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.
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
A minimalistic geometric abstraction, part of artist John Gardner's newest series of mixed media works. He meticulously hand cuts...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
"Even in the middle of winter when the colors are muted, beauty abounds and promises spring," shares artist Melissa Gannon. Insp...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
A conceptual collage illustrating binary star movement. Part of John's newest series of mixed media works meticulously hand cut from vintage paper and stitche...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Paper, Oil Pastel
Artist Comments
"This piece was made in the spring and the colors are reminiscent of it, in particular the fresh greens," says artist Margriet Hogue...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Late 20th Century Abstract Mixed Media
Paper, Ink, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Archival Ink, Watercolor, Gouache, Archival Paper, Pencil, Color Pencil
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Plywood, Spray Paint
Early 2000s Abstract Mixed Media
Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Graphite, Monotype
Early 2000s Abstract Mixed Media
Plastic, Acrylic, Archival Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Wax Crayon, Sumi Ink, Archival Paper, Graphite
Artist Comments
A minimalist, playful take on the Bermuda Triangle. Part of John's newest series of mixed media works meticulously hand cut fr...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Paper, Mixed Media
1960s Abstract Mixed Media
Paper, Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Pigment
20th Century Abstract Mixed Media
Glass
Artist Comments
"This is a piece about trees and the spaces in between, the undefined - where mysteries and dreams abound," says artist Melissa Gannon...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Fade is part of my newest series of mixed media works. I meticulously hand cut from vintage paper. The work is collage, watercolor and thread on heavy weight paper, with archival adhesive. It is matted with an archival matte and backing but will require a frame for display. Artwork dimensions: 6(h) x 6(w) Matte dimensions: 10(h) x 10(w) White archival matte and archival backing. Backing is also signed, titled and dated.
About the Artist
John...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Tribute is part of my newest series of mixed media works. I meticulously hand cut from vintage paper. The work is collage and thread on heavy weight paper, wi...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Artist Comments
This body of work, "The Light Within," is inspired by Leonard Cohen's ;Anthem; - ;Ring the bells that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering. There is a...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Wire
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Pigment
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1960s Abstract Mixed Media
Paper, Intaglio, Ink
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Granite, Metal
1990s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1980s Abstract Mixed Media
Canvas
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Liquid gold metal drawn over diagonal black and white stripes. Thick, painterly texture provides numerous angles to reflect light. The edges of the piece are finished in gold. Created by carefully manipulating metallic foil with heat and varying pressure over the course of many weeks. This is a highly specialized and unique technique developed by M. to achieve her goals of bending light and drawing out distinctive elements in the foil. The work is very luminous and will display individual characteristics in different lighting situations.
About the Artist
M. Clark sculpts metallic foil with heat and pressure 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. As a person with dyslexia, her artwork has roots in the way she processes symbols. "The multidimensional shape and arc of letters are more powerful than stringed characters forming words," she explains. M. lives in New York and works in a studio on the 35th floor with big windows overlooking the East River. She describes it as an inspiring and calming space, and is fastidious about keeping the place organized. Her work has been exhibited nationally, including a large scale installation in the Smithsonian, and is collected internationally.
Words that describe this painting: gold, metallic, luminous, pattern, geometric, modern, Jackson Pollock, abstract, non-representational, modern , mixed media artwork, yellow
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1960s Abstract Mixed Media
Paper, Ink, Intaglio
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Canvas, Plywood, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Plexiglass, Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Canvas
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Pigment
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Oil, Wood Panel
1970s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Metal
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media
Early 2000s Abstract Mixed Media
Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Graphite, Monotype
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Resin, Epoxy Resin
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Gold Leaf
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Acrylic, Other Medium
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Encaustic, Panel, Digital, Monotype, Thread, Wood
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Encaustic, Digital
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Panel
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Encaustic, Digital, Panel, Monotype
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Panel, Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Pigment
20th Century Abstract Mixed Media
Wood, Oil, Pencil
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Oil, Acrylic