Three emerging artists to watch

In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary art, a new generation of artists is redefining the boundaries of painting, pushing their mediums to explore memory, human connection, and the complexities of modern existence. Among them, three artists represented by THE TAGLI stand out for their distinctive approaches and compelling visual narratives.

Afonso Rocha, born in Portugal in 1999, examines the intricacies of social and interpersonal dynamics through a unique collage-like approach to painting. His layered compositions weave together diverse references, creating multifaceted portraits that blend irony and humour with acute social commentary. Rocha, who holds degrees from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Porto and the City & Guilds of London Art School, has been recognised with grants from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation. His work, often infused with wit, offers a sharp reflection on contemporary life.

Similarly introspective yet strikingly different in execution, Zach Zono, a self-taught artist born in Cape Town in 1999 and now based in London, engages with the sensations of memory. His abstract canvases serve as visual meditations on personal experiences, blending reality and imagination to create works that resonate with emotional depth. Zono’s practice is guided by intuition, resulting in compositions that evoke a sense of timelessness and fluidity, inviting viewers to explore their own recollections through his expressive brushwork.

In contrast, London-born artist Piers Alsop (b. 1984) adopts a more figurative yet enigmatic approach. His multidisciplinary practice—spanning painting, drawing, and collage—treats the canvas as a stage where anonymous figures occupy ambiguous spaces, caught between abstraction and reality. Often exploring themes of solitude and human detachment, Alsop’s work creates introspective vignettes that challenge the viewer’s perception. A graduate of Camberwell College of Arts, his work has been exhibited internationally, including at Zona Maco in Mexico City and Neon Gallery in London.

Together, these three artists embody the shifting narratives within contemporary painting, each offering a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on the human experience. With growing recognition, their work is undoubtedly one to watch.

Dimitrios Tsivrikos is founder of contemporary art gallery, The Tagli (thetagli.com)