State of the Art | 4 Artists You Need to Know

HUNT SLONEM

With more than 350 exhibitions at prestigious galleries and museums internationally, Hunt Slonem is well-known for his creative artwork depicting repetitive bunnies, exotic birds, butterflies and florals. Bonner David Galleries in Scottsdale frequently showcases the latest series of paintings and glass sculptures by Slonem. 

Slonem’s artistic flair and love for nature and far-off destinations has been evident since childhood, he was born in 1951 in Kittery, Maine, and then spent his formative years traveling due to his father’s role as an officer in the Navy. Earning his degree in painting and art history from Tulane University in New Orleans, Slonem began his art career in Manhattan, exhibiting pieces around New York City’s explosive contemporary arts scene.

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Today, his distinct, neo-expressionist style can be found around the world in the permanent collections of museums, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney, the Miro Foundation and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Drawing inspiration from nature, history and his travels, Slonem continues to create inspiring contemporary works using expressive and highly-textural brushstrokes.

DAVID YARROW

Getting up close and personal with large and wild animals is not an uncommon occurrence for photographer David Yarrow. Recognized as one of the best-selling photographers in the world, Yarrow’s work is on display in leading galleries and museums across Europe and North America, including in Scottsdale at Relevant Galleries.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1966, Yarrow focuses on large monochromatic black-and-white photography. His work often features a juxtaposition of an unusual animal in an unexpected location—like a wolf-dog sitting in the front seat of a car with model Brooks Nader. 

Yarrow began his career as a photographer for The London Times, where he took an ICONIC shot that took him down a trajectory of success. Since the start of his career, his immersive photography has drawn in art collectors from around the world.

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LIN JINGJING

Born in Shanghai, China, Lin Jingjing earned a bachelor’s of fine arts from the Fine Art department of Fujian University, studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing and earned a master’s degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York.

Jingjing’s artwork explores the connection between social and personal identity in the context of modern society, creating a surreal effiect in her artwork with layered painting and mixed media. Her artwork primarily focuses on themes of paradox—confusion and quest, existence and absence and constraint and resistance—and exploring how people define themselves to the world.

One of her standout artistic styles is the layering of thread over painted canvas to create a unique dimension. Showcasing her artwork through performances, installation, painting, mixed media and video, Jingjing’s work has been featured in exhibitions all over the world, including at De Sarthe Gallery. 

CHRISTOPHER JAGMIN

Local Arizona artist Christopher Jagmin has pieces on display at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art that blend the lines between anxiety and art. 

“I am afraid. I’m afraid for you. I’m afraid for me. I’m afraid for our country, and very anxious about the future,” Jagmin states in his portfolio. “Even though I’m not quite sure what to add to the conversation to help make this a better place to live, I still have hope.”

Focusing on a theme of reflecting humanity in his artwork, Jagmin earned his bachelor of arts in fine arts at Indiana University’s School of Fine Arts. His work has been on display at many exhibitions around the nation and right here in Arizona, including at the annual Canal Convergence event held in Scottsdale.