The Top 25 Artists of 2010 (So Far)

Notable in 2010 So Far:

Notable in 2010 So Far: Maestro Knows

• Levi is a talented videographer, a good editor, and an all-around good dude. His site, maestroknows.com continues to improve, and we've been checking it regularly for the past six months.

Notable in 2010 So Far: McGee released a book, put together an impressive installation at the SF MOMA for its 75th anniversary, and just opened a new show at the Bolinas Gallery in California.

• Barry McGee delivers each time you hear his name, and the artist continues to one-up himself whenever his name appears on a gallery announcement. Pieces like the above from the SF MOMA make the kids say, "Yup, this dude is the shit."

Notable in 2010 So Far: Viking ship parade in Philadelphia, Oakley's "Love and Guts"show, Barneys window displays

• We first got put on to Dennis McNett a couple years back through a show he did at KCDC in Brooklyn, and we've had the opportunity to watch Dennis' influence spiderweb across categories. From collaborations with skate brands to Jeffrey Deitch's Art Parade to the Barneys collaboration up now, this guy is one to watch.

Notable in 2010 So Far: : "Ghost in the Machine" tape and VHS portraits

• Erica unravels tapes and makes these awesome "drawings." She just did some Beethoven ones that are insane—check them out on her site, iri5.com.

Notable in 2010 So Far: Snapping some sweet pics in hyper-realism, dropping vids off the 7D, and shooting John Mayer on tour

• 13th Witness' 2010 has been consistent with his other years: shoot a bunch of pictures, make them look awesome, and get hooked into cool creative jobs. So yeah, this is a good year for him so far.

Notable in 2010 So Far: Show at Gering and Lopez, upcoming projects with Complex

• Todd James kicked the year off with a bang at Gering and Lopez: all the boobs, bombs, and cartoon nightmares any one single person could ever hope for. He's a Complex homie, and he continues to put out good stuff on the reg.

Notable in 2010 So Far: Show at Honor Fraser, lots on the way

• To be honest, we didn't know about this dude until KAWS put us on to him. Since his show in L.A. at Honor Fraser, we've been taking notes though, and this is some serious shit. Lazzarini takes simple 3D models and then mathematically distorts them, creating some weird half-world between 2-D and 3-D. It really has to be seen in person.

Notable in 2010 So Far:

Notable in 2010 So Far: Dank Nugz, The High 5 Skateboards, "Werd Life" art show at KCDC, Nike SB Dunk High

Notable in 2010 So Far: Lee became the co-publisher of DC Comics in 2010.

• According to his Wikipedia, "Lee is currently one of the most successful artists in American comics." In February he became co-publisher of DC Comics, a pretty big deal. He's not one to watch, he's one to bow down to.

Notable in 2010 So Far: LEGO guns, Air Force 1s

• Futura kicked off the year with his wide-release Syracuse x Nike collaboration and then followed it with the Yankees champ series a few months later. While he waited for checks, Mr. 2000 became a LEGO zen master, sorting gray bricks out of sets, and then built a series of life-sized replicas of various military weapons. Waiting for that collabo announcement any day now.

Notable in 2010 So Far: Giant retrospective at the NYC MOMA, did his own thing with Alice in Wonderland

• Tim Burton didn't really have to do much in 2010 to kill it—he's already done it. The retrospective had been designed well before New Year's and Alice was pretty much finished by the time he packed his shorts up for the fall in '09. This year was when we got to re-experience this bizarre mind, though, and we're better for it.

Notable in 2010 So Far: Became partner in the clothing company No Mas, signed on as the creative director for the Nike 255 iD space in NYC, and released the book A Decade of Swiss Design in Brooklyn. Also 12ozprophet.com blogger extraordinaire.

• Kimou being good at art and design is nothing new. Him reaching out in NYC and making a name for himself is nothing new. But in 2010, dude made some power moves. The book was a dope look back, and the No Mas/Nike alignment was a look to the future. Go by the iD space if you get a chance and see for yourself.

Notable in 2010 So Far: His show of new work, "Everyone Knows This is Nowhere," his M.I.A. shoot for T magazine, his photo story of Olympic athletes for T magazine, and getting Kate Moss naked

• McGinley's spring show, "Everyone Knows This is Nowhere," was a departure from his signature style, a flexing of McGinley's renegade talent. He also showed that he still owned soft color, though, with banger stories for T with M.I.A. and Shaun White.

Notable in 2010 So Far: Awesome street art in NYC and all over the damn place

• ROA is a Belgian street artist who visited NYC this May for a show at a gallery called Factory Fresh in Brooklyn. When his work popped up, both the scale and the execution was impressive. We set to figuring out who this guy was, and some Google searching brought us up to speed. We suggest you do the same.

Notable in 2010 So Far:

Notable in 2010 So Far: Stussy T-shirt collaboration, Nike Sportswear collaboration series for the World Cup, Juxtapoz cover, Amos toys, Sony Japan animated advertisements

• James Jarvis kicked off 2010 with his lifestyle line for the England football team that included apparel and a Footscape collaboration. Since then, the Brit has gone nonstop and has remained as entertaining as ever.

Notable in 2010 So Far: Participant in the Whitney Biennial, Opening Ceremony T-shirt collaboration

• Aurel Schmidt has gone from homeless person to art darling, from the streets to the Whitney in just a few years. This year's Biennial placement was supplemented by the Opening Ceremony collaboration. Expect to see her all over the art blogs as she hits hyperdrive in the next few years.

Notable in 2010 So Far: Women are Heroes documentary debut at Cannes, "Eurotrash" exhibition in Beverly Hills, collaborations with Vihls in downtown L.A.

• JR's Women are Heroes documentary finally screened this year at Cannes, and it was received well, as many could have guessed. This French street artist has been on a rampant pace, and 2010 has seen bigger and better projects, including the standout downtown L.A. work with Vihls.

Notable in 2010 So Far: Show at the Aldrich Museum, KAWS Dissected Companion Be@rbrick (Black), KAWS x Wonderwall

• No matter what year or season or whatever, KAWS would probably be on this list. The guy is a driver of our culture and has worked with all the brands we follow with a magnifying glass. The past six months have been solid for the artist, and KAWS' show at the Aldrich Museum in Connecticut is worth traveling to see. It's open until January 2, so no excuses.

Notable in 2010: "If You Don't Belong, Don't be Long" at O.H.W.O.W. in NYC, tattooing the world

• When we heard Scott Campbell was having a show in NY, we were psyched. "Should be cool." When we went by to check it out, the sentiment quickly changed to: "Holy shit." Talk about a step up. Laser x money is a win win.

Notable in 2010: Nike x Parra x Patta Air Max 1, Parra show at Project Space, Arktip Gallery in L.A.

• As far as artists who everyone knew would be on this list, Parra joins KAWS as a sure thing. And like KAWS, Parra had an impressive early 2010 as well. His Air Max 1 with Patta made the Internet shit its pants, and his show at the Arkitip space in L.A. opened to great reviews. His work is as awesome as it is hilarious.

Notable in 2010: Deitch Closing Show, Houston Street NYC mural

• Say what you will, but Shepard is as relevant as he

Notable in 2010: Exit Through the Gift Shop, Sundance stenciling, child drawing series

• If Bansky was self-conscious about selling out, he would have stopped. His work is clever, it is good, and it continues to impress. If you like it, like it. We like Banksy. This year's street art and stunt collection has brightened up our days.