Curing Cancer One Masterpiece at a Time!™

How to Identify and Support New Talent

The world of contemporary art is ever-evolving, brimming with fresh perspectives and new talent. For art collectors and enthusiasts, discovering and supporting emerging artists is thrilling and rewarding. But how do you find these rising stars, and what are the best ways to support their journey and yours? Let's explore strategies that can help you navigate the art market and spot emerging talent with the understanding of a seasoned curator.

Emerging artists are those at the beginning of their artistic careers, typically gaining some recognition but have yet to gain widespread acclaim or a consistent track record. They might have exhibited in small art galleries, participated in art fairs, or completed fine art residencies. Look for young artists fresh out of art school or those beginning to attract attention to your local art scene. Young talent may need mentoring, appreciation, and support. 

Signs of Potential in an Emerging Artist's Work

• Artistic Vision
  An emerging artist's work often displays a unique and compelling artistic vision. Their creations should resonate with you emotionally or intellectually, showing depth and originality. You may feel challenged or overwhelmed. When Martin saw Adam D. Cohen's Gathering Strength or Nikki Blair's ceramics, he felt challenged, joyful, and more informed about his life thanks to their artistic vision. 
  
  
• Consistency and Development
  Look for consistency in their body of work and evidence of growth and experimentation. Working on consistent themes and references demonstrates their commitment to their artistic practice. Martin loves Pete Sack’s portraits, including Wear and Tear, a painting he purchased for the cancerART collection, but Pete experiments with mid-century abstraction, too. It's hard to develop one consistent look and feel, yet some artists, such as Pete, are lucky enough to create more than one look and feel more than one fresh perspective. 
  
  
• Critical Acclaim and Buzz
  Emerging artists often receive positive reviews from art professionals and curators. Pay attention to the buzz around certain artists in your art community and on social media. Follow your favorite artists on Instagram and bookmark their websites. 

• Art History
  The best-emerging artists create in partnership with and references to European, African, Asian, or American art history. Much like jazz musicians, emerging artists' initiatives seek to learn from, capture, and modify their artistic heroes. When a piece looks like an established artist, originality may be lacking. There is a fine line between copying and creating, but most artists begin copying, building toward creativity, ingenuity, and a unique artistic vision. 
  
  

Five Ways You Can Support New Artists?

Supporting new artists goes beyond purchasing their work. It involves active engagement with their career and creative process.

1. Buy Their Art
   The most direct way to support emerging artists is to purchase their artwork. Your purchase provides them with financial support while encouraging and validating their talent. We like to be in the room with art we are thinking of buying, so ask permission to visit studios of artists you like, collect, and follow.
   
   
2. Attend Their Exhibitions
   Show up for their gallery shows and art fairs. Your presence can boost their visibility, courage, and morale. "Thanks for giving a shit," Nikki Blair said to Martin during his first studio visit.
   
   
3. Promote Their Work
   Follow your favorite artists and use social media platforms to share their art with a broader audience. Your endorsement can help artists you follow and collect gain new followers and collectors. Collecting art is a partnership where each party - collector and artist - helps the other achieve more than either could alone. 
   
   
4. Mentorship and Networking
   Offer guidance and introduce them to other art professionals, including gallerists and curators, who can help further their careers. Ask artists you collect to share their ideas for who you should be collecting. 
   
   
5. Commission Work
   Commissioning new pieces provides artists financial support and creative freedom to explore new ideas.
   
   

What Makes You an Emerging Artist?

An early promise typically defines an emerging artist as they begin their artistic career. Emerging artists are not yet widely known but show potential for significant contribution to the art world. Participation in well-vetted and established art residencies, small gallery exhibitions, and receiving early critical acclaim are typical markers of an emerging artist.

Cities like New York, London, Los Angeles, and Chicago are renowned for their vibrant art scenes and offer numerous opportunities for emerging artists. These cities host major art fairs, boast countless contemporary art galleries, and provide a bustling artistic collaboration and exposure environment.

Art residencies such as Artspace in Raleigh or McColl Center in Charlotte North Carolina offer artists the time and space to develop their work. Some other notable free residencies include the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, the MacDowell Colony, and the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts. These programs often provide stipends, studio space, and opportunities for networking with other artists.

Discovering New Artistic Talent

Social media has revolutionized the art world, allowing artists to reach global audiences directly. Platforms like Instagram have become vital tools for artists to showcase their work, connect with art enthusiasts, and gain recognition. Collectors can follow hashtags, participate in online art communities, and watch trends to discover emerging artists.

Art fairs like Art Basel, Frieze, and The Armory Show are excellent venues for discovering contemporary artists. Additionally, visiting renowned art galleries, attending MFA shows at art schools, and exploring online art platforms can provide exposure to new talent.

Artists on the verge of breaking into the mainstream often generate significant buzz. Pay attention to art publications, critic reviews, and awards. Emerging artists frequently mentioned in these contexts are likely to be on the rise.

Five Strategies for Spotting and Investing in Emerging Artists

• Stay Informed: Follow art world news, follow art critics, curators, galleries, and attend major art events.
• Network: Build relationships with art professionals, including curators, gallerists, and fellow collectors, to gain insights into promising artists.
• Trust Your Instincts: While informed decisions are crucial, trust your instincts about what resonates with you.
• Diversify Your Collection: Invest in a variety of artists to spread the risk and increase the chances of owning work by a future star.
• Look for Grants and Awards: Artists who have received grants, awards, or residencies often have the backing of established art institutions, indicating their potential.

Supporting emerging artists is a rewarding endeavor and a vital contribution to the sustainability and diversity of the art world. By staying informed, engaged, and open to new artistic visions, you can help nurture the next generation of contemporary artists and enrich your art collection with fresh perspectives.