Richard Pryor
20th Century Contemporary Portrait Photography
C Print
20th Century Contemporary Color Photography
C Print
20th Century Contemporary Color Photography
C Print
20th Century Contemporary Color Photography
C Print
20th Century Contemporary Color Photography
C Print
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Prints
Offset, Permanent Marker, Lithograph
Mid-20th Century Academic Nude Drawings and Watercolors
Paper, Charcoal, Conté
People Also Browsed
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art North and South American Rugs
Wool, Cotton, Yarn
Mid-20th Century American American Classical North and South American Rugs
Wool, Yarn
Vintage 1970s American Classical Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Plastic
20th Century English Kilim Armchairs
Leather
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Trunks and Luggage
Metal
Vintage 1970s Contemporary Art
Mirror
Vintage 1950s American Prints
Fabric
Vintage 1940s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Cotton
Late 20th Century American Modern Historical Memorabilia
Fabric, Mahogany
1990s American Folk Art Picture Frames
Canvas
Mid-20th Century American Country Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Cotton
Vintage 1950s American Quilts
Cotton
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Historical Memorabilia
Fabric, Plexiglass, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Wall-mounted Sculptures
Steel
Vintage 1980s North American Wall-mounted Sculptures
Metal, Brass
20th Century North American Tribal Art
Leather, Fabric, Beads
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.