CULTURED Magazine has released its highly anticipated 10th annual Young Artists list, showcasing 27 emerging artists aged 35 and under who are making significant impacts in the contemporary art world. The comprehensive list features artists working across the United States during a period marked by economic uncertainty and political upheaval, selected through a rigorous process involving the magazine's editors, contributors, art dealers, collectors, and established artists from around the globe.
For the second consecutive year, CULTURED has partnered with luxury brand MZ Wallace to award one artist from the list an unrestricted $30,000 grant. This year's distinguished jury panel includes T. Lax, a curator at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Erin Christovale, curator at the Hammer Museum, and Jane Panetta, curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The grant recipient will be announced on December 10, 2025.
The timing of this year's list reflects the cyclical nature of the art market, as CULTURED's editors note parallels between the current climate and conditions a decade ago when the magazine first launched this initiative. Following years of market boom that saw some emerging artists earning six-figure sums from single exhibitions, the art world is now experiencing another downturn cycle. However, this challenging environment provides emerging artists with greater freedom to experiment, take risks, and develop their artistic voices without the intense commercial pressures of a hot market.
The 27 selected artists represent a diverse geographic spread across the United States, working from major art centers like New York and Los Angeles to smaller cities including Tucson, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Saint Paul. Their artistic practices span an remarkably broad range of media, from traditional fine arts to cutting-edge digital formats including video games, and from precious gemstones to experimental installations. Most notably, these artists resist being confined to single materials or even single locations, demonstrating the fluid, boundary-crossing nature of contemporary artistic practice.
What unites this diverse cohort is their shared commitment to pushing their work into uncomfortable, sometimes revelatory, and deeply engaged territories. These artists are not content with safe artistic choices; instead, they tackle complex social, political, and personal themes through innovative approaches that challenge both themselves and their audiences. Their work reflects the urgent concerns of their generation while offering fresh perspectives on enduring human experiences.
The complete 2025 Young Artists list includes: Panteha Abareshi, Maud Acheampong, Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Lorenzo Amos, Alice Bucknell, Erin Calla Watson, Luz Carabaño, Kye Christensen-Knowles, Justin Emmanuel Dumas, Ali Eyal, Witt Fetter, Eloise Hess, Jesús Hilario-Reyes, Yasmine Anlan Huang, Coco Klockner, Tidawhitney Lek, Asher Liftin, Brian Oakes, Mimi Park, Lauren Quin, Coumba Samba, Selma Selman, Hannah Taurins, Alix Vernet, Cyle Warner, Shen Xin, and Cherrie Yu.
This milestone 10th anniversary list represents CULTURED Magazine's ongoing commitment to identifying and supporting the next generation of significant artists. Despite the challenging economic and political climate facing emerging artists today, the magazine's editors express optimism about the future of contemporary art. They believe that the current period of uncertainty, while difficult, may ultimately produce more authentic and experimental work as artists navigate reduced commercial pressures and increased creative freedom.
The Young Artists list serves not only as recognition for these emerging talents but also as a valuable resource for collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts seeking to understand the direction of contemporary art. With each artist bringing unique perspectives and innovative approaches to their practice, this year's selection promises to shape conversations in the art world for years to come.
