Today, Artsy has released the names of its 2025 Vanguard artists. This annual feature shines a spotlight on early-career artists who are making waves internationally. The Artsy Vanguard artists for 2025 are Agnes Waruguru, Chris Oh, Emily Kraus, Hettie Inniss, Holly Hendry, Laís Amaral, Melissa Joseph, Moka Lee, Taylor Simmons, and Xin Liu. The list includes artists from across the globe, from Kenyan artist Waruguru to Brazilian abstract painter Amaral. It includes figurative painters like Inniss and Simmons alongside sci-fi artist Liu.
These artists were selected by Artsy’s editorial and curatorial teams, who considered over 500 nominations from galleries this year. Criteria included originality of artistic output, institutional and gallery interest, their digital presence on websites and social media platforms like Instagram, and data-driven insights from Artsy. Selected works by all 10 artists will be featured on a digital billboard in New York’s Times Square until November 3rd.
“Artsy’s 2025 Vanguard includes a diverse and talented group of contemporary artists, spanning geographies, generations, artistic practices, and messages,” Artsy’s director of content, editor-in-chief, and curator-at-large, Casey Lesser. “Each year, The Artsy Vanguard attracts huge interest among collectors, and we look forward to shining a much-deserved spotlight on these standout artists, each of whom we’re honored to celebrate.”
