Jeffrey Gibson, Looped, 2010 | Acrylic, oil, and spray paint on linen, 16.5 x 21 inches. Courtesy Samsøn, Boston.

Through the course of a year, we see a lot of work. After reviewing thousands of artists annually through the New American Paintings jurying process, visiting hundreds of private gallery exhibitions and museum shows, attending major art fairs, and doing countless studio visits across the country, the editorial staff at NAP have put together a shortlist of artists that really stood out from the pack last year. These are the artists to watch in 2011.

2010 was an exciting year for contemporary painting, from a painting-heavy Whitney Biennial, to stand-out works in MoMA PS1's Greater New York, to huge showings at art fairs like NADA and Art Basel Miami Beach, and with each exhibition a new way of thinking about the medium itself. President and publisher of New American Paintings, Steven Zevitas, and I have each put together a list of 11 artists to look out for this year, which puts the total at 22 painters to watch! So keep your eyes peeled. Pics (and picks) after the jump.  —Evan J. Garza, Editor-at-Large

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—Steven Zevitas, President/Publisher

Eddie Martinez

Eddie Martinez, Back Looker, 2009 | Mixed media on canvas, 72 x 118 inches. Courtesy ZieherSmith, New York.

Roger White

Installation view, Roger White, Rachel Uffner Gallery, New York

Angel Otero

Angel Otero, Beaming, 2010 | Oil paint skins on canvas, 16 x 20 x 2 inches. Courtesy Kavi Gupta Gallery, Chicago.

Wendy White

Installation view, Wendy White, Up w/ Briquette, 2010 | Acrylic on canvas, 72 x 121.5 inches. Courtesy Leo Koenig Inc, New York.

Marieta Chirulescu

Marieta Chirulescu, Untitled (stack), 2010 | Photocopy and oil on canvas, 15.5 x 12 inches. Courtesy Galerie Micky Schubert, Berlin, Germany.

Benjamin Degen

Benjamin Degen, Brevis, 2010 | Oil on canvas over panel, 40 x 60 inches. Courtesy the artist.

Zak Prekop

Zak Prekop, Blue Division, 2010 | Oil on canvas, 14 x 18 inches. Courtesy Shaheen Gallery, Cleveland.  

Leidy Churchman

Leidy Churchman, This Sex Which Is Not One, 2010 | Oil on linen, 22 x 24 inches. Courtesy Horton Gallery, New York.

Summer Wheat

Summer Wheat, Skull, 2010 | Acrylic and oil on canvas, 72 x 96 inches. Courtesy the artist and Samsøn, Boston.

Nathan Hylden

Nathan Hylden, Untitled, 2010 | Acrylic on aluminum, 77.5 x 57 inches. Courtesy Sutton Lane, Paris.

Michael Hilsman

Michael Hilsman, If I had known that my robe had come loose, I'd have tied it tighter (Fruitman), 2010 | Oil and acrylic on canvas, 80 x 64 inches. Courtesy the artist.

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—Evan J. Garza, Editor-at-Large

Tauba Auerbach

Tauba Auerback, Untitled Fold Painting, 2010 | Acrylic on canvas, 60 x 45 inches. Courtesy the artist and Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

Jeffrey Gibson

Jeffrey Gibson, Sum of Parts, 2010 | Acrylic, oil, and spray paint on linen, 16.5 x 21 inches. Courtesy Samsøn, Boston.

Franklin Evans

Franklin Evans. timecompressionmachine, 2010 | Mixed mediums, dimensions variable. Courtesy the Sue Scott Gallery, New York, and Federico Luger Gallery, Milan. Photo: Matthew Septimus. Courtesy MoMA PS1.

Allison Schulnik

Allison Schulnik, Rug Girl #2, 2010 | Oil on linen, 84 x 68 inches. Courtesy the artist and Mark Moore Gallery, Los Angeles.

Iva Gueorguieva

Iva Gueorguieva, Raft, 2010 | Acrylic, oil and collage on canvas, 84 x 110 inches. Courtesy Ameringer | McEnery | Yohe Gallery, New York and Angles Gallery, Los Angeles.

Lesley Vance

Lesley Vance, Untitled (12), 2009 | Oil on linen, 18 x 15 inches. Collection of the artist, courtesy David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles

Matt Connors

Installation view, Matt Connors: You Don’t Know at CANADA, New York

Sarah Cain

Sarah Cain, Untitled (Miami), 2010 | Silver leaf and acrylic on canvas and wall, 99 x 81 inches. Courtesy the artist and Anthony Meier Fine Arts, San Francisco.

Aurel Schmidt

Aurel Schmidt, The Fall, 2010 | Pencil, colored pencil, acrylic, beer, dirt, and blood on paper, 84 × 48 inches. Collection of the artist, courtesy the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Alex Hubbard

Alex Hubbard, Untitled, 2010 | Resin, fiberglass, oil and enamel paint on canvas, 36 x 24 inches. Courtesy Sutton Lane, Paris.

Matthew Rich

(Installation view) Matthew Rich, Triangle, 2010 | Latex, acrylic, and spray paint on cut paper and linen tape, 64 x 100.5 inches. Courtesy the artist and Samsøn, Boston.