Best Paintings of 2025
A curated collection of the most breathtaking and innovative paintings from around the world this year. Discover emerging talents and celebrated masters in this annual showcase of artistic excellence.
Mastering Emotion in Contemporary Art
Artist: Alessandro Florio
One of the newest additions to Maddox Gallery, Alessandro Florio is a tattoo-artist-turned-painter whose work is deeply inspired by his Sicilian heritage. Born in Taormina on Sicily’s east coast, Florio draws on the island’s rich history and natural beauty. His paintings seamlessly blend elements from Byzantine mosaics and frescoes with a reductionist style, creating streamlined forms and softened figures that honor tradition while offering a contemporary take on figurative art. Florio held his first solo exhibition in 2023 at the historic Palace of the ex-Magistrates’ Court in Taormina and later presented nine works with the Gitano Faena Group during Art Basel Miami. In December 2024, he showcased three paintings at Art Miami during Art Basel, all of which sold within two days. Working from his atelier in an ancient Taormina building, Florio draws inspiration from the surrounding history while capturing the soul of Sicily, past and present. By merging classical beauty with expressive brushwork, his work feels both timeless and fresh, appealing to a diverse audience.
Exploring the Essence of a Culture
Artist: Touils
Following the runaway success of his first solo exhibition at Maddox Berkeley Street and a move from France to Dubai, Touils, artist and cultural explorer, had an eventful 2024. Building on this momentum, he will unveil his latest body of work at Maddox Berkeley Street in February. Touils’ narrative-driven paintings explore diverse cultures, capturing their essence through richly layered strokes that imbue each canvas with vibrancy and light. His signature vertical lines create a textured backdrop, adding warmth, luminosity, and depth to his compositions. Growing up without the means to travel, Touils initially painted scenes from the places he visited in his dreams. Following the success of his breakthrough show, he relocated to Dubai, immersing himself in a dynamic new environment. This experience inspired his Arabic Collection, a contemporary tribute to the customs, ceremonies, and traditions of Arabic culture. Active on Instagram, Touils frequently shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of his creative process, cultivating a devoted audience of fans and collectors. With the success of True Colours in 2024 and anticipation for his new collection, Touils exemplifies a bright and promising future for contemporary art.
On the Brink
Artist: Jessica Brilli
Jessica Brilli, artist and former graphic designer, creates work steeped in nostalgia. Predicted to make a significant impact on the art world in 2025, she draws inspiration from her childhood in Long Island, New York, crafting retro-infused paintings that evoke the warmth of days gone by. Her soothing color palette, reminiscent of faded photographs, stirs long-forgotten memories, offering viewers a comforting sense of familiarity in today’s complex world. Influenced by Edward Hopper, Brilli’s style reflects early 20th-century American Realism. Her evocative portrayals of life in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s explore the nuances of the American Dream, combining historical richness with a haunting, cinematic quality. Each work’s introspective tone captures solitude and contemplation, making her paintings timeless and emotionally resonant. Before transitioning to full-time painting, Brilli enjoyed a successful 20-year career as a graphic designer at Harvard University, where she honed her mastery of color, form, and composition. Awarded the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant in 2021, she debuted her work in the UK in 2023, followed by her solo exhibition Dreamstate at Maddox Berkeley Street in September 2024. Featuring 24 captivating paintings, the near-sellout show was met with critical acclaim. Currently, Brilli is preparing two new works for the Maddox group show Connecting Outcomes (16th January–1st March 2025), alongside upcoming exclusive collaborations with Maddox throughout the year.
Experimenting with Abstraction
Artist: Sam Smyth
Among the contemporary artists to watch in 2025 is Sam Smyth, a British abstract painter whose oversized works investigate the interplay of color, form, and composition. The son of a paper engineer who designed pop-up books—a whimsical craft grounded in mathematics, geometry, and precision—Smyth approaches his practice with the same meticulous attention to detail. Celebrating the joy of creating tangible, vibrant art, his paintings captivate viewers through the optical and physical qualities of color and pigment. Smyth’s creative process blends discovery with refinement. Often inspired by accidental color interactions or geometric forms, he experiments and hones these elements until they evolve into cohesive works. The finished pieces radiate energy, with subtle optical effects—vibrations, shimmers, and interactions—that imbue each painting with movement and life. Exclusively represented by Maddox Gallery worldwide, Smyth has gained recognition through high-profile public projects, including a mural for The Conran Shop and a custom wrap for Audi’s Q8 e-tron. Following his debut in Maddox’s Moving Through Colour group show on Berkeley Street, London, he is preparing for his first solo exhibition in spring 2025, where he will unveil experimental three-dimensional and kinetic works that merge painting, sculpture, and motion. With bold, innovative abstract art predicted to shape the 2025 scene, Smyth’s upcoming creations are not to be missed.
Redefining Art Through a Feminine Gaze
Artist: Deborah Segun
Based in Lagos, Nigeria, Deborah Segun is a contemporary African artist known for her bold, fragmented portraits that explore exaggerated shapes and forms. Her depictions of the female figure fuse Cubism with modern abstraction, creating compositions that are both tranquil and assertive. Through interlocking planes of harmonious color, Segun celebrates the richness and complexity of womanhood. Her voluptuous figures command the canvas, framed by sharp lines that guide the viewer’s eye. Layered colors, overlapping patterns, and tactile surfaces give her work a warmth and depth that is often lost in digital reproductions. Each piece invites viewers to look beyond the surface, engaging with the diverse narratives of feminine experience. Segun first exhibited in Nigeria in 2018 and has since held solo shows in London, Ghana, and Athens. Most recently, three of her works featured in Maddox’s Moving Through Colour group exhibition in winter 2024, coinciding with her highest-profile solo show at BEERS London at the Saatchi Gallery. With ongoing participation in major group exhibitions in 2025 and a growing global audience, Segun is an artist to watch closely in the year ahead.
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