What, or who, is an "emerging" artist? Do they, as the phrase suggests, "emerge" from the sea like Athena, fully grown and armored, ready to fight their way up the proverbial mountain? Or do they simply emerge from the ether, mysterious strangers without a past, a glorious future just within reach of their paintbrush-wielding fingertips?
In the art world, "emerging" is a slippery label that defies easy categorization, both a blessing and a curse to the artists falling under its umbrella. Originally meant to describe artists at the early stages of their careers, the term has evolved into a complex tableau of aspirations, identities, and economic realities, each layer revealing more about the culture that produces it. At its core, "emerging" evokes an image of freshness—new ideas and uncharted territories, promising to rattle cages and ruffle feathers.. Yet this promise is intertwined with a tangle of expectations that can skew perceptions in an age defined by capitalism and commercialization. What was once a straightforward label has evolved into a battleground where galleries, institutions, and art critics vie for dominance, often reducing an artist's work to mere market dynamics and industry buzzwords. In this light, the term doesn't merely suggest a transient phase for the artist; it poses philosophical questions about value, identity, and the very nature of art itself.
This designation suggests a linear trajectory, where an emerging artist is expected to ascend into "mid-career" and "established" status. While some artists may benefit from this categorization, the label is a double-edged sword, promoting a narrative of constant progression that sidelines those who resist it. Some artists may find themselves "emerging" in unexpected ways, building legacies that transcend commercial boundaries. Ultimately, the term encourages us to reconsider our role in the oppressive structures of the art world, questioning how we define artists and support their work without extinguishing their spark. A more nuanced understanding of "emerging" enriches our appreciation of the artist as an agent of change, even chaos, inviting us to embrace the unknown and unquantifiable—elements that lie at the heart of art itself. To emerge is not just to rise or climb the ladder but to transform and redefine creation—and destruction—itself.
Scroll through to read about the artists in Ones to Watch, then visit the exhibition via the button below.
Christine Garvey
Christine Garvey is an Austin-based, multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the complexities of motherhood and the concept of ruin. Drawing inspiration from classical painting, particularly the works of Artemisia Gentileschi and Parmigianino, Christine reinterprets themes of femininity and the transformative experience of motherhood. Her illustrative drawings explore the raw emotions associated with maternal love, capturing both its violence and tenderness.
Her frantic mark-making flutters across the paper like an anxious heart torn between powerful, conflicting emotions. Raw, broken bodies floating through fields of scribbled color illustrate the primal pain and messy beauty of giving birth, raising children, and loving them as they grow. With a keen interest in the "monstrous" aspects of motherhood, Christine embraces the unusual power that emerges when women confront their most intense emotions. Her work offers a modern lens on historical narratives, inviting viewers to grapple with the complexities of mothering in a dynamic and relatable way.
Isabel Lu
Isabel Lu, MPH, RD, is a Chinese American visual artist and health equity researcher based in North Carolina. With a background in nutritional science from Cornell University and public health from UNC Chapel Hill, Isabel's work bridges the gap between art and research. Their vibrant, large-scale paintings explore themes of fluidity, transformation, and self-exploration, often integrating concepts from both Western and Chinese medicine. Using personal experience and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a framework, Isabel reflects on well-being, asexuality, and the intricate relationships between body and community. Their art serves as a platform for storytelling within the queer Asian American community, using food as a symbol of wellness and identity. Through vivid colors and layered brushwork, Isabel aims to contribute to the ongoing narrative of redefining culture and health in the South.
Jacquelin Nagel
Jacquelin Nagel is a California-based artist renowned for her evocative figurative paintings that explore the theme of growth. With a focus on the duality of beauty and discomfort in personal development, her work serves as a visual diary of her subconscious. "I consider my subconscious an uncontrollable living liquid, leaking out little bits of visual information when I least expect it," she explains. "I chase these intuitive images as they spiral into a strong compulsion to create." Often using herself as a model, Nagel creates striking images that blur the line between reality and imagination, inviting viewers to question their perceptions. Her signature glazing technique imbues her pieces with a lush, moody glow, inviting viewers into a transcendent landscape rich in emotion.
Josh Urban Davis
Josh Urban Davis is a Texas-born designer and engineer based in Oakland, CA, whose innovative work revolves around generative design, communication support tools, and inclusive technologies. With a keen interest in the intersection of art and technology, Josh recently completed The Deleted World, an ambitious three-year project that culminated in a fully functional tarot deck with over 80 illustrations. Created with a mix of technologies, handwritten codes, reduced resolutions, and hand-collaged elements—and absolutely no AI—The Deleted World marries classic occult iconography with computational aesthetics and a healthy dose of surrealism. His work reflects a personal journey of self-discovery, challenging traditional spiritual narratives and exploring the complexities of identity in a digital age. As a queer creator, Josh seeks to fill the void left by organized religion with something deeply personal, inviting others to navigate their own liminal spaces of being through art.
Laura Cañas
Laura Cañas is an artist and journalist based in Austin, TX, originally from Medellín, Colombia. With a degree in social communication and journalism, Laura is a self-taught artist who actively participates in various artist collectives. Her work merges art and journalism, utilizing mediums such as linoleum, comics, etching, and digital illustration to explore themes of femininity, gender violence, resilience, and the interconnectedness of nature. Her perspective as a Latina woman significantly shapes her creative expression as she engages with issues surrounding decolonization and alternative economies. One of her notable projects, Máscaras, features eleven prints that narrate the complex relationships between femininity, gender violence, and the realities of Colombian society.
Madeline Brice
Madeline Brice is a multidisciplinary artist based in Missouri, known for her unique exploration of perception and narrative through visual art. Diagnosed with a visual perception disorder that renders the world "dreamlike and delusive," Madeline delves into the complexities of how distorted perceptions shape our sense of self and influence behavior. Her works, characterized by warped perspectives and unresolved narratives, challenge viewers to confront their cognitive dissonance. By intertwining fragments of stories with themes of reality and illusion, Madeline's art invites a deeper understanding of the interplay between thought and action. Through her innovative techniques, she captures the ambiguity of human experience, highlighting the relationship between our perceptions and the truths they obscure. Madeline Brice's evocative creations serve as a profound commentary on the nature of reality, encouraging introspection and conversation about the narratives we construct.
Madeline Maser
Madeline Maser is an "intuitive surrealist" whose work delves into the depths of the psyche and the collective consciousness. Using automatic drawing and a free-associative creative process, she begins with spontaneous lines and gestures that evolve into chaotic explosions of subconscious thought when released into the physical realm. This raw exploration captures hidden self-reflections and transforms them into tangible expressions, revealing insights into the human experience and the absurdity of existence. Madeline's work combines abstract lines, hand-drawn textures, and rich colors to break down the complexities of living forms, offering a metaphysical lens on our mortal coils. With a background that spans teaching, advertising, and art direction, Madeline works as an art consultant in Scottsdale while co-managing a creative studio in Phoenix.
Rylee Nelson
Rylee Nelson is a multidisciplinary artist based in Utah, known for her evocative paintings and photography that explore themes of isolation and memory. She earned her BFA in December 2024 after growing up in the quiet landscapes of rural Montana and Idaho, where her experiences of solitude profoundly shaped her artistic voice. Rylee's work often draws inspiration from her childhood homes, expressing emotions tied to longing, mortality, and the passage of time. She often incorporates symbols, such as birds, into her pieces to reflect personal narratives and connections to her past. Through her artistic practice, Rylee seeks to recreate the atmosphere of her isolated environments, creating a space where she can navigate and articulate her feelings about home and identity. Her distinctive approach invites viewers to engage with the complexities of memory and the human experience.
Santina Amato
Santina Amato is an Australian artist based in the US, known for her innovative explorations of the female body through sculpture, video, photography, and live performance. Born in Melbourne to Italian immigrants, Santina's artistic journey began in her childhood kitchen, where she learned the intricacies of domestic labor from her mother. Her work often incorporates materials like bread dough and used bed sheets, transforming them into poignant reflections on desire, intimacy, and the societal expectations placed on women. After earning her degree in Chicago, she created the ongoing series Portraits of Women With Their Weight in Dough, which captures the visceral experience of women's labor and identity. After a brief hiatus during the pandemic, Santina continues to engage audiences with her unique approach to art and domesticity.
This feature has been edited for length and clarity. All photos published with permission of the artist(s); featured graphics for Ones to Watch by David Schwartz.