“Art is the signature of civilization,” Oscar Wilde once mused. It is the rhythm of mankind, a beat that puts into motion the entire human history and defines how people perceive reality. For it is in the paintings of a painter, the tunes of a musician, the penned words of a writer, and the dance of a dancer that we get to see the mirror reflecting our soul.
These artists are not mere creators; they are alchemists. They transform raw emotions into tangible experiences. They are the visionaries who reveal hidden insights and the innovators who create new possibilities. As Saul Bellow wisely noted, art grants us access to “true impressions“—those elusive fragments of reality often obscured by the mundane routine of everyday life.
This year, these gifted maestros have accomplished something truly remarkable. They offer us a unique opportunity to connect with a wide range of human experiences. Without further delay, let’s introduce the top artists of 2024:
Jennifer Chandler
Seasoned artist Jenny Chandler‘s art is anything but ordinary. With profound abstract pieces that tell ever-changing stories with layers that mirror the complexities of life, Jenny is painting the world of art in her colors.
Jenny’s work is delicate yet different. Using primarily acrylic, each work is a dance of cohesive yet inconsistent movement and dimension. It’s thick enough to make you feel like you’re sinking into its depths, or so atmospheric that it feels like a breath of fresh air. Each piece is a paradox inside an enigma, inviting everyone to find their own story within it.
Emerging from Alabama and now thriving in Southern California, Jenny has spent the past decade passionately painting. Her unique vision has earned her recognition at notable shows including Art Wynwood, Palm Beach Miami, and the International Contemporary Art Fair’s in Milan and Barcelona. Jenny’s future is just as bright. She is set to participate in the Sotheby’s Beverly Hills Art show over Father’s Day weekend this month and the Hampton’s Fine Art Show in July of this year.
Jenny’s exceptional talent has earned her a place of distinction in the art world, receiving recognition in renowned publications. She also is a passionate supporter of the arts through philanthropy at LACMA, MOCA LA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Hammer Museum and the Academy of Motion Pictures. She serves an esteemed member of the Vogue 100 inrecognition of her dedication to the arts, both professional and personally.
Jenny‘s ambition? To be a respected abstract artist and her ultimate goal is to showcase her work at all the Art Basel’s around the world. With her talent and dedication, there’s no doubt she will achieve this and more.
Romany Mark Bruce
From lawyer to acclaimed sculptor and painter, Romany Mark Bruce has a story worth telling. Once specializing in clinical negligence law, particularly in brain injury litigation, he left the legal field in 1999 to chase his passion for art. Despite not having attended art college, Romany took night classes in sculpting and soon ventured into painting, teaching himself along the way.
One of Romany’s most notable achievements is designing and creating the Brighton & Hove AIDS Memorial, a public commission won by public vote. Romany completed the project over two years without taking any payment, and it was unveiled by David Furnish in 2009.
The best part? This significant sculpture was featured in The Guardian’s Great British Art Tour and has attracted visits from prominent figures like Theresa May and Winnie Byanyima.
In 2008, Romany was selected for a Body Shop HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, photographed by the renowned Rankin. His portrait was displayed on billboards across 3,000 Body Shop venues worldwide, and the campaign raised over £4 million for the Staying Alive Foundation.
Romany’s intriguing art continues to gain international recognition. Recently, he was selected to exhibit at the Contemporary Art Station in Paris, where his painting will be showcased on the Paris Metro.
Driven by a passion for sculpting and painting, Romany aims to grow his audience and achieve greater recognition as an artist. This ambition is further highlighted by the upcoming publication of his book, Sculpting Colour, which will feature his work and biography. Available for purchase on September 2nd this year, the book marks a significant milestone in Romany’s artistic journey.
With ambitions of gallery exhibitions abroad and increased sales, Romany Mark Bruce is a name to watch in the art world.
Ramona Stelzer
Ramona Stelzer, a contemporary artist, with a penchant for painting on a grand scale, finds her fascination and inspiration in the captivating world of flowers, their processes, lifecycles, transformations, and alterations.Originating from Germany, her artistic journey began over two decades ago, captivating audiences with her unique style.Ramona has been on an artistic journey for over twenty years.
Ramona’s passion ignited with her debut solo exhibition in 2004 at Gallery Pinocchio in Ötlingen, Germany, where she showcased eleven large rose paintings. Ramona pursued formal art education at a art school in Germany to continue the journey, further refining her skills and enriching her artistic vision.
Ramona’s life significantly changed in 2011 when she and her family moved to San Francisco Bay Area. Despite facing several obstacles, she rediscovered her devotion to painting during COVID. Fueled by her profound fascination with flowers, her art beautifully blends human experience with nature, splashing colors that reflect the common attributes of fragility, resilience, and beauty.
Ramona’s art has earned widespread recognition with her growing online presence and local exhibitions. Catching the attention of ZDF, a prominent German television network, resulted in a feature in a docu-series about successful German expats in California. The same year, she achieved a significant career milestone by holding a solo exhibition at the International Art Museum of America in San Francisco and presenting her work at the esteemed Salon International d’Art Contemporain in Paris.
Ramona’s stunning floral paintings illustrate the message of hope and positivity, and her vision lies in crafting visuals that speak to strength, interconnectedness, and transformation.
Nicolas Jory Gauthier
Whether it’s your favorite superhero, an initial, or just abstract art, Nicolas Jory Gauthier brings even a raw idea to life within his tattoo art. With his expertise and ingenious approach, every ink stroke tells a story, and every design has a meaning. Based at the Quartz Tattoo studio in Ste-Thérèse, located north of Montreal, his vibrant and colorful tattoos are inspired by the fascinating worlds of anime and video games.
Driven by a passion for drawing in childhood, he naturally progressed into the career of creating tattoos that narrate a tale. With over five years of experience in the field, he has continuously improved on the journey, satisfying his clients with creative and exceptional designs. Nicolas doesn’t just offer tattooing services; he provides a collaborative experience where clients can witness their passions and interests turned into wearable art.
His art and unique approach to it have gained attention around the corner. Nicolas’s creativity, outstanding skills, and visionary mindset have been acknowledged through approximately ten awards received at tattoo conventions across Quebec. These awards represent his capacity to challenge the confines of traditional tattoo art and produce extraordinary outcomes.
Looking to the future, with his vision to participate in tattoo conventions globally, Nicolas is on his way to further exemplifying his services to work on large-scale projects. Above the mundane, he offers the remarkable experience of stunning art to live for.
Stefanie Bales
Amidst a sea of creativity, few artists manage to carve a niche that not only stands out but also redefines the artistic landscape. Stefanie Bales is one of those unique few- her artistic range and strong visual brand making waves in the American art world.
Stefanie is a multifaceted talent: a fine artist, muralist, gallerist, and speaker. Her career started in academics, with a BFA in Studio Arts and an MS in Art Therapy, followed by over a decade long professorship teaching Art and Design Theory. Since then, she’s been running her full time creative brand, Stefanie Bales Fine art, and works with a wide range of clients in the commercial, residential and hospitality sectors.
She opened her storefront The Stefanie Bales Fine Art Gallery, in 2018, and it’s been voted “Best Art Gallery” in San Diego for the past three years. In addition to her original paintings, her offerings include custom commissions, murals, a custom product line, creative workshops, and consulting services. At the core of Stefanie’s success is her philosophy of “making living itself an art”, and she lives this philosophy every day, seamlessly merging life and work.
Stefanie’s art is a breath of fresh air- full of light and whimsy, it transports viewers to places that makes us want to sit and stay forever. Her original process lends to a novel take on the contemporary landscape, creating dream worlds that feel so simultaneously fanciful and nostalgic that we wish we could will them into existence.
Looking ahead, Stefanie’s plans are as bold as her talent, and with San Diego on the brink of becoming an international arts hub, we have no doubt her art and brand will follow suit.
Lauren Baker Limited
Imagine wandering through the cosmic wonders of the universe, right from the heart of London. That’s the magic Lauren Baker Art Limited brings. Founded by the visionary Lauren Baker in 2015, this business isn’t just another name in the art world; it’s a lighthouse of innovation and connection. Lauren, aka Luna, set out on her artistic path following a life-changing trip in the Peruvian Amazon, and since then she is synonymous with dazzling and inspirational large-scale installations.
Lauren’s creations are not mere art pieces; they’re experiences. Using light, neon, and diamond dust, she creates vibrantly energetic and spiritually deep artworks. Her installations at prestigious locations like the Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate Modern, and Tate Britain attest to her unmatched talent.
Notably, her “Wisdom Totems” at Burning Man and the stunning “Frequency of the Sun” and “Frequency of the Moon” in Saudi Arabia’s Al Ula Desert highlight her fascination with celestial frequencies and their visual representations.
Lauren Baker Limited, operating from 128 City Road, London, focuses on delivering other business support services that elevate the art experience. They provide bespoke installations that not only captivate but also connect viewers to a higher sense of the cosmos. With her work featured at top galleries like Enter Gallery, Lauren is not just creating art; she’s crafting legacies.
In the world of art, where true connection is rare, Lauren Baker Limited stands out, offering an unparalleled fusion of light, sound, and reflective beauty that resonates on a cosmic level. So, if you’re seeking an extraordinary journey through art, Lauren Baker Limited is your guide.
Sebastian Ciuciu
Alina and Sebastian Ciuciu, an extraordinary artist couple, transformed a divine message into a thriving art journey. In 2019, a voice urged them to buy big brushes and large canvases, and what began as a home experiment in Vienna rapidly turned into an international sensation. Initially photographers, their art soon attracted attention, leading to sales ranging from €50 to €5,000 within the same year.
Sebastian’s minimalist pieces, known for their poetic intensity, and Alina’s vibrant, explosive creations have captivated art lovers globally. Their unique studio, once a summer pool, is now a creative haven where they craft internationally popular abstract works.
Many prominent figures, such as the former Austrian chancellor, well-known celebrities on the internet, and sportsmen, have purchased their artwork, making “the Ciucius” one of many well-known artists.
Operating under Ciuciu Art, their goal is to inspire wonder, potential, and creative energy through their art, answering life’s big questions visually.
Alina and Sebastian have a flexible approach to life and art, so their work always shows true emotions and feels very spontaneous. They believe in using art to connect people spiritually and to provide positive feelings and solutions to combat the negativity around us.
In essence, the lasting impression their art has made has solidified their status as prominent and lauded icons of modern and contemporary art. With innovative techniques and profound creativity, Alina and Sebastian have redefined abstract art, pushing traditional boundaries.
Miri Leshem-Pelly
Giving life to creativity and nature, Miri Leshem-Pelly is a prolific author-illustrator and art instructor making waves in the world of children’s art education. Honing a unique “drawing with objects” method, she shows kids how to turn everyday household items into art tools. Her playful approach not only surprises children with how easy it is to draw like a pro but also boosts their creativity and drawing skills.
Imagine drawing an elephant with just scissors—no fancy art supplies needed! Yes, that’s Miri’s way.
Miri’s tutorials are not only fun, but also accessible, and designed to spark artistic confidence in kids. Her approach blends everyday objects with freehand techniques, allowing children at any skill level to grow their abilities and imagination.
Miri’s achievements speak volumes. She’s a published author of 17 children’s books with major publishers like Penguin Random House. Her works have been translated into eight languages and sold worldwide. She even snagged a Blueberry Honor Award for her nature books for children.
Through her captivating tutorials and engaging content, Miri has become a social media sensation, with over 400K Instagram followers and viral drawing reels, one of which reached an astounding 170 million views.
Her mission? To empower children and inspire creativity. Currently, she’s working on a new book teaching her art method, aiming to continue publishing more books and expanding her online art courses. Miri’s impact is profound, changing how people perceive everyday objects and encouraging them to create art fearlessly. Her playful and innovative techniques make her a top artist and an authority in the field of children’s art education.
Philipp Geist
Imagine walking through your city at night and seeing familiar buildings transformed into luminous, moving artworks. This is the magic that Philipp Geist, the visionary behind Videogeist, brings to life.
Philipp’s artistic journey is a mix of convention and revolution. Although he started with photography and painting, he rose to prominence by using fascinating light installations and projection mapping. Take, for instance, the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro illuminated with bright colors or the Cologne Cathedral adorned with animation during New Year celebrations—these are some of Philipp’s works.
His artwork has shed light from the royal throne in Bangkok to the Azadi Tower in Tehran and won the German Lighting Design Award in Light Art in 2013. Philipp’s light magic isn’t just for special events. He has lit up festivals and venues worldwide, from the Helios Festival in Avignon to the Murten Licht Festival. In each of the events, he choreographs space, sound, and vision to engross the audience into an imaginative realm.
But wait, his creativity isn’t confined to lights alone. He constantly experiments and merges various practices, such as painting and digital media. His approach is all about pushing boundaries and seeing how traditional techniques can meet the latest innovations to create something truly extraordinary.
Philipp’s future plans? “I see myself as a painter with different media, working with light art, projection mapping, painting, photography, and print. I want to continue developing new concepts of light artwork, paintings, and fine art prints,” he says. Whether it’s a small gallery or an entire cityscape, Philipp’s work invites you to see the world in a whole new light.
You can view Philipp Geist’s incredible light art at Videogeist and see his latest creations on Instagram.
Julie Reby Waas
With an artistic journey that breaks all the rules, Julie Reby Waas has left her mark on contemporary abstract art. Her bold, vibrant paintings ooze spirit – the same spirit that refused to be crushed when, at 12 years old, someone told her she had zero artistic talent.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Julie was working remotely as a labor and employment lawyer when suddenly, something clicked. Julie decided to pick up some acrylic paint pens and art paper. What started as a pandemic hobby quickly blossomed into an incredible body of work that’s been exhibited at prestigious galleries and art fairs across the globe – London, Madrid, Innsbruck, Marbella, New York, Miami, you name it.
Her masterpieces have racked up some notable accolades, like the Faces of Peace Art Prize, Contemporary Art Curator Magazine’s Collectors Art Prize, and the Leonardo da Vinci International Prize. She even landed the cover of “World’s Most Iconic Businesswomen to Watch in 2022″—pretty badass for someone rocking both the legal and artistic worlds.
But Julie’s talents don’t stop there. She’s also a certified coach, helping midlife women navigate the empty nest phase and thrive in the second half of life. With her guidance, these ladies get clarity, empowerment, and balance to create the life they deserve.
By fusing artistic genius with life coaching prowess, Julie Reby Waas is a total inspiration – lighting a creative and personal growth fire in anyone lucky enough to cross her path.
Dianne is an adventurer who grew up traversing the globe, first through the pages of books, and then in reality. She lives the clichéd life of working at a cafe and writing. When she’s not surrounding herself with words you can find her visiting art musuems and historical places .Dianne lives in Boston.
