Early Artists

Before the First Museum Wall Text

Early-career contemporary artists we're tracking worldwide — surfaced from MFA degree shows, art school cohorts, project spaces, and first solos at small and local galleries. This is the pipeline the People board draws from, caught years earlier.

100

Artists tracked

Regions

Degree shows watched

The Pipeline — by career stage

Click a stage to filter the grid · earliest → most developed

Where the cohort works

North America

Europe

Global

Latin America

Asia Pacific

Africa

Middle East

Photo Djiby Kebe / Lafayette Anticipations

Pol Taburet

Paris, France · b. 1997

BreakoutPainting

Guadeloupean-French painter whose spectral, Creole-inflected figuration moved from Paris project spaces to institutional walls in under five years.

Program: École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts de Paris-Cergy

Showing at: Balice Hertling, Paris

First noted: Paris gallery circuit

Courtesy David Zwirner

Sasha Gordon

New York, United States · b. 1998

BreakoutPainting

Hyperreal self-portraiture interrogating queer Asian-American identity — one of the fastest institutional pickups of her cohort.

Program: Rhode Island School of Design

Showing at: Stephen Friedman Gallery

First noted: New York emerging-fair sector

Courtesy Thaddaeus Ropac

Rachel Jones

London, United Kingdom · b. 1991

BreakoutPainting

Oil-stick abstractions of mouths and interiority that jumped from RA Schools to blue-chip representation almost immediately — the template for a UK breakout.

Program: Royal Academy Schools

Showing at: Thaddaeus Ropac

First noted: RA Schools show

Courtesy Victoria Miro

Kudzanai-Violet Hwami

London, United Kingdom · b. 1993

BreakoutPainting

Zimbabwe-born painter collaging photographic memory and Black bodies across geographies — Venice visibility before turning thirty.

Program: Royal Academy Schools

Showing at: Victoria Miro

First noted: RA Schools show

Courtesy David Zwirner

Yu Nishimura

Kanagawa, Japan · b. 1982

BreakoutPainting

Blurred, out-of-register paintings of everyday Japanese scenes that spent a decade in Tokyo's small-gallery ecosystem before Western galleries caught on — proof the periphery moves first.

Showing at: KAYOKOYUKI, Tokyo

First noted: Tokyo small-gallery circuit

Courtesy François Ghebaly

Ludovic Nkoth

New York, United States · b. 1994

First SoloPainting

Cameroon-born painter processing migration and Black diasporic memory in saturated acrylic — a residency-to-solo arc watched closely on both coasts.

Program: Hunter College MFA

Showing at: François Ghebaly

First noted: Hunter MFA cohort

Galerie Magazine

Ana Segovia

Mexico City, Mexico · b. 1991

Gallery DebutPainting & video

Repaints golden-age charro cinema to dismantle Mexican machismo — Mexico City's most-discussed young painter of the moment.

Showing at: kurimanzutto

First noted: Mexico City gallery week

Zekarias Thompson

San Francisco, United States · b. 1992

BreakoutVisual Arts

Zekarias Thompson was selected as one of five emerging artists for the 2024-2025 Emerging Artists Program at the Museum of the African Diaspora.

Program: Not specified

Showing at: Museum of the African Diaspora

First noted: 2024

Corinne Smith

San Francisco, United States · b. 1993

BreakoutVisual Arts

Corinne Smith was selected as one of five emerging artists for the 2024-2025 Emerging Artists Program at the Museum of the African Diaspora.

Program: Not specified

Showing at: Museum of the African Diaspora

First noted: 2024

Ross Takahashi

Global, Global · b. 1994

BreakoutPainting

The artist was named a winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 33PA Emerging Artist Award.

Program: Self-taught

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Luna Rodriguez

Mexico City, Mexico · b. 1996

BreakoutCeramic and found objects

The artist was a winner of the 2023 Artadia Award and is slated for an upcoming exhibition at the New Museum Triennial.

Program: Not specified

Showing at: Kurimanzutto

First noted: 2024

Mary Graham

San Francisco, United States · b. 1994

BreakoutVisual Arts

Mary Graham was selected as one of five emerging artists for the 2024-2025 Emerging Artists Program at the Museum of the African Diaspora.

Program: Not specified

Showing at: Museum of the African Diaspora

First noted: 2024

Soleé Darrell

San Francisco, United States · b. 1994

BreakoutVisual Arts

Soleé Darrell was selected as one of five emerging artists for the 2024-2025 Emerging Artists Program at the Museum of the African Diaspora.

Program: Not specified

Showing at: Museum of the African Diaspora

First noted: 2024

Iris Yehong Mao

Los Angeles, United States · b. 1990

BreakoutOil and acrylic painting

The artist was featured as a rising talent in July 2026 following her two-artist exhibition Inner Landscapes at LATITUDE Gallery.

Program: Shanghai University

Showing at: LATITUDE Gallery

First noted: 2026

Nadine Tralala

Global, Global · b. 1993

BreakoutMixed Media

The artist was named a winner of the 2024 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 33PA Emerging Artist Award.

Program: Self-taught

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Amara Okafor

Lagos/London, Nigeria/UK · b. 1995

BreakoutMixed media collage and painting

The artist is scheduled for an upcoming solo exhibition at David Zwirner following a recent group show at the Tate Modern.

Program: Not specified

Showing at: David Zwirner

First noted: 2024

The Here and There Co

Bhasha Chakrabarti

New Haven, United States · b. 1991

Recent GraduatePainting & textile

Weaves painting and mending traditions across Hawai'i, India, and the American South — a Yale thesis-show discovery with genuine cross-continental pull.

Program: Yale School of Art MFA

Showing at: Experimenter, Kolkata

First noted: Yale MFA thesis shows

Varvara Uhlik

London, United Kingdom · b. 1995

BreakoutMixed Media

The artist was selected for the 2026 New Contemporaries exhibition, a leading organization supporting early-career artists in the UK.

Program: Slade School of Fine Art

Showing at: South London Gallery

First noted: 2025

Stafford Smith

Grand Rapids, USA · b. 1994

BreakoutVideo

The artist was named the 2024 Juried Winner for New Media at ArtPrize for his three-channel video work Me So Calgon.

Program: Kendall College of Art and Design

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Chen Wei-Ming

Taipei/Berlin, Taiwan/Germany · b. 1994

BreakoutDigital art and physical installations

The artist recently had his work acquired by the Pompidou Centre and is collaborating with the Marina Abramović Institute.

Program: Not specified

Showing at: Not specified

First noted: 2024

Joseph

New York, United States · b. 1990

BreakoutPainting

Joseph was the subject of the inaugural 2024 Art in Focus exhibition presented by Rockefeller Center and Art Production Fund.

Program: Not specified

Showing at: Not specified

First noted: 2024

Fatima Al-Rashid

Dubai/Berlin, UAE/Germany · b. 1993

BreakoutSand and resin paintings

The artist is a Sharjah Biennial prize winner with an upcoming solo exhibition at the Hamburger Bahnhof.

Program: Not specified

Showing at: Green Art Gallery

First noted: 2024

Courtesy Tiwani Contemporary

Emma Prempeh

London, United Kingdom · b. 1996

Gallery DebutPainting

Paints domestic memory with skins of Dutch metal leaf that oxidize over time — the work literally ages with its subject. First solos sold through quietly.

Program: Goldsmiths BA / RCA

Showing at: Tiwani Contemporary

First noted: London degree-show circuit

Courtesy François Ghebaly

Xie Lei

Paris, France · b. 1983

Gallery DebutPainting

Chinese-born, Paris-trained painter of twilight bodies suspended between tenderness and threat — the Beaux-Arts pipeline's standout of recent seasons.

Program: Beaux-Arts de Paris

Showing at: Semiose, Paris

First noted: Beaux-Arts de Paris Félicités

Galerie Magazine

Daniel Correa Mejía

Berlin, Germany · b. 1986

First SoloPainting

Medellín-born, Berlin-based painter of crimson dreamscapes on jute — a small-format practice that traveled the fair circuit's emerging sectors into serious rooms.

Showing at: Mendes Wood DM

First noted: Emerging fair sectors

Courtesy Pilar Corrias

Sholto Blissett

London, United Kingdom · b. 1996

First SoloPainting

Sublime, architecturally staged landscapes about power and nature — a Peckham gallery discovery whose waiting lists formed before his degree dried.

Showing at: Hannah Barry Gallery

First noted: London degree-show circuit

Jean-Pierre Villafañe

New York, United States · b. 1990

First SoloPainting

The artist made his New York solo debut with the exhibition Playtime at Charles Moffett gallery this summer.

Program: Architecture

Showing at: Charles Moffett

First noted: 2024

Jessica Monette

San Francisco, United States · b. 1995

First SoloInstallation

Jessica Monette was selected as one of five emerging artists for a solo exhibition at the Museum of the African Diaspora titled Unveiling Histories: A Fabricated Archive.

Program: Stanford University

Showing at: Museum of the African Diaspora

First noted: 2024

Jenny Morgan

Brooklyn, United States · b. 1990

First SoloPainting

The artist recently debuted her hallucinatory odalisques in the solo exhibition No Endings for the Wild at Anat Ebgi in New York.

Program: School of Visual Arts

Showing at: Anat Ebgi

First noted: 2024

Anna Samara

New York, United States · b. 1993

First SoloPainting

The artist launched her first solo exhibition, Orion, at Hyacinth Gallery in New York City on June 12, 2026.

Program: Not specified

Showing at: Hyacinth Gallery

First noted: June 2026

The Here and There Co

Yehwan Song

New York, United States · b. 1994

First SoloDigital media

Following the completion of her MFA at Columbia in 2026, Song is presenting a solo exhibition titled The Other Internet at Subtitled NYC.

Program: MFA, Columbia University

Showing at: Subtitled NYC

First noted: Columbia University School of the Arts News

Gabriel Garza

Los Angeles, USA · b. 1995

First SoloPerformance and Installation

Garza presented his solo thesis exhibition, titled 'Arrangements,' at the USC Roski Graduate Gallery in January 2026.

Program: USC Roski School of Art and Design

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Taisha Carrington

New Haven, United States · b. 1996

Recent GraduateSculpture

The artist completed her graduate studies at the Yale School of Art, graduating in May 2026.

Program: Yale School of Art

Showing at: N/A

First noted: Yale School of Art Commencement 2026

Agnes Hong

Los Angeles, USA · b. 1996

Recent GraduatePainting

The artist was featured in a co-curated exhibition at Durden and Ray in 2026.

Program: Otis College of Art and Design MFA

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Olivier Ganthier

Los Angeles, USA · b. 1998

Recent GraduateMixed Media

The artist was featured in coverage regarding his MFA thesis exhibition presented during the 2026 O-Launch Exhibition Weekend.

Program: Otis College of Art and Design MFA

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Maryam Dehbozorgi

Seattle, United States · b. 1995

Recent GraduatePainting

She debuted her first solo exhibition, Fly Between Walls, at Mini Mart City Park in September 2025.

Program: University of Washington MFA

Showing at: Mini Mart City Park

First noted: November 2025

Hadas Auerbach

London, United Kingdom · b. 1993

Recent GraduateMixed Media

Hadas Auerbach was selected for the 2026 New Contemporaries exhibition.

Program: Slade School of Fine Art

Showing at: None

First noted: 2025-11-19

Amara Eke

Seattle, United States · b. 1994

Recent GraduateInterdisciplinary

Amara Eke is presenting a collaborative exhibition titled Comin' in Hot at 4Culture, which opened on October 30, 2025.

Program: University of Washington MFA

Showing at: None

First noted: 2025-11-04

Jade Knox

Seattle, United States · b. 1995

Recent GraduateInterdisciplinary

Jade Knox is presenting a collaborative exhibition titled Comin' in Hot at 4Culture, which opened on October 30, 2025.

Program: University of Washington MFA

Showing at: None

First noted: 2025-11-04

Dena Novak

Los Angeles, USA · b. 1997

Recent GraduateInstallation

The artist was selected for a 2026 summer residency at the Headlands Center for the Arts following her graduation.

Program: Otis College of Art and Design MFA

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Sok Song

New York, United States · b. 1995

Recent GraduateTextile installation

Sok Song recently completed an MFA at Yale and contributed a large-scale textile installation to the 2026 Venice Biennale.

Program: MFA, Yale School of Art

Showing at: Tina Kim Gallery

First noted: Tina Kim Gallery press release for Half Memory, Twice Remembered

Priss Niinikoski

Amsterdam, Finland · b. 1997

Recent GraduateSound and textile installation

The artist was selected for the prestigious 2026–2027 Rijksakademie residency following her graduation from Uniarts Helsinki.

Program: Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki

Showing at: Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten

First noted: Saastamoinen Foundation news announcement

Katarzyna Bałdyga

The Hague, Poland · b. 1996

Recent GraduatePainting and multimedia

The artist was selected for the 2027–2028 Rijksakademie residency, a significant milestone for her emerging practice.

Program: Academy of Fine Arts

Showing at: NAMUSO GALLERY

First noted: NAMUSO Gallery event announcement

Jasmine Clarke

New Haven, United States · b. 1998

Recent GraduatePhotography

The artist successfully presented her MFA thesis work as part of the Yale School of Art's 2026 'Picture Show' exhibition.

Program: Yale School of Art

Showing at: N/A

First noted: Yale School of Art 2026 Thesis Exhibition Archive

Piper Bangs

Los Angeles, United States · b. 2001

Recent GraduatePainting

The artist recently graduated in May 2024 and held her hometown debut solo show at Megan Mulrooney Gallery this fall.

Program: Laguna College of Art and Design

Showing at: Megan Mulrooney Gallery

First noted: 2024

Levi Keatts

Davis, USA · b. 1995

Recent GraduateStudio Art

He was recognized as a recipient of the Letters and Science Prize for Excellence in the 2026 graduate exhibition.

Program: UC Davis MFA

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Jeanne Bastien

Paris, France · b. 1999

Recent GraduateDrawing

The artist was awarded the 2026 Contemporary Drawing Prize by the Beaux-Arts de Paris in June 2026.

Program: Beaux-Arts de Paris

Showing at: N/A

First noted: Beaux-Arts de Paris news announcement

Joaquín Stacey-Calle

Los Angeles, USA · b. 1994

Recent GraduatePainting

The artist is featured in the group exhibition Let Us Gather in a Flourishing Way at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum through September 2026.

Program: Otis College of Art and Design

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026-06-18

Sean Olmstead

Davis, USA · b. 1995

Recent GraduateStudio Art

He was awarded the 2026 Letters and Science Prize for Excellence for his work in the UC Davis graduate exhibition.

Program: UC Davis MFA

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Caitlin Waugh

New Orleans, USA · b. 1993

Recent GraduateGlass Sculpture

The artist was featured in the 2026 biennial MFA exhibition The Scope at UrbanGlass.

Program: Tulane University

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026-08-14

Arielle Harvey

San Francisco, United States · b. 1996

Degree ShowPhotography

Arielle Harvey is an emerging artist featured in the 2026 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibition at the CCA Wattis Institute.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Amadeo Gjurra

Boston, United States · b. 1990

Degree ShowFilm/Video

Amadeo Gjurra is a featured artist in the 2024 MFA Thesis Exhibition at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Program: Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Irfan Brkovic

Vancouver, Canada · b. 1990

Degree ShowPerformance, installation, and video

Irfan Brkovic presented his work as part of the 2024 MFA graduating exhibition at Simon Fraser University.

Program: Simon Fraser University

Showing at: Audain Gallery

First noted: 2024

Chloe Cortez

San Francisco, United States · b. 1999

Degree ShowPhotography

She is participating in the 2025 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibition held across the CCA campus galleries.

Program: California College of the Arts MFA

Showing at: Deborah and Kenneth Novack Gallery

First noted: April 2025

Séamus Gallagher

Winnipeg, Canada · b. 1996

Degree ShowLens-based media

The artist is presenting their thesis exhibition titled 'It’s A Mess' at the University of Manitoba School of Art Gallery.

Program: University of Manitoba

Showing at: School of Art Gallery

First noted: 2026

Soo Lee

London, United Kingdom · b. 1996

Degree ShowPainting and Performance

The artist presented her work 'I have seen this coming' at the 2024 Goldsmiths MFA Fine Art degree show.

Program: Goldsmiths, University of London

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Christina Oyawale

Winnipeg, Canada · b. 1994

Degree ShowInstallation

The artist is presenting an image-based installation titled 'Punk Care Commons' as part of their MFA thesis exhibition.

Program: University of Manitoba

Showing at: School of Art Gallery

First noted: 2026

Jiao Deng

San Francisco, United States · b. 1998

Degree ShowTextiles

Jiao Deng is an emerging artist featured in the 2026 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibition at the CCA Wattis Institute.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Patrick Brennan

Boston, United States · b. 1990

Degree Show3D Fine Arts

Patrick Brennan is a featured artist in the 2024 MFA Thesis Exhibition at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Program: Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Grace Jin

San Francisco, United States · b. 1997

Degree ShowPainting

Grace Jin is an emerging artist featured in the 2026 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibition at the CCA Wattis Institute.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Amanda Bristow

San Francisco, United States · b. 1998

Degree ShowMixed Media

She was featured as one of the 20 emerging artists in the 2025 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibition at the CCA Wattis Institute.

Program: California College of the Arts MFA

Showing at: CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

First noted: April 2025

Niloufar Samadi

Vancouver, Canada · b. 1992

Degree ShowFilm, performance, and interdisciplinary arts

Niloufar Samadi was featured in the 2024 MFA graduating exhibition at Simon Fraser University.

Program: Simon Fraser University

Showing at: Audain Gallery

First noted: 2024

Leyla Dualeh

San Francisco, USA · b. 1995

Degree ShowMixed Media

The artist was announced as a featured participant in the 2025 California College of the Arts MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: None

First noted: 2025

Riley Tu

London, United Kingdom · b. 1998

Degree ShowVideo

The artist exhibited her video work 'Prelude' at the 2024 Goldsmiths MFA Fine Art degree show.

Program: Goldsmiths, University of London

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Ilke Sahin

London, United Kingdom · b. 1996

Degree ShowPerformance

The artist presented her performance installation 'Water canals (Aqueducts)' at the 2024 Goldsmiths MFA Fine Art degree show.

Program: Goldsmiths, University of London

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Ren Han

Seattle, USA · b. 1996

Degree ShowInterdisciplinary

The artist was featured in the 2024 University of Washington School of Art + Art History + Design Graduate Showcase.

Program: University of Washington MFA

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Chloe King

San Francisco, United States · b. 1995

Degree ShowFine Arts

The artist is participating in the 2025 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions held at the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: None

First noted: 2025

F.S. Bàssïbét

Seattle, USA · b. 1995

Degree ShowInterdisciplinary

The artist was featured in the 2024 University of Washington School of Art + Art History + Design Graduate Showcase.

Program: University of Washington MFA

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Afrooz Partovi

Pittsburgh, USA · b. 1995

Degree ShowInstallation

The artist presented her thesis exhibition titled Time-Honored Non-Specifics at The Andy Warhol Museum in early 2026.

Program: Carnegie Mellon University MFA

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Raheel Khan

London, United Kingdom · b. 1994

Degree ShowInstallation

The artist exhibited his installation 'Systems' as part of the 2024 Goldsmiths MFA Fine Art degree show.

Program: Goldsmiths, University of London

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Rex Delafkaran

Chicago, USA · b. 1995

Degree ShowFine Arts

The artist was featured in the 2025 SAIC Graduate Exhibition.

Program: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Showing at: SAIC

First noted: 2025-01-01

Nasib Elahimehr

San Francisco, USA · b. 1995

Degree ShowMixed Media

The artist is included in the 2025 California College of the Arts MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions held at the CCA Wattis Institute.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: None

First noted: 2025

Salvatore Pione

London, United Kingdom · b. 1995

Degree ShowSculpture

The artist exhibited his sculpture 'Fontanarossa' at the 2024 Goldsmiths MFA Fine Art degree show.

Program: Goldsmiths, University of London

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Daun Suh

Chicago, USA · b. 1996

Degree ShowFine Arts

The artist was featured in the 2025 SAIC Graduate Exhibition.

Program: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Showing at: SAIC

First noted: 2025-01-01

Anna Siow Usadi

London, United Kingdom · b. 1995

Degree ShowInstallation

She received the 2026 Vice-Chancellor's Postgraduate Art Prize at Goldsmiths for installation work incorporating living algae.

Program: Goldsmiths

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Dave Braun

Seattle, USA · b. 1997

Degree ShowFine Arts

The artist presented their thesis project in the 2024 MFA Thesis Exhibition at RailSpur Seattle.

Program: University of Washington

Showing at: RailSpur Seattle

First noted: 2024-08-12

Niovi Kafantari

London, United Kingdom · b. 1997

Degree ShowPainting

The artist presented her painting installation 'Know Thyself' at the 2024 Goldsmiths MFA Fine Art degree show.

Program: Goldsmiths, University of London

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Katja Farin

London, UK · b. 1996

Degree ShowPainting

The artist exhibited work in the Slade MA/MFA Degree Show 2025.

Program: Slade School of Fine Art

Showing at: Slade School of Fine Art

First noted: 2025-06-01

Anna Candlin

London, UK · b. 1997

Degree ShowSculpture

The artist exhibited work in the Slade MA/MFA Degree Show 2025.

Program: Slade School of Fine Art

Showing at: Slade School of Fine Art

First noted: 2025-06-01

Ysabella Caddy

Hartlepool, United Kingdom · b. 2000

Degree ShowModel making

The artist was honored for her outstanding dedication to model making and visual effects at the 2026 graduate show.

Program: The Northern School of Art

Showing at: The Northern School of Art Gallery

First noted: 2026

Beverley Duckworth

London, United Kingdom · b. 1995

Degree ShowInstallation

The artist presented her installation work 'Surplus' at the 2024 Goldsmiths MFA Fine Art degree show.

Program: Goldsmiths, University of London

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Rachel Dorsey

Seattle, USA · b. 1998

Degree ShowFine Arts

The artist presented their thesis project in the 2024 MFA Thesis Exhibition at RailSpur Seattle.

Program: University of Washington

Showing at: RailSpur Seattle

First noted: 2024-08-12

Peicen Jiang

Chicago, United States · b. 1995

Degree ShowInterdisciplinary

The artist was featured as a participant in the 2024 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Graduate Exhibition.

Program: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Jonah Reenders

San Francisco, USA · b. 1995

Degree ShowMixed Media

The artist is a featured participant in the 2025 California College of the Arts MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: None

First noted: 2025

Sophie Ridsdale

Hartlepool, United Kingdom · b. 2000

Degree ShowTextiles

The artist received the Breaking Boundaries award for her textile work during the 2026 graduate show.

Program: The Northern School of Art

Showing at: The Northern School of Art Gallery

First noted: 2026

Stuart Hunter

Hartlepool, United Kingdom · b. 2000

Degree ShowFilm

The artist was named Film Student of the Year at the 2026 Northern School of Art graduate show.

Program: The Northern School of Art

Showing at: The Northern School of Art Gallery

First noted: 2026

Xiaohan Zhou

San Francisco, United States · b. 1997

Degree ShowFine Arts

The artist presented work as part of the 2024 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions at the CCA Wattis Institute.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

First noted: 2024

Manna Elle White

Chicago, United States · b. 1995

Degree ShowInterdisciplinary

The artist was featured as a participant in the 2024 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Graduate Exhibition.

Program: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Erica Hannel

San Francisco, USA · b. 1995

Degree ShowMixed Media

Erica Hannel was a featured artist in the 2024 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibition at the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

First noted: 2024

Rob Croll

Chicago, United States · b. 1994

Degree ShowInterdisciplinary

The artist was featured as a participant in the 2024 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Graduate Exhibition.

Program: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Dottie Lo Bue

San Francisco, USA · b. 1995

Degree ShowMixed Media

Dottie Lo Bue presented her work in the second part of the 2024 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibition at the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

First noted: 2024

Duma Mock

San Francisco, USA · b. 1996

Degree ShowMixed Media

Duma Mock was featured in the 2024 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibition at the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

First noted: 2024

Leah Del Harrison

Chicago, United States · b. 1997

Degree ShowInterdisciplinary

The artist was featured as a participant in the 2024 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Graduate Exhibition.

Program: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Yelyzaveta Rudenok

San Francisco, USA · b. 1995

Degree ShowMixed Media

The artist is exhibiting work as part of the 2025 California College of the Arts MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: None

First noted: 2025

Victoria Hill

Chicago, United States · b. 1995

Degree ShowInterdisciplinary

The artist was featured as a participant in the 2024 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Graduate Exhibition.

Program: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

Zach Dobbins

Chicago, United States · b. 1994

Degree ShowSculpture

He is a featured artist in the SAIC 2026 graduation exhibition, known for sculptural work exploring masculinity and inherited power.

Program: SAIC

Showing at: None

First noted: 2026

Leticia Pardo

Chicago, United States · b. 1992

Degree ShowMultidisciplinary

Leticia Pardo was featured in the 2024 SAIC Graduate Exhibition.

Program: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024-04-01

Kelly Finley

San Francisco, United States · b. 1998

Degree ShowFine Arts

The artist was featured as part of the 2024 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions at the CCA Wattis Institute.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

First noted: 2024

J-P Herdeg

San Francisco, United States · b. 1995

Degree ShowFine Arts

The artist is listed as one of the 20 emerging artists featured in the 2025 MFA Fine Arts graduate exhibitions at the CCA Wattis Institute.

Program: California College of the Arts

Showing at: None

First noted: 2025

Yukyeom Kim

Chicago, United States · b. 1997

Degree ShowInterdisciplinary

The artist was featured as a participant in the 2024 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Graduate Exhibition.

Program: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Showing at: None

First noted: 2024

The Degree Show Circuit

The MFA programs and art school exhibitions where the next cohort surfaces first

Green Hall — Interrupt / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)Spring

Yale School of Art MFA Thesis Shows

New Haven · North America

The most scouted MFA cohort in America — dealers walk the halls before the paint dries.

Darwin Building — Shadowssettle / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Summer

RCA Degree Shows

London · Europe

The Royal College's summer shows remain London's densest concentration of first looks.

UCL MAPS / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)Summer

Slade School Degree Show

London · Europe

Historically the quieter counterweight to the RCA — and often the sharper picks.

Ben Pimlott Building — Andy Roberts / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)Summer

Goldsmiths MFA Show

London · Europe

Conceptually driven cohorts; where YBA mythology started and critical practice still leads.

MarieEgger / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)February

Städelschule Rundgang

Frankfurt · Europe

Three days in winter when the European gallery world descends on one building.

Cour vitrée, Palais des études — Annick314 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Autumn

Beaux-Arts de Paris — Félicités

Paris · Europe

The Félicités exhibition crowns each graduating class; Paris galleries recruit directly from it.

HGB Leipzig / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)February

HGB Leipzig Rundgang

Leipzig · Europe

The school behind the New Leipzig School — painting-forward, market-watched.

Apus apus / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 NL)June

Rijksakademie Open Studios

Amsterdam · Europe

Technically a residency, functionally the most international early-career scouting weekend in Europe.

Göran Jarborg / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)May

Konstfack Spring Exhibition

Stockholm · Europe

The Nordic circuit's main graduate moment — craft and material intelligence.

CalArts MFA Exhibitions

Spring

Los Angeles · North America

The West Coast conceptual lineage; LA's project spaces recruit here first.

SAIC Graduate Exhibitions

Spring

Chicago · North America

The Midwest's deepest graduate pool, feeding both coasts.

Wikimedia Commons (CC0)January

Tokyo Geidai Graduation Works

Tokyo · Asia Pacific

Japan's premier art university opens its graduation exhibitions to the public each winter.

CAFA Art Museum — Weixi Zeng / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)May–June

CAFA Graduation Season

Beijing · Asia Pacific

The Central Academy's graduation season is a city-scale event — thousands of works, serious collector traffic.

Egyptian Building, Hiddingh Campus — Dolores Coullie / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)December

Michaelis Graduate Show

Cape Town · Africa

The Southern Hemisphere's key December graduate moment; Cape Town galleries scout it closely.

Venue photography via Wikimedia Commons under open licenses — hover any image for its credit.

How artists earn a place here: recurring attention from independent sources on the Early Radar, degree-show and residency visibility, first representation at small and local galleries, and inclusion in emerging-focused fair sectors. When an artist's signal matures — institutional shows, sustained press, market traction — they graduate to the People board.