World’s Best Futuristic Artists: YU, RIVAS, PURUSHOTHAMAN, LIU, PAUNOVIĆ, MICHAELS, LAVENDAR & AMBASA / 2025 WORLD ART AWARDS
Artists from 58 countries competed in the 2025 WORLD ART AWARDS where 20 of the most revered galleries in the world were sent online images to score in drawing, painting, sculpture, digital and photography. The 300+ winning works, 1st to 6th Place (and ties) in all 50 categories, will be revealed in this column one category at a time, and also an upcoming movie.
The WINNERS in CATEGORY 18. FUTURISM or FUTURISTIC represent CHINA, SPAIN, INDIA, SERBIA, USA & KENYA.
BIO of 1st Place winner Llia Yu
I’m Llia Yu, a concept artist from Nanjing with a lifelong passion for drawing and world-building. Inspired by Star Wars, I moved to the U.S. in 2012 to study Entertainment Design at ArtCenter College of Design. After graduation, I joined Riot Games to work on League of Legends, then moved to Blizzard Entertainment, where I contributed to Overwatch 1 and Overwatch 2. I led the development and launch of several multiplayer maps and received a producer credit for Overwatch 2. My design of the Black Cat D.Va skin became the game’s most popular female skin, with over 10 million sales.
Beyond game development, my work has been featured in galleries like Nucleus and CTN Expo, and I’ve lectured at institutions including ArtCenter, CalArts, and Fitchburg State. My interviews have appeared in ImagineFX, Visual Art Journal, and 3Dtotal. I continue to create fantastical worlds, hoping to inspire and connect with global audiences through art. https://www.artstation.com/lliaart
WINNER WEBSITES AND CONTACTS:
CATEGORY 18. FUTURISM or FUTURISTIC
1st Place LLIA YU China https://www.artstation.com/lliaart “Advent Of A New World” 10x17” Digital art on Photoshop.
2nd Place — Tie RAMÓN RIVAS SPAIN http://www.rivismo.com “Nest Of Experiential Faces” 195x195cm Mixed media-Rivismo on canvas.
2nd Place — Tie CHAITALI. V.PURUSHOTHAMAN INDIA https://linktr.ee/11TimeWorldAwardee.vastu.astro “Universal Energies Protect Us All — We are all One Powerful Divine Force Of Higher Consciousness — Powerful Positive Energizer High Frequency Painting Absorbs Negativity Emits Positivity Through All 7 Chakras Of The Body By Using The Energy Of Earth Gurus, Lords, Planets, Auspicious Days, Portal Numbers 1111, 222, 888, Sacred Spells, Auspicious Symbols Of Success, Luck, Good Health, Fortune, Yin Yang Balancing Energy, Protection From Evils Eye Created During The Powerful Time Period Of Brahma Muhurta — 3.30 To 5.30 AM” 50x50” Acrylic on canvas with 3d double-hand painted frames.
3rd Place — Tie XINYI LIU CHINA https://www.xylhydresearch.com/ “A Path To Afterlife: Dawn At The Beach” 36x48" Oil, canvas.
3rd Place — Tie LLIA YU China https://www.artstation.com/lliaart “Guardian Of The Crescent Moon” 20x20” Digital art on Photoshop.
4th Place — Tie DRAGOLJUB PAUNOVIĆ SERBIA https://stragglerart.com/eng/ “Four Last Things — Transience” Various sizes Digital art.
4th Place — Tie TESA MICHAELS USA https://www.tesamichaels.com/ “Chimes” 25 x36" Diptych Semi precious stones on panel.
5th Place — Tie RAMÓN RIVAS SPAIN http://www.rivismo.com “Great Experiential Garden II” 195x130cm Mixed media-Rivismo on canvas.
5th Place — Tie TESA MICHAELS USA https://www.tesamichaels.com/ “Deep Tenacity” 36x60" Semi precious stones. Oil on panel.
6th Place — Tie DIAMANTE LAVENDAR USA https://diamante-lavendar.pixels.com/ “One World, One Chance” Various sizes Mixed media digital art.
6th Place — Tie MICHAEL AMBASA KENYA https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cfxdxbZl6cKPFgklfC5L5ztBl52C8Wh3/view?usp=drivesdk “Imaginary Fruit” 24x24” Digital art.
Art collectors can see hundreds of winning images and contact info to all 50 CATEGORIES of winning artworks:
In 2025, WORLD ART AWARDS had submissions from these 58 countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe.
The World Art Awards 20 Best Galleries & Museums for 2025 who were asked to score art: (in alphabetical order by country):
20 BEST INTERNATIONAL GALLERIES
Best in Cyprus: Lumière Contemporary Art Gallery
Best in Denmark: Galleri Christoffer Egelund
Best in Hong Kong: Pekin Fine Arts
Best in Iceland: Phenomenon Art Studios & Gallery
Best in Indonesia: Baik Art
Best in Malaysia: The Gallery des Artistes / Gallery@Tropicana
Best in Morocco: Comptoir des Mines Galerie
Best in Myanmar: New Treasure Art Gallery
Best in The Netherlands: The Arden Art Gallery
Best in Nigeria: The Thought Pyramid Art Centre
Best in The Philippines: Gravity Art Space
Best in Slovenia: Visconti Fine Art
Best in Sweden: Wetterling Gallery
Best in Taiwan: 1839 Contemporary Gallery
Best in Ukraine: Art Ukraine Gallery
Best in USA: California: CODA
Best in USA: New Mexico + Texas: Thornwood Gallery
Best in USA: Colorado: Mirada Fine Art
Best in USA: Florida: MAC Art Galleries
Best in Zambia: Zeela Art Gallery & Homestay
