Laurențiu STROE is a Romanian painter known for his raw, expressive style and textured surfaces. His artwork stands out through thick layers of paint, powerful brushstrokes and pallette knives, and a strong emotional presence. Using the impasto technique, STROE applies paint so heavily that it creates a sculptural texture, adding depth and movement to the canvas.

I am a Birmingham-based artist whose work explores spiritual and emotional landscapes through fluid forms and layered textures. Through my paintings, I seek to express feelings and inner states that words cannot easily convey. I developed my practice through studying Fine Art, where I began to explore the interplay of texture, movement, and the sense of presence in painting. 

Angelo Asaro is an Italian artist based in London. His journey bridges engineering and art: after earning a Master’s degree in Engineering and building a successful career as a Product Manager, he eventually followed his true calling — art. This transition allowed him to combine analytical precision with deep creative expression. Angelo’s work fuses surrealism and symbolism with strong conceptual depth, drawing inspiration from literature, philosophy, and psychology. His art has been exhibited internationally in galleries, art fairs, and virtual showcases, and has appeared in publications such as British Vogue, Vanity Fair, and leading art blogs. In 2024, he was a finalist in the ArtGemini Prize and the Zari Art Prize, both celebrating exceptional contemporary talent. He was also selected for the XV Florence Biennale and the London Art Biennale 2025, two of the most respected international exhibitions of contemporary art. Tell us about yourself. How have your roots and experiences shaped your artistic vision? My work is deeply rooted in the exploration of the human condition — the emotional, social, and philosophical threads that define who we are. My visual language combines symbolism, surrealism, and contemporary narratives, all rendered with meticulous attention to detail. My creative vision has been shaped by a rich tapestry of influences — literature, philosophy, artistic movements, and a deep investigation of psychological and existential themes. Growing up in Sicily — a land of powerful contrasts, layered histories, and a profound cultural legacy — played a fundamental role in my artistic development. The island’s literary and cultural heritage often centred on themes like identity, solitude, and the fight against social injustice, has greatly influenced the emotional and conceptual core of my work. This background fuels my desire to create art that resonates on both personal and universal levels — inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences and the intricate web of connections that shape our world. How would you define your artistic style, and what themes are central to your work? My style is a hybrid of surrealism, symbolism, and elements of pop art. I often use vivid colours, precise detail, and unexpected juxtapositions to blur the boundaries between reality and imagination. The result is a visual language that’s both accessible and layered — inviting viewers to look closer, then think deeper. At the heart of my work are recurring themes: the search for identity, the fragility of existence, and the tension between individuality and conformity. 

Breaking the Frame: Art, Emotion, and Connection By Ernesto Artig As an abstract artist, I work from the inside out. My process is intuitive, raw, and rooted in emotional truth. Each painting begins as a conversation—between parts of myself, between tension and release, between what’s visible and what’s felt. I use mixed media to layer meaning and texture, letting each piece evolve organically until it speaks with its own voice. But for me, the art experience shouldn’t stop at the canvas. That’s why I founded the Connecting Conditional Art Movement (CCAM). What is the Connecting Conditional Art Movement (CCAM)? CCAM is a response to how disconnected the art world—and often the world itself—can feel. At its core, it’s about creating emotional bridges between people through the artwork they collect. Each piece within CCAM exists in dialogue with a counterpart. When a collector acquires one of these works, they agree to share their contact details with the buyer of its companion piece. In doing so, they become part of a living network—a community connected not just by ownership, but by shared resonance. This movement invites us to look at art not as a commodity, but as a conduit. A spark. A starting point for something more human. Below are four examples of paintings that are part of the CCAM. Each one holds its own emotional and visual language, but also reaches outward—toward its counterpart, and toward you.  If you’re an artist who feels aligned with the ethos of the Connecting Conditional Art Movement and would like to contribute your own paired works, I invite you to get in touch. You can reach me at hello@ernestoartig.com .

In the vibrant and ever-evolving landscape of Ghanaian contemporary art, Ahmed Partey stands out as a visionary whose work offers a profound meditation on ancestry, identity, and transformation. Based in Accra, Partey’s practice spans painting, pastel, sculpture, wood carving, and immersive digital technologies—including virtual and augmented reality. At the center of it all is a guiding philosophy he calls Afro-Ancestral Spiritualism: a worldview that reimagines West African spiritual heritage through a symbolic, surrealist lens. Rooted in Ritual, Reaching Toward the Unseen Partey’s work emerges from deep engagement with traditional African visual systems—particularly Ga Samai, a sacred symbolic language of the Ga-Adangbe people of Ghana. Since 2017, he has expanded this lexicon from 30 to nearly 100 symbols, breathing life into what he calls “speechless voices”—nonverbal forms that transmit ancestral wisdom across generations. His figures are elongated, mask-like, and rendered in charged states of stillness or transformation—guardians of memory who exist somewhere between the spiritual and the surreal. These figures are not portraits, but vessels: containers of emotion, myth, and psychic memory. His compositions, shaped by Ghanaian cosmologies and folklore, collapse time and space.

What theme do you feel runs like a red thread through all of your work? 
It’s hard to single out just one, but at the core is definitely my desire to show the world in all its forms — as I see it. Through light, through movement, through rhythm. I want to express what matters to me at a given moment, my constant fascination with people, nature, and the city I live in. Sometimes circumstances push me to reflect philosophically. That’s when more unexpected pieces emerge, even for me. This year I’ve been focused on nature — painting the subjects I love most: animals and the natural world. So, would you say that a deep love of life is your driving force? 
Yes, I really believe people should strive for constant growth — and for that, you need a positive direction. Of course, it’s not possible to always be in high spirits, but keeping your thoughts on an optimistic track helps move forward. Inspiration fuels the creative process, but success also requires discipline and hard work. Do you work in bursts or to a schedule, even when the muse is silent? 
I just start painting, thinking, working. Inspiration comes during the process — and my muse is always there. Sometimes quiet, but always present. I’m a very hard-working person. I don’t need much sleep, and art gives me energy. Exhibiting and creating recharge me, like I’ve added more hours to the day. Artists, like musicians, need daily practice — like vocal warm-ups for singers. When inspiration and the right emotional mood align, the result is something truly special, and the viewer can feel that surge in the work.
At art school, we were taught that after finishing a major piece, you should grab a small canvas and do a quick sketch. The difference between the two is striking — the first is calculated, the second pure emotion. Your colour palette is full of life — that’s immediately noticeable. 
I do love vibrant colours. I’ve tried working in more muted, monochrome tones, but they don’t give me the same thrill once finished — they don’t stir strong emotions. That’s why I’m not fond of watercolour. It feels too subdued, lacking in energy. I want an explosion of colour and emotion. A painting should make you want to hang it on your wall — to bring joy and positive energy into the space.
I create for people who are drawn to beauty. It’s important to me that my art feels relatable, something people connect with — not just a future investment in a promising artist, but something personal. Maybe that’s how my inner rebellious streak comes out in my work. Sometimes I’ll start a loose, expressive underpainting and love it so much it feels like a shame to tidy it up. You’ve taken part in numerous exhibitions in the UK, including solo shows. What are your goals as an artist moving forward? I’d like to exhibit more often not only in the UK but also across Europe and the US — ideally joining smaller themed exhibitions every six months, and holding solo shows every couple of years. I’m also planning to launch my own art project where fellow artists and I will create themed works across various media and styles, and host large-scale collaborative events. I love engaging with people and inviting them into the creative process. So you're hoping to take on the role of curator? To organise and shape the project yourself? 
Exactly — to develop the theme, write the concept, and produce a catalogue. It could include small sculptures, mosaics — we could bring in artists from different disciplines through open calls. And it would be amazing to take the project on tour around the country!

My name is Luis Pedro Picasso. I have been a graphic designer, illustrator since my childhood, and painter. Before commencing my studies, at the tender age of 8, I began my journey into the art world, creating illustrations with graphite pencil. After completing high school, I pursued my studies in graphic design at Instituto Bios in Montevideo, Uruguay, and I graduated at the age of 23. My enthusiasm for art and drawing has driven me to continuously refine my skills across various techniques. In April 2020, at the onset of the pandemic, I began taking painting classes. This opportunity allowed me to cultivate a unique style free from any external theoretical influences. I started drawing on the knowledge I had amassed over the years, crafting my own unique style and approach to painting. Life serves as our greatest teacher and mentor; our experiences form the foundation of our skills, while those around us and our cherished ones are our primary sources of inspiration. 

Meng Li is a London-based contemporary artist and printmaker originally from China. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication Design from Sichuan University and is currently pursuing an MA in Printmaking at the University of the Arts London. Her practice explores the relationship between life and existence through inanimate objects, examining themes such as the boundaries between object and subject and the interplay between human society and the natural environment. 

My name is Haru Mihoko and I am a painter currently working in Japan. I have loved drawing since I was a child and studied fine art and graphic design in my student days. After that, I continued to draw freelance, doing illustration work and illustrated packaging design for souvenir sweets, and now I am mainly working on creating paintings. I mainly use mixed media techniques to create beautiful landscapes, women's paintings, abstract art, etc. in delicate colors.