The New Contemporaries annual exhibition opens at the ICA in London, marking the beginning of the organisation’s 75th anniversary year celebrations taking place throughout 2025.
35 emerging and early career artists from across the UK have been selected to take part in the prestigious touring exhibition by artists Liz Johnson Artur, Permindar Kaur and Amalia Pica. As well as being included in the exhibition, the exhibiting artists have access to a range of opportunities including mentoring, talks, and workshops through New Contemporaries’ Bridget Riley Artists’ Development Programme. New Contemporaries and the ICA share a long-standing relationship and commitment to supporting early-career artists. The ICA hosted New Contemporaries from 1964 to 1986, its relaunch in 1989 and subsequent presentations into the 2010s.
The exhibition marks the beginning of a year of anniversary celebrations for New Contemporaries. ‘A Vision with Artists’ is a major programme taking place throughout 2025 which includes new commissions, public programmes, artist residencies and research designed to create new possibilities for artists and empower them to shape their own futures.
The 35 artists selected for the New Contemporaries exhibition are: Motunrayo Akinola, Libby Bove, Max Boyla, Molly Burrows, Fergus Carmichael, Mya Cavner and Edith Liben, Karen David, Roo Dhissou, Beverley Duckworth, Georgia Dymock, Tom Fairlamb, Farzaneh Ghadyanloo, Sara Graça, Dageong Han, Siomha Harrington, Anna Howard, Fi Isidore, Asmaa Jama and Gouled Ahmed, Laura Kazaroff, AC Larsen, Sophie Lloyd, Hazel O’Sullivan, Sun Oh, Sara Osman, Saul Pankhurst, Varshga Premarasa, Elliott Roy, Millie Shafiee, Sai Stephenson, Valentino Vannini, Joshua Whitaker, Danilo Zocatelli Cesco, and Yang Zou.
The exhibition offers an overview of urgent lived concerns, interests and social realities from this generation of artists. Themes include: the fluctuations and cycles in the natural world, sustainability and decay; boundaries, borders and fragmented memories; the commodification of mindfulness, self-care, pop culture and consumerism. Other works explore conviviality and social gatherings, juxtaposed with those that suggest anxieties or discontent in an increasingly alienating and digitally accelerated world.
Artist selector Amalia Pica said,
“It was a true privilege to have such an overview of what artists in the UK are making today. We reviewed many applications and the conversation with the other two selectors was always engaging. I believe we ended up with a solid list and cannot wait to see all the works together in the exhibition and meet the artists.”
New Contemporaries, 15th January – 23rd March 2025 ica.art/new-contemporaries
Before travelling to the ICA, the exhibition launched at KARST, The Levinsky Gallery and MIRROR in Plymouth where it ran from 28th September to 7th December 2024.
For more information on the exhibition and New Contemporaries’ anniversary year, visit newcontemporaries.org.uk
About
Founded in 1949 by artists and for artists, New Contemporaries is committed to fostering an environment where emerging and early-career artists are empowered to shape their own futures. By prioritising artist-led initiatives, we aim to disrupt traditional hierarchies and challenge the status quo. Our community-driven approach ensures that emerging voices are not only heard but are central to pioneering new ideas and support structures. Through collective action and shared resources, we build a foundation that champions diversity, collaboration, and long-term sustainability for the next generation of artists.
New Contemporaries supports emerging and early career artists through an annual artist development programme that culminates in a prestigious national touring exhibition, selected by internationally renowned artists. Our commitment to fostering the next generation of talent is amplified through our partnerships with major institutions such as the South London Gallery, MIMA Middlesbrough, the British Council, and Hospitalfield in Scotland. @NewContemps
New Contemporaries is an Arts Council of England National Portfolio Organisation.
New Contemporaries is supported by Arts Council England, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Bridget Riley Art Foundation, Henry Moore Foundation, TFA London and Art Fund.
