Create! Magazine is thrilled to announce the finalists for Issue #54: our 9-year anniversary edition celebrating nearly a decade of amplifying emerging and mid-career contemporary artists from around the world.

This milestone issue honors the artists, curators, and writers who have shaped our community since 2013. Each page reflects the spirit of creativity, resilience, and innovation that defines the independent art world today.

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Guest Curators

Ekaterina Popova – Artist, Founder of Create! Magazine, Coach, Entrepreneur
Alicia Puig – CEO of PxP Contemporary, Director of Create! Magazine, Arts Writer
Christina Nafziger – Curator, Editor of Create! Magazine, Arts Writer

We extend heartfelt gratitude to every artist who submitted work to this special open call and to our talented team of curators for their thoughtful selections.

Finalists Selected by Our Team

Chad Lubertowicz
Kirsti Smith
Yana Tymoshenko
Raoul Korzuschek
Jenny Carrillo
Kuan Hsuan Lu
Troy Dugas
Leisa Rich
Carrie Cantwell
Cozy Soga
Julie Pelaez
Yian Lee
Ashley Snook
Anelia Lazaroff Torres
Svetlana Matveeva
Sam Wilde
Gosia Karski
Genre Sun
Emma Grace Hapner
Ali Hall
Kyle Goderwis
Chris Beaty
Alice Goidea (algo7)
Tori McLean
Evie Hinojosa
Angela Lane
Cassidy Argo
Leyla Cui
Cindy Ruskin
M. Hyatt (Matthew Hyatt)
Margot Dermody
Hagar Vardimon
Sandra Attales
Kim West
Denise Brook
Andrew Traub
Aunia Kahn
Pierce Scantlin
Brenda Welty

Congratulations to all of the finalists featured in this milestone issue!

In This Issue

Alongside our featured artists, Issue #54 includes exclusive interviews and essays written by Christina Nafziger, Alicia Puig, and Ekaterina Popova spotlighting inspiring creatives who are shaping today’s cultural landscape.

Sergey Piskunov: Finding Emotion Through Precision

Ukrainian-born hyperrealist painter Sergey Piskunov shares his journey from engineering to fine art, exploring the emotional resonance of portraiture and the balance between classical technique and contemporary meaning.

Women Working in the Arts: Hayley Price White

As the founder of The Scouted Studio, The Art Coaching Club, and Founders Society, Hayley Price White merges her passion for art and business to empower creatives. Her story highlights how strategy and creativity can thrive side by side.

Threads of Devotion: An Interview with Embroidery Artist Anna Hultin

Anna Hultin traces her path from graphite drawings to intricate embroidered works. Her tactile practice reflects a deep reverence for mark-making, craftsmanship, and connection through thread.

A Haunted Aesthetic: A Conversation with Painter October Sharify

In this intimate conversation, October Sharify and Christina Nafziger explore how horror and gothic aesthetics can reveal hidden truths and offer catharsis through art.

Celebrate With Us

Issue #54 marks nine years of creative excellence and the incredible growth of the Create! community. We are endlessly grateful to every artist, writer, and reader who continues to support our mission as an independent, artist-run publication.

Create! Magazine Issue #54: NINE will be available soon. Stay tuned for the release announcement, and join us in celebrating nearly a decade of art, inspiration, and community.