Contemporary Figurative Painting: The Ultimate 150 Best Painters Today

[@breaktheimage3]

I’ll be on a list like this one day.

[@SM-Artist]

Me too same 😍🎨🖌👋

[@danrazART]

Obviously!

[@paulmbahrt]

Amen! 🙏🏾🤲🏾👨🏽‍🎨

[@liveweddingartbyeunie]

❤❤❤

[@olivialovhagen391]

I will be too 👩🏻‍🎨

[@vicentejouclas2518]

Of course, this show is curated; the curatorship of CAI, thank you very much! Seeing it, we realize that artistic expression is an eternal interpretation of the life around it! Points of view, provocations, confessions; A pleasure to see it all here. Congratulations!

[@contemporaryartissue]

The pleasure is all mine, Vicente. Thank you for tuning in as always!

[@vicentejouclas2518]

Thank you, CAI! ... How cool to see that expression in painting spans millennia and continues to update the look of those who appreciate it!

[@contemporaryartissue]

Exactly, well put to words. Bravo!

[@euanuglowisdead]

Thanks for these videos. However, just one note: The image at 2:50 is actually by Hernan Bas, not Francois Bard. The young man in the barbershop, image.

[@SM-Artist]

Wow beautiful arts All lovely arts Thank you for sharing Great video 🎨🖌💕👋

[@contemporaryartissue]

The pleasure is all mine, thank you for tuning in!

[@taeshim1024]

Enjoyed your selections very much. Thank you!!

[@pittan86]

Lovely stuff!

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for tuning in 🙏

[@Urbanmotif]

Fascinating range. Lets see, without mentioning some that others have brought up in the comments thus far, I would recommend Christopher Brown, Emily Eveleth, Ed Paschke, April Gornik, Jorg Immendorf, Markus Lupertz, Audrey Flack, Amy Sherald, Cecily Brown, Frank Auerbach and Vija Celmins just off the top of my head. Cheers,

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi Rio, thank you for tuning and for your suggestions. What a great short list! Will include them without any doubt in our following video of contemporary figurative painters. Thanks and cheers from Belgium

[@TheDreadfulCurtain]

Really interesting .Thanks for putting this on KZbin.

[@contemporaryartissue]

The pleasure is all mine, thank you for watching and for the kind words!

[@kritacafe]

I was looking for Jenny Savile on this compilation. And Kent Williams also. But thats a great list. Congrats!

[@emileconstance5851]

Thanks for putting together this extensive grouping of contemporary painters. Of course we all have our opinions about who should and shouldn't be included, but that isn't a bad thing--it would be worrying if we were all in agreement. Would love some commentary to supplement the images, or perhaps just some discussion. My personal favorites from this group: Uwe Wittwer, Michael Borremans, and Mama Andersson, though there are many others I could add. In any case, I appreciate the time and effort you put toward making this video and look forward to more from you in the future.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi Emile, thank you for tuning in and for your much appreciated kind words. I believe you are 100% right when it comes to having different opinions. Although I must agree on your favorites with Wittwer, Borremans and Andersson. Further, I also believe it would be more interesting to talk about the artists in question a bit more instead of merely showing their artworks. More to come in the future!

[@vicentejouclas2518]

Valeu!

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you so much Vicente!!

[@mamamia6925]

Nice Collection,Thankx!

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you so much!

[@myrnaukelele]

So many amazing artists were presented here. Thank you for compiling this. Andrea Kowch needs to be represented- I see others have mentioned her and that you will include her in another video.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for tuning in and for the kind words. Indeed, I agree 100% and Andrea Kowch will be included in our next video of 150 contemporary figurative painters.

[@dianejodes9966]

missed: Paula Rego, Antonio Lopes Garcia, Vija Clemins ;)

[@contemporaryartissue]

Excellent recital of suggestions! We have taken note!

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hello there dear readers and subscribers! We are pleased to present you the ultimate list of the best 150 contemporary figurative painters. Who did we miss out? Who is your favorite and why? Let us know in the comments. If you enjoyed this selection of artists, feel free to consider reading our publication 'Apologia for Contemporary Figurative Painting and learn everything you need to know about figurative painting: www.contemporaryartissue.com/product/apologia-for-contemporary-figurative-painting/ Thank you for tuning in and enjoy! Erratum: 11. Hernan Bas (b. 1978, US)

[@tumblingrosesstudio]

Thank you, this was so great to view- I appeciated the introduction to many I did not know though not all I loved. Ann Gale and Kent Monkman and Teresa Oaxaca may interest you.

[@aandreiws2]

Who chose the music for this video? If it was you, Julien, congratulations. If it was your editor, give them a raise. The music is as good if not better than the images. Now I'll have to rewind a minute or so, but it was worth it.

[@JuanitoLaguna88]

Hi, there is an error in 10 and 11 both says Francois Bard, but 11 is clearly other artists. It's a very good selection!! all the best!

[@nadiapolicarpova7962]

Thank you for the display of such a wide range of talent from all over the world 🤍. Since, much to my surprise and some sort of national pride, you featured many Romanian artists, would have liked to see among them Romanian artist Dan Voinea and Moldovans Elena Bria and Valeria Duca😊.

[@contemporaryartissue]

I simply adore Romanian painters. It is staggering how much talent is coming from Romania. In fact, we also made a separate video on the Cluj art scene. Yes, Dan Voinea I missed, the others are new to me, I'll have look ;-)

[@mrbillchard2336]

A lot of exciting and original work presented here. I only knew a few: Botero (a chubby chuckle) Hockney and Katz. I'd like to suggest you consider an Australian, Sarah King (1963 - 2008), for possible inclusion in the next video (if you do another). She was popular but not very well known outside of her hometown. I could forward some images if you're interested.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for watching, your kind words and also the suggestion of Sarah King. The artists in the video are indeed not as familiar as a David Hockney or Alex Katz. However, I am convinced this new generation of painters consists of many painters who are the Hockney's and Katz's of tomorrow.

[@pkpapers]

1:10 - Ellen Altfest; 14:15 - David Hockney.

[@ericswain4177]

My top pics are: Jonas Burgert, John Currin, Zeng Eanzhi,Remus Grecu, Gottfried Henwein, Oda Jaune.

[@contemporaryartissue]

What an interesting selection, terrific taste. Thanks for sharing!

[@clubdedibujobogota7609]

Magnifica selección. Gracias por compartir

[@contemporaryartissue]

The pleasure is all mine. Thank you for tuning in!

[@chuckeelhart1746]

Thank you very much for this!

[@contemporaryartissue]

My pleasure! Thank you for tuning in!

[@artworld9799]

Great art works💚💚💚

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for tuning in!

[@conformism1]

Very nice. Waiting for the next 150 😉

[@contemporaryartissue]

Dear god! Sounds good to me, feel free to make any suggestions :-)

[@ET-iy3nv]

Thank you for your video. ^^

[@contemporaryartissue]

The pleasure is all mine!

[@samuele.m.b.sedilesm.7340]

Proud to see Fernando Botero in top 20. Greetings from Colombia.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Botero is such a great artist! Greetings from Belgium

[@DanielLopes-jt8yl]

The Figure will always be with us. It encapsulates our stupidity, cunning, intelligence. It reveals us as beautiful while showing how ugly we are. It hides the reality of life by letting pretty surfaces speak over the underbelly of our illusions and gross macerations of age. When we become to vain the figure will turn and reveal it’s disgust of us, we and or them. The you and me of the figure never leaves us and we will never leave it. Nice music fits the presentation perfect‼️

[@nataliahousse231]

Was Jordan Casteel on the list?

[@liveweddingartbyeunie]

Thank you😊

[@alexhudsonq]

Enjoyed that. Tim Gardner and George Shaw spring to mind.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi Alex, thank you for watching. Great suggestions for our sequel video. Thanks!

[@alexhudsonq]

@@contemporaryartissue Your welcome (sub'd) Would like to mention Sara-Vide Ericson and Maria Kreyn too

[@contemporaryartissue]

@@alexhudsonq Welcome! Yes, Maria Kreyn, great shout. I didn't know Sara-Vide Ericson up to now, big thanks for sharing

[@emanueldesousa77]

Also, Paula Rego

[@iyshin]

Appreciate huge compilation of such marvelous artworks. Just curious how you deal with copyright issues of the paintings.

[@Hvantmiki]

It is fair use. He isn't trying to sell the paintings as if he painted it or use it to sell a product with it.

[@wahidnazari3678]

NICE. 👍

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for watching!

[@wahidnazari3678]

@@contemporaryartissue 🤟🇦🇲

[@bifeldman]

Even Chopin’s music could not save this schlock.

[@masterpainters1706]

Thanks for this. Can I ask a quick question? Did you have to get permission to use these images or is that unnecessary? I'm asking for myself as I would very much like to be able to use living artists works in some future videos for my channel. I would be extremely grateful if you could let me know how you went about this. Thanks again and I hope we get to talk sometime soon. Glenn.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi there, nice to get acquainted. Of course, feel free to send me an email at [e-mail] to discuss further. Looking forward to our correspondence!

[@zahrada9746]

Interesting from psychological and sociological point of view. Although all of these painters are very talented indeed I've got a strange impression that nowadays it's hard for us to still believe in human consistency as individuals. Deconstructed times ;) Thank you for great videos!

[@contemporaryartissue]

I agree! Interesting analysis and I am also convinced the selection of these painters is a sort of mirror to our society and state of mind of humanity today. Deconstructed times indeed... Thank you for tuning in and for the comment

[@stefanpop6091]

This is 53% ACCURATE!!

[@John-qi9cj]

Mind blowing

[@contemporaryartissue]

Exactly. Thank you for tuning in!

[@marclepoul8426]

Great review! To be continued … 🤩 thanks

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for watching and for your kind words. To be continued indeed!

[@stephaneheinrich]

Very nice selection and great compilation of artworks. If i may say: A liitle too much of Europe and the US, just 1 from South-America few African artists... 1 little detail for Chinese you put family name first that not follow the same logic compare the others. I learned a lot of new names, thanks your presentation!

[@tedreilly3352]

I would add; Bo Bartlett, Eric Fishl & Andrea Kowch (USA) and Tsering Hannaford (Australia)

[@isabellamusulo9190]

Ted Reilly: Guillermo Lorca (Chile, extraordinary), Öde Nerdrum (Norway).

[@contemporaryartissue]

I can't believe we missed Fischl, Bartlett and Nerdrum! Kowch, Hannaford and Lorca too. I'll write their names down for our next video on contemporary figurative painters, 144 to go :-)

[@1johnroome]

Interesting. Thanks for an informative post. I would love to know what criteria were used for this selection.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi there John, thank you for watching. We have simply selected contemporary figurative painters ranging from mid career artists to established artists. Feel free to make any suggestions for our upcoming videos

[@kennethfisher7013]

very nice that took some work to put together, thank you. what do you think of Golucho?

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for tuning in and for your kind words, the pleasure is all mine. Excellent suggestion, we will include his work in our next list of contemporary figurative painters!

[@kennethfisher7013]

@@contemporaryartissue thank you, I look forward to it!

[@sorinblaguescu6122]

Number 11 is Hernan Bas for those wondering

[@contemporaryartissue]

Indeed!

[@degas7aaa274]

Antonio Lopez , Golucho, Adrien Ghenie, Luis Caballero, Vincent Desiderio...

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for watching and for the terrific suggestions. Ghenie currently sits in number 49, Lopez, Golucho, Caballero and Desiderio will enter our next video on contemporary figurative painters.

[@jazw4649]

Not a single Canadian Artist! Here's a few good figurative ones: Shelly Alder, Erin Armstrong, Kim Dorland, Eliza Griffiths, Sarah Letovsky, Shantel Miller, Erik Olson, Marion Wagschal, Janet Werner, Matthew Wong, Chloe Wise +++ USA: Claire Tabouret, Allison Zuckerman, Nadia Waheed, Bambou Gili

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi there, thank you for the great suggestions! For our next video on contemporary figurative painting we will certainly include most of them (if not all!)

[@annekeengerardbroekmanveld4278]

kim dorland !

[@wzekanoski]

Odd Nerdrum?

[@contemporaryartissue]

Yes! Can't believe we missed him!

[@mamamia6925]

no Baselitz?

[@contemporaryartissue]

I thought he was included, but I could be mistaken. Anyway, he should be in this selection for sure! Thank you for tuning in

[@NoelLago1]

GRACIAS BUENA RECOPILACIÓN.

[@contemporaryartissue]

The pleasure is all mine! Thank you for watching

[@sduncanfoto]

some of it has merit

[@contemporaryartissue]

Certainly!

[@glebbaranov7801]

Thanks for video but I stll cannot understand why we have such great modernism's school in past and so poor and monotonous modern artworks now. My top from this list: Peter Doing , David Hockney, Anselm Kiefer, Neo RAuch, Terry Rodgers< Ruprecht von Kaufmann. Other artists look like as pop art-frankeinstein. Can you explain me why?

[@danielvmelim.studio]

haha, Frankenstein Pop seems to be a thing really. But some of the Frankies are great.

[@luciajoubert9371]

This is wonderful! Andrea Kowch please!

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi there Lucia, thank you for watching and for your kind words. Yes, Andrea Kowch is a must for our next video of contemporary figurative painters :-) !

[@monicacaputo238]

Creo que es un informe sesgado y subjetivo ...hay muchos artistas respañoles y latinoamericanos que faltan

[@lucanava9430]

Thank you for this video. There is an error, artist number 11 is Hernan Bas

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi there Luca, thank you for watching and for pointing out the error. We have mentioned the error in our pinned comment. Hopefully it is our only mistake... Fingers crossed!

[@andreis7]

at no. 11 is Hernan Bas (not Francois Bard)

[@contemporaryartissue]

Yes, thank you for pointing out. We mention the 'erratum' in our comment pinned at the top. Hopefully it's our only mistake... Fingers crossed!

[@michaeldesmond6927]

more than just 11, several by Bard are in fact by Bas.

[@contemporaryartissue]

@@michaeldesmond6927 All three paintings by artist 11 are indeed from Hernan Bas instead of Francois Bard

[@PeterPanInDisguise]

You missed Guillermo Lorca, he is from Chile.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Yes indeed, he's terrific!

[@rohityossarian]

Quite an experience

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for your kind words, I agree!

[@ARJIWNL]

@1:31 Why is that painting considered “figurative art”? Can a painting of an animal be considered “figurative art”? Or is that painting an allegory of the human body? Is “figurative art” the same as “figurativism”? @3:04 Why is a portrait a figurative art? Mustn’t figurative art consist of an actual figure, a human body? I’m lost 🤯

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi Ji Mu, thank you for tuning in and for your interesting question. There is a clear difference between 'Figurative Painting' and 'Figure Painting'. With the first, we refer to all art in a figurative/representational visual language. The latter consists of painting actual figures, most often academic nudes.

[@mamamia6925]

This list contains Talents ,good but second tier painters and long time "Superstars" like Richter,Katz etc.. I doubt if this reallyis a good idea. But it is an good overview ,what happens in this market.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Why would it be a bad idea to combine established artists with mid-career artists? Thank you for tuning in once again!

[@colemanhawkins]

Alice Neel, Lucian Freud, John Bratby. Maybe too old for the list ?

[@contemporaryartissue]

Three great calls, but indeed. We have focused for living painters or painter primarily born after 1950/1960. But three great artists that would fit in perfectly

[@Eris123451]

Interesting.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for watching

[@ragodesign]

Nicola Samorì without the three iii's ;)

[@contemporaryartissue]

Well spotted! Something clearly went wrong and wasn't filtered when reviewing. Apologies!

[@druvaraj2547]

♥️

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for tuning in!

[@StudioYulianto]

Banyak info penting disini.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thank you for tuning in once again

[@marypartridge5154]

They seem to be trying so hard to be different and original and find weird compositions that they are loosing what say Paul Gaugin and Monet had and that is originality and beauty.

[@contemporaryartissue]

I believe they are all very original and some really beautiful pictures here. But neosurrealism is very present in this selection for sure.

[@kuikai100]

สวย

[@craigrobinson99]

Seems like illustration and surrealism is all the rage.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Yes, you're absolutely right. And today, we also see some more stylized, very colorful figurative paintings. Interesting to see these trends come and go, following our natural urges and desires.

[@deerush1388]

Interesting list but very European leaning. Shocked not to see Wangechi Mutu or Derek Fordjour

[@contemporaryartissue]

You are absolutely right, two major absentees for sure!

[@muybridge1571]

Claire Tabouret

[@antarart]

Walton Ford

[@contemporaryartissue]

Great suggestion, and thank you for tuning in!

[@Icimaintenant9]

❤️ Noah Davis

[@contemporaryartissue]

Such a gem!

[@krpbdp]

Xue Jiye

[@contemporaryartissue]

Great shout, great painter. One for the next video!

[@JorgeSantos-rm9bi]

Rsrsrsrs… o critério foram os 150 melhores! Quem propõe outros nomes, deve propor quem retira dos que aqui estão - porque em 150 não cabem 200! Será?

[@metinkaya67]

👏👏👏🙏🙏

[@LilyCierra]

Adam Lupton

[@Foxglove963]

Painters without purpose, without meaning, and mostly without beauty, lost in space, without direction, low consciousness, with self evaluation, no contemplation. Disgusting stuff, silly and foolish.

[@contemporaryartissue]

All 150 painters? Sounds a bit harsh right?

[@williamzelazo5691]

true

[@davidbevilacqua2061]

Very nice painters that mostly I never heard of them before. Strange, romanian artists seem to be over-represented, not I have something against romanian artists, quite the contrary but I doubt they are more than in US, France... or any other countries in western europe.

[@MarysJanuszPazdzioch]

Absolutely. After viewing this presentation ( and you aren't very familiar with contemporary art) you may think that Romanian artist are on the very top but they aren't. I'm very glad that Michael Borremans work has been chosen to be on the front before you start watching movie!:) (I'm not Belgian)

[@contemporaryartissue]

@@MarysJanuszPazdzioch The Romanian art scene has been highly influential for contemporary figurative painting in the 21st century. The so-called Cluj School (of Painting) with Ghenie, Bercea, Suciu, Savu and Man took the art world by storm by the of the 00s, as a result they have a very strong presence in this list.

[@koosverwey]

Whaw

[@contemporaryartissue]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@camilopalomino8319]

Horrible la música, para desanimar a cualquiera. Pero gracias de todas maneras por difundir a los pintores.

[@antoniogonzalezgarcia3182]

None from Spain, e.g. Antonio Lopez-Garcia or Madrid Realists. Only one from Slade School. None of the Perceptual Painters from the US. No Racstraw Downes, etc.

[@Gabesmythart]

Theyre so obviously using an algorithm to pick these artists, I feel like there is no human decision making in these choices.

[@FrancoisMouton-iu7jt]

So many variants of Neo Rauch.Sadly lacking in imagination.

[@subhashnisarta9232]

According to my opinion everyone has some sance in their mind and 💝🎗️🎁 trying to put on the canvas or drawing paper 📜🗞️ as well as ability of skills id own beliefs goal can represent most of all breaking the law of attraction by dividing line spacing forms and 💝🎗️🎁 that is the main objective in drawing and painting 🖌️🎨 with using different methods material and 💝🎗️🎁 medium 🔉 how to apply them for the presentation 💝🎁 in this is the final version vision and 💝🎗️🎁 visualization.

[@RobertOkolski]

po co pisać, że najlepsi... jak tego nie widać.

[@ditchgebhard7716]

It’s all just too fast to appreciate and absorb!

[@ArtofClovis]

Jeremy mann should be on this list

[@JohnBorstlap]

One can never say 'best of today' for the simple reason that art needs a long time to filter-out the nonsense. The qualities of the cancasses shown here, are só unequal, that it is very clear that the selection is entirely random and apparently carried-out with a minimum of standards.

[@MarysJanuszPazdzioch]

The quality of works of some painters are much, much lower than others shown here as well. I'm not sure they are happy about that.

[@contemporaryartissue]

We used a mix of primarily established and mid-career artists to achieve a certain standard. So it depends on how one interprets the 'quality' of the paintings

[@MarysJanuszPazdzioch]

@@contemporaryartissue That's certain standard is too low. Too many. Some works should be shown with great and worth millions works of Doig or Borremans.

[@contemporaryartissue]

@@MarysJanuszPazdzioch There is indeed a large difference between some of the artists when it comes to their career. With anthology as extensive as this it was impossible to select 150 highly established contemporary figurative painters. Maybe an anthology of the most important contemporary figurative painters could be a great new video in the future

[@ramonlopeznote]

This is a list subject to very close scrutiny and debate. Many dont deserve being in this list, some important ones are missing. I disagree with this classification.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Hi Ramon, thank you for tuning in and for your honest thoughts. Who do you believe is missing?

[@martielelia7708]

gapwkq #von.ngo

[@KpxUrz5745]

I don't respect unworthy (and largely untalented) artists, and this includes all those shown in this video. Sorry, gotta do better than that if anyone wants to compete with any of the great masters throughout art history.

[@Midichi]

LOL this list is good and all but still laughable. So many highly skilled painters didn't make the cut. Let me curate the next one.

[@chrisgriffith1573]

Yup. More than half of them are ten years the younger of myself, put them back on the shelf for another decade to ferment.

[@contemporaryartissue]

Feel free to make any suggestions for our upcoming videos of contemporary figurative painters. Be my guest!

[@sduncanfoto]

sad

[@ikravchik]

All these paintings are eerily similar: degenerate and void of meaning. None of these painters will be remembered in 100 years.

[@briantjepkema7758]

It's all so contrived. Not one of them holds a candle to Van Gogh!

[@fineartsandartforlife]

It is called contemporary, that list. That is painting taking place about now.

[@briantjepkema7758]

@@fineartsandartforlife Contemporary art is basically art made after Warhol. Van Gogh is at the beginning of the Modern era. I can't think of any current painters who are really good. Peter Doig is about the best of them but even his work is largely derivative.

[@fineartsandartforlife]

@@briantjepkema7758 I agree, with now I was taking a shortcut given this is just a KZbin forum. I was just cringing to see VanGogh summed up as contemporary. I studied with Peter Doig when he was teaching at the academy and attended his colloquia. He is a highly authentic, observant and genuine man and doesn't mind to be compared to Munch etc. He is a very humble person who truly cared for his students when he was a professor.

[@sayub3588]

Retitled; famous figurative painters today instead of the best.

[@williamfarley6857]

After spending 2 yrs. at RISD and 2 yrs at CIA I have to conclude that much of this is crap.

[@milonso650]

Rosa loy souldnt be on this list. she is just making bad copies of her husbands paintings. if u didnt know, its neo rauchs wife...

[@contemporaryartissue]

I believe many painters from the Neue Leipzig Schüle are reminiscent to Rauch, which is not a surprise as they were kind of doing the same thing in the first place before his career took off. Loy does have her own twist, but some works and compositions are indeed strongly alike. However 'copies' may sound a bit too harsh in my opinion

[@davidwilliams8405]

What a dreadful, tiresome collection of what amounts to visual incoherence, disjointed, anemic and poorly painted...hubris or what used to be a grand tradition in the field of art.