Contemporary Mixed Media
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.
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1990s Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Glass, Plastic, Wood, Acrylic, Polyurethane
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Thread, Paper
Artist Comments
This artwork portrays a woman with her eyes and body concealed by various materials. The laurel cutout, leaf-like patterns, and two-toned colors on the backgr...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Archival Pigment, Paper, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Resin, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Clay
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Wood, Mixed Media, Oil, Magazine Paper, Found Objects
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Clay
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Paint
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Glass, Plaster, Walnut, Vinyl
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Pastel, Oil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Ceramic, Clay, Pigment, Other Medium
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Metal, Steel
Artist Comments
A man sits introspectively, his posture curled and reflective. Green foliage, vibrant patterns, and varied textures form an intricate backdrop. Artist Darlene...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Alabaster
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Oil, Panel, Monotype
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Outlined in gold and covered in vibrant fiery colors, a bison stands boldly against a blue backdrop. Its eye conveys a sense of awareness as it shares a gentl...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Ceramic, Clay, Porcelain
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Ink, Lithograph
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Archival Ink, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Acrylic, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Coffee, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Ink, Archival Paper, Pencil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Pastel, Watercolor, Pencil, Color Pencil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Wool, Thread, Plastic, Wood
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Felt Pen, Stencil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Enamel
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Thread, Yarn, Pastel, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Graphite
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Graphite
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Ink, Archival Paper, Pencil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Acrylic, Black and White, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Thread, Organic Material, Archival Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Oil, Handmade Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic