Emerging Artists

Art collectors interested in learning about today’s top emerging artists can find everything they need right here. These hot, new emerging artists encompass a wide variety of styles and genres, including plein-air painting, landscapes, still lifes, wildlife, western paintings, and more. Many of these emerging contemporary artists have won awards in highly respected art competitions. You’ll also learn about the many galleries for emerging artists—a great source for purchasing artworks by these rising stars.

Jody Ahrens, Sky Peeking Thru, oil, 14 x 18.

Artists to Watch | Jody Ahrens

Landscape painter Jody Ahrens approaches everything she does with an intense curiosity and a boundless sense of possibility fueled by one compelling question. “I play the ‘what if?’ game a lot; it’s one of the most important phrases I use,” she says—and one that makes all the difference in her edgy...

Richard Rodriguez, Prairie Gold, oil, 8 x 16.

Artists to Watch | Richard Rodriguez

Richard Rodriguez revels in the fleeting beauty of the overlooked that delivers unexpected grace to the everyday. And he wants you to experience that, too. The native Coloradan infuses contemporary scenes—dilapidated machinery, grazing buffalo, rural homesteads, resting cattle—with a timeless aura through his soulfully lined and layered interpretations.
Luke Anderson, Terroir, oil, 24 x 24.

Artists to Watch | Luke Anderson

When things finally click into place, a whole new world can open up, as western landscape artist Luke Anderson can attest. “I didn’t realize the impact that growing up in Cheyenne, WY, and road tripping around the West had on me,” he reveals.
Yong Hong Zhong, Springtime at Johan Vineyards, watercolor, 9 x 12.

Artists to Watch | Yong Hong Zhong

Draftsmanship, color, and composition meet heartfelt expressive storytelling in the masterful brushwork of watercolorist Yong Hong Zhong. The Pacific Northwest artist comes by this power combination of elements and emotion honestly, having spent years in the animation industry.
Jessie Rasche, Green Farm, oil, 11 x 14.

Artists to Watch | Jessie Rasche

South Dakota artist Jessie Rasche’s beloved subjects—the landscape, animals, and people of the Midwest—could appear pedestrian under another’s hand. Rasche, however, skillfully infuses them with a sense of connection between people and the land, between animals, and between individuals. Her abstract brushwork and harmonious limited palette calm the weary soul.
Brandon Bailey, Spring Thunder, oil, 12 x 24.

Artists to Watch | Brandon Bailey

“It’s a surreal experience that hasn’t really hit home yet,” says Brandon Bailey about his recent induction into the esteemed Cowboy Artists of America organization. Bailey’s success story is firmly rooted in his love of the West and his desire to express it.
Priya Ahlawat, Early Morning at Café Américain, Amsterdam, oil, 21 x 14.

Artists to Watch | Priya Ahlawat

Priya Ahlawat’s thirst for knowledge and her extensive travels throughout Europe, North America, and Asia from a young age provide the well-heeled foundation from which her current paintings—moody, dimly lit interiors of historic cafés—are inspired and created.
Chris Manwaring, The Reminder, oil, 26 x 21.

Artists to Watch | Chris Manwaring

Chris Manwaring approaches his expressive paintings with boundless curiosity and a fascination for the unknown. The Utah artist experiments with light, color, and brush strokes to showcase landscapes, wildlife, portraits, and figures.