Rising Stars
Estuary by Zhanna Tsytsyn
Zhanna Tsytsyn in her studio.
to Collect in 2024
For over a decade, Saatchi Art’s annual Rising Stars has been the definitive list of recent art school graduates and up-and-coming artists to invest in now.
This year, our curators found 30 trailblazing emerging artists—many of whom have recently graduated from BFA and MFA programs—who are making some of the most compelling and collectible art today.
Some of these artists are redefining traditional art styles and genres while others are experimenting with bold colors and techniques. Yet, all of them are creating powerful work that will bring you beauty and joy and also have the potential to increase in value over time.
Led by Chief Curator Rebecca Wilson, our curators draw on years of rich experience in the art world to identify recent graduates from the best schools around the world who are on the rise and garnering international acclaim.
Chief Curator and VP, Art Advisory
Led by Chief Curator Rebecca Wilson, our curators draw on years of rich experience in the art world to identify recent graduates from the best schools around the world who are on the rise and garnering international acclaim.
Chief Curator and VP, Art Advisory
Erin Remington
Director of Sales and Curation
Erin Remington
Director of Sales and Curation
Megan Wright
Senior Curator
India Balyejusa
Art Advisory and Curation Supervisor
Siting Wang
Associate Curator
Audrey Wolfe
Associate Curator
The Free Thinkers
These exciting abstract artists transform emotion and experience into shape, color, and texture.
Zhanna Tsytsyn
b. Siberia, 1983
BFA, Portland State University, 2012
Indigenous Siberian artist Zhanna merges themes of identity, introspection, and transformation by weaving together evocative moods and compelling narratives. Her work has been included in exhibitions worldwide and published in the international issue of Create magazine, curated by Cohle Gallery, Paris, France in, 2024.
Margarethe Ucinski
b. Germany, 1985
MA, Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe, Germany, 2015
Berlin-based Margarethe explores the possibilities of the empty canvas by initially disregarding the subject, allowing form to emerge organically from the inherent grid and boundaries of the canvas. Her work has been exhibited at the Kunsthalle Mannheim Museum, Kunstverein Tiergarten Galler in Berlin, and the former Australian Embassy in Berlin.
Gigi Tordecilla
b. United States, 1992
Self-Taught
Gigi’s abstract compositions are an interplay of pattern and texture in various opacities. Her distinct color palette celebrates the push and pull of cool and warm colors. She has started exhibiting in Los Angeles since 2022, including a solo exhibition at BUD.
Noosha Golab
b. Iran, 1995
AA in Jewelry Design, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, 2015
Noosha is an Iranian-born artist whose multifaceted work spans art, illustration, and animation. Her work reflects her thoughts and ideas about the world, blending harmonic and geometric compositions with organic shapes inspired by mid-century architecture, furniture design, graphic art, and the Bauhaus movement.
Gail Winbury
b. United States, 1953
MFA Candidate, Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, Current
Abstract artist Gail Windbury specializes in contemporary oil painting and collage. Her work is held in prominent collections worldwide, including the Copelouzos Museum in Athens and the Atlantic Health Commission in New Jersey. Gail is an MFA candidate at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston.
Janine Saul
b. United Kingdom, 1997
BFA in Textile Design, Chelsea College of Arts UAL London, 2019
Janine, a conceptual textile artist from London, is renowned for her innovative screen-printing techniques that add dimension and texture to fabric through her form-focused, layered creations. Her work was nominated by TED as one of the leading projects in a brief set to explore TED’s 10 Sustainability Design Principles.
Sana Rao
b. India, 1986
MFA in Interaction Design, School of Visual Arts,
New York, 2013
Sana is a contemporary expressionist artist based in London whose work is a personal meditation and response to an increasingly mechanized existence. Her art, deeply influenced by the natural world and expressionist tradition, has been featured in prominent exhibitions, including ‘Abstraction 2024’ at CICA Museum in South Korea and ‘Designing California’ at The Design Museum in London.
Katherine Hunsaker
b. United States, 1996
MFA, Parsons School of Design, 2021
A 2021 graduate of the Parsons School of Design in New York, Katherine creates large-scale paintings that thoughtfully explore themes of memory, identity, and transformation. Her work is distinguished by its expressive, fluid movement and captivating use of vibrant colors.
The Naturalists
Through masterful brushstrokes and vivid imagery, these artists encourage a return to nature.
Kate Keery
b. United States, 1998
Minor in Fine Art, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2020
Kate is a New York-based painter whose tranquil depictions of coastal life recall memories of childhood play. She is currently illustrating an educational children’s book about the yachting industry.
Adam Anglin
b. United States, 1984
Self-Taught
Colorado’s landscapes inspire Adam, who seeks to combine the natural world and geometric design in his paintings. He previously worked as a graphic designer until picking up painting in 2023. Adam was also an Emerging Artist Grant Recipient with the Cherry Creek Arts Festival this year.
Hannah Buchanan
b. Scotland, 1997
BFA, University of Leeds, 2019
Now based in Kent, Hannah captures the English countryside with careful brush strokes and a soft palette, gently reminding the viewer of their responsibility to the planet. Widely exhibited in group exhibitions, Hannah held her first solo exhibition in 2019 at Cole’s Gallery in Leeds.
Nataliia Taranukha
b. Ukraine, 1984
MFA, University of the Arts London, 2011
German-based artist Nataliia finds inspiration from a variety of areas, playfully combining mythical creatures, symbols, text, and mixed media to form her unique artistic language. She has had five solo exhibitions in Ukraine and the UK as well as exhibited widely throughout Europe in group exhibitions.
Olga Krokh
b. Russia, 1981
MFA, St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design, 2004
Through her most recent series, Olga’s paintings start from an architectural perspective where nature mimics the geometry of the built form. Now based in France, Olga’s works are held in collections around the world. She has exhibited in seven solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions.
Satu Laurel
b. Finland, 1983
MA in Cultural Policy and Art Education, University of Jyväskylä, 2011
Satu’s abstract still lifes bridge utopian dreams and reality through narrowing perspectives and shifting positional relationships between objects in her landscapes. She has had numerous solo exhibitions in Finland.
Olivia Rose Durley
b. United Kingdom, 1994 BFA, University of Brighton, 2017
Olivia blurs the lines between photography and painting, capturing the ephemeral beauty of nature. Her work evokes a sense of nostalgia and fleeting moments, encouraging viewers to reflect on the transient nature of time and memory. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and art fairs throughout the UK.
Nikkie le Nobel
b. Netherlands, 1959
BFA, Academie voor Beeldende Vorming, 1987
Nikkie’s paintings center around a mix of flowers and varied surfaces in many layers and angles. Her observational paintings harken back to scientific botanical illustrations. She has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions for the last 30 years.
The Revivalists
From the real to the surreal, these portraitists capture the essence of the human spirit.
Artist Jessie Mahon at her solo show
Mary Hayes
b. United States, 1963 BFA, Concordia University, 1988
Californian-born Mary now lives and works in Montreal. Her paintings shine through with her masterful use of color, figures, and storytelling. Mary has participated in international artist residencies, including the Fundación Valparaíso and Altos de Chavón.
Haejin Yoo
b. South Korea, 1985
Self-Taught
Living and working in Germany, Haejin is a self-taught painter who creates Surrealist expressionist art to evoke past and present emotions. Haejin’s work has received acclaim through various awards, including ‘Top 100 Artists to Watch in 2024, HUG100,’ the 2023 Merit Prize Award from Teravarna, and the Artist Expert Award.
Nikki Pelaez
b. Netherlands, 1959
BFA in Teaching Visual Arts and Art History, Hogeschool Tilburg, 1987
Nikki’s meticulously executed paintings create a dreamy, mysterious world that portrays poetic portraits of women. Nikki’s work has been widely collected internationally, including the corporate collections of Dell Computers, Rabobank, and Scholt Energy Control.
Wenyi Zhu
b. China, 1981
Self-Taught
Based in Texas, Wenyi’s female figures convey serenity and quiet power, projecting the vivid visions of her mind onto the canvas. In 2024, she won “Best Overall Professional Artist” at Art in Bloom.
Dominika Kędzierska
b. Poland, 1996
Self-taught
Dominika’s delicately composed paintings synthesize the beauties of the natural landscape and the female portrait. Since 2019, she has taken part in numerous group and solo exhibitions across Poland.
Jessie Mahon
b. United States, 1993
Self-Taught
Los Angeles-based artist and illustrator Jessie explores portraiture through hands as the body’s connection with the tactile world. She is currently an artist ambassador for the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Emmanuel Afolayan
b. Nigeria, 2001
BFA, Obafemi Awolowo University, 2023
Emmanuel uses the mastery of oil paintings to invite viewers into his world and contemplate the complexities of human emotions. His artwork is collected by both Nigerian and international collectors.
Doina Domenica Cojocaru-Thanasiadis
b. Republic of Moldova, 1994
PhD Candidate in Visual Arts, National University of Arts of Bucharest, Current
UK-based photographer Doina captures moments that call to mind the intimacy of solitude. Her recent series attempts to capture the fluidity and dynamism found in motion within the static medium of photography. Since 2012, she has taken part in ten group and two solo exhibitions.
Sebahattin Yüce
b. Turkey, 1988
Proficiency in Art, Hacettepe University, Turkey, 2023
Sebahattin’s self-referential paintings invite the viewer into a surreal and dreamlike world where the artist explores the complexities of human emotion. He participated in his first solo exhibition in 2023 in Turkey.
Justina Gvé
b. Lithuania, 1990
BA in Fashion Design,
Vilnius Design College, 2015
Justina is a Lithuanian painter who explores human connection through visual storytelling, exploring themes of self-acceptance and identity. Her art examines how the fast-paced modern world, including the pervasive influence of social media, and its impact on our sense of human connection. In 2015, she was the Young Designer’s Prize Nominee.
The Onlookers
Offering a fresh perspective on a classic subject matter, these still life artists celebrate natural and everyday objects as symbols of life’s beauty.
Devon Grimes
b. United States, 1990
BFA, University of Virginia, 2012
Brooklyn-based painter Devon has dabbled in realms of creativity including floral design and installation work. Her work as an artist is deeply inspired and connected to her love of flora. In 2020, Devon’s work was featured in the art collective magazine Gingerzine.
Chao Wang
b. China, 1989
MFA, Pratt Institute, 2020
Drawing inspiration from science fiction and Surrealism, Chao’s paintings explores the interplay and balance between organic and mechanical elements. She has had numerous shows throughout the US.
Heather Kim
b. South Korea, 1974 BFA in Oriental Painting, Seoul National University, 1997
Through natural elements in geometric space, Heather explores the duality of reality and dreams, capturing the enduring struggle and beauty of life. She has shown her work in solo and group exhibitions throughout the US.
Leila Lallali
b. Luxembourg, 1987
Self-Taught
Born in Luxembourg, Leila is a self-taught artist currently based in Berlin, Germany. She playfully transforms everyday subjects like food and fashion, infusing them with whimsical humor. Her work has been included in exhibitions worldwide, including the US, UK, and Luxembourg.