All art enthusiasts are interested in emerging visual artists. Perhaps you wish to stay informed or invest in the works of an artist who has the potential to become popular.

So what is emerging art and who is an emerging artist? Emerging art refers to the works of under-recognized artists or fresh art school graduates. You will not find their works exhibited at major galleries although you may find some of them at little-known regional galleries.

Emerging visual art is not less valuable or aesthetic than established art. On the contrary, emerging artists are waiting for recognition and better representation in well-known art museums and galleries. You will, therefore, find the works of emerging artists affordable.

The fact that emerging visual art is cheaper than established art doesn’t mean that it is less valuable. Buying it may be a great way to invest your money as emerging artists define new mediums and styles. Although an emerging artist is little-known at present, he/she may become established in the next two decades. 

Here is a list of emerging visual artists from New Zealand and Australia, whose works you may consider buying.

Amani Haydar

A lawyer by profession, Amani Haydar’s visual art focuses on the plight and experiences of women. Her most fruitful year was 2017, during which she produced work that earned her the respect of art enthusiasts and made her very popular.

Her self-portrait, titled “Insert Headline Here,” became the finalist of the Archibald Prize (2018). Her painting, titled “The Plight of Victims,” emerged as the finalist of the Law Society of NSW Just Art Prize (2018).

She derives inspiration from contemporary social contexts, carefully balancing sadness with hope and resilience in her works.

Johanna Hildebrandt

If you are interested in the flora and fauna of Australia, you have to pay attention to Johanna’s acrylic paintings. Her focus on detail is amazing, and her use of bright colours makes her work lively and energetic. She appears to be greatly influenced by the jungle paintings of Henri Rousseau as her works depict nature in a dreamy, charming, and unique way.

Nadia Culph

A photographer adept at controlling and manipulating light, she seems to be fascinated with nature. Her still-life photos are inspired by the wonders and curiosities of nature. Simultaneously simple and stunning, her work aims to bring the tiniest detail into sharp focus.

Angela Hawkey

An artist who gives ample freedom to her paintbrush, Angela Hawkey creates unplanned, unpredictable, and free-flowing works of art.

She says that, although she starts painting with an idea or subject in mind, she doesn’t mind deviating from it as she greatly appreciates the naturalness resulting from painting in a relaxed way. She gives importance to texture and colour as she creates still life, abstracts, and landscapes.

Angela has been painting for as long back as she can remember, experimenting freely with ceramics, graphic design, and photography.

Joseph Villanueva

Greatly inspired by nature, Joseph Villanueva uses the technique of scratching through a layer of paint to reveal the complementary colours beneath. Initially, you may feel that his works are abstract, but on a closer look, one can make out structural elements and figurations that depict landscapes.

Joseph’s works celebrate beautiful skies, brightly coloured flowers, and landscapes.

Whitney Spicer

When an art magazine asked her to describe her art, Whitney Spicer said that she doesn’t stay loyal to any style. She derives inspiration from life, including still life, children, the countryside, and so on.

Her content may appear simple, but it is an example of finding pleasure in the mundane. You can buy her work directly from her website or at the art galleries that display them.

Hana Vasak

Having discovered the joys of working with clay as a student of fine art, Hana Vasak’s fascination with ceramics continued long after she graduated. She never stopped exploring, experiment, and expanding her practice as a ceramist.

She works on each piece carefully, focusing on creating sculpture with functional value or an art object that enhances the beauty of your home. She derives inspiration from ancient pottery as well as the places she explores while travelling.

Marcus Watson

A graphic designer, lettering artist, and illustrator, Marcus Watson’s works define space and are funky by nature. You will find his hand-painted signs and murals in businesses and stores all over Auckland.

Matt Arbuckle

A fine art graduate who exhibits his work at several galleries in Australia and Aotearoa, Matt works with several mediums to create visually pleasing works of art. He blends marking and blending techniques to combine shapes and colours in amazing ways.

Ruby Jones

Based in Wellington, Ruby Jones mostly works with digital forms. She has already released a book and illustrated one of the covers of Time magazine. Through her simple style, she creates works that are thought-provoking and playful. Her work depicting two women locked in an embrace became popular after the Christ Church terror attack of 2019.

Toni Armstrong

On her website, NZ emerging artist Toni Armstrong describes her work as referential or naturalistic with expressionistic and emotional overtones. She works with several media and gets ideas from conventional art practices. She is inspired by the art of Degas, Coubert, and Manet and the colours of Cezanne and Gauguin.

Pati Solomona Tyrell

In 2018, Pati Solomona Tyrell became the youngest artist to be nominated for the Walters Prize for "Fagogo," his video work, which has now been acquired by the Auckland Art Gallery. A co-founder of FAFSWAG, an art collective, he currently resides in Mt Wellington in Auckland.

He describes his art as "interdisciplinary" as he doesn't focus on a single medium. Instead, he experiments with performance, film, photography, jewellery making, costume design, and more. He uses just three words to describe his work—Pacific, indigenous, and queer.

How to Find Emerging Visual Artists in NZ and Australia

If you visit a large, well-recognized art gallery, you will find the works of only mid-level or well-established artists. Finding an emerging artist requires time and effort. Here are a few tips to help you:

• You will find most emerging artists on Instagram.
• Many emerging artists involve with art residences where they can not only work but also find buyers for their works.
• Search through art magazines for reviews of emerging artists.
• Every year, large institutions give away prestigious awards to great works of art.
• Thousands of young visual artists graduate from art schools every year.
• You can find emerging art displayed at small regional galleries.
• The most popular place to find emerging art is online. Almost every emerging artist in New Zealand and Australia has an official website, where you can find their latest works.