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
Plexiglass, Paper, Ink, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Plexiglass, Paper, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Plexiglass, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Plexiglass, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Silk, Plexiglass, Dye, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Plexiglass, Paper, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Wool, Plexiglass, Paper, Dye, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Varnish, Acrylic, Ballpoint Pen, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Plexiglass, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold, Silver, Foil, Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Black and White, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Fabric, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Wood
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil
1980s Contemporary Mixed Media
Enamel
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Sequins, Mixed Media, Watercolor
Artist Comments
Artist Darlene McElroy displays a contemporary portrait of a woman with her hair flowing in the wind. Bold patterns in vibrant colors establish her dynamic silhouette. "The winds of life moved her to new places and new experiences full of secrets," reveals Darlene. The unconventional materials create a sculptural and dimensional aspect.
About the Artist
Darlene McElroy sees creating art as similar to reading Turkish coffee grounds. A story becomes revealed as one looks at the surface, texture and color. Her works use a variety of materials ranging from acrylic paints to photo transfers and collage. She currently lives in New Mexico and has been greatly influenced by the work of Robert Rauschenberg. She encourages viewers to search for their narrative interpretation when viewing a work.
Words that describe this painting: woman, feminine, figurative, stylized, narrative, storytelling, flower, wind, face, eyes, portrait, mixed media, contemporary, small, profile, people, contemporary, mixed media artwork, beige
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Darlene McElroy
Acrylic paint and collage on masonite...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Textile, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Glass, Film, Polymer
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Gouache, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment
Artist Comments
A woman in ornate period clothing wears a blindfold. Vibrant ribbons twist and swirl around her, contrasting with the neutral-toned background. Her heart, pro...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
Artist Comments
Artist Yelitza Diaz creates an intriguing three-dimensional piece that incorporates a human figure sitting in a relaxed manner at the center of a wooden frame...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Wood, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Lucite, Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Digital, Lucite, Pigment
1990s Contemporary Mixed Media
Metal, Gold
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Fabric, Thread, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Pastel, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Textile, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Glass, Plaster, Walnut, Vinyl
Early 2000s Contemporary Mixed Media
Handmade Paper, Photographic Paper, Etching
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Varnish, Archival Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Black and White, Archival Pigment, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
Artist Comments
The artwork strikes a delicate balance between nature and abstraction. A central bleeding heart flower blooms against a textured background, weaving botanical...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Sequins, Mixed Media, Watercolor
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Fabric
Artist Comments
"Distant" 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, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Charcoal, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Varnish, Found Objects, Wood
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Magazine Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Archival Ink, Digital
Artist Comments
For this modernist representation of spring, artist Brit J Oie took inspiration from the words of Rainer Maria Rilke: "It is Spring ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Textile, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Early 2000s Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Pencil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Black and White, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media