The 2025 art year is drawing to a close. Looking back, the art world seems to have found its footing again after years of digital hyperventilation – from NFTs to AI-generated images. We are seeing a renaissance of the tactile, a longing for the brushstroke that carries physical presence and human emotion.
It is no longer just about “what” is depicted, but very much about “how.” At Favori Art, we follow this renewed belief in the power of painting closely. Our curated positions reflect not fleeting fashions but substance.
Which movements dominated the 2025 collecting year and will remain relevant in 2026? We have identified three central tendencies that are reflected in our current portfolio.
1. Neo-Emotionalism: The Canvas as a Resonating Space
After a phase of cool conceptual art, we are seeing a powerful return of expressive gesture. But this is not the wild, at times aggressive Neo-Expressionism of the 1980s. The current we saw in 2025 is more vulnerable and more psychological – yet just as intense.
It is about making inner states visible in a complex world. Artists use color and form not only to depict but as a direct vehicle for emotion – from anxiety and chaos to quiet hope.
The Favori Art position:
Take a look at the work of Matthias Hübner. His paintings (think of titles like “Neon Scream” or “Chaos”) are prime examples of this tendency. They are not “pleasing” – they are honest. They capture the psychological vibrations of our time.
For collectors, this means: art that does not just decorate a space but charges it with energy and invites dialogue.
2. Lyrical Abstraction & a New Closeness to Nature
Alongside emotional figuration, we see a strong movement in abstraction that is turning back to nature. In 2025, as technology permeates our everyday lives, abstract renderings of the experience of nature become a visual anchor.
This is not landscape painting in the classical sense but the feeling of landscape. It is a “lyrical abstraction” that uses light, atmosphere and organic forms to create spaces of calm and contemplation. Color itself becomes the event, detached from any concrete form.
The Favori Art position:
Artists such as Sadik Uslu embody this current masterfully. His works (like “Grüne Wiese”) are color field paintings that breathe. They bring the essence of nature indoors without merely depicting it. These works offer collectors visual retreats – “slow art” for fast times.
3. Narrative Pop & Stylized Figuration
The third major tendency is an exciting hybrid. It blends the bold aesthetics of Pop Art with a new, often enigmatic way of storytelling. These artists use familiar codes – bright colors, clear contours, modern icons – but charge them with personal or social stories.
It is painting that seems accessible and “modern” at first glance (think of the “Neon Tiger” aesthetic of Erich Graf), yet on closer inspection reveals complex human relationships or ironic commentary on consumer culture. The stylized, almost theatrical portraits of Christine Graf also belong here: they tell stories but leave viewers room for their own interpretation.
The Favori Art position:
These works are perfect for collectors who want to capture the zeitgeist without compromising on painterly quality. They are visually strong, often large-format, and act as statement pieces that still carry narrative depth.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Trust the Brushstroke
What do we take into the new year? The insight that, in an increasingly virtual world, the physical artwork – the original that bears the traces of human work – is becoming more valuable than ever.
The trends of 2025 show an art that wants to feel, to breathe and to tell stories – whether through expressive force, quiet fields of color or intelligent pop aesthetics.
At Favori Art, these are exactly the positions we curate: art with a stance that resonates beyond the moment. We invite you to discover these tendencies in our current online collection and find the work that resonates with your 2026.
