. Operating from both the United States and the Philippines, the duo channels their work to address issues not only in their respective countries but also on a global scale. Their portfolio includes engaging projects that tackle thought-provoking subjects. Notable among these is their extensive primary research on food sovereignty and land justice in Negros Island, Philippines. Additionally, they delved into researching the Escalante Massacre of 1985. This comprehensive exploration resulted in the creation of the “Offerings for Escalante” exhibition and an experimental documentary. Presented at Para Site in Hong Kong, this exhibition poses the question of whether contemporary art can be accountable to social movements. Camacho and Lien aim to activate their exhibitions as collaborative spaces, inviting organizations, activists, and collectives from the Philippines, Hong Kong, and beyond to participate. This approach emphasizes their commitment to fostering dialogue and engagement with pressing socio-political issues through the lens of contemporary art.

*Adelisa Selimbašić, No past, no present, no future, 2023*

Adelisa Selimbašić
Adelisa Selimbašić, an emerging Bosnian-Italian artist, presents a distinctive perspective on the body, feminine sensuality, and body positivity, challenging conventional beauty standards through a blend of nostalgia, melancholy, and tenderness. Her artistic focus extends to portraying the female body without objectification, aiming to reshape cultural perceptions and representations. While not using her work explicitly for activism, Selimbašić employs her art to narrate stories and reflect on society. Growing up in Bosnia, Selimbašić draws inspiration from her cultural background and the patriarchal norms that impact women. She sees her role as an artist not confined to feminism but as someone seeking to redefine gender identity and challenge the notion of the body as a passive medium shaped by societal expectations. In her own words, “I don’t define myself as a feminist, but rather as an artist who wants to redefine, through painting, with all those acts and attitudes repeated over time that have led us to produce the illusion of a fixed and determined gender identity, and of the body as a passive medium branded by it.” Over the past few years, Selimbašić has actively participated in numerous group exhibitions and held solo exhibitions across Europe. In 2023, she was selected for the Fridman Gallery Artist Residency program in New York. Recently, she completed her second solo exhibition, titled “Perché è così difficile dichiararsi?” at the Ipercubo Gallery in Milan.

*Olivia Erlanger, installation view of “And Now”, Frieze New York, 2019.*

Olivia Erlanger
Olivia Erlanger is a versatile multi-media artist whose work encompasses installation, sculpture, and video, blending elements of surrealism, horror, and humor. Her art delves into the complex and nuanced experience of existence within a context of societal breakdown, addressing various social issues. While her artistic journey gained momentum in 2016 with solo exhibitions at What Pipeline in Detroit and Mathew Gallery in Manhattan, her breakthrough occurred after relocating to Los Angeles in the following year. A notable turning point in Erlanger’s career was her project featuring a ‘mermaid in a laundromat,’ which gained attention and traction, particularly on social media platforms like Instagram. As a writer and author, she drew inspiration from an essay that interprets The Little Mermaid as a feminist metaphor for female hysteria. This project marked a significant chapter in Erlanger’s artistic evolution and contributed to the expansion of her audience. Currently, Erlanger’s work is showcased at the Hauser & Wirth Gallery in Los Angeles as part of the group exhibition “Nonmemory.” Additionally, she is preparing for her first solo exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston titled “If Today Were Tomorrow,” set to open on April 20.

Jake Grewal

Jake Grewal, a rising young talent from the UK, explores the romanticization of the male nude, sentimentality, intimacy, escapism, and grotesque landscapes through the lens of the queer gaze. Central to Grewal's artistic practice is drawing, primarily in charcoal. He deliberately repeats figures and scenes, often employing different mediums and scales until his narratives come to life, seamlessly merging landscape and figure. Since graduating, Grewal has steadily built his career, actively participating in numerous exhibitions, earning art awards, and seeing his work become part of several public collections, including prestigious institutions like the Fitzwilliam Museum, the British Museum, and the Royal Collection. His dedication to exploring the intersection of narrative, landscape, and figure has earned him recognition within the art community. Grewal's second solo exhibition, titled "Some days I feel more alive," is currently open to the public until April 21 at the Pallant House Gallery.

Paloma Contreras Lomas

Paloma Contreras Lomas, a mixed-media artist from Mexico, brings a distinctive and thought-provoking approach to addressing significant social issues. Her work delves into topics such as gender, violence, political inheritance and structure, class segregation, and post-colonialism—issues that are often unexplored or under-addressed in Mexican society. Contreras employs satire and humor as powerful tools to shed light on these weighty subjects. Her creative expression spans a wide range of mediums, including drawing, sculpture, installation, performance, and writing. From the start of her career, Contreras has actively contributed to numerous projects, earning several grants and prizes along the way. Her artistic journey led her to a residency at Lille 3000 Eldorado in Lille, providing her with a platform to further develop her unique perspective. She has exhibited her work on a global scale, and in recent years, her art has found a place in both public and private collections, showcasing the growing recognition and appreciation for her contributions. These collections include prestigious institutions such as the Tamayo Museum, CIFO, Estrellita B. Brodsky Collection, Fundación M, KADIST, Phillips/Yuyito, and the Seattle Art Museum.

Ken Nwadiogbu

Ken Nwadiogbu, a recent graduate from the Royal College of Art, is a Nigerian-born, London-based multidisciplinary artist whose artistic career is on a trajectory of continuous growth. With a focus on hyper-realism and contemporary art, Nwadiogbu's work delves into socio-political issues both within his immediate surroundings and on a global scale. Themes such as gender equality, African cultures, global politics, and Black power are central to his artistic exploration. Nwadiogbu's talent has been recognized with several outstanding awards, highlighting the impact of his work in the art world. His career has been marked by unique collaborations and projects, including a notable collaboration with GANT for a limited edition jacket. He also played a significant role in a Netflix-commissioned exhibition for the TV series "Top Boy." Currently, he is working on a new series of special projects that aim to redefine and push the boundaries of his artistic practice and contemporary art.

LaToya Hobbs

LaToya Hobbs stands out as the sole printmaker on this list. Her work primarily revolves around large-scale portraits that delve into the intricate identities of women within the African Diaspora. Through her art, she celebrates beauty, womanhood, motherhood, and sisterhood. Hobbs employs figurative imagery to foster meaningful dialogue about the Black female body, striving to present a more balanced perception of womanhood while actively dismantling stereotypes. Hobbs's artistic prowess has been showcased in numerous national and international venues, earning her several prizes and grants along the way. Her work has found a home in both private and public collections, including esteemed institutions such as the Harvard Art Museum, the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art, the National Art Gallery of Namibia, the Getty Research Institute, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Additionally, she is a founding member of Black Women of Print, a collective with the mission to bring visibility to the narratives and works of Black women printmakers, both past and present. Currently, she is preparing for her solo exhibition titled "Carving a New Tradition" at the First Art Museum, Gordon Contemporary Artists Project Gallery in Nashville, scheduled to open on January 26.

Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley

Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley is a multi-talented artist who has captured public attention with her unique and impactful work. Her artistic practice spans across various mediums, including animation, sound, video game development, and performance. Brathwaite-Shirley specializes in creating interactive spaces that document the lives of Black and trans individuals, examining the historical and contemporary hardships, violence, and segregation faced by these communities. Motivated by a desire to counteract the erasure of Black and trans people from history, Brathwaite-Shirley sees her role as an artist as a means to record, archive, and remember the experiences of the Black trans community. Her work serves as a testament to the resilience and rich history of these communities. Active in various exhibitions, performances, projects, and festivals, Brathwaite-Shirley often centers her work around the LGBTQAI+ community while also engaging with broader themes. Notably, on Halloween 2023, she completed the development of her new game, titled "I CAN'T FOLLOW YOU ANYMORE," which is available to play online; it is a video game that delves into themes of radicalism, false leadership, revolutionaries, and the idea that anyone, inadvertently, can become the aggressor.

WangShui

WangShui is a multi-media artist whose diverse portfolio spans film, installation, painting, and sculpture. Their work intricately weaves together elements of nature and technology, human and machine, while exploring divergent structures of perception. Initially trained as a video artist, WangShui has shifted towards painting and installation in recent years, aiming to engage with moving images in a more visceral, sculptural manner. This artistic evolution eventually led them to the realm of artificial intelligence, becoming the central focus of their most recent works. In a fascinating approach, WangShui employs AI by training it with their past work, generating new images that, in turn, inspire new handcrafted works. Notably, their paintings are created on aluminum sheets using rags and scratching techniques. What adds an intriguing dimension to their art is its responsiveness to the carbon dioxide levels of museum visitors, resulting in dynamic and ever-changing visual experiences. WangShui's artistic contributions extend across group exhibitions and solo shows held worldwide. Their work is currently featured in prestigious institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and Haus der Kunst in Munich.

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