222 EMERGING ARTISTS TO INVEST IN – 2026
Maria Positano, Emanuele Resce, and Martina Zanin have been selected for the 2026 edition of “222 Emerging Artists to Invest In”, the volume curated by Cesare Biasini Selvaggi for exibart, recognized as one of the leading publications in the Italian contemporary art landscape.
The project was conceived to provide an updated mapping of the most significant and innovative artistic research, spanning a plurality of languages from painting and sculpture to performance and installation, as well as digital, sound-based, and new technological practices. The 2026 edition takes shape as a collective narrative built through a multiplicity of critical perspectives and sensibilities, portraying a contemporary scene that is dynamic and constantly evolving. More than 95% of the featured artists appear in the volume for the first time, underscoring a commitment to identifying new energies and emerging viewpoints.
Rather than a ranking, 222 Emerging Artists to Invest In positions itself as a tool for reading the present and interpreting the possible future directions of Italian art. The concept of “investment” is understood primarily in cultural terms: the selected artists are presented as active and aware voices, capable of reflecting the complexities of our time and redefining the boundaries of visual language.
The selection is the result of extensive research and dialogue with gallerists, curators, critics, foundations, and specialized journalists.
Through distinct languages and approaches, Positano, Resce, and Zanin pursue authentic and personal artistic research that engages with the present and interprets its transformations. Their inclusion in such a significant context confirms the quality and depth of their practice, strengthening their presence within the contemporary art scene.
