Underrated art markets : Polish artists to watch
Looking beyond the big cities
Having worked in the emerging art sector for years, I’ve learned that the most compelling artistic talent isn’t always found in the major metropolitan art scenes. Art history and market dynamics often suggest that groundbreaking work originates in cultural capitals like London, New York, or Paris. While these cities undoubtedly serve as global art hubs with unparalleled market opportunities, they are not necessarily the best places for discovering truly fresh perspectives.
Take London, for example—where I live and work. The city is overflowing with aspiring artists, many of whom come from the same art schools, circulate within similar networks, and develop practices that, while technically proficient, can often feel homogeneous. Artists influencing one another is inevitable, but when too many emerging artists operate within a shared framework, it risks limiting innovation. As both a collector and a curator/advisor, I actively seek out new voices and perspectives, and I firmly believe that diverse cultural and social environments are crucial in fostering artistic originality.
With 195 countries in the world, each home to its own unique artistic scene, why restrict the search to just a few well-established art capitals? While some artists eventually migrate to these hubs, the most exciting discoveries often happen before they arrive. For collectors and curators looking to stay ahead of the curve, engaging with emerging artists before they reach mainstream recognition can be incredibly rewarding—both in terms of artistic impact and investment potential.
One of the most overlooked yet promising regions for contemporary art is Eastern Europe. The depth of talent, rich cultural narratives, and unique socio-political influences make it a fascinating market for discovery. In upcoming newsletters, I will explore different countries in this region, starting today with..
Poland
-the home of famous artists Jan Matejko or Tamara de Lempicka Poland’s rich history, marked by resilience, struggle, and a deep sense of identity, has had profoundly influenced its artists.
From the heroic uprisings and partitions to the tragedies of World War II and the fight for freedom under communism, Polish artists have often drawn inspiration from themes of resistance, hope, and national pride. Today’s generation of artists has the freedom to create and express oneself. Spanning themes from the feminist art movement to explorations of identity and self-portraiture, a new wave of Polish artists is redefining contemporary expression.
Artists to watch / artists to collect
Like last time I split the selection into three categories - the third being the most exciting for me ( and hopefully for you too)/
🖼️The ultra-contemporary stars high for net worth collectors
🖌️The 'promising' or 'rising stars' for passionate collectors
🎨early career- emerging names for the next generation of art collectors
I’m so happy you covered this! I think that off-the-beaten track cities (or even countries) are a very interesting starting points for young collectors. If I may, I would love to suggest 2 Polish galleries that I have recently stumbled upon: I discovered Leto Gallery from Warsaw at the art fair Arco & I also would like to suggest Mad Art Gallery in Poznan (the gallery director also has a gallery in Belgium called Uitstalling Gallery).