Abstract Mixed Media
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.
Artist Comments
"This piece is named in homage to the Joni Mitchell song People's Parties," explains artist Terri Bell. "In abstract terms, each square has its own characteri...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Artist Joey Korom creates a collaged abstract with elements of cardboard and fabric. He slathers the paint like butter onto the canvas to create a thick impas...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Artist Roman Antopolsky shares a gestural abstract expression of a boat. "The vessel becomes an emissary, an emissary that bec...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Crystal DiPietro displays an impressionist view of flourishing Palo Verde trees. It blooms with bright yellow flowers in th...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Acrylic, Mixed Media
Artist Comments
An abstract cityscape by artist Terri Bell of tonal greens and accented with varying grids and patterns. Dots and circles are adding intricate details and whimsy. "It reminds me of a city skyline on a cool morning when the shadows are long," describes Terri. "It has the feel of a warm environment where everything is green and sophisticated."
About the Artist
Artist Terri Bell constructs highly detailed geometric fields that dance to life with engaging colors and soft edges. As a young child, Terri always wanted to paint, draw, or play imaginative games. She entered college as an art major and received important mentorship from several teachers. Unfortunately, it was at this point that Terri’s art career was put on hold. "I had to make a couple of detours along the way, and ended up changing my major to political science," she says, "which led me to work in a high stress, high profile state government position." Terri’s creative pursuits were more limited but ever-present. "Art was the balance in my life and I never gave up my dream." Through hard work and determination, she has returned to her calling as a full-time career artist. When she’s not painting, Terri enjoys cooking, container gardening, and spending time with her husband and two Yorkies.
Words that describe this painting: abstract, geometric, squares, circles, modern, contemporary, skyline, city, cityscape, urban, metro, detailed, calming, sophisticated, abstract, mixed media artwork
Green Sky...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Late 20th Century Abstract Mixed Media
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Paper
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Oil, Acrylic
Artist Comments
An ornate flower crown rests on a young girl's head in artist Darlene McElroy's expressionist portrait. "It is a Hispanic tradition to be offered to the churc...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
"This painting was inspired by flowers in the context of relationships," says artist Linda Shaffer. "Flowers are often the first gesture in a caring relations...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Paper, Oil Pastel
Artist Comments
Artist Patrick O'Boyle produces an abstract aerial view of a landscape. "I use aerial photos taken from various places I have traveled," says Patrick. He creates an organic shape filled with colors, lines, and patterns. The structures fill the canvas forming a new and larger image, open to the interpretation of the viewer.
About the Artist
Patrick O'Boyle primarily paints in a studio, rarely using reference material other than his own thoughts and dreams. He always paints in a series of five - at the end of the fifth painting he revisits and reworks all of them until he feels they're complete. Using extra-long handles on his brushes, Patrick paints at a distance from the canvas so he can see the works evolve as a whole from the one color he starts with to the vibrant array at the end.
Words that describe this painting: abstract, landscape, small, bright, colorful, acrylicpaint, mark-making, abstract, mixed media artwork, white
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
"It's a muted meditative exploration of how physical distance, as well as the distance created by the passage of time, affects our experiences of memory and p...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1950s Abstract Mixed Media
Paper, Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Part of artist Janet Hamilton's signature series exploring geometric lines and color grids. "The paint was applied using knives and carefully placed to create this bold and textured abstract," says Janet. The modernist design explores a rich range of blues interspersed with white on a black background, with mosaic-like accents at irregular intervals.
About the Artist
Janet Hamilton is an abstract expressionist who creates heavily-textured and multi-layered paintings. She is an Illinois-based artist whose studio space is a converted library complete with stained glass windows, a balcony and fireplace. Throughout her portfolio, she demonstrates a mastery over color choice; each palette creates a specific emotion and mood. She builds the texture of her painting with many layers to reflect the emotional depth of her passion-filled process.
Words that describe this painting: abstract, geometric, lines, stripes, textured, modern, abstract, non-representational, modern , mixed media artwork, blue
Navy Stripes...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
"I imagine sitting on a plane, looking out the window shortly after takeoff, and being struck by the beauty that always moves me when I fly," shares artist Ag...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
I call this technique 'canvas mosaic' which I developed over the last nine years. The square shapes are cut and painted pieces of canvas fabric that I adhered to the stretched canvas. Initially inspired by digital pixels, but harkens back to traditional mosaic making. In Japan, we use red string...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
"Ideas are rife with this collage and acrylic composition," says artist Joey Korom. "Its intentionally rough surface features the addition of paper, cardboar...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper
Artist Comments
"This piece depicts the beautiful colors and varied textures I found while wandering around in a desert wash," says artist Crystal DiPietro. Capturing a porti...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Mixed Media
Encaustic, Acrylic, Pencil
Artist Comments
Artist Joey Korom expresses a vision of medieval sport in this mixed-media composition. He attaches strips of cloth to the canvas representing elements of jou...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Nava Lundy paints an impressionist portrait of a woman demurely looking over her shoulders. Sandy orange and blue colors fill the background in thick h...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Wax, Encaustic, Oil, Board
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Spray Paint, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Spray Paint, Wood Panel
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Patrick O'Boyle demonstrates an abstract landscape with distinct formations. He uses acrylic glaze and washes to establish color, shape, and pattern placement. Pages of old dictionaries and collage papers add points of interest to the composition. "This painting is purely an abstracted reference to places I have sketched on location," says Patrick.
About the Artist
Patrick O'Boyle primarily paints in a studio, rarely using reference material other than his own thoughts and dreams. He always paints in a series of five - at the end of the fifth painting he revisits and reworks all of them until he feels they're complete. Using extra-long handles on his brushes, Patrick paints at a distance from the canvas so he can see the works evolve as a whole from the one color he starts with to the vibrant array at the end.
Words that describe this painting: abstract, landscape, bright, mixed media, collage, abstract, mixed media artwork, yellow...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Artist Margriet Hogue demonstrates celestial alignment through collaged printed papers and tissues. She decorates each planet with unique stencils. Patterns over patterns layer the piece strikingly. The bold contrasts bring the experimental piece a distinguished flare.
About the Artist
Artist Margriet Hogue creates layered mixed media paintings inspired by "the contours of the land, the distressed surfaces and the colors of the different seasons," as she explains. Born in the Netherlands, Margriet's family moved to Venezuela when she was 6 months old, and then immigrated to Canada when she was in middle school. As a child, her mother taught her various fiber crafts. Buying her first loom allowed Margriet to pay her way through college, and after graduating, she spent years producing textiles and clothing. Unfortunately, the dust from weaving aggravated her child's asthma, so she started a needlework business called The Essamplaire (old French for sampler). "Whenever we would be on holidays I'd make appointments with museums to see their sampler collections and would request licensing agreements to reproduce them in the form of needlework kits," explains Margriet. "Samplers were part of a girl’s education from the 1500s to the early 1900s and consisted of them stitching alphabets, pictorial images and quaint verses." In 2014, Margriet attended an acrylic painting workshop, which she describes as very freeing after the fine and detailed work involved in needlework. Today, when she's not painting, she enjoys road trips through the mountains to the west coast, visiting family who live far and wide, and continuing to oversee her needlework business.
Words that describe this painting: Abstract, circles, mixed media, collage, crayons, inks, planets, lines, text, pattern, abstract, mixed media artwork, grey
The Planets...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1980s Abstract Mixed Media
Acrylic, Pencil
Artist Comments
A densely layered image in blue, black, white and yellow, with intricate texture and mark-making through the surface. "This painting can have dual meanings," ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
An abstract painting in shades of mustard, red, black, and a hint of blue. Artist Jodi Dann shares how she loves being in the moment while taking a walk aroun...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1990s Abstract Mixed Media
Oil, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Watercolor, Aquatint
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Clay, Wood, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Panel, Canvas
Artist Comments
This piece is part of my "Morocco" series. It is painted on a gallery wrapped canvas, with black sides, and comes ready to hang
About the Artist<...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Oil
1970s Abstract Mixed Media
Canvas
Artist Comments
"This piece is an exploration on layers while thinking of the ocean and water," says artist Julie Weaverling. "Ever changing, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Painterly strokes of gold move about on a black background. "The edges are finished in gold foil creating a halo effect around the artwork as light reflects off the sides of the piece," shares artist M. Clark. The technique used to create this is one where gold foil is sculpted using heat and varying pressure over the course of many weeks. "This work has a continuously shifting luminosity that is dependent on the viewer’s vantage point. This provides an infinitely evolving viewing experience."
About the Artist
M. Clark manipulates metallic foil in order to create rich surfaces that are highly reactive to shifts in light. She strives to continually push the bounds of her gold foil medium, including working directly with a manufacturer to develop foil in specific sizes and colors that were not previously available...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Oil
1960s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Wood, Found Objects, Ink, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Acrylic, Other Medium
1970s Abstract Mixed Media
Paper, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Concrete, Steel
20th Century Abstract Mixed Media
Copper, Enamel
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Stone, Sandstone