The 10 Most Inspiring Young Artists In NYC Right Now

Where to begin with Hisham Bharoocha? His neon collages look like they were commissioned by Nicki Minaj's even-wackier-if-you-can-believe-it cousin; a big player in New York's underground music scene, he'll release a new album with his band Soft Circle this summer, and he has some Japan tour dates set up with his other project, the Boredoms, this May; he's the creative director for a sunglass line called PHOSPHORESCENCE, which is known for its collaborations with the likes of designer Maria Cornejo, Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, and model Erin Wasson, to name a few. (To be released this summer, designs by Tess Giberson and the ladies of Vena Cava.)

Yes, the Japanese-Burmese artist has been in the States — and busy — ever since he started at RISD in 1994. "I am for some reason always excited by being overwhelmed," he says. "I try to make work that overwhelms me visually. I guess I'm just trying to express my excitement about life on this planet we live on." Did we mention he also has some textile projects brewing? He's created patterns for ASOS and T-shirts for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pantha Du Prince, and Blood is the New Black. "We'll see what happens next," he says. We'll be waiting.

Click through to see more of Hisham Bharoocha's work.

Photographed by Tom Hines.