Ultra-contemporary artists to watch 2025
In the ever-evolving world of contemporary art, the allure of emerging and ultra-contemporary artists draws both seasoned collectors and newcomers eager to diversify their collections. For many, collecting art is a passion project—a way to support the creative world and fill personal spaces with meaningful works. For others, it’s a more calculated pursuit—an investment in the hope that today’s unknown artists will become tomorrow’s art world giants.
However, buying art for both love and investment requires more than just a well-developed taste or an emotional connection to a piece. It's a strategic move that necessitates understanding an artist's potential and aligning that with both the current market and future growth opportunities.
Here’s a guide to help you navigate the world of emerging and ultra-contemporary art, with a particular focus on what to look for when buying as both a passionate collector and a savvy investor.
The Artist’s CV: Education, Residencies, and Exhibitions
Just like in other industries, a strong resume in the art world can offer valuable insights into an artist’s credibility and trajectory. When assessing an emerging artist, it’s important to look at their academic background, residencies, and exhibition history. These elements can shed light on their training, the networks they’ve built, and their ability to gain visibility.
Education: Where the artist has studied can indicate the level of formal training they’ve received. Top art schools like the Royal Academy of Arts in London, École des Beaux-Arts Paris, Academy of Fine Arts Munich, Yale School of Art, or the School of the Art Institute of Chicago often provide rigorous programs and open doors to high-caliber mentors. A degree from a prestigious institution doesn’t guarantee success, but it can signify that an artist has had access to a certain level of expertise, training, and exposure.
Residencies: Artists who have been selected for both renowned and cutting edge residencies (e.g. Dragon Hill Residency, Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Villa Medici, The Cabin LA, Tracey Emin Artist Residency, Palazzo Monti) are typically given the time, space, and resources to develop their practice in a focused way. Residencies not only help to hone an artist's skills, but they also serve as indicators of recognition within the art community. Artists who are awarded prestigious residencies often have an established reputation, and the exposure from such programs can increase their value and visibility in the market.
Exhibitions: Pay attention to both group and solo exhibitions. Group shows, especially those in respected galleries or biennales, allow an artist to gain exposure and to be recognised within the context of the broader art world. Solo exhibitions are often a sign of maturity in an artist’s career and can indicate that they are beginning to carve out a distinct place for themselves. Being invited to exhibit at top-tier galleries is also a strong signal that the artist is garnering interest from professionals who believe in their future.
Galleries and Representation: A Strong Gallery Backing—or the Path to It
The galleries that represent an artist play a crucial role in their career trajectory. If an emerging artist is represented by a high-profile gallery, it is a strong indicator that the artist is recognized by serious players in the market.
However, if the artist isn’t yet represented by a major gallery, take a close look at the galleries they’ve shown with so far. Even if an artist hasn’t yet secured representation, participating in notable group shows or exhibitions at respected, mid-tier galleries can be an excellent sign of potential. Smaller galleries with a reputation for spotting talent can often be stepping stones to wider recognition.
Young Galleries: Shows at regional or younger galleries with emerging artist programs also offer insight into the artist’s trajectory. The artists featured in these spaces are frequently on the radar of high-profile galleries and auction houses, signaling potential for upward movement. Many innovative galleries are focusing on new and up-and-coming artists, creating platforms for fresh voices. These galleries often act as incubators for young talent, offering an alternative, experimental space for artists to grow. Examples include galleries like The Dot Project (London), Amanita (NY), Moskowitz Bayse (LA) New Child Gallery (Brussels) and Tube Culture Hall (Milano.) Supporting these galleries can allow you to get in on the ground floor with artists who are just beginning to make their mark.
Getting to Know the Artists: The Value of Personal Connections
While it’s important to look at an artist’s professional achievements and resume, there’s something deeply rewarding about forming a personal connection with the artist themselves. Many seasoned collectors and investors find value in visiting an artist’s studio, speaking with them about their practice, and witnessing the evolution of their work firsthand. These connections can deepen your understanding of the artist’s creative journey, making the process of buying art more meaningful.
In addition, connecting with an artist early in their career—before they gain widespread fame—can be especially rewarding. You might have the opportunity to acquire works at accessible price points while also developing a relationship with someone whose work you believe in. As the artist’s career progresses, your understanding of their work and your personal relationship may offer additional insights that guide your collecting decisions.
Trust Your Advisor: Building these connections isn’t always something you can do alone, especially as the art world grows increasingly complex and wide. This is where your trusted advisor comes in. Advisors with established relationships with artists, galleries, and curators can offer invaluable guidance. These professionals may have access to off-market works or early insights into an artist’s career trajectory. Their regular interactions with artists and galleries allow them to stay informed about the latest trends and developments, helping you make more informed decisions. When working with an advisor, trust their experience in navigating these relationships and rely on their network to provide you with opportunities that may not be immediately visible through more traditional channels.
Market Trends: Assessing the Artist’s Current and Potential Market Value
Buying art as an investment requires a keen eye for current trends and the potential for growth. Understanding the market is key to making a smart investment. Some indicators of an artist’s market value include:
Sales History: For artists just starting to break out, it’s important to follow their sales trajectory. Even if an artist is not yet at the level of auction houses like Sotheby’s or Christie’s, their works may be selling at smaller galleries or through private sales. Tracking the price increases over time can give you an idea of how their value is growing.
Demand and Attention: The number of press features, critical reviews, and art world discussions around an artist can provide clues to their market potential. Artists featured in major publications, gaining attention from influential curators, or receiving awards from key institutions often show signs of future market success.
Art Fairs and Biennales: Emerging artists who are invited to participate in international art fairs and biennales often gain both local and global visibility. These events are important because they attract collectors, curators, and critics who can help amplify an artist’s career and market value.
Young Curators: The Eyes on the Future of Art
Just as young galleries are breeding grounds for new talent, young curators play a vital role in shaping the contemporary art landscape. Many curators of emerging talent are redefining how and where we encounter art, identifying hidden gems that are ripe for discovery. They often act as talent scouts, organizing exhibitions that push boundaries and champion lesser-known artists.
As a collector, watching the work of emerging curators can be as valuable as watching emerging artists themselves. Curators at major museums, smaller alternative spaces, or art fairs are often the first to recognize the potential of an artist before they hit the mainstream. Staying connected to their exhibitions and projects can provide insights into the next wave of talent and opportunities to collect works that may appreciate in value over time.
Buy for the Love, but Think Long-Term
While it’s tempting to make a purely financial decision when buying art, the best approach is to blend passion with strategic thinking. Buying art because you genuinely love it—and not just because it’s an “investment”—often leads to a more meaningful and fulfilling experience. The art you live with every day can offer deep personal satisfaction that is not necessarily tied to market fluctuations.
However, it’s equally important to keep in mind the potential for long-term value. Emerging artists may experience periods of growth and success, but their market position is rarely guaranteed. Keeping an open mind about the value of the work you acquire, and managing expectations in terms of investment returns, is vital to being a successful collector.
A Great Market for First-Time Collectors
The world of emerging and ultra-contemporary art offers unique opportunities for first-time collectors. Compared to established artists with years of market history, emerging artists present a more accessible price point and an exciting chance to shape your collection with works that have the potential to increase in value.
The market for contemporary art is diversifying with the rise of digital platforms, art fairs, and online galleries. For first-time buyers, this means you don’t necessarily have to rely on traditional gallery spaces to acquire works. Online platforms that track the buying and selling of art, like the one mentioned in your article, allow collectors to see trends, manage their collection as an asset, and leverage a points-based system akin to stock investments. The ability to monitor the value of art pieces, track their appreciation over time, and make informed decisions based on market intelligence is a powerful tool for any collector.
Conclusion: Striking the Right Balance
Emerging and ultra-contemporary art is an exciting and dynamic market, blending passion with the potential for long-term investment. By focusing on the artist’s CV, examining their market visibility, understanding trends, and balancing love with smart decisions, you can build a collection that is both personally meaningful and financially sound.
In a market that can often feel oversaturated and overwhelming, Artscapy is here to help you decipher and understand market trends, as well as identify quality work that aligns with your collecting goals. With the right tools and insights, we empower collectors to make informed choices, ensuring that your collection not only resonates on a personal level but also has the potential to thrive in value over time.
Featured Artists to Watch:
This month, we feature five international artists whose work exemplifies the thriving potential of emerging talent. Investing in their work today not only supports innovative creativity but also lays the groundwork for a collection that may grow in value over time.
Danny Avidan (b. 1989, Kingston, Jamaica)
Danny Avidan is a painter whose work explores the tension between form and formlessness, using expressive gestures to shape figures that emerge and dissolve within textured compositions. His study of mythology and comparative religion deeply influences his practice, where expressive gestures continuously attempt to shape solid figures. These emerge and dissolve back into their surroundings acting as a self-portrait—reflecting the artist’s own actions. Avidan has exhibited internationally, with solo exhibitions including The Tragedy of Acis and Galatea at Tube Culture Hall, Milan (2022). His work has been included in group exhibitions such as The Contours of Otherness at Museo Ebraico di Venezia, Venice (2024), Feria Material with Andrea Festa Fine Art, Mexico City (2022), and Roma Arte in Nuvola with Andrea Festa Fine Art, Rome (2021). He currently lives and works between Montolieu, France, and Fano, Italy.
Sam Chatto (b. 1996, London, UK)
Sam Chatto is a ceramic artist with a practice deeply influenced by the cultural exchange between Britain and Japan. Fascinated by the work of Bernard Leech and Shōji Hamada, he explores the traditions of studio pottery and the significance of the tea vessel. Chatto views the cup as an intimate object that requires a perfect balance of weight, delicacy, and form—elements that inform his broader experimental approach to ceramics. His work involves intricate, semi-organic forms that push the boundaries of material conventions, crafted with a high level of precision and technical skill. He began his practice in 2018, studying at North Shore Pottery in Scotland before undertaking an apprenticeship with Yagi Akira in Kyoto, Japan (2023). He has completed residencies with Make Hauser & Wirth, Scotland (2022) and Sokyo Gallery, Kyoto (2024). His recent exhibitions include Hot Water for Tea at Make Hauser & Wirth, Somerset (2024), Ceramic Brussels (2025), Crosscurrents London | Armenia at Redfern Gallery, London (2024), and Objects of Contemplation at Make Hauser & Wirth, Somerset (2024). His work is held in several private collections. Chatto continues to explore the boundaries of porcelain, currently living and working in West Sussex, UK.
Gal Schindler (b. 1995, Tel Aviv, Israel)
Gal Schindler is a London-based painter whose ethereal compositions explore memory and perception through abstraction and figuration.Schindler’s paintings are defined by their subtle elegance, attentiveness to line, form, and colour, and an exploration of feminine power. Her figures, often appearing as delicate outlines, evoke a profound emotional depth. She studied at The Slade School of Fine Art and received her MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art. Her solo exhibitions include Living Mirrors at James Fuentes, New York (2022), Razor Wave at Ginny on Frederick, London (2022), and Wishing Well at Ginny on Frederick, London (2024). Schindler has participated in notable group exhibitions such as Sotheby’s London x BFAMI Auction (2024), Felix Art Fair with Ginny on Frederick, Los Angeles (2024), Reading Stones at Linseed Projects, Shanghai (2023), and Soft Touch at Sultana Summer Set, Arles (2023). Schindler was shortlisted for the Max Werner Drawing Prize in 2018, and her work is included in The Perimeter Collection, London.
Alexander Mignot (b. 1987, Montreal, Canada)
Alexander Mignot is a self-taught painter whose work is rooted in his deep connection to the ocean. Raised on Margarita Island, he spent years sailing the Caribbean before settling in Lisbon. His first solo exhibition debuted in Miami (2017), followed by El Regreso al Mar at ArtRoom, Lisbon (2023), Guacuco at Black Gallery, Antwerp (2023), and Momento at Valli Art Gallery & Toys for Boys, Miami (2019). His group exhibitions include Maybe Yes, Maybe No at Black Gallery, Antwerp (2024), Snowbirds at Katia David Rosenthal Gallery, Miami (2024), Fundacion Arte Vivo at Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Mexico (2023), and Muse at Black Gallery, Antwerp (2023). His work continues to explore themes of movement, identity and his relationship with the ocean. This includes his signature Surfer Magazine covers which have become popular among a strong group of international collectors, but also his exploration with abstract works and “Las Velas del Mar” installations. The works featured for Artscapy were on the cover of Architectural Digest in June 2023.
Eleanor Ekserdjian (b. 1996, UK)
Eleanor Ekserdjian is a painter and film artist whose practice blends moving images with rapid mark-making. This process results in abstract works that blend fluid motion with striking precision, capturing both a sense of calm and dynamic movement. Her paintings and drawings evolve into lyrical landscapes that explore shifting emotional responses to film, creating a visual dialogue between stillness and motion. She studied Fine Art at The University of Edinburgh and later attended the Royal Drawing School. Her solo exhibitions include Interwoven at Messums London (2025) and Light Pictures at Seen Fifteen Gallery, London (2023). Group exhibitions include Crosscurrents Armenia/London at Redfern Gallery, London (2024), Imagined Landscapes at Yerevan Im Ser Foundation, Armenia (2022), Light and Line at Gallery 286, London (2021), and Emergence at AMP Gallery, London (2022). She has completed residencies with Hauser & Wirth, Braemar (2024), Sokyo Gallery, Kyoto (2024), and Yerevan Im Ser Foundation, Armenia (2022).
Hayley Axelrad (b. 1995, Toronto, Canada)
Hayley Axelrad is a Toronto-based painter whose irreverent style connects deeply with nostalgia, merging bold, figurative elements with a highly refined training in realist painting. Her works balance humor and sentimentality, using vibrant colors and striking compositions to explore themes of identity, memory, and contemporary culture. Her distinct visual language has made her a favorite among collectors in Los Angeles. Axelrad studied History of Art at McGill University (2013–2017) before attending the Academy of Realist Art, Toronto (2021-2023). Axelrad has exhibited widely across North America, with solo exhibitions including Fresh Cut Flowers in Each Room at She Said Gallery, Toronto (2023). She is currently exhibiting in the Annual LA Group Show for the Lobster Club (2025.) Other group exhibitions include No Man’s Land with Tacit Collective x Cry Baby Gallery, Toronto (2024), Winter Parade at Gagne Contemporary, Toronto (2024.) She has participated in fairs such as Scope Miami (2024) and The Artist Project, Toronto (2024) and was an artist-in-residence at Soho House Toronto (2024).
In a market that can often feel oversaturated and overwhelming, Artscapy is here to help you decipher and understand market trends, as well as identify quality work that aligns with your collecting goals. With the right tools and insights, we empower collectors to make informed choices, ensuring that your collection not only resonates on a personal level but also has the potential to thrive in value over time.
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