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.
Untitled 3 Collage with Vintage Wallpaper, Abstract Mixed Media, 2000s
By Peter Opheim
Located in New York, NY
Mixed media on paper by New York artist Peter Opheim, titled "Untitled 3," created in 2008. This signed original work measures 30 x 23 inches and represents an important period in Op...
Gesso, Acrylic
$4,500
Happiest Place on Earth - Large Monochrome Contemporary Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Harrison Gilman's large original artworks begin with a layer of fast-paced gestural abstraction followed by organic shapes and geometric structures. Some of his paintings remain in t...
Canvas, Oil, Charcoal, Mixed Media
Ivory Gold - Mixed Media Sculptural Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kristina Fjellman, a Minnesota-based visual artist and performer, seamlessly blends sculpture and performance art in her captivating work. With exhib...
Steel, Wire
$9,000Sale Price|62% Off
Three Totems - Large Oversized Abstract Modern Textural Grey Steel Sculptures
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by dance and weightlessness, Granville Beals' industrial metal sculptures are primarily about relationships. His original artworks capture the essence of Abstract Expression...
Metal, Steel
$2,680Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Painting with Found Object Collage
Located in Soquel, CA
Lively abstract expressionist oil painting/collage of what resembles a corridor as the focal point, with imported cigar cut outs and pops of vibrant color by...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Guy Harloff Signed and Dated Large Abstract Painting
By Guy Harloff
Located in Roma, IT
Guy Harloff Signed and Dated Large Abstract Painting Wonderful Guy Harloff large abstract painting Titled “Composition” 1954 Mixed media on paper applied to masonite. Inscription G...
Paper, Pastel, Watercolor
$11,500
Golden Moments - Large Original Abstract Expressionism Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The paintings of Bruce Rubenstein seamlessly marry sophistication with affordability. His original art merges the creative attitudes of the two distinct art hot spots of New York and...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
My Version - Original Colorful Impasto Acrylic Textural Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Glitter, Acrylic
$6,800
Lighthearted, 2024, by Murray Duncan, Mix Media on Canvas, Geometric Abstract
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Lighthearted By Murray Duncan Lighthearted is a large-scale abstract composition defined by gestural movement, architectural line-work, and a warm, luminous ground. Working in layer...
Glaze, Oil Crayon, Acrylic, Pencil
$680
Untitled #SP-217, Mixed Media on Paper by Murray Duncan - Abstract Geometric
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #SP-217, by Murray Duncan Mixed media on paper Size: 32" x 40” Unframed, signed A bold mixed-media work with dynamic lines and textures. This captivating piece by Murray ...
Paint, Paper, Pencil
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
Subsurface
Located in New York, NY
John Vitale is a young abstract artist to watch with an expressive, intuitive voice. He works on many canvases at once, moving between them, adding brushstrokes in acrylic paint, hou...
House Paint, Acrylic, Permanent Marker, Pencil
Lineto I (Abstract Encaustic and Collage Painting on Linen)
Located in Hudson, NY
"Lineto I" made by Hudson Valley artist, Alaina Enslen, in 2025 Encaustic, dyed fabrics, and paper mounted on panel 36 x 48 x 2 inches unframed, sides reveal raw panel and wrapped fa...
Fabric, Encaustic, Linen, Monotype
Ensign No. 3
Located in Columbia, MO
A native of Upstate New York, Matt Ballou was educated at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago (BFA 2001) and Indiana University ( MFA 2005) before coming to The University of ...
Plastic, Mixed Media, Permanent Marker
Slender Thing (Abstract, Modernist Brancusi Inspired Minimalist Grey Sculpture)
By Dai Ban
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract modernist, minimal, Brancusi inspired three dimensional wall sculpture in light grey. Made of carved high-density foam, epoxy resin, pigment and gypsum cement. Despite it's ...
Plaster, Board, Pigment
White Series n2 and n3 Diptych. Abstract Painting
Located in Miami Beach, FL
In this series the artist represent the force of white that invades with its free forms, strongly over the structure of black. White is the absolute color, the purest, the most perfe...
Canvas, Lacquer, India Ink, Watercolor, Pigment
Ensign No. 1
Located in Columbia, MO
A native of Upstate New York, Matt Ballou was educated at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago (BFA 2001) and Indiana University ( MFA 2005) before coming to The University of ...
Mixed Media, Plastic, Permanent Marker
Mountain High - Large Original Abstract Expressionism Playful Landscape Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The paintings of Bruce Rubenstein seamlessly marry sophistication with affordability. His expressive abstract landscape artwork 'Flourishing Fields' features whimsical details and vi...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Abstract Geometric Composition with Paper, Fibers, and Acrylic on Canvas (Green)
Located in Soquel, CA
Abstract Geometric Composition with Handmade Paper, Fibers and Acrylic on Canvas Whimsical abstract composition by an unknown artist (20th Century). Lime green acrylic paint makes u...
Jute, Acrylic, Washi Paper
Easy On by Murray Duncan, Abstract Mixed Media on Canvas
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Easy On by Murray Duncan is a striking abstract composition that merges bold gestural lines with an earthy, textured surface. Rendered in a muted, organic palette, the piece evokes a...
Glaze, Oil Crayon, Acrylic
$635
Glowing Sunset II - Original Vibrant Warm Tone Textured Abstract Artwork Framed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The delicate and poetic artworks of painter Frederic Paul reference his Asian roots in expressive and elaborate compositions. Inspired by the bold colors, spices, flora, and landscap...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Rice Paper
$680
Untitled #SP-206, Mixed Media on Paper by Murray Duncan - Abstract Geometric
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #SP-206 by Murray Duncan Mixed media on paper Size: 32" x 40” Unframed, signed A bold mixed-media work with dynamic lines and textures. This captivating piece by Murray D...
Paper, Oil Crayon, Acrylic
Seeking Truth, Abstract Painting
By Terri Bell
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This contemporary abstract combines paint and paper collage to create a textured linear pattern in the lower portion of the artwork. The top section features ...
Mixed Media
$555
Moody - Color Drenched Impasto Inspired Textural Thick Paint Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Acrylic
$7,330Sale Price|20% Off
ABSTRACT Contemporary Artist French Rose Madone New Artwork Nature earth colors
By Rose Madone
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
At Escat Gallery, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork in our collection comes with a Certificate of A...
Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media
$4,000
Combahee Night - Abstract Black Sculptural Original Three-Dimensional Wall Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Atticus Adams' organically composed modern metal sculptures embody the transformative power of art, illustrating the creation of beauty, meaning, and emotional impact from industrial...
Metal, Wire
$12,000
Scabious - Minimalist Light Reflecting Wall Sculpture Colorful Kinetic Patterns
By Chris Wood
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chris Wood’s "Scabious" is a dichroic glass light sculpture that radiates a mesmerizing interplay of color, light, and movement. The circular arrangement of glass elements reflects a...
Metal
"Ranunculus II" Large Acrylic, Oil Pastels, Pencils Blush Rose Abstract 84"x60"
Located in New York, NY
"Ranunculus II", 2024, 84" H x 60" W. Large-scale abstract painting in hues of blush crimson consisting of acrylic, pencils, and oil pastels on canvas by Argentine-born artist Karina...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Carbon Pencil, Color Pencil
$13,700
Cloudstack - Large Oversized Red Contemporary Geometric Metal Steel Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by dance and weightlessness, Granville Beals' industrial metal sculptures are primarily about relationships. Concerned with form and abstraction, he does not merely manipula...
Metal, Steel
$24,500
"Colorful Stories" by Masri - Large Gestural Contemporary Abstract Expressionist
Located in Carmel, CA
Masri (Lebanese, born 1965) "Colorful Stories" 2018 Acrylic paint, Oil paint, Mixed Media, Canvas, Stretcher bars The artist signed the back of the painting. "Colorful Stories" by M...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Grape Mist - Original Colorful Impasto Acrylic Textural Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Glitter, Acrylic
Sagrada Dualidad I. Oil on canvas
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The works produced under the name Sacred Duality are inspired by recognizing the impermanent nature of all things and being aware that nothing is static. Appreciating that continuous...
Canvas, Oil
"Divine Spontaneity II" Acrylic, Oil Pastels, Pencils Abstract Painting 48"x36"
Located in New York, NY
"Divine Spontaneity II" 2023, 48" H x 36" W. Vertical abstract painting consisting of acrylics, house paint, oil pastels, color pencils, and carbon pencils on canvas by Argentine-bo...
House Paint, Acrylic, Carbon Pencil, Oil Pastel, Color Pencil
Easy Over by Murray Duncan, Abstract Mixed Media on Canvas
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Easy Over by Murray Duncan is a striking abstract composition that merges bold gestural lines with an earthy, textured surface. Rendered in a muted, organic palette, the piece evokes...
Glaze, Oil Crayon, Acrylic
Umbra series 13 and 14, Diptych. Abstract Wall Sculpture
By Rodrigo Zuliani Hauck Zampol
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Fear and insecurity came uninvited to keep the artist company. Suddenly it became necessary to release the sensations that surrounded him day and night. At times the artist felt as i...
Brass
Graffiti Air Jordan - 36"x24"
By Klau
Located in New York, NY
Klau, Graffiti Air Jordan, Abstract Mixed Media, 24 x 36, 2017 3D Colors: White, Black, Yellow, Red, Blue, Orange Edition of 25 "Michael Jordan Basketball"
Mixed Media
$680
Untitled #SP-209, Mixed Media on Paper by Murray Duncan - Abstract Geometric
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #SP-#209 by Murray Duncan Mixed media on paper Size: 32" x 40” Unframed, signed A bold mixed-media work with dynamic lines and textures. This captivating piece by Murray ...
Paper, Oil Crayon, Acrylic
CC #86 - Green Blue Abstract Geometric Wall Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Anna Kruhelska, a talented visual artist and practicing architect from Lodz, Poland, merges her expertise in both fields to create captivating artworks. With a background in major ar...
Wood, Plywood, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Judith Brenner, Sophie Dancing 1, Original Figurative Art, Abstract Sketch Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Judith Brenner Sophie Dancing 1 Original Figurative Drawing Acrylic Paint, Pan Pastel, Ink and Watercolour Pencil on Paper Sheet Size: 84.1cm x W 59.4cm x D 0.1cm Sold Unframed Please note that in situ images are purely an indication of how a piece may look. Sophie Dancing 1 is an original nude drawing by Judith Brenner.The figure is continuously moving and the final work is a composition made in an attempt to capture the rhythm of the dance. This abstract-impressionistic work is evocative of Francis Bacon’s style...
Paper, Pastel, Ink, Watercolor, Pen
$1,056Sale Price|20% Off
Black mosaic n°2 by Gilbert Pauli - Mixed media 61x77 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Black mosaic in two panels Born in 1944 in the canton of Fribourg, Gilbert Pauli currently lives in Geneva, where he devotes himself to painting and sculpture, a passion he develope...
Ceramic, Plaster, Mosaic, Acrylic
Running Wild - Large Contemporary Color Drenched Abstract Organic Shape Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Harrison Gilman's large original artworks begin with a layer of fast-paced gestural abstraction followed by organic shapes and geometric structures. Some of his paintings remain in t...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$6,400
Green Cathedral III - Large Contemporary Abstract Green Tone Geometric Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Harrison Gilman's large original artworks begin with a layer of fast-paced gestural abstraction followed by organic shapes and geometric structures. Some of his paintings remain in t...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
28K Gold Organic - 3D gold color contemporary abstract mural sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Erin Vincent is a Toronto based-artist whose work draws on a variety of repetitive and labor intensive processes and materials. Things and common objects have always fascinated Vinc...
Foam, Acrylic, Wood Panel
Momentous - Original Colorful Vibrant Abstract Mixed Media Artwork on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic
ROJO NO. 1 - Oil and Gold leaf on canvas, abstract red, contemporary
Located in Signal Mountain, TN
ROJO #1 is dominated by the richness of the red in the oil paint on the canvas. The perfectly geometric gold leaf circle, a recurring visual element in Yuri's works, contrasts nicely...
Gold Leaf
Fields of Gold
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Encaustic on panel. It's simple; I create art because it makes me happy. I try not to overthink the process of what I’m painting and let my intuition be my guide. I love laying do...
Encaustic
Colourful Abstract Painting using Orange & Turquoise Resin on a White Canvas
Located in Preston, GB
Colourful Abstract Painting using Orange & Turquoise Resin on a White Canvas by 20th Century British Artist Art measures 30 x 30 inches (Unframed) Philippe Aird...
Canvas, Resin, Epoxy Resin, Acrylic Polymer, Acrylic
Untitled 4. From Ritmos abstractos (Abstract Rhythms) Series
Located in Miami Beach, FL
"Ritmos Abstratos" invites us to explore the visual universe of the artist Juan Carlos Amador, who, through his unique perspective, translates the pulsations of space and the invisi...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$375
Juicy Marks - Colorful Impasto Textural Thick Paint Framed Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Glitter, Acrylic
$6,050
Jit Madness - Abstract Contemporary Organic Shape Mixed Media Artwork on Canvas
By Rue Bootay
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rue Bootay, a New York-born artist now rooted in the vibrant artistic landscape of Los Angeles, navigates the avant-garde realm of nonrepresentational surrealism with a style uniquel...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
If Not For You - Abstract Modern Organic Shape Mixed Media Artwork on Canvas
By Rue Bootay
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rue Bootay, a New York-born artist now rooted in the vibrant artistic landscape of Los Angeles, navigates the avant-garde realm of nonrepresentational surrealism with a style uniquel...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Please Leave Us Alone (Abstract Minimalist Light Grey 3-D Wall Sculpture)
By Dai Ban
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract minimalist three-dimensional wall sculpture in light grey and black "Please Leave Us Alone" by Dai Ban, 2020 29 x 24 x 10 inches Precision board, Venetian Plaster, Beeswax, Pigment Lightweight sculpture (weighs about 5 lbs.) and hangs on the wall with a French cleat Excellent condition and ready to hang as is Signed, verso This contemporary, abstract horizontal wall sculpture...
Plaster, Foam Board, Pigment
Abstract Relief Painting in Vibrant White by José María de Aurora Contemporary
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
At Escat Gallery we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork in our collection comes with a Certificate of Au...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Diptych: Registros XVII and Registros XVIII. From The Series Registros
By Nat Orlowski
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Impressions of past lives, perceptions of future lives. The Records series carries that mystery. Simple and profound since its deed does not happen on the surface. Although it manif...
Canvas, Lacquer, India Ink, Acrylic, Pigment
$16,000
"Windswept I" - Large Pastel and Earth Tone Layered Contemporary Abstract Work
Located in Carmel, CA
Katheryn Holt (American, born 1951) "Windswept I" 2025 Oil paint and mixed media on cradled wood panel The artist signed the back of the painting. “Windswept I” is a serene abstract...
Mixed Media, Oil, Wood Panel, Stretcher Bars
$2,400
Straight Into the Middle - Lively Impasto Thick Paint Colorful Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint a...
Canvas, Glitter, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Field Study — Group of Four Mixed Media Works on Paper by Murray Duncan
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Field Study is a group of four mixed-media works on archival cold-press watercolor paper by Toronto artist Murray Duncan, each measuring 18 × 24 inches. Part of his ongoing Untitled ...
Paint, Paper, Ink, Pencil
Resurfacing Mix Media on Canvas, Abstract, 48x48, 2025
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Resurfacing, 2025 by Murray Duncan Mixed media on canvas 48 × 48 inches Resurfacing is a quietly assertive abstract work that explores repetition, erosion, and the persistence of...
Glaze, Acrylic, Pencil
AWH 340 - Abstract Minimalist Textured Layered Colorfield Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bernhard Zimmer produces deeply layered, subtly textured abstract paintings that contain diametrically opposed elements—order and chaos, abstraction and representation, boldness and ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
A Beautiful Story - Original Impasto Textural Thick Paint Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Acrylic
Cintra and Frenetic Diptych. Mixed media Abstract painting on Canvas
By Alec Franco
Located in Miami Beach, FL
" The work resists framing in concepts, it overflows the contours and borders of the rational. It is through the presence of color, combined with an abstraction at times with express...
Canvas, Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic