The South is a culturally abundant region of the United States, home to the largest biennial of international contemporary art in America, Prospect New Orleans, as well as NADA Art Fair Miami Beach and Art Basel Miami Beach, two of the most important contemporary art gatherings in the country. As the art scene in this part of the country continues to flourish, New American Paintings is eager to highlight exceptional contributions from up-and-coming Southern artists with outstanding points of view.

We are delighted to have Barbara O’Brien, Curator at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri, as the juror for this edition, and her selections reflect the diverse makeup of the region as well as her interests as a curator. With this edition we are also introducing Editor’s Selections with each new issue, a handful of artists selected by our editorial staff to be included in the exhibition in print.

Jen Stark, Celestial Continuum (detail), 2009 | felt-tip pen on paper, 26 x 40 inches

For this edition’s Spotlight feature, we explore the recent work of Miami-based artist Jen Stark, first featured in Edition 70. Captivated by naturally occurring organic forms, Stark’s kaleidoscopic palette is inspired by the tropical city she calls home, and her numbered art-making practices make incredible use of ordinary materials. (Read more about her work here!)

As the largest and most important series of artist competitions in the country, New American Paintings is focused on introducing talented emerging artists to the art milieu at large, including contemporary art museums, curators, collectors, and dealers on the hunt for new and exciting work. We are pleased to include a conversation with Miami gallerist Eric Charest-Weinberg, who lets us in on how he builds his gallery roster, his thoughts on multidisciplinary practices, and what advice he has for emerging artists. Also included is a brief Q&A with this edition’s juror, providing further insight into her perspective as a contemporary curator. After more than 15 years, our mission of facilitating contact between artists and enthusiasts remains stronger than ever, due in part to the participation of renowned art professionals such as these. Edition #88 now on newsstands! —EJG