Ultra-contemporary 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.