The future is fabulous: Four queer artists to watch in 2025

Art has always been a medium for self-expression, resistance, or revolt, and queer artists continue to be at the forefront of these cultural conversations. As we move into 2025, the art world is witnessing an exciting surge of queer talent reshaping how we perceive identity, intimacy, and the human experience. Here are four queer artists whose bold and boundary-pushing works deserve your attention.

Gori Mora

Gori Mora, a Mallorcan-born, Glasgow-based artist, captivates audiences with surreal and profoundly emotive works that explore the complexities of gender, sexuality, and self-perception. Set within intimate, domestic interiors, his compositions often center on Odalisque-like figures, rendered with a flattened aesthetic and imbued with rich symbolism. These include evocative elements such as pieces of fruit, undergarments, constellations, and astrological motifs, each adding layers of meaning to the narratives they construct.

Predominantly set under the cloak of night, Mora’s works exude an air of mystery and romantic intrigue. Drawing inspiration from Leonora Carrington and Philip Guston, Mora’s art seamlessly bridges the dreamlike with the personal. Mora’s forthcoming exhibition projects promise to delve even deeper into these themes, further solidifying his position as a rising star in the contemporary art world.

Carlos Enfedaque

Carlos Enfedaque, a Zaragoza-born, Berlin-based artist, has garnered attention for his oils on linen. Specialising in human figures and portraits, his work delves into the ambiguity of identity, playfully challenging the viewer's perception and inviting reinterpretation. Enfedaque approaches painting as an impulsive and intuitive process, resulting in works that are deeply expressive and immediately impactful.

Unflinching in his portrayal of queer intimacy, Enfedaque’s figures inhabit richly atmospheric scenes, illuminated by a camp yet moody interplay of light and shadow. This distinctive ambience draws viewers into warm, sensual worlds that pulse with both allure and emotional depth. With his bold aesthetic and evocative narratives, Enfedaque is poised to make a significant impact in 2025, Enfedaque is set to leave a notable mark in 2025, solidifying his place as a standout voice in contemporary art.

Brogan Bertie

Brogan Bertie, a Margate-based artist, is an openly queer trans man who has spoken openly about how his gender transition has profoundly shaped his artistic journey. Embracing his identity has deepened his connection to his creative practice, allowing him to infuse his work with greater authenticity and emotional depth.

Celebrated for his dynamic painting style, Brogan works directly from life, bringing energy and vitality to his portraits. His art captures the nuances of human connection with honesty and tenderness, crafting vivid representations that go beyond surface appearances. As the 2024 winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, Brogan is widely regarded as one of the most exciting emerging talents in contemporary portraiture.

Emma Fineman

Emma Fineman, a California native, now London-based, creates art that is deeply informed by her innate sense of curiosity and queer identity. Her work explores the narratives that shape human experience, drawing from sources as varied as religion, mythology, cosmology, and politics. Through her art, she examines what it means to navigate the complexities of living in a queer body in contemporary society, offering reflections that are both personal and universal.

Working across mediums, including painting, drawing, monoprint, and cast bronze sculpture, Fineman’s practice thrives at the intersection of representation and abstraction. Her recurring use of symbols, spectral figures, and layered imagery evokes a liminal world, one that exists just beneath the surface of everyday perception. Through these elements, she invites viewers to question and reinterpret the realities they take for granted.

Gori Mora, Carlos Enfedaque, Brogan Bertie, and Emma Fineman exemplify the diversity of queer creativity in 2025, showcasing a rich tapestry of perspectives that challenge conventions and celebrate individuality. Their work serves as a testament to the transformative power of art, reminding us that the future is not only bold and boundary-breaking but unapologetically queer.