Emerging Talents: New Contemporaries at South London Gallery
Leading organisation, New Contemporaries provides support for emerging artists across the UK through mentorship, exhibitions and residences. This year 26 artists from across the UK have been selected to exhibit their artworks at the South London Galley between 30th January – 12th April.
The Most Promising Emerging Artists in the UK
‘Set’, 2025, Oil on canvas – Isobel Shore
Photo: Urban Adventurer
“Artists renew society. They are everywhere – in every part of the UK, in every circumstance – but they can’t do it alone. Our job is to make sure their voices are heard and supported. We’re leading the way for artists, and we won’t stop advocating for them.” – Kiera Blakey, Director, New Contemporaries.
New Contemporaries was founded in 1949 by artis to support emerging and early career artists, many of whom later shaped the landscape of contemporary art. David Hockney, Mona Hatoum, Tacia Dean and Chris Ofili are all alumni at New Contemporaries.
New Contemporaries has been supporting early career talents for over 75 years and each year they select the most promising artists making sure they represent the most diverse artistic practices across the UK, including photography, moving image, painting, sculpture and more.
‘Goodbye Evergreen’, 2025, polychromos pencil drawing – Aaron Alexander Smyth
Photo: Urban Adventurer
In 2026, the selected artists have the opportunity to exhibit their artworks at both locations of South London Gallery (the Main Gallery and the Fire Station Galleries) as well as at MIMA, Middlesbrough throughout the first half of the year.
Here’s the list of the 26 selected artists:
Viviana Almas, Kat Anderson, Hadas Auerbach, Timon Benson, Lakshya Bhargava, William Braithwaite, River Yuhao Cao, Ali Cook, Shaun Doyle, Ally Fallon, Samantha Fellows, Alia Gargum, Oliver Getley, Makiko Harris, Manuel Alejandro Hernandez Rivera, Deborah Lerner, Gregor Petrikovič, Will Pham, Isobel Shore, Maya Silverberg, Aaron Alexander Smyth, Christopher Steenson, Varvara Uhlik, Eliza Wagener, Benjamin Waters, and Yimin Xiang.
‘Slide’, 2025, mild steel. Container: plywood, tarpaulin, water, black dye – Varvara Uhlik
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Varvara Uhlik is a Ukrainian artist whose artworks examines generational trauma and cultural memory, while Chinese contemporary artist, Yimin Xiang focuses on digital printmaking.
Ali Cook is a photographer who loves to portray local animals and birds and also enjoys painting wildlife.
‘Sentinel’, 2025, Powder coated and incalux brass plated, steel, aluminium and brass – Makiko Harris
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Makiko Harris is an interdisciplinary artist exploring feminism and identity through painting, sculpture, moving image and sound. “My work explores connection, family, the body, the erotic and performative, and I am inspired by my own life, the people in it, my connection with them.” – Makiko Harris. (https://www.newcontemporaries.org.uk/2025/makiko-harris)
Christopher Steenson is a Northern Irish artist with psychology background. He uses sound, video, digital media, analogue photography and writing to create art that “locate audiences within a ‘dreamtime’ – a space between the pasts, presents and futures and negotiated on the continuum.” (https://christophersteenson.com/about)
A series of related events will be hosted by South London Gallery during the exhibition. Click here to find out the events.
Practical Info
Untitled, (Encounter/Tormentor), 2025, Oil and ink on canvas – Eliza Wagener
Photo: Urban Adventurer
Address
South London Gallery | 65 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8UH
(Closest station Peckham Rye)
Opening Times
30th Jan – 12th April 2026
Mon & Tue: CLOSED
Wed: 12pm – 9pm
Thurs – Sun: 12pm – 6pm
Tickets
The exhibition is FREE to visit | NO booking required
Ready for your next adventure? Permanent Jane Austen experience is opening in London early this year. You can dress up like your favourite Jane Austen character, learn how to write with a quill and learn more about the extraordinary life of the famous author.