Three Representational Artists To Watch
There’s been such an emphasis on abstract art in recent years, particularly for the new collector; the work can be seen as more open to viewer interpretation and therefore more accessible. Additionally, the impact an abstract piece has on a space can be largely inspired by surrounding architectural and design elements, making them easier to place and curate.
That said, diversity of subject matter, media, artists and scale is one of our core advising philosophies, and encouraging some less expected, out-of-comfort-zoned artworks is another. In those ways, presenting representational work along abstract pieces is important to creating a dynamic and personalized collection. Here, we’re sharing three representational artists to watch who are producing incredible work that’s garnering industry recognition.
Greg Ito
Greg Ito’s paintings were recently featured at LA gallery Anat Ebgi’s booth at Art Basel Miami Beach. They are bright, unusually shaped, and were presented in a space that was Earth brown on the walls and rug to mimic some of the connections Ito draws between painting and the Earth throughout his art practice. Importantly, Ito’s work has a storybook feel through the unnatural colors, non-traditional canvas shapes and symbolism laced into each piece, such as candles, plants, key holes and more. They are also mid to large scale, drawing a viewer in to create an immersive experience. A key piece from the fair, What Will Remain, was also acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which serves as a huge endorsement for the artist’s career trajectory.
Hadi Alijani
Hadi Alijani is an Iranian artist shown through M+B Gallery, also based in LA. He is inspired by historical Iranian painting and the world’s impression of Iranian culture. Through his soft, surrealist interior worlds, Alijani aims to showcase Iranian culture through a modern lens and celebrate the heritage informs, but does not determine, his identity. The work incorporates playful forms and prompts an inherent curiosity that people have about seeing into others homes. In this way, there’s an appealing intimacy to the work.
Alijani’s work was shown at M+B’s booth at NADA in Miami, the more experimental (but still reputable) fair in Miami, and his next solo show is slated for xxxx.
Santiago Giralda
Santiago Giralda is a Spanish artist who merges art historical landscape painting with new technologies and perspectives representative of the digital world. He creates each image by first photographing various urban settings and weaving them together with images sourced online to create a merged fantasy landscape. Each final composition is intended to represent the collective unconscious and it’s profound effect on our lives. It is llush with thickly applied paint, raw canvas, and technically impressive details that captivate and envelop the viewer.
We discovered Giralda’s work at Untitled Art Fair 2022 and will continue to watch how his career evolves.
