some of these artists are ok

angela grossman late work
mike parsons
kristin moran early work
braden labonte
john scott

Teo Gonzalez (Brooklyn via Spain) does these obsessive dot paintings that I like - both calming and anxious (and my ex is his friend, increasing the anxiety level);
Ed Rushca is so LA - I find him a refreshing contrast to the NY scene;
John Currin probably my favorite realist - a shameless opportunist and self-promoter, but his earlie stuff was fun (he's run out of steam now, it appears);
Anslem Keifer and Gerhard Richter - anti ideologists;
I'm into cartooning ..Clowes for his story telling cartoon realism and Berrnet for his sexy italian women..

I can only comment with some of my friends/some people I know, but Mark's Collodion Wet Plates are pretty wonderful:

http://www.gallerysink.com/projects/wet_plate_1/index.htm

My gallery-mate Laurie is really kicking out some crazy sculptures:

http://plusgallery.com/artists/murphy/

I've only had the pleasure of helping Fudge and Mook with putting up a show, but I really like his comics:

http://www.fudgefactorycomics.com/frame.html

Wayne Douglas Barlowe

been a fan of his for a long time, since I was a little kid

William Gill

Graeme Patterson

Ed Pien

Byroglyfics

http://www.byroglyphics.com/gallery/gallery.html

Ian Francis

http://www.ifrancis.co.uk/?goto=selectedwork2008&thumbs=ok

Andre Illmayer

http://www.illmayer.de/html/arbeiten.html