Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
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.
67
to
410
1,602
1,381
690
1,154
1,923
1,148
180
1,666
657
465
234
238
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
4,593
3,261
579
351
276
224
221
213
157
156
60
56
55
48
2,113
1,227
1,215
749
707
621
427
317
278
162
115
103
100
91
77
77
76
68
68
66
3
1,085
2,172
1
1
17
18
37
73
371
162
187
304
96
81
72
68
1,774
1,266
1,142
872
817
Style: Contemporary
"Stylishly Judging", Figurative Illustration, Animal Motif, Work on Paper
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Stylishly Judging" is a piece by Kendra Dandy made from block print and acrylic on paper. This piece measures 24"h x 18"w framed, and is shipped in the f...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paste, Paper, Acrylic, Woodcut
"Doubt/Hopeful", Figurative Illustration, Cheetah Motif, Text, Sunglasses
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Doubt/Hopeful" is a piece by Kendra Dandy made from paint marker, pastel, watercolor, acrylic on paper. This piece measures 24"h x 18"w framed, and is sh...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paste, Paper, Acrylic, Woodcut
"Side Eye Olives", Food Motif, Hand colored, lips, makeup
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Side Eye Olives" is a piece by Kendra Dandy made from block print, acrylic, gel pen on paper This piece measures 24"h x 18"w framed, and is shipped in th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paste, Paper, Acrylic, Woodcut
A Summer Road - Original Watercolor by Armin Guther - 1997
By Armin Guther
Located in Roma, IT
A Summer Road is an original colored watercolor realized in 1997 by Armin Guther.
Good conditions. Includes passepartout (50 x 60 cm).
The artwork is hand-signed and dated on the l...
Category
1980s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
Wanting You, original (unique) hand signed drawing - Framed
By Tracey Emin
Located in New York, NY
Tracey Emin
Wanting You drawing, 2018
Felt tip marker on paper
Signed in felt tip marker on the front
Frame included
Original, unique drawing on card
Signed in black felt tip pen on...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Felt Pen, Permanent Marker
STIK Book (Hand signed with Drawing)
By Stik
Located in Englishtown, NJ
Amazing cover on Stik’s self titled book.
Hand signed and hand drawn with very cool figure on cover by Stik in black ink.
Perfect for framing.
Book is red with fabric cover.
224 page...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Fabric, Paper
No Time 4 Love, original signed & titled ink drawing on Royal Mail 1st Day Cover
By Tracey Emin
Located in New York, NY
Tracey Emin
No Time 4 Love drawing, 2017
Original ink drawing on a Royal Mail Art in the 20th Century 1st Day Cover
Signed, titled and dated in pen on the front
Frame included
Signed...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Offset
Rhythm Of Summer. Contemporary Figurative Mixed Media Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Rhythm Of Summer - looking like an Icon from an ancient Russian church the maiden plays in celebration of Summer on her mandolin. Iconography plays a large role in primitive art and ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Watercolor, Magazine Paper
The Protector. Contemporary Figurative Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Thoughtful work by the artist. Typical of her unique style
Framed in wood by artist, behind glass
Mixed Media
16" x 16" Image 10" x 10"
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Acrylic, Watercolor, Magazine Paper
Knowing Some History, mixed media monotype, by Melanie A Yazzie, Navajo, unique
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Knowing Some History, mixed media monotype, by Melanie A Yazzie, Navajo, unique
As a printmaker, painter, and sculptor, my work draws upon my rich Diné (Navajo) heritage. The work I...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Pastel, Monotype
Running Men
Located in London, GB
Graphite and coloured pencil on paper, signed and dated (lower right), 36cm x 44cm, (45cm x 53cm framed). The picture is behind museum quality non-reflective UV glass.
Throughout h...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Carbon Pencil, Color Pencil
LA DEMONSTRATION (TITRE AU DOS)
Located in Aventura, FL
Original oil on canvas painting. Hand signed, titled and dated on verso by Roberto Matta. Frame size approx 38 x 46 inches.
Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of A...
Category
1950s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"50" (FRAMED) Pencil Drawing 17" x 15" inch by Antonio Pelayo
Located in Culver City, CA
"50" (FRAMED) Pencil Drawing 17" x 15" inch by Antonio Pelayo
Medium: Pencil on Paper
Artist Antonio Pelayo, born in Glendale, California, and yet raised for most of his childhood ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Pencil
Figurative/Portrait/Abstract_Ink on Paper_America Martin, Woman Rests on Clover
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
America Martin
"Woman Rests on Clover"
Acrylic on Paper
11.25 x 30 in. 17 x 36 in. Framed
AMERICA MARTIN is an internationally represented Colombian-American fine artist based in L...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Handmade Paper, Ink
Untitled 1 - Series Final Fantasy, Minutiae Contemporary Figurative Painting
Located in Salzburg, AT
Magdalena Peszkowska born in 1980 in Gdańsk, Poland. Studied in Department of Painting at Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk (1999-2004). Diploma with special recognition in painting in ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Acrylic, Cardboard
Change into White
Located in London, GB
Graphite pencil on paper, signed and dated (middle right), 22cm x 20cm, (51cm x 46cm framed). (This work was kept by the artist for his personal collection. This was the only tonal d...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Carbon Pencil
Figurative/Portrait/Abstract_Acrylic on Paper_America Martin, Under The Trees
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
America Martin
"Under The Trees"
Acrylic on Paper
46 x 43 in. Framed
AMERICA MARTIN is an internationally represented Colombian-American fine artist based in Los Angeles. America is...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Acrylic, Handmade Paper
Antonopoulos Apostolos
Located in New York, NY
This drawing by James Childs is offered by CLAMP in New York City.
Antonopoulos Apostolos
2004
Signed and titled, recto
Graphite on paper
12 x 8.25 inches.
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Archival Paper, Graphite
Andreas Zisimos
Located in New York, NY
This is a drawing by James Childs offered by CLAMP in New York City.
2004
Signed and titled, recto
Graphite and Conté crayon on paper
12 x 8.25 inches
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Conté, Graphite
White Hairbrush II
Located in London, GB
Graphite pencil on paper, 18.5cm x 19cm, (framed 50cm x 42cm). (Provenance: from the artist.)
Leonard is probably best known for his portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth, in the National ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Carbon Pencil
Horse, 2020, gel pen on paper, figurative, drawing, framed, pink, blue, white
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Horse, 2020, gel pen on paper, figurative, drawing, framed, pink, blue, white and green.
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Pen, Paper
Indian Motorcycle, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A rider halts on a dirt track, possibly appreciating the scenery around him. Fueled by his passion for motorcycle racing in his twenties, artist Thomas Hoerber ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
Fade to #3
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Customers Wanted, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Three men pose in front of their store, eagerly awaiting customers. Inspired by a vintage photograph found at a garage sale, the painting's warm tones exude a n...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Watercolor
"Las Metas Pequeńas" (FRAMED) Painting 21" x 20.5" inch by Antonio Pelayo
Located in Culver City, CA
"Las Metas Pequeńas" (FRAMED) Painting 21" x 20.5" inch by Antonio Pelayo
Medium: Pencil on Paper. Acrylic Ink & Paint on Animation Acetate
Image size: 15" x 15" inch
Size framed...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Ink, Acrylic
Untitled I
By João Cardoso
Located in MADRID, ES
Oil pastel on 350 g/m2 textured paper.
With thoughts on 21st century humans and their future, João Cardoso concludes that technology brings tools for two extremes. Thus, technology,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Pastel
Sugar is now more deadly than gun powder
By João Cardoso
Located in MADRID, ES
Oil pastel on 350 g/m2 textured paper.
With thoughts on 21st century humans and their future, João Cardoso concludes that technology brings tools for two extremes. Thus, technology,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Pastel
Fade to #20
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #2
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Pause - Graphite Drawing on Panel of Two Male Figures
By Rick Sindt
Located in Chicago, IL
"Pause" by Rick Sindt is a small graphite drawing of two male figures - one gazing directly at the viewer. We, the viewer, seem to be interrupting this i...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Graphite, Panel
Fade to #21
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Pigs love diamonds
By João Cardoso
Located in MADRID, ES
Oil pastel on 350 g/m2 textured paper.
With thoughts on 21st century humans and their future, João Cardoso concludes that technology brings tools for two extremes. Thus, technology,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Pastel
Fade to #9
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Thirsty
By João Cardoso
Located in MADRID, ES
Oil pastel on 350 g/m2 textured paper.
With thoughts on 21st century humans and their future, João Cardoso concludes that technology brings tools for two extremes. Thus, technology,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Pastel
No end found
By João Cardoso
Located in MADRID, ES
Oil pastel on 350 g/m2 textured paper.
With thoughts on 21st century humans and their future, João Cardoso concludes that technology brings tools for two extremes. Thus, technology,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Pastel
Sketch to #1
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #19
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #13
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Sketch to #2
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #16
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #14
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #11
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #6
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #10
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #17
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #15
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #7
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Fade to #4
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Talluah Bankhead 3 and Pola Negri II Diptych. From The Dis-enchanted series.
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Talluah Bankhead 3 and Pola Negri II Diptych, 2016
From The Dis-enchanted series
Ink on paper
Overall frame size: 20 in. H x 32 in. W x 1 in D
Individual size:
Image size: 16.5 in....
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Ink
Untitled II
By João Cardoso
Located in MADRID, ES
Oil pastel on 350 g/m2 textured paper.
With thoughts on 21st century humans and their future, João Cardoso concludes that technology brings tools for two extremes. Thus, technology,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Pastel
Sun bathing on the rocks
By João Cardoso
Located in MADRID, ES
Oil pastel on 350 g/m2 textured paper.
With thoughts on 21st century humans and their future, João Cardoso concludes that technology brings tools for two extremes. Thus, technology,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Oil Pastel
Kyle Andrew Szpyrka - Cords, Drawing 2014
Located in Greenwich, CT
The Paths series was born out of a trip I took one summer to LA. The trip itself was more of an escape from my life in New York. At the time I was at a crossroads. Having just gone t...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Graphite
Kyle Andrew Szpyrka - Umbilical, Drawing 2014
Located in Greenwich, CT
The Paths series was born out of a trip I took one summer to LA. The trip itself was more of an escape from my life in New York. At the time I was at a crossroads. Having just gone t...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Graphite
Fade to #1
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Color Pencil
Sculptural ink and vintage china plate painting 'Spiraling with Bird in Flight'
Located in White Plains, NY
Available at Madelyn Jordon Fine Art. 'Spiraling with Bird in Flight' 2024 by American artist Robert Strati. Broken plate and ink on paper, 30 x 23 x 1.5 in.
Frame: 33 x 25 x 2.5 in. This work incorporates pieces of an antique shattered plate Illustrating an idyllic landscape adorned with pagodas. The artist complements these shattered pieces with intricate ink drawings, carefully replicating the original monochrome hues of the plate. Framed in a white wood frame.
Inspired by the serendipitous event of accidentally dropping a cherished heirloom plate...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Porcelain, Paper, Ink
Vintage china plate and ink painting 'The Fall with Bridge' by Robert Strati
Located in White Plains, NY
Available at Madelyn Jordon Fine Art. 'The Fall with Bridge' 2024 by American artist Robert Strati. Broken plate and ink on paper, 35.75 x 23 x 1.5 in.
Frame: 38.75 x 26 x 2.5 in. T...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Porcelain, Paper, Ink
Ink and vintage china plate painting of Horses by Robert Strati 'The Race'
Located in White Plains, NY
Available at Madelyn Jordon Fine Art. 'The Race' 2024 by American artist Robert Strati. Broken plate and ink on paper, 21 x 21 x 1.5 in. / Frame: 24 x 24 x 2.5 in. This work incorporates pieces of an antique shattered plate depicting a jockey on a horse. The artist complements these shattered pieces with intricate ink drawings, carefully replicating the original monochrome hues of the plate. Framed in a white wood frame.
Inspired by the serendipitous event of accidentally dropping a cherished heirloom plate...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Porcelain, Paper, Ink
"Untitled 29" (FRAMED) Pencil Drawing 21" x 18" inch by Antonio Pelayo
Located in Culver City, CA
"Untitled 29" (FRAMED) Pencil Drawing 21" x 18" inch by Antonio Pelayo
Size unframed: 15.5" x 13.5" inch
Medium: Pencil on Paper
Artist Antonio Pelayo, born in Glendale, California...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Materials
Paper, Pencil
Contemporary figurative drawings and watercolors for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Contemporary figurative 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 figurative 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, purple, orange, yellow and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Leo Guida, Luis Miguel Valdes , Reginald K. Gee, and Renato Garza Cervera. 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 Contemporary figurative drawings and watercolors, so small editions measuring 1.25 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative 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 $60 and tops out at $70,894, while the average work sells for $907.