10 Up-and-Coming Painters Born in the 2000s Who Deserve Your Attention

10 Up-and-Coming Painters Born in the 2000s Who Deserve Your Attention

s a collective, Generation Z appears to be profoundly fatigued by the state of the world. Amidst the aftermath of events like Trump, Brexit, COVID-19, the escalating climate crisis, and widespread political turmoil, young individuals frequently seek stability and boldly express their personal beliefs and ideals.

Yet, what implications does this hold for the future of contemporary art, particularly within the realm of painting? As artists born from the year 2000 onward gradually garner recognition within both institutional and market spheres, certain trends come into focus. In many instances, the creative practices of these young artists turn inward, delving into their own lives, identities, and experiences, all while endeavoring to find their place within an unpredictable and occasionally daunting world. Numerous artists make explicit statements concerning the importance of collective empathy, urgent action on climate issues, and a fresh comprehension of gender and racial encounters.

Alejandra Moros, Bobbi Essers, and Chiderah Bosah, for instance, focus on their own friends and family members as subjects of their artistic endeavors. Meanwhile, others emphasize the body as a central theme: Elsa Rouy, Emil Urbanek, and Vanessa Liem offer poignant and intense portrayals of bodies that often defy societal norms. These artists also explore alternate futures and revisit cultural heritages, venturing into the realm of the surreal. Much like their contemporaries, they are unearthing pathways to belonging amidst a sense of discontent with the world they find themselves in.

In this feature, we introduce 10 painters from Generation Z who are carving out a reputation for themselves, despite the challenges that abound.

Michael Sherman: Embracing Art's Stories and Histories in His Collection

Film producer Michael Sherman considers his art collection a family endeavor, shaping his sanctuary where joy and stories intertwine. For Sherman, learning about an artist’s history and meeting them in person is crucial. He passionately collects based on the artist’s narrative and journey.

One of Sherman’s significant acquisitions is Simone Leigh’s “Meredith” (2020), a powerful sculpture made from stoneware, raffia, and steel. Leigh’s reinterpretation of Edgar Degas’s “Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen” conveys themes of historical and contemporary racism in the U.S.

Sherman’s collection reflects diverse experiences, expressing stories of joy, pain, trauma, and more from different perspectives and angles. Each artwork contributes to the tapestry of his collection’s narrative.

Alejandra Moros

Alejandra Moros approaches portraiture in a distinct and captivating manner. Drawing inspiration from video stills and iPhone snapshots, she creates impactful renditions of magnified body fragments. Often showcasing her circle of friends and family, her artworks distort these figures to the point of abstraction, eschewing intricate backgrounds in favor of an intense, hyperreal proximity.

Moros derives satisfaction from the viewers’ attempts to decipher the depicted body parts, all the while prompting them to question the necessity of such identification. In her view, the bodies captured are dynamic and intricate, defying reduction, and instead serving as representations of the significant individuals in her life. As spectators, we become engrossed in the minutiae, with the larger context left to our imagination.

Moros garnered attention from collectors in 2021, courtesy of a solo showcase of her work at NADA Miami, presented by Dale Zine. Subsequently, she held solo exhibitions at G/ART/EN Gallery in Italy and, more recently, at Spinello Projects in Miami (both in 2023). Her artistry has also graced group exhibitions hosted by esteemed galleries such as Roberts Projects and Amanita in Los Angeles, in addition to galleries in New York, Miami, and Shanghai. Having just concluded a residency at PM/AM, she is on the verge of unveiling her inaugural solo exhibition in London, in collaboration with the gallery.

Mark Hilbert: A Collector's Quest for Beauty and Narrative

Bobbi Essers’ paintings capture the intensity and weight of adolescent relationships. Her art is rooted in candid snapshots of her close-knit circle of queer friends, taken surreptitiously during their youth. Caught in the sudden burst of a camera flash, her subjects lay themselves bare, emanating an assured yet innocent demeanor.

Through the art of collage, Essers assembles these images into a final composition that allows multiple moments of emotional resonance to coalesce. The boundaries between the images in each piece appear disjointed, with limbs extending from one frame to the next. This interconnectedness serves as a testament to the unbreakable bonds shared by those portrayed; the canvas itself seems almost too small to contain the profundity of their connections.

In the past year, Essers has garnered substantial recognition, showcasing her individual exhibitions at Allard Wildenberg Projects in the Netherlands, Oever Gallery in Belgium, and through an online presentation with Unit London. Simultaneously, her creations have adorned group exhibitions at venues like Marian Cramer Projects in Los Angeles, Better Go South in Berlin, and Gallery Stigter Van Doesburg in Amsterdam, among others. Looking ahead to 2024, her work is poised to grace the halls of an institution for the first time, as part of a group exhibition at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Chiderah Bosah

Chiderah Bosah, a self-taught figurative artist, has made a significant mark on his home continent through his extensive exhibitions. His artistic journey has also graced the prestigious 1-54 Art Fair in both its Paris and New York editions, along with notable showcases at ARUSHI Gallery in Los Angeles and CFHILL in Stockholm.

His deeply emotive portrait paintings capture individuals or small groups in serene moments of introspection. With a distinct pastel palette and a deliberate absence of intricate backgrounds, Bosah’s artworks exude a deliberate tranquility and understatement. This approach guides the viewer’s complete focus onto the central subject.

As articulated in his artist statement, Bosah’s practice strives to portray “the enduring lives of Africans in the motherland.” Consequently, he places paramount importance on giving voice to individuals, defying the weight of stereotypes, assumptions, or misconceptions that often shroud the lived experiences of Black individuals in Africa.

Drew Dodge: Unveiling Artistic Prowess

Emerging fresh from the Rhode Island School of Design, Drew Dodge has already earned the title of a rising star. His creations have found a place of honor in esteemed collections like the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami and have commanded attention at The Armory Show in New York. Currently aligned with 1969 Gallery in New York, his solo exhibition “Deep Down” premiered earlier this year, sparking fervent interest among collectors. Beyond this, he has presented individual showcases in acclaimed galleries including Steve Turner in Los Angeles and L21 Gallery in Mallorca. He has also contributed to group exhibitions at renowned venues such as Eve Leibe Gallery in London, Galerie Droste in Düsseldorf, and Semiose in Paris.

With his artistic endeavors, Drew Dodge delves into themes of identity, queerness, mortality, and the quest for belonging, unearthing profound queries residing deep within the human psyche. His paintings, in particular, dismantle the conventional boundaries between animals, objects, individuals, and entities, underscoring the interconnectedness of humanity with the natural world. This creative approach gives rise to a universe where coexistence, symbiosis, and hybridization flourish unencumbered.

Recurring throughout his body of work, the skulls hold a multi-faceted symbolism – simultaneously vacant and fierce, embodying both the animal and the human, and existing in a realm between life and death. Within each canvas, these skulls transform into catalysts, portraying the human subject’s antagonist, a harbinger of impending fate, or a reflective surface that compels contemplation on mortality.

Emil Urbanek: Captivating Explorations of Form and Identity

Emil Urbanek weaves a captivating narrative through their evocative paintings, each bearing a resounding and impactful presence. Rooted in figuration, the artist skillfully brings to life enigmatic bodies—transient yet monumental, ancient yet undeniably contemporary. Exploring the intricate dimensions of identity and gender, the individuals that inhabit Urbanek’s canvases defy easy categorization, exuding an introspective weight that envelops the painting, even as they serenely connect with the viewer’s gaze.

Since 2019, Emil Urbanek has embarked on a distinctive artistic journey, honing their skills within the halls of the Berlin University of the Arts. Their previous solo exhibitions graced esteemed venues like Weserhalle in Berlin and Galleria Alessandro Albanese in Milan. Notably, their work shared the spotlight in a dual exhibition alongside Elsa Rouy at EIGEN + ART Lab during Berlin’s 2023 gallery weekend, while also leaving an indelible mark on group exhibitions hosted by renowned galleries such as Bonner Kunstverein in Bonn and Better Go South.

Elsa Rouy: Unconventional Portrayals of the Human Form

Elsa Rouy’s artistry is a captivating fusion of the grotesque and the enthralling, capturing unbridled bodies in their unapologetic splendor. This London-based artist has found a formidable advocate in Guts Gallery, a partnership that has culminated in three striking solo exhibitions. Graduating from Camberwell College of the Arts in 2021, Rouy’s creative footprint has reverberated through an array of prominent group exhibitions across London’s artistic landscape. Her work has graced spaces like Unit London, The Shop at Sadie Coles HQ, and Soho Revue, alongside international showcases at Everyday Gallery in Antwerp, TUESDAY TO FRIDAY in Valencia, and Galerie EIGEN + ART in Berlin.

Within Rouy’s canvases, hedonistic and monstrous figures come to life, often enveloped in bodily fluids—a deliberate rejection of the notion of self as a contained entity. Defying societal expectations of politeness and restraint, she portrays the human body with a striking biological authenticity, directing our gaze towards the intricate realities of the flesh we inhabit. Her figures, transcending conventional gender boundaries, stand as tributes to the imperfect self, inviting viewers into a realm of profound bodily acceptance.

Looking ahead, Elsa Rouy is poised for her debut solo exhibition in the United States, hosted by Steve Turner in Los Angeles next year. This follows her prior engagement at the Future Fair in New York earlier in the current year.

Sonia Jia

Sonia Jia’s artistic expression is rooted in themes of intimacy and vulnerability, drawing inspiration from personal encounters with childhood and experiences of sexual trauma. Her artworks, inherently ethereal and difficult to categorize, emerge from moments of irrationality—those lost seconds spent daydreaming, gazing into emptiness, or even contemplating mortality.

Originally hailing from Ukraine and raised in Hangzhou, China, Jia currently resides in London. She recently completed her Master of Arts degree in painting at the Royal College of Art. Her creative endeavors span both the realms of painting and filmmaking.

For instance, her film “Her Feather, Her Body” (2021) received acclaim through screenings and awards at the Paris Film Festival and the New York International Film Festival. Concurrently, Jia has showcased her paintings in collective exhibitions, gracing the galleries of esteemed institutions across Asia. Her works have also been featured at notable venues including Alice Amati in London, Eve Leibe Gallery in Turin, and ERA Gallery in Milan. Furthermore, her artistic contributions have enriched various art fairs such as MIART and West Bund Art & Design Fair.

Vanessa Liem

At the core of Vanessa Liem’s artistic practice lies the exploration of observation and being observed. Her canvas becomes a stage for figures acutely conscious of their role as subjects, portraying enigmatic women who steadfastly resist objectification. These portrayals showcase bodies with natural curves, freshly shaven skin, pronounced nipples, and almost sardonic gazes—a departure from the conventional depictions found in traditional paintings. Notable examples include “Head in a Shower Head” and “Stranger Danger” (both 2023), where her subjects exude an uncanny smoothness while engrossed in self-perception, creating a distorted reflection of self-observation.

Currently enrolled in the BA painting program at Camberwell College of the Arts, Liem’s artistic trajectory has been on a steady ascent since 2019. In that year, she clinched the gold award in the esteemed UOB Painting of the Year competition’s “Emerging” category. She has previously held two solo exhibitions at Cuturi Gallery in Singapore and also contributed to the National Gallery of Singapore’s 2022 benefit auction, showcasing the breadth of her creative contributions.

Yuma Radné

“Picture yourself galloping on a horse at breakneck speed, watching as the sun dips below the horizon. It’s a sensation of rapid movement, where your heart races almost too swiftly.” This is how Yuma Radné eloquently captures the emotion that propels her to paint her evocative and lyrical figurative artworks, as shared in an interview with Artsy.

Hailing from a lineage of the Buryats, an Indigenous Mongolian group, Radné draws profound inspiration from her heritage. Her creations pay homage to the age-old traditions, rituals, and beliefs of her people, steadfastly avoiding any orientalist misinterpretations. Shifting away from conventional classical training, she embraces a surreal and otherworldly approach to painting. Through her narrative-infused pieces, she breathes fresh life into ancient tales, shedding new light on timeless narratives. Her works weave in creation myths and origin stories, aiming to manifest her unique vision of the world’s essence as an elemental force of creation, giving rise to all things.

Currently pursuing painting studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, Radné has showcased her talents through two solo exhibitions. The first was held at the National Museum of Art of the Republic of Buryatia in 2018, followed by another at Bloom Galerie in Saint-Tropez earlier this year. Later in the year, her American solo debut will take place at Steve Turner in Los Angeles, where her works will also grace the Enter Art Fair in Copenhagen.

10 Up-and-Coming Painters Born in the 2000s Who Deserve Your Attention