Cultured magazine celebrates the tenth anniversary of its Young Artists list by reuniting 27 artists from past editions for a photoshoot at MoMA PS1, photographed by Dana Scruggs. The article reflects on the 247 artists featured since 2016, noting their diverse backgrounds—from MFA graduates to autodidacts—and includes candid responses from artists about challenges like financial survival, creative evolution, and absurd collector questions.
Meriem Bennani, a New York-based artist known for her shape-shifting practice of videos, installations, and immersive environments, gained viral fame during the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. She co-created the animated series '2 Lizards' with fellow artist Orian Barki, which depicted surreal, humorous conversations between anthropomorphic reptiles navigating the first weeks of the pandemic in New York City. The series, posted on Instagram, resonated widely and led to eight episodes. Bennani's broader work, including 'Life on the CAPS' (2018–2022) and 'Mission Teens' (2019), blends digital animation, live-action footage, and cultural critique, often exploring themes of diaspora, post-colonialism, and migration through dystopian, supernatural narratives.