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Contemporary Portrait Photography

CONTEMPORARY STYLE

Used to refer to a time rather than an aesthetic, Contemporary art generally describes pieces created after 1970 or being made by living artists anywhere in the world. This immediacy means it encompasses art responding to the present moment through diverse subjects, media and themes. Contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, performance, digital art, video and more frequently includes work that is attempting to reshape current ideas about what art can be, from Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s use of candy to memorialize a lover he lost to AIDS-related complications to Jenny Holzer’s ongoing “Truisms,” a Conceptual series that sees provocative messages printed on billboards, T-shirts, benches and other public places that exist outside of formal exhibitions and the conventional “white cube” of galleries.

Contemporary art has been pushing the boundaries of creative expression for years. Its disruption of the traditional concepts of art are often aiming to engage viewers in complex questions about identity, society and culture. In the latter part of the 20th century, contemporary movements included Land art, in which artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer create large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations and other works in soil and bodies of water; Sound art, with artists such as Christian Marclay and Susan Philipsz centering art on sonic experiences; and New Media art, in which mass media and digital culture inform the work of artists such as Nam June Paik and Rafaël Rozendaal.

The first decades of the 21st century have seen the growth of Contemporary African art, the revival of figurative painting, the emergence of street art and the rise of NFTs, unique digital artworks that are powered by blockchain technology.

Major Contemporary artists practicing now include Ai Weiwei, Cecily Brown, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker.

Find a collection of Contemporary prints, photography, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Contemporary
Green Anaconda #1 by Brad Wilson - Animal portrait photography
Located in Paris, FR
'Green Anaconda #1, Albuquerque, NM, 2013' is a limited-edition photograph by contemporary artist Brad Wilson from the ‘Affinity’ series which features studio portraits of wild anima...
Category

2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Syd Barrett Laying on His Car" Photography 20" x 24" inch 29/50 by Mick Rock
Located in Culver City, CA
"Syd Barrett Laying on His Car" Photography 20" x 24" inch 29/50 by Mick Rock Edition: 29/50 Signed and numbered by Mick Rock Medium: Silver gelatin limited edition photographic pri...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Anna Wong Sitting with Dragon Shadow
By Eugene Robert Richee
Located in Austin, TX
This awesome black and white capture features Anna Wong sitting, posed against a large shadow of a dragon. Anna Wong was an American actress, considered to be the first Toisonese (T...
Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Ingrid Bergman in the Studio
By Ernest Bachrach
Located in Austin, TX
Lovely studio capture of Ingrid Bergman posed in the studio. Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films and won three Academy Awar...
Category

1940s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Elizabeth Taylor As Leslie Benedict
Located in Austin, TX
This iconic and elegant portrait captured by celebrity photographer Frank Worth features actress Elizabeth Taylor on the set of the film "Giant" for her role as character Leslie Bene...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Lucille Ball on Silk
By Ernest Bachrach
Located in Austin, TX
Stunning black and white capture of Lucille Ball lying on silk, looking seductively and elegantly to the camera. Lucille Ball, in full Lucille Desire Ball, radio and motion-pictur...
Category

1940s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

James Dean with Windmill in "Giant"
Located in Austin, TX
This atmospheric black and white portrait features actor James Dean in his starring role for the film "Giant", 1955. Giant was the last of James Dean's three films as a leading act...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall at Oscars
Located in Austin, TX
Candid black and white capture of actor Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall at the Oscars, circa 1952. On May 21, 1945, Bacall married actor Humphrey Bogart, 25 years her senior. The...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds Mid-Jump
Located in Austin, TX
This black and white action shot features Donald O'Connor standing by car and Debbie Reynolds in mid-jump. Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, and businesswoman. Her c...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Frank Sinatra Standing with T-Bird
Located in Austin, TX
Stunning black and white capture of jazz musician and singer Frank Sinatra leaning against a classic T-Bird. Francis Albert Sinatra was an American singer, actor, and producer who ...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Kim Novak and Debbie Reynolds at Schwabs
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white portrait of Debbie Reynolds and Kim Novak eating banana splits at Schwab's. Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, and businesswoman. Her career spanned a...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe Standing with Photographer
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white candid portrait of Marilyn Monroe standing with photographer for promotional shots from the film "How to Marry a Millionaire". Marilyn Monroe was an American actres...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

James Dean Pushing Porsche at Car Rally
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white action shot of actor James Dean loading his Porsche on to a trailer at a car rally. James Dean was an American actor. He is remembered as a cultural icon of teenage...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Hugh Marlowe Classical Studio Portrait
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white studio portrait of actor Hugh Marlowe by Frank Worth. Hugh Marlowe was an American film, television, stage and radio actor. Marlowe was usually a secondary lead or ...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Citizen Kane Iconic Scene
By Alexander Kahle
Located in Austin, TX
Iconic scene from the influential film "Citizen Kane" Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film produced by, directed by, and starring Orson Welles. He also co-wrote the screenpla...
Category

1940s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Barbara Nichols in Dressing Room
Located in Austin, TX
"Black and white capture by celebrity photographer Frank Worth of star actress Barbara Nichols in her dressing room. Known for her brassy or comic roles in films in the 1950s and 1...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Grace Kelly at the Premiere of Rear Window
Located in Austin, TX
This stunning black and white portrait features actress Grace Kellythe "Princess of Grace"attending Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window premier in 1954. She is captured here looking at th...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe with Hairdresser on the Set of "How to Marry a Millionare"
Located in Austin, TX
Beautiful image of Marilyn Monroe behind the scenes of "How to Marry a Millionaire" Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, and model. Famous for playing comedic "blonde b...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe Smiling with Microphone
Located in Austin, TX
This black and white portrait features the iconic actress Marilyn Monroe smiling and talking into a microphone. Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, model, and singer. Famous fo...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe on the Set of "How to Marry a Millionaire"
Located in Austin, TX
Beautiful image of Marilyn Monroe leaning against a wall while behind the scenes of "How to Marry a Millionaire". In the early 1950s, Monroe became a popular actress with roles in ...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable, and Marilyn Monroe: "How to Marry a Millionaire"
Located in Austin, TX
Lauren BacallBetty Grable & Marilyn Monroe behind the scenes of "How to Marry a Millionaire". How to Marry a Millionaire is a 1953 American romantic comedy film directed by Jean Ne...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Elizabeth Taylor with Vintage Camera
Located in Austin, TX
Actress Elizabeth Taylor takes a photo with a Rollieflex twin lens medium format reflex camera wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses and smoking a cigarette on the set of the movie 'Gi...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe Smiling on Red Carpet
Located in Austin, TX
Third in its series, this awesome black and white capture features Marilyn Monroe in her Hollywood prime - captured in a silk dress and fur stole. Classic image of the Hollywood le...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, and Marilyn Monroe at Premiere
Located in Austin, TX
Incredible candid image of Screen Legends Marilyn Monroe Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall at the premiere of How to Marry a Millionaire in 1953. How to Marry a Millionaire is a 19...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Kirk Douglas and Dan Dailey
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white portrait of Kirk Douglas and Dan Dailey singing and playing instruments on couch, circa 1958. Kirk Douglas was an American actor and filmmaker.Douglas developed int...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Frank Sinatra and Lauren Bacall at Villa Capri
Located in Austin, TX
Frank Sinatra and Lauren Bacall smiling while having a meal at a cafe, 1957. Frank Sinatra was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and later called ...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Fred Mcmurray and Jimmy Stewart
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white comedic candid shot of Fred McMurray and Jimmy Stewart backstage. This listing is for a limited edition archival print. What's included: - Limited Edition Archival...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Cary Grant and Kim Novak
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white candid portrait of Kim Novak and Cary Grant dancing at an event in 1956. Cary Grant was an English-American actor known for his mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demean...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe and Mickey Rooney
Located in Austin, TX
Marilyn Monroe & Mickey Rooney This listing is for a limited edition archival print. What's included: - Limited Edition Archival Print - Numbered Certificate of Authenticity Size...
Category

1940s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Humphrey Bogart and June Allyson on Set
Located in Austin, TX
Humphrey Bogart and June Allyson on the set of "Battle Circus", circa 1953. Battle Circus is a 1953 American war film directed by Richard Brooks, who also co-wrote the screenplay w...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Nancy and Ronald Reagan
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white capture of Nancy Reagan fixing Ronald Reagan's black tie attire and smiling. Ronald Reagan was an American politician who served as the 40th president of the United...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Grace Kelly and Oleg Cassini at the Premiere of Rear Window
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white vintage photograph of Oleg Cassini and Grace Kelly at the premiere of Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" in 1954. This listing is for a limited edition archival print...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Jane Russell in Crowd
Located in Austin, TX
This black and white candid capture features a radiant Jane Russell stands out from the crowd while arriving for an event in Hollywood, California, circa 1958. Jane Russell was an ...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Sonny and Cher Smiling in Kitchen
Located in Austin, TX
Awesome black and white capture of couple and music duo, Sonny and Cher, candid, sitting, and smiling with plants in their kitchen. Sonny & Cher were an American pop and entertainme...
Category

1970s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Natalie Wood and Patrick Wayne Goofing Around on Set
Located in Austin, TX
Young Natalie Wood and Patrick Wayne, son of the legend John Wayne goofing around on the set of "The Searchers". period doubleweightcaptured by Globe Photos. The Western film directe...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Elvis Presley in Colors
Located in Austin, TX
Awesome black and white portrait of star actor, musician, and army man Elvis Presley. Awesome black and white portrait of star actor, musician, and army man Elvis Presley. On March...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Evel Knievel on Motorbike
Located in Austin, TX
Retro 1970s photograph featuring Evel Knievel, the legendary motorcycle daredevil who became one of the greatest American icons of the 1970s. Over his career, he attempted more than ...
Category

1970s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso
Located in Austin, TX
The Dalai Lama is a title given to spiritual leaders of the Tibetan people. They are part of the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, the newest of the schools of Tibeta...
Category

1960s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Jane Bond I (Heavenly Falls) - Contemporary, 21st Century, Polaroid, Figurative
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Jane Bond I (Heavenly Falls) - 2016 50x49cm, Edition of 10 plus 2 Artist Proofs. Archival C-Print based on the Polaroid Certificate and signature label, Artist inventory number: ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid

Cloudless Heavens (The Girl behind the White Picket Fence) - Polaroid, Portrait
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Cloudless Heavens (The Girl Behind the White Picket Fence) - 2013 40x48cm, Edition of 10 plus 2 Artist Proofs. Archival C-Print, based on the Polaroid. Certificate and Signature ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid

F. - Yorkie (Puppy, Dog, Portrait, Staged)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemuehle Baryta Rag 315gsm Size: 24 x 24 inches (60.96 x 60.96cm) Edition: 15 Signed, titled and dated on label COA provided *Framing options available....
Category

2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

First Kiss (Till Death do us Part)
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
First Kiss (Till Death do us Part) - 2005 20x24cm, Edition of 10 plus 2 Artist Proofs. Archival C-Print, based on a Polaroid. Certificate and Signature label. Artist Inventory ...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid, Archival Paper

Claudette Colbert in Awesome Jungle Scene
Located in Austin, TX
This black and white portrait features American film actress and a leading lady in Hollywood for over two decades, Claudette Colbert. Colbert is featured here posed in a jungle sce...
Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Lindiwe Mutoma (female detective), Lusaka, Zambia, 2005
Located in New York, NY
Lindiwe Mutoma (female detective), Lusaka, Zambia, 2005 2005/printed later Signed in black ink, verso Archival pigment print 6 x 6 inches (15.24 x 15.24 cm), sheet 5.5 x 5.5 inche...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Lucille Ball Hugging Desi Arnaz
Located in Austin, TX
This unique capture features Lucille Ball hugging Desi Arnaz in a captivating studio portrait. Lucille Ball was an American actress, comedian, model, entertainment studio executiv...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Edition 2/10 - Barber, Old Havana, Cuba, C-Type Photograph
Located in Eye, England
[Featured in Italian Vogue. The print will not display the watermark] Edition 1/10 - Whites, Teignmouth Bowls, Devon, C-Type Photograph Edition of 10 + 5 APs. Front: Signature and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Color, Photographic Paper, C Print, Photographic Film, Film

Marilyn Monroe on a Stroll
Located in Austin, TX
Stellar candid shot of Marilyn Monroe out on a stroll. Her legacy is way more than curves and a blonde bob. Fifty years after her death, Marilyn Monroe remains a luminescent movie st...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Intimate Portrait of Iconic Wild Horses on Sable Island, Equestrian, Horizontal
Located in US
"Trinity" Everything about Sable Island - it's wild landscape and its wild horses - come together in this iconic photograph. Representative of the unparalleled, untamed essence o...
Category

2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Johnny Depp at Home By Zack Whitford - Contemporary Portrait Photography
Located in Chicago, IL
Johnny At Home Johnny Depp in a relaxed state at his home. Archival pigment print Edition size: 25 (in each size) Available in 3 print sizes: 16" x 20" 20" x 24" 30" x 40...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Bianca Jagger's Birthday Party at Studio 54
By Eric Kroll
Located in Austin, TX
Circa 1970's in New York: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Bianca Jagger, and Mick Jagger at Studio 54 for Bianca's birthday party. Bianca Jagger is a former Nicaraguan actress who was married...
Category

1970s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Let's Dance (Till Death do us Part)
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Let's Dance (Till Death do us Part) - 2005 20x20cm, Edition of 10 plus 2 Artist Proofs. Archival C-Print, based on a Polaroid. Certificate and Signature label. Artist Inventory...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Archival Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Ballet Bodybuilder
By Michael Norcia
Located in Austin, TX
Actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger Practicing ballet with a trainer, circa 1976. Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American actor, producer, businessman, retired bodyb...
Category

1970s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Chewbacca - Affenpinscher (Puppy, Dog, Portrait, Staged)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Lord Fauntleroy Chewbacca - Affenpinscher (Puppy, Dog, Portrait, Staged, Iconic, Funny, Whimsical, Heartwarming) 2023 Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemuehle Baryta Rag 315gsm Size: 2...
Category

2010s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Rita Hayworth in Burbank
Located in Austin, TX
Black and white candid image of Rita Hayworth in Burbank, walking along a beautiful street scene. Rita Hayworth was an American actress, dancer, and producer. She achieved fame dur...
Category

1930s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Elizabeth Taylor with Lasso
Located in Austin, TX
This stunning colored image features the lovely Elizabeth Taylor spinning a lasso on the set of the 1956 film "Giant". Sprawling epic covering the life of a Texas cattle rancher and ...
Category

1950s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood's Glamour Icon
Located in Austin, TX
This beautifully colored image features a pinup of actress and Hollywood bombshell Marilyn Monroe posed in a bathing suit with her leg uppoolside. Marilyn Monroe was one of the mo...
Category

1940s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

Atmospheric Portrait of Led Zeppelin at Chateau Marmont
By Jay Thompson
Located in Austin, TX
Capture of Led Zeppelin sitting on the steps of the Chateau Marmont, captured by celebrity photographer Jay Thompson in 1969. Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in London...
Category

1960s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment

The Rat Pack
Located in Austin, TX
Rare portrait of the Rat Pack in front of the Sands Hotel sign, 1963. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Rat Pac...
Category

1960s Contemporary Portrait Photography

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Black and White

Contemporary portrait photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Contemporary portrait photography available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add portrait photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, orange, purple, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Stefanie Schneider, Tyler Shields, Urizen Freaza, and Clare Marie Bailey. Frequently made by artists working with Paper, and Photographic Paper and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Contemporary portrait photography, so small editions measuring 1.58 inches across are also available.

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