Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
ABSTRACT STYLE
Beginning in the early 20th century, abstract art became a leading style of modernism. Rather than portray the world in a way that represented reality, as had been the dominating style of Western art in the previous centuries, abstract paintings, prints and sculptures are marked by a shift to geometric forms, gestural shapes and experimentation with color to express ideas, subject matter and scenes.
Although abstract art flourished in the early 1900s, propelled by movements like Fauvism and Cubism, it was rooted in the 19th century. In the 1840s, J.M.W. Turner emphasized light and motion for atmospheric paintings in which concrete details were blurred, and Paul Cézanne challenged traditional expectations of perspective in the 1890s.
Some of the earliest abstract artists — Wassily Kandinsky and Hilma af Klint — expanded on these breakthroughs while using vivid colors and forms to channel spiritual concepts. Painter Piet Mondrian, a Dutch pioneer of the art movement, explored geometric abstraction partly owing to his belief in Theosophy, which is grounded in a search for higher spiritual truths and embraces philosophers of the Renaissance period and medieval mystics. Black Square, a daringly simple 1913 work by Russian artist Kazimir Malevich, was a watershed statement on creating art that was free “from the dead weight of the real world,” as he later wrote.
Surrealism in the 1920s, led by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Meret Oppenheim and others, saw painters creating abstract pieces in order to connect to the subconscious. When Abstract Expressionism emerged in New York during the mid-20th century, it similarly centered on the process of creation, in which Helen Frankenthaler’s expressive “soak-stain” technique, Jackson Pollock’s drips of paint, and Mark Rothko’s planes of color were a radical new type of abstraction.
Conceptual art, Pop art, Hard-Edge painting and many other movements offered fresh approaches to abstraction that continued into the 21st century, with major contemporary artists now exploring it, including Anish Kapoor, Mark Bradford, El Anatsui and Julie Mehretu.
Find original abstract paintings, sculptures, prints and other art on 1stDibs.
Style: Abstract
Color: Gray
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil, Oil Crayon
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Crayon, Watercolor, Pencil
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
Joshua Tree
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Crayon, Watercolor
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Crayon, Watercolor, Pencil
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
Joshua Tree
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Crayon, Watercolor
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Acrylic
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Crayon
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Crayon, Watercolor, Pencil
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
Untitled
Located in København S, DK
Explore Mila Francesca Cali's abstract watercolors, inspired by her plein-air studies of space and nature. With echoes of modernist painting in a contemporary context, each piece res...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor, Pencil
Sumac, colorful Abstract Impressionist landscape gouache
Located in New York, NY
Sandy Litchfield found peace and inspiration in regular solitary walks through nature throughout the pandemic. Her most recent body of work diaristically documents her constitutional...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Gouache
Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Sculpture', 2022 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
"Stripe Drawing #4" Contemporary Original Abstract Drawing
Located in Roselle Park, NJ
My drawings and paintings are an examination of three major elements - color, surface and mark making. These nonrepresentational pieces give me the freedom to concentrate on and inve...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Pastel
Composition Original Drwaing Hand signed dated Unique piece
Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL
Original mixed media on paper
Pastel and color pencils
Hand signed lower right
Hand dated 1953
Unique piece
Category
1950s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Pastel, Color Pencil
"Stripe Drawing #2" Contemporary Original Abstract Drawing
Located in Roselle Park, NJ
My drawings and paintings are an examination of three major elements - color, surface and mark making. These nonrepresentational pieces give me the freedom to concentrate on and inve...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Pastel
Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Space', 2022 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
'Corona 2' - Nature-based Abstract - Mixed Media - Cyanotype - Kapoor
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Corona 2," is an abstract work on paper featuring hues of gold, blue, turquoise, red, yellow, purple and white. This piece is framed in a simple white box frame behind Plexiglas mea...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Acrylic, Watercolor, Archival Paper
Big Blue Melt 14 (Abstract drawing)
Located in London, GB
Big Blue Melt 14 (Abstract drawing)
Pigment, Color Pencil and Ice on Mylar. Unframed.
Big Blue Melt are works that have been created with pigment pencils and ice. Peerna starts th...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Plastic, Pigment, Color Pencil
Thaw 14 (Abstract drawing)
Located in London, GB
Thaw 14 (Abstract drawing)
Color Pencil and Graphite on Mylar. Unframed.
Thaw Series is a group of drawings where the artist continues her work touching upon environmental matters...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Plastic, Color Pencil, Graphite
Blue Melt 19 (Abstract drawing)
Located in London, GB
Blue Melt 19 (Abstract drawing)
Pigment, Ice on Yupo. Unframed.
Blue Melt are works that have been created with pigment pencils and ice. Peerna starts the drawings by first markin...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Plastic, Color Pencil, Pigment
Ablation Zone 6 (Abstract drawing)
Located in London, GB
Ablation Zone 6 (Abstract drawing)
Pigment And Ice on Yupo. Unframed.
Ablation is a series of drawings that extend the Blue Melt approach into large, long, excessively vertical wo...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Plastic, Pigment
Abstract Watercolor N.8 by Dmitry Samygin
Located in Paris, FR
Abstract Watercolor N.8 by Dmitry Samygin
Minimalist and geometric paintings.
Technique: Watercolor
Color: Teal blue
Size: H. 35.5 x 27.5 x 0.1 cm
Dmitry Samygin is a Furniture a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Sculpture', C. 2000 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Category
Early 2000s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
Abstract Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Space', C. 1998 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Category
1990s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Space, C. 2000's by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Category
Early 2000s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
Remembrance Drawing #5
Located in Roselle Park, NJ
This series of drawings deals with memories. I use a somewhat random but purposeful fluidity to create these fantastical images that are partly derived from nature. I work intuitivel...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Charcoal
Remembrance Drawing #10
Located in Roselle Park, NJ
This series of drawings deals with memories. I use a somewhat random but purposeful fluidity to create these fantastical images that are partly derived from nature. I work intuitivel...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Charcoal
Remembrance Drawing #9
Located in Roselle Park, NJ
This series of drawings deals with memories. I use a somewhat random but purposeful fluidity to create these fantastical images that are partly derived from nature. I work intuitivel...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Charcoal
Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Space, C. 2000's by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Category
Early 2000s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
Remembrance Drawing #1 Contemporary Original Charcoal on Paper
Located in Roselle Park, NJ
This series of drawings deals with memories. I use a somewhat random but purposeful fluidity to create these fantastical images that are partly derived from nature. I work intuitivel...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Charcoal
Remembrance Drawing #8
Located in Roselle Park, NJ
This series of drawings deals with memories. I use a somewhat random but purposeful fluidity to create these fantastical images that are partly derived from nature. I work intuitivel...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Charcoal
XYLOCOLLISION #5 by Oleg Ustinov - Abstract drawing, color pencils, 2021
Located in Basel, BS
Xylocollision is a series of graphics made by contemporary artist Oleg Ustinov in 2021. Works are drawn with both hands and several pencils at the same time. Pencils here resemble l...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Color Pencil
Remembrance Drawing #3
Located in Roselle Park, NJ
This series of drawings deals with memories. I use a somewhat random but purposeful fluidity to create these fantastical images that are partly derived from nature. I work intuitivel...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Charcoal
Remembrance Drawing #2
Located in Roselle Park, NJ
This series of drawings deals with memories. I use a somewhat random but purposeful fluidity to create these fantastical images that are partly derived from nature. I work intuitivel...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Charcoal
Christina #2, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Using gestural ink washes, artist Gail Ragains captures a live model's pose with the direct application of ink. She uses expressive application to quickly captu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Ink
Aggregate #22 (Large Abstract Contemporary Painting)
Located in New Orleans, LA
This is one of a series we have posted on 1stDibs. The first got more clicks and saves on its first day than any of the many hundreds of artworks we have ever posted. If you search on "G. Campbell Lyman" on 1stDibs you can see others in this series. Here's a recent message from a 1stDibs buyer of a painting in this series, a seasoned collector:
"Love your work. We collect colorists like Wolf Kahn and Jennifer Bartlett, whom I commissioned a piece from that is in the entrance of Mayo Clinic. We are old...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Charcoal, Pastel, Acrylic
Sposobb #3 by Oleg Ustinov - Abstract painting, mixed media on paper, 2013
Located in Basel, BS
Sposobb #3 is an abstract work by contemporary artist Oleg Ustinov, made in 2013 for the artist's ongoing project "IDM" (Intelligent Dance Music). In “IDM” Oleg explores the dialogue...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Mixed Media
Untitled #2 by Oleg Ustinov - Abstract drawing, color pencils on paper, 2021
Located in Basel, BS
The series of pencil drawings by contemporary artist Oleg Ustinov can can be described as "acid abstraction" — a reassembled skeleton of abstract painting, the method of creating whi...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Color Pencil
XYLOCOLLISION #19 by Oleg Ustinov - Abstract drawing, color pencils, 2021
Located in Basel, BS
Xylocollision is a series of graphics made by contemporary artist Oleg Ustinov in 2021. Works are drawn with both hands and several pencils at the same time. Pencils here resemble l...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Color Pencil
Untitled #8 by Oleg Ustinov - Abstract drawing, color pencils on paper, 2021
Located in Basel, BS
The series of pencil drawings by contemporary artist Oleg Ustinov can can be described as "acid abstraction" — a reassembled skeleton of abstract painting, the method of creating whi...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Color Pencil
Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Sculpture', C. 2000 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Category
Early 2000s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
Christina #3, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Gail Ragains paints a live model's pose within five minutes. Her gestural ink washes come from the direct application of ink. She approaches this work wi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Ink
Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Untitled', c. 1990's by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Category
1990s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
C - 8
Located in Milano, IT
A meditative suspended calm of color, recalling an iconic theme.
Painting through dynamic and oblique forms mixing western and oriental zen colors as the sides of the paintings expan...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Chalk, Pencil, Color Pencil
Christina, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Using gestural ink washes to draw a live model's pose, artist Gail Ragains directly applies her medium in fast strokes. She uses an expressive approach to quick...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Ink
White Moon EC 17 - round textural abstract nature inspired 3Dsculpted paper
Located in New York, NY
Anne-Charlotte Saliba's artistic universe is largely inspired by nature, its abyssal dimension as well as its vegetal or mineral forms. Her sculpted artworks are a confrontation of s...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Archival Paper
C - 13
Located in Milano, IT
A meditative suspended calm of color, recalling an iconic theme.
Painting through dynamic and oblique forms mixing western and oriental zen colors as the sides of the paintings expan...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Chalk, Pencil, Color Pencil
C - 1 (2023)
Located in Milano, IT
A meditative suspended calm of color, recalling an iconic theme.
Painting through dynamic and oblique forms mixing western and oriental zen colors as the sides of the paintings expan...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Chalk, Pencil, Color Pencil
Abstract abstract drawings and watercolors for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Abstract abstract drawings and watercolors 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 abstract drawings and watercolors 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 Martin Reyna , Mila Akopova, Jaanika Peerna, and Sumit Mehndiratta. Frequently made by artists working with Paper, and Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Abstract abstract drawings and watercolors, so small editions measuring 0.5 inches across are also available. Prices for abstract drawings and watercolors made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1 and tops out at $400,000, while the average work sells for $1,502.
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