Artnet News asked four curators and four art advisors from around the world to each select one artist they believe is poised to break out in 2026. The article profiles the first two of eight artists: Indonesian artist Bagus Pandega, known for kinetic plant-based installations, who has had solo shows at Kunsthalle Basel and Swiss Institute New York; and Max Hooper Schneider, a Los Angeles-based artist creating aquarium-like works blending organic and artificial materials, recently exhibited at 125 Newbury gallery in New York.
This article matters because it identifies emerging talents who address urgent contemporary themes such as migration, technology, ecology, and diasporic identity, offering a curated forecast of the next generation of significant artists. For collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts, these predictions signal which artists may gain institutional and market momentum in the coming year, making it a valuable resource for tracking early-career trajectories in the art world.