Up and coming contemporary artists - chosen by experts

Matt Connors

Practice: painting

Click image to start slideshow of this artist's work ?

In reality, Chicago-born painter Matt Connors has very little emerging left to do in the US; however, he's still less well-known in Europe, despite various appearances in group shows over the years and solo spots at Breeder, Athens.

It's easy to see why his (generally) vibrant, bold abstractions have caught the attention of US pundits: clear references to important American precursors are mediated by a less heroic, more tentative and playful presence (Connors himself has described his work as "a monumental presentation of doubtful marks".

Apart from a continuing stream of US showings and a milestone, institutional debut in 2011, several solo shows are planned for Berlin, with further continental appearances bound to follow.

All of which means that Europeans should find plenty of opportunities to reappraise a talent they've been slower - perhaps with some reason - to wholeheartedly embrace.