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Four young artists in London you need to know about

Written by
Grace Banks
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With the rise of social media diversifying the global art market, it's now possible for artists to become famous in even the most remote parts of the world. Some curators argue that this has taken the sheen out of the established art scenes of the world’s big creative cities like London, but a crew of artists are proving the capital is still one of the most exciting places to experience cutting-edge contemporary art. How? By rebooting its historic art hubs with everything from installations to internet chat rooms. 

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

If you saw Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s first major exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in June you’ll be familiar with her haunting portraits. Yiadom-Boakye’s metaphysical characters are completely fictionalised, a unique brand of portraiture that’s clearing up at auctions. If you want to see her stuff up close, she's taking part in group show 'The Tightrope Walk: The Painted Image After Abstraction' at the White Cube Bermondsey, opening on November 25. 

Installation view, Binary Function, Oscar MurilloImage courtesy David Zwirner Gallery

Oscar Murillo

Fusing methods of Colombian food production with critiques of American capitalism, Colombian-born Murillo’s works radicalise every space they appear in. His work appears in group show 'Albert the kid is ghosting' at the David Roberts Art Foundation until December 12. 

Michael Italy, Celia Hempton, oil on canvas Image courtesy the artist

Celia Hempton

For Finsbury Park-based Hempton, inspiration comes as quickly as firing up an internet browser. For the last two years, she’s been accessing video chat rooms and painting exactly what she sees. Hempton holds open studio sessions in which the public can view these full frontals, and in January 2016, will exhibit them at Whitechapel Gallery as part of 'Electronic Superhighway', a exhibition of over 100 artworks that explores the impact of computers and the internet on artists from the '60s to today.

Installation view, Prem Sahib: Side on, Institute of Contemporary Arts

Courtesy Institute of Contemporary Arts

Prem Sahib

Following cameos in a series of group shows, Sahib opened his first major solo exhibition at the ICA this October. The exhibition coincided with Frieze London and has cemented Sahib’s status as a visual poet of the city. With standout work In the Hood encased puffa jackets – the show caught the attention of Jay Jopling. Catch his work next summer at the Southard Reid gallery in Soho.

Find out what else is happening on the London art scene.

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