River Yuhao Cao, The Glass Essays, 2024, still from moving image, 16 mins. 40 sec.
New Contemporaries, the leading organisation supporting early career and emerging artists in the UK, presents its annual group exhibition showcasing 26 artists selected through an open call by Pio Abad, Louise Giovanelli and Grace Ndiritu.
The artists engage with dystopian futures; critical responses to the climate crisis, gentrification, experiences of displacement and systems of power. They explore our relationships and connections with each other, our ancestors, and digital technologies across time and geographical borders.
“We have chosen a diverse range of artists from all over the UK, with a variety of mediums and points of view, that are both visually arresting and can help bring a little bit of joy and beauty into an increasingly difficult world.” – Artist selector Grace Ndiritu
NEW CONTEMPORARIES 2026 ARTISTS
Viviana Almas, Kat Anderson, Hadas Auerbach, Timon Benson, Lakshya Bhargava, William Braithwaite, River Yuhao Cao, Ali Cook, Shaun Doyle, Ally Fallon, Samantha Fellows, Alia Gargum, Oliver Getley, Makiko Harris, Manuel Alejandro Hernandez Rivera, Deborah Lerner, Gregor Petrikovič, Will Pham, Isobel Shore, Maya Silverberg, Aaron Alexander Smyth, Christopher Steenson, Varvara Uhlik, Eliza Wagener, Benjamin Waters, and Yimin Xiang.
Alongside the exhibition, New Contemporaries will present a series of events developed in response to the exhibiting artists’ interests. To be the first to find out about upcoming events at the South London Gallery, sign up to our mailing list.
ABOUT NEW CONTEMPORARIES
Artists renew society. There will always be artists and new artists are everywhere. New Contemporaries have over 75 years’ experience of helping artists through the new. They do this with advice, introductions, opportunities, exhibitions, mentoring. They partner with major institutions such as the Institute of Contemporary Arts, MIMA Middlesbrough and the South London Gallery. Every year they organise a public exhibition, with work from new artists who have been selected by internationally renowned artists. Internationally renowned artists who once were also new.
New Contemporaries 2026 will also travel MIMA Middlesbrough from 8 May – 16 August 2026.
The New Contemporaries Programme is generously supported by Arts Council England, Art Fund, the Emerging Artist Circle, Fenton Arts Trust, Henry Moore Foundation, TFA London and OMNI. Our 75th Anniversary Fundraiser, held in partnership with Christie’s, was made possible by the generous contributions of contemporary artists and led by our Development Committee.
ACCESS
- The Main Gallery and Gallery 1 are well lit.
- Fire Station Galleries 2-4 have low lighting.
- Seating is available on request.
- There are film works and a kinetic sculpture in the Fire Station galleries which are loud.
- All films over 10 minutes long have seating
- Films are subtitled or have transcripts available
- The total watch length of all the films is approximately 1 hour.
- The film in Gallery 4 of the Fire Station has a content warning and is not suitable for children
- All children should be supervised during their visit. Babies and toddlers should be held or in prams.
- The quietest time to visit is generally on Wednesdays between 6 and 9 pm.
- Large print guides, magnifying glasses, ear defenders and a wheelchair are available.
