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.
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Textile, Paint, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Epoxy Resin, Acrylic, Board, Photographic Paper
20th Century Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1990s Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Cardboard, Wax, Wood
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Cardboard, Wax, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Paint, Mixed Media, Board
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Artist Comments
This richly textured still life is full of energy. I was inspired by a cheerful bouquet of blooms that i captured in an abstract style. The bouquet is contrasted by a mix of patterns in the floral wallpaper and bold floral tablecloth...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Panel
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Spray Paint, Acrylic, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Black and White, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Handmade Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Paint
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Fabric, Thread, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Textile, Synthetic, Yarn, Found Objects
Artist Comments
A collage depicts an opulent interior blending fantasy, luxury, and eclectic design. A grand piano, ornate furniture, and striking decorative elements fill the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Acrylic, Archival Pigment, Wax, Oil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Mixed Media, Watercolor, Pencil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Silk, Ink, Wax, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Paper, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Oil Pastel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Thread, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold Leaf
Early 2000s Contemporary Mixed Media
Oil Pastel, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Acrylic, Gouache, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Glass, Plaster, Walnut, Vinyl
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Gesso, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic, ABS
Early 2000s Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Dye, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Rag Paper, Color Pencil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Artist Comments
This encaustic artwork depicts San Francisco Bay from Pr. Richmond. Fragments of sewing patterns reveal McCall's models from a packaging, adding a nostalgic layer to the composition. Artist James Hartman used a cradled panel covered in vintage collage and beeswax to create the piece.
About the Artist
When James Hartman was in art school, he became fascinated with the Society of Six, a group of artists who painted en plein air (outdoors) and exhibited together in the San Francisco Bay Area during the early 20th Century. James's paintings of the Northern California landscape...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Archival Pigment, Pastel, Pencil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Acrylic, Oil, Color, Giclée
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Found Objects, Mixed Media
1970s Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Plaster, Foam Board, Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Oil, Acrylic, Board, Magazine Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Fabric, Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Brass, Steel
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Iron
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Oil, Panel, Monotype
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Plaster, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic, ABS
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Archival Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic, Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Dimensional collage elements define a man's profile. His colorful and pattern-rich attire creates a striking focal point against the blue background. Artist D...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Wood Panel, Pigment
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Wood, Maple, Screen
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Oil