A resurgence of interest in Expressionism, Pop art, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism and other movements gained steam among artists of the 1970s and ’80s, in part as a reaction to the austerity of the prevailing minimalism and Conceptual art of the era. A decadent, bold and brash art style called Neo-Expressionism saw painters returning to figural representation, creating highly textured works that were imbued with intensely personal narratives.
Neo-Expressionist paintings are sensuous in nature and highly subjective in meaning. Expressive brushwork, highly pigmented colors and layered forms and materials lent sculptural attributes to the work and were used to depict symbolic narratives from history, mythology and the artist’s personal experience.
Prominent figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat led the Neo-Expressionist movement in the United States with paintings and prints that were raw, emotional and often violent in nature. In Germany, Die Neuen Wilden (the “New Fauves”) was the name given to a group of postwar artists that included the likes of sculptor Georg Baselitz and Gerhard Richter, a painter and photographer who explored the possibilities of both abstraction and realism, sometimes in a single piece. The work of the New Fauves — labeled as such for its return to Fauvism’s textured brushwork and use of vibrant colors — shares commonalities with Neo-Expressionism, and Baselitz was a pioneer of the movement in Europe. In addition, Willem de Kooning’s pulsating action paintings and Julian Schnabel’s experimentation with the materiality of paintings also took shape during this period.
“I was trying to make paintings different from the paintings that I saw a lot of at the time, which were mostly minimal, and they were highbrow and alienating, and I wanted to make very direct paintings that most people would feel the emotion behind when they saw them,” said Basquiat.
Neo-Expressionism generated some polarizing opinions, with some celebrating the revival of personal subjectivity in art while others criticizing the movement for being too commercially driven and nostalgic. But most experts agree that Neo-Expressionism was a huge commercial success and culturally impactful, paving the way for the postmodern work of artists like Richter and Sigmar Polke.
Find original Neo-Expressionist paintings, prints, mixed-media works and other art on 1stDibs.
Invierno Primaveral
Located in New York, NY
"Sexual Spring-like Winter" is a large painterly work, created with layers of pink and resin by the art and film world's favorite enfant terrible, Julian Schnabel. The artist and dir...
Screen
WE WILL NOT BE SiLENCED (The Golden Voice). Neo Expressionist Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Berlins response to the tragic loss of a young woman's life in London 2021 is this vibrant, passionate painting. Once again women have held vigils and peaceful protests to draw atte...
Gold Leaf
The Jazz Singer. Contemporary Large Neo Expressionist Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Sax Berlin has two passions, his art and music, particularly jazz. As someone who was fortunate enough to experience the great jazz clubs of New York his paintings of jazz musicians ...
Gold Leaf
Profile with Flowers, c. 1989
By Peter Max
Located in Philadelphia, PA
(Unique) 1/1 edition Max, Peter Profile with Flowers, c. 1989 Mixed media with watercolor and serigraphy on paper 15 x 11 in.
Watercolor, Screen
The Guru, c. 1989
By Peter Max
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Max, Peter The Guru, c. 1989 Mixed media with watercolor and serigraphy on paper. (Unique) 1/1 edition 13 3/4 x 12 1/8 in.
Watercolor, Screen
"Save The Elephants." Contemporary Mixed Media Neo Expressionist Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A charging bull elephant is an image we are all familiar with, but we are increasingly only able to see images and not the reality of the elephant. Berlin understands the headlong ch...
Gold Leaf
Animal Rights
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
When Muhammad Ali appears in your dreams there's bound to be a message! As a compassionate man Berlin feels strongly about many of the issues that affect our world. Animal Rights...
Gold Leaf
"Quante cose ho visto" by Enzio Wenk, 2016 - Mixed Media, Neo-Expressionism
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Translated title: "How many things I've seen..." Mixed media on canvas. The dimensions refer to the painting with the frame.
Mixed Media
$6,560Sale Price|20% Off
A Hemorrhage Toward Salvation II
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Matthew Marcot is an American, self-taught artist specializing in Abstract and Neo-Expressionism, and primary mediums are semiotics and collage. An unde...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
"She Knows It"- Colorful Abstract/Figurative Energetic Mixed Media Painting
By Ford Crull
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“It is terrifying to paint. When you start out, you are faced with this great unknown. And you think, am I ever going to paint again? Yet, as you work, it starts to formulate itself...
Canvas, Oil Crayon, Oil, Graphite
$18,000Sale Price|20% Off
Maelstrom
By Ford Crull
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“It is terrifying to paint. When you start out, you are faced with this great unknown. And you think, am I ever going to paint again? Yet, as you work, it starts to formulate itself...
Canvas, Photographic Film, Oil Crayon, Oil
$6,800Sale Price|20% Off
Don't Even Think
By Ford Crull
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“My work can be understood through the mind, but it is best felt with the heart, experienced through the emotions, recognized as a manifestation of the spiritual that is born on the ...
Canvas, Oil Crayon, Oil
Tribal Rhythm
Located in West Hollywood, CA
In Haleh Mashian’s painting, “Tribal Rhythm,” a forward-facing female figure emerges amidst sweeping, gestural brushstrokes rendered in ethereal white. The dynamic movement of these ...
Acrylic
$12,500
Cool Blue
By Ford Crull
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“My work can be understood through the mind, but it is best felt with the heart, experienced through the emotions, recognized as a manifestation of the spiritual that is born on the ...
Enamel
$6,560Sale Price|20% Off
Fleshy as the T-Bone
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Matthew Marcot is an American, self-taught artist specializing in Abstract and Neo-Expressionism, and primary mediums are semiotics and collage. An unde...
Canvas, Tape, Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Permanent Marker, Color Pencil
$22,400Sale Price|20% Off
Blue Green Cross Flower
By Ford Crull
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“My work can be understood through the mind, but it is best felt with the heart, experienced through the emotions, recognized as a manifestation of the spiritual that is born on the ...
Canvas, Oil Crayon, Oil
$15,000
Babybel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Jordan Barker is a New York City based mixed media artist. Initially inspired by found objects, his first piece was a coffee table that was created from a wooden palate found in the ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Foam Board
Kundalini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Matthew Marcot is an American, self-taught artist specializing in Abstract and Neo-Expressionism, and primary mediums are semiotics and collage. An unde...
Mixed Media
$20,000
New Blue
By Ford Crull
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Got Blues?
Enamel
Another Woman
By Ford Crull
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“It is terrifying to paint. When you start out, you are faced with this great unknown. And you think, am I ever going to paint again? Yet, as you work, it starts to formulate itself...
Oil Crayon, Oil, Archival Paper, Graphite
"Farmers are Ploughing Their Fields II, " Mixed Media w/ Stamp Signature
By Xiao Ming
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Farmers are Ploughing Their Fields II" is a mixed media piece by Xiao Ming. The artist stamped their mark lower right. It features abstracted figures farming. 20" x 10 3/4" art 28" x 28" art Born in the Yunnan province of China, Close to Tibet, Xiao Ming found her artwork on her beliefs and traditions of living with nature as a guardian and protector. These beliefs and traditions may have influenced Ming to favor colored inks, a gouache of sorts derived from mineral pigments bound by using animal glue, Mings work is steeped in Chinese art history, influenced by the ancient scroll...
Mixed Media
'Deep Blue With Pamela' original signed pastel portrait drawing purple and green
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Deep Blue With Pamela' is an original signed pastel portrait. The drawing presents a portrait, presumably of Pamela, who Reggie has rendered in greens and yellows and pinks against ...
Paper, Pastel
Sun Song
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Matthew Marcot is an American, self-taught artist specializing in Abstract and Neo-Expressionism, and primary mediums are semiotics and collage. An unde...
Canvas, Charcoal, Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$12,500
Heartland 2
By Ford Crull
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Art is the heart of the matter.
Canvas, Oil Crayon, Oil