Instagram has become a powerful platform for artists to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and build thriving careers. For art lovers and aspiring creators, following the right art influencers on Instagram can be a great source of inspiration. These creators not only share stunning visuals but also influence trends, techniques, and the way art is consumed online.
In this post, we’ll highlight some of the top art influencers on Instagram who are worth following in 2025.
Top 20 Art Influencers on Instagram
Instagram remains one of the most powerful platforms for visual storytelling, and these art influencers are leading the way. From traditional painters to digital creators and street artists, the following list features artists whose work not only resonates with large audiences but also aligns with brand aesthetics and cultural relevance.
If you’re new to the space or want a clear overview of the types of creators driving engagement online, check out our complete guide to social media influencers.
1. Joan Cornellà
Visit profile: @sirjoancornella
Followers: 3.3M
Niche: Satirical Illustration
Impact: Known for his dark humor and absurd scenes, Joan Cornellà engages millions with content that walks the line between comedy and critique. His distinct visual style and viral appeal make him one of the most recognizable illustrators online.
2. KAWS
Visit profile: @kaws
Followers: 4.4M
Niche: Pop Art / Design
Impact: KAWS merges commercial design with fine art through collectible figures, large-scale murals, and global collaborations. His brand presence is strong across fashion, music, and luxury sectors, making him highly relevant for partnership-driven campaigns.
3. Banksy
Visit profile: @banksy
Followers: 13.2M
Niche: Street Art
Impact: Banksy is the world’s most well-known anonymous street artist. With politically charged and emotionally resonant work, his content sparks viral conversation and public attention. His influence reaches far beyond the art world.
4. Takashi Murakami
Visit profile: @takashipom
Followers: 2.7M
Niche: Contemporary / Pop Culture Fusion
Impact: Murakami blends traditional Japanese techniques with pop culture icons and bright, layered visuals. He frequently collaborates with fashion and consumer brands, creating artwork that’s visually rich and culturally resonant.
5. Sara Shakeel
Visit profile: @sarashakeel
Followers: 1.5M
Niche: Mixed Media / Digital Art
Impact: Shakeel combines glitter, crystals, and surreal edits to reimagine everyday imagery. Her message centers on self-worth and body positivity, topics that resonate strongly with modern audiences and brand campaigns focused on inclusion.
6. Dina Brodsky
Visit profile: @dinabrodsky
Followers: 1M
Niche: Traditional Miniature Painting
Impact: Dina Brodsky is known for her finely detailed miniature landscapes and her role as a curator. Her audience appreciates the slow, meditative nature of her work, offering a contrast to fast-paced digital content.
7. Ellen Sheidlin
Visit profile: @sheidlina
Followers: 4.1M
Niche: Surreal Photography / Fashion Art
Impact: Sheidlina creates immersive, surrealist photo series with bold styling and visual effects. Her work blurs the line between editorial fashion and fine art, appealing to brands seeking experimental storytelling.
8. JR
Visit profile: @jr
Followers: 1.9M
Niche: Street Photography / Public Installations
Impact: JR installs large-format portraits in public spaces worldwide. His work focuses on social issues and community storytelling, making him a powerful figure for cause-driven brands and cultural projects.
9. Yayoi Kusama
Visit profile: @yayoikusama_
Followers: 676K
Niche: Installation Art / Pattern Art
Impact: Kusama is internationally known for her polka-dotted installations and immersive art experiences. Her work has massive cultural cachet and consistently draws global attention to brand collaborations and exhibitions.
10. Shepard Fairey
Visit profile: @obeygiant
Followers: 1.3M
Niche: Political Art / Poster Design
Impact: Creator of the iconic “Hope” poster for Barack Obama, Fairey’s style is bold and immediately recognizable. He continues to influence public art, activism, and merchandise design.
11. Mr. Brainwash
Visit profile: @mrbrainwash
Followers: 1.6M
Niche: Pop Culture Mashup
Impact: A mix of Banksy-style street art and Andy Warhol-inspired pop visuals, Mr. Brainwash delivers colorful, energetic work that often crosses into the commercial art space.
12. David Choe
Visit profile: @davidchoe
Followers: 710K
Niche: Raw Illustration / Mixed Media
Impact: Known for his expressive, unfiltered work, Choe gained early fame from murals and collaborations with major tech companies. His storytelling style is honest, edgy, and deeply personal.
13. Christoph Niemann
Visit profile: @abstractsunday
Followers: 1.1M
Niche: Editorial Illustration
Impact: A frequent contributor to The New Yorker, Niemann uses simple forms and clever ideas to explore daily life and creativity. His work resonates with brands seeking conceptual design and sharp storytelling.
14. Andreas Wannerstedt
Visit profile: @wannerstedt
Followers: 752K
Niche: 3D Art / Motion Design
Impact: Wannerstedt creates hypnotic, looping animations that are smooth, geometric, and oddly satisfying. His work fits well with brands focused on tech, design, or visual innovation.
15. Kode Abdo
Visit profile: @bosslogic
Followers: 2M
Niche: Digital Pop Culture Art
Impact: Known for fan art and official collaborations with Marvel, DC, and gaming companies, Bosslogic’s detailed digital work speaks directly to fandom communities and entertainment audiences.
16. James Lewis
Visit profile: @jamesllewis
Followers: 1.6M
Niche: Hand Lettering / Typography
Impact: James creates vibrant lettering and brush script animations. His videos are highly shareable, and his skillset fits perfectly with branding, packaging, and identity campaigns.
17. Josie Lewis
Visit profile: @josielewisart
Followers: 607K
Niche: Abstract / Process Art
Impact: Known for her colorful resin pieces and soothing process videos, Josie Lewis offers content that performs well across social platforms. Her art evokes positivity, balance, and visual pleasure.
18. Carolyn Gavin
Visit profile: @carolynj
Followers: 473K
Niche: Botanical Illustration
Impact: Carolyn’s hand-painted florals and nature motifs are used in textiles, stationery, and home goods. Her work is bright, uplifting, and brand-ready for lifestyle markets.
19. David Nott
Visit profile: @davidnott
Followers: 597K
Niche: Charcoal / Realism
Impact: David focuses on moody, detailed charcoal drawings that often carry a quiet intensity. His following includes both art lovers and collectors, with content that brings emotional weight to feeds.
20. Terry Runyan
Visit profile: @terryrunyan
Followers: 442K
Niche: Whimsical Illustration
Impact: Terry creates joyful, cat-filled illustrations and watercolor videos that blend charm and consistency. Her content is light-hearted but polished, making her a great fit for approachable, family-friendly campaigns.
Why Brands Should Partner with Art Influencers on Instagram
For brands that rely on design, storytelling, or trend-forward campaigns, Instagram’s art influencer community offers more than creative inspiration. These creators are shaping cultural conversations and visual expectations that drive consumer interest and influence purchase behavior.
By collaborating with the right artists, brands can strengthen their identity, align with audience values, and stand out in visually crowded spaces.
1. Get Real-Time Creative Insight
Instagram is a visual-first platform, and art influencers consistently post bold, fresh content that sets the tone for emerging aesthetics. Following and engaging with them gives brand teams access to a daily stream of creative ideas, from unique compositions to color stories and layout styles, that can directly inspire product design, campaign direction, or branded storytelling.
2. Spot Visual Trends Before They Scale
Many visual trends start in the feeds of individual artists. From AI-generated designs and digital collages to immersive 3D modeling, influencers are often the first to experiment with new techniques. For brands, paying attention to this content provides an early window into evolving consumer tastes, making it easier to adapt before trends peak.
3. Collaborate for Brand-Aligned Creativity
Working directly with art influencers opens the door to content that’s not only beautiful but strategically aligned. These creators can produce custom illustrations, campaign visuals, or branded digital art that resonates with your target audience. Whether you’re launching a new product line or refreshing your brand aesthetic, these partnerships create content that stands out and tells a story.
To see how influencer relationships fit into larger brand strategies, explore our overview on how influencer marketing works.
How to Build Strategic Relationships with Art Influencers
Collaboration starts with connection. Art influencers aren’t just creators, they’re visual communicators. Partnering effectively requires an approach that respects their voice, values creativity, and supports mutual goals.
Engage Creators with Intention
Begin by interacting genuinely. Comment on posts, reshare content (with credit), or highlight their work in brand stories or newsletters. Avoid transactional pitches. Artists value thoughtful outreach and long-term alignment over one-off asks. Small, respectful gestures can lead to stronger collaboration down the line.
Structure Creative Collaborations Thoughtfully
Great brand-artist partnerships come from alignment. Before reaching out, understand the artist’s tone, visual style, and audience. Then present a clear brief, but leave room for creative interpretation. Giving artists the space to bring their perspective to the project often leads to more impactful, engaging results.
Before starting a campaign, it’s helpful to understand the steps involved in choosing and working with the right creator. Learn more in our guide to hiring influencers.
Support the Art Community Consistently
Even if you’re not ready for a formal campaign, brands can still support creators by amplifying their work. Featuring an artist on your platform, crediting them in visuals, or celebrating their milestones helps build trust. These actions show that your brand is tuned in to culture and willing to invest in creative voices.
How to Find the Right Art Influencers on Instagram?
Discovery takes more than browsing hashtags. To find influencers who align with your brand’s identity and audience, start with a focused search strategy.
- Use relevant hashtags like #digitalart, #illustrationoftheday, or #artinfluencer to explore content categories
- Study engagement patterns to assess creator impact beyond just follower count
- See who similar brands are collaborating with, especially if you’re in design, publishing, lifestyle, or home decor
When ready to scale, platforms like Hypefy’s Influencer Marketplace streamline the search by offering verified profiles, niche filtering, and collaboration tools built for efficiency.
Best Hashtags for Finding Art Influencers on Instagram
Hashtags remain a powerful discovery tool for both brands and creators. Pairing broad and niche tags helps you identify active influencers and tailor your outreach to the style, format, or medium that best fits your campaign.
Popular Art Hashtags
These tags offer a wide reach and can surface a diverse range of visual voices.
- #DigitalArt – A go-to tag for artists using digital tools, often leading to illustrators, 3D designers, and concept artists.
- #ArtistsOnInstagram – A general but useful tag to explore both emerging and well-known creators.
- #ArtInfluencers – Focused specifically on creators with influence and engaged audiences.
- #InstagramArtists – A community-driven tag where many creators share their latest pieces.
- #ContemporaryArt – Often tied to modern styles, galleries, and thought-provoking work from influential names.
- #Art – The most general but essential tag for broad reach.
- #Illustration – A go-to for hand-drawn and graphic art.
- #ArtLovers – Connects brands with dedicated art enthusiasts.
Niche Hashtags
For better targeting, combine popular hashtags with niche tags that reflect your campaign goals or creative direction. This approach helps narrow your search while keeping quality and relevance high.
- #WatercolorPortrait – Great for finding illustrators and painters who work with traditional media and portraiture.
- #SurrealArt – Ideal for spotting artists who blend fantasy, dreamlike visuals, or abstract storytelling, perfect for campaigns that need a bold creative edge.
- #VectorArt – Best for clean, scalable graphic illustrations.
- #Inktober – Seasonal but influential for ink-based artists.
- #3DModeling – Tracks the growing 3D design space.
- #ConceptArt – A hub for gaming, film, and entertainment artists.
Final Thoughts: Building with the Right Creative Partners
Art influencers on Instagram are shaping the aesthetics that influence consumer expectations and digital culture. They offer a unique opportunity to co-create content that’s not only visually rich but also deeply relevant.
If you’re planning to collaborate, having the right tools makes all the difference. With Hypefy’s Influencer Match Tool, your team can connect with creators efficiently.
The Influencer Hiring Platform simplifies onboarding and agreements, while the Influencer Payment Platform helps ensure smooth and transparent payouts. These solutions are built to support real, creative partnerships at scale.
Staying close to the art community on Instagram isn’t just about following trends. It’s about staying connected to the people who inspire them.
