Instead of Doomscrolling, Discover These Underrated Artists
Artists to discover when you want inspiration, not algorithms
(Originally published on ArtRKL as “Hidden Gems: 20th and 21st Century Artists You Should Know”)
There are pieces I publish on ArtRKL that feel more personal than others. This one always did. When I first wrote it, I was not trying to define a movement or follow a trend. I wanted to share artists who have shaped my perspective on painting, storytelling, and imagination. Their work reminds me why looking at art feels different from scrolling through content. It slows the mind down. It teaches patience and wonder.
That is why I wanted to bring this piece to Substack. It feels at home in a space meant for reflection rather than the endless scroll. Think of it as a guide to discovery: nine artists from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries whose work offers quiet brilliance and lasting depth.
A Personal Guide to Hidden Gems
Art history often highlights the same circle of names. Yet beyond the familiar figures lies a wealth of artists whose work is rich with imagination, intellect, and emotion. These artists shaped my own sense of art and vision. Some lived in the early twentieth century, others are working today, but all deserve recognition. Their paintings, drawings, and images carry personal worlds that invite viewers to slow down and look closely. This list is my personal curation of artists who have left lasting impressions on me.
Alfredo Castañeda
The Mexican painter Alfredo Castañeda created works filled with dreamlike imagery and poetic reflection. His paintings often feature figures in surreal landscapes, blending symbolism with psychological depth. Castañeda’s art explores identity, solitude, and the passage of time. I admire how he crafted paintings that feel meditative and personal, as if opening a window into an inner world. His ability to balance intimacy with universality makes him one of my favorite discoveries, inviting viewers into meditative worlds that balance intimacy with universality.

Florine Stettheimer
Florine Stettheimer lived in New York during the early twentieth century and brought together art, literature, and theater. Her paintings present vivid scenes of social gatherings, city life, and domestic interiors. With bold colors and a lyrical touch, she captured her circle of intellectuals and artists with wit and affection. I love how her paintings celebrate her world while also challenging ideas about what modern painting could be. Stettheimer was an independent spirit who carved her own space in a male-dominated field, and her legacy is only now receiving fuller recognition.

Daria Petrilli
Daria Petrilli is a contemporary Italian illustrator whose ethereal images feel timeless. She often combines surreal compositions with soft colors and delicate forms. Her art blends digital techniques with the spirit of classical painting, producing works that are both modern and rooted in history. I am drawn to the way Petrilli creates dreamscapes where human figures appear fragile yet robust. She shows how contemporary illustration can achieve the poetic quality of fine art.
George Underwood
George Underwood began his career in music but soon found his true voice in painting. His works mix fantasy, portraiture, and symbolic detail. Figures in his paintings often appear otherworldly, with elongated forms and mythic qualities. Underwood’s friendship with David Bowie shaped both their artistic journeys, and his images carry a sense of music and rhythm. I enjoy how his paintings bridge the worlds of popular culture and fine art while remaining deeply personal.

Domenico Gnoli
Domenico Gnoli focused on everyday details and transformed them into monumental visions. His close-up paintings of shoes, hair, clothing, and furniture highlight textures and forms that usually escape notice. With a precise technique and an eye for the overlooked, Gnoli created works that are both humorous and contemplative. I admire how his paintings remind us to look more carefully at the small elements of daily life. They feel both intimate and universal, revealing beauty in what is ordinary.

Fatima Ronquillo
Fatima Ronquillo is a contemporary painter whose works echo the tradition of European portraiture while weaving in symbolic and allegorical elements. Her subjects often appear in historical costumes yet speak to modern ideas of identity and love. Ronquillo’s paintings carry a strong sense of narrative, as if each canvas holds a hidden story.
Prudence Flint
Prudence Flint is an Australian painter known for her contemplative portraits of women. Her figures often appear in domestic settings, surrounded by soft light and carefully arranged objects. Flint’s style is serene yet powerful, with a focus on the psychology of her sitters. Her paintings remind us that everyday life can carry great beauty and meaning.

Malwina de Brade
Malwina de Brade is a Polish artist whose works explore memory, imagination, and the fluid boundary between dream and reality. She works across drawing, painting, and installation, often creating pieces that feel both personal and universal. Her art demonstrates how subtle gestures can evoke deep emotion.

These artists represent different places, styles, and times, yet they share a spirit of individuality and imagination. From Castañeda’s meditations to Petrilli’s surreal illustrations, from Stettheimer’s lively salons to Flint’s quiet portraits, each artist expands how we think about art. By highlighting them together, I hope to offer readers a path into worlds that are less well-known but deeply rewarding. If you enjoy reading about artists who move beyond the mainstream, consider joining the ArtRKL Inner Circle. It is where I share more personal essays, private curations, and early access to upcoming features before they appear on the main site.