On an unusually warm San Francisco night, attendees gathered at a small gallery, unsure of what to do next. In front of them was a long, draped table filled with delicate potted plants. The round leaves semi-hid small and equally round, bright buttons. Are those edible, guests wondered. Are the stems? There’s an interesting effect to food being taken out of its familiar context and put on display in imaginative ways. Amusement. Curiosity. Awe. And it’s happening more often, as food art takes center stage.

While there’s always been a place for using edible materials and centering food themes in art to make a statement—be it Kara Walker’s molasses and sugar sculptures or Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party—in its current, social media-era manifestation, food art brings together tactility, visual artistry, and culinary cache, typically within limited timeframes. (Namely, through installations, exhibitions and pop-up events.) The food is reinvented, yet accessible. The vibe and location matter just as much; think unforgettable edible sculptures at a brand launch. A unique, interactive nibbling opportunity at the best party of the year. A memorable experience at an art event. There’s still plenty of room for thought-provoking statements, storytelling and timely context, but also joyous experimentation and creative collaboration.

If any name springs to mind first, it’s probably culinary artist and Instagram darling Laila Gohar, who regularly works with food as a medium. Gohar had worked with Hermès, Byredo, and Simone Rocha, among others, infusing fashion shows and dinner parties with the drama and whimsy she’s become known for. And yet, her work, and food art as a discipline, has been predominantly the bread and butter of elevated private events and whimsical photo shoots—until now.

As fatigue from digital-first, video-heavy experiences grows, opportunities to experience food art in public spaces are coming to the forefront, led by a growing group of artists following in Gohar’s footsteps. They turn galleries into edible forests, throw multidimensional feasts, confuse audiences by mixing canapes with rocks and moss, and put food on literal pedestals of varying architectural complexity. Here, find five emerging food artists to watch.

Elena Petrossian and Verónica González, Ananas Ananas

Photo: Maya Kariana