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WATER Signed Lithograph, Abstract Chinese Brush Strokes, Manhole Cover, Aqua
By Pierre Alechinsky
Located in Union City, NJ
abstract litho washes surrounding an imprint which reads "WATER" taken from an actual wax crayon rubbing of
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Blue Curaçao - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Studio 54 - Cherry Blossom - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
"taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Cobalt Canary - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of a Multi-Colored Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

String of Pearls - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus, Mulberry Paper
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
fish and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Neapolitan - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus on Mulberry Paper
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Mr. Bubbles - Anarchy - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Goldilocks - Flaming Hot - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Goldilocks, Pastel - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Goldilocks - Green Goblin - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Sea Fan - Dust Berry - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Lemon Meringue - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of a Multi-Colored Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Red Moon Rising - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

The Great Australian Bight Trio - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning fish and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Color Pencil, Watercolor

Studio 54 - Grape - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Mr. Bubbles - Blue Agave - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Berry Cobbler - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Sea Fan - Cobblestone - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Mr. Bubbles - Plum Bob - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Pinot Noir - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus on Mulberry Paper
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning fish and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Super Elastic Bubble Plastic - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
"taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Black Mirror - Gyotaku Technique Fish Painting with Sumi Ink on Mulberry Paper
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which gave rise to printing. Gyotaku, or Japanese
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper

Sea Fan - Carnivale - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This tradition
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Malaga Sunset - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Apples and Oranges - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Blue Boy of the North Atlantic - Octopus on Antique Nautical Chart Gyotako Style
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning fish and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Creeping Blue Ring - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This tradition dates back to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

70's Kitchen - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus on Mulberry Paper
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning fish and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Juniper - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus on Mulberry Paper
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
"taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Purple Perkins Over St. Croix - Octopus on Nautical Map, Gyotaku Style Print
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Color Pencil

Gucci Ray - Sumi Ink on Mulberry Paper, Original Artwork, Gyotaku Style
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Sumi Ink

Goldilocks - Blue Moon - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Silly Rabbit, Trix are for Kids - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning fish and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Fontainebleau - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of a Multi-Colored Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Sea Fan - Gumball - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This tradition
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Puppypus - Cilantro - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
fish and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Puppypus - Tobasco - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Sea Fan - Green Meets Blue - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Studio 54 - Code Blue - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Quicksilver - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Rubbarb - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Resplendent Rascal - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Two Macks - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of Two Mackerel on Paper
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning fish and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Puppypus - Pastel - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Studio 54 - Bananarama - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Boo Berry - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of a Multi-Colored Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Stay Golden Pony Boy - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Sea Fan - Blue Meets Red - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Mr. Bubbles, Goldfinger - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Absinthe Makes The Heart Grow Fonder - Octopus, Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Dippin' Dotopus - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of a Multi-Colored Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

The Blue Ring of Cape Fourcroy - Gyotaku Painting of Octopus on Nautical Chart
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This tradition dates back to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Color Pencil, Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper

Blue Blood - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of a Multi-Colored Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil, Sumi Ink

Chanel Quilted Black Caviar Ray - Sumi Ink on Mulberry Paper, Gyotaku Original
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper

Autumn Cotilion - Japanese Style Gyotaku Painting on Marbled Mulberry Paper
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which gave rise to printing. Gyotaku, or Japanese fish
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Paintings

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper

Floater
By Don Ed Hardy
Located in Lyons, CO
are evocative of ancient Chinese stone rubbings, or x-rays. Both prints refer to earlier images from
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary More Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Floater
H 27.75 in Dm 22.25 in
Grape of Wrath - Gyotaku Style Japanese Sumi Ink Painting, Large Purple Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to printing . This tradition dates back to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper

Cheetahpus - Gyotaku Style Japanese Sumi Ink Painting, Cheetah Patterned Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper

Red Rum - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy, which then gave rise to
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil

Orange Crush - Gyotaku Style Japanese Sumi Ink Painting, Large Orange Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings of calligraphy
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Mulberry Paper

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Chinese Rubbing For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate chinese rubbing for your needs in our varied inventory. You can easily find an example made in the abstract style, while we also have 16 abstract versions to choose from as well. If you’re looking for a chinese rubbing from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 19th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. If you’re looking to add a chinese rubbing to create new energy in an otherwise neutral space in your home, you can find a work on 1stDibs that features elements of beige, gray, black, brown and more. There have been many interesting chinese rubbing examples over the years, but those made by Jeff Conroy, Carol Summers, Liu Zijian, Don Ed Hardy and Sybil Kleinrock are often thought to be among the most thought-provoking. Artworks like these — often created in paper, ink and paint — can elevate any room of your home. If space is limited, you can find a small chinese rubbing measuring 2.75 high and 2.75 wide, while our inventory also includes works up to 78.75 across to better suit those in the market for a large chinese rubbing.

How Much is a Chinese Rubbing?

The average selling price for a chinese rubbing we offer is $2,000, while they’re typically $200 on the low end and $38,500 for the highest priced.

A Close Look at Contemporary Art

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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