Abstract More Art
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 More Art
Ink, Gouache, Rag Paper, Monotype
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Textile, Canvas, Paper, Mixed Media, Oil
Artist Comments
In artist John Jaster's impressionist piece, a brilliant red barn stands in a lush wheat field. It dwarfs in comparison to the two towering trees neighboring it. The bright sunlight reflects the scene in a still pond skirted by wild grasses and reeds. Thin wispy clouds stream along the sky in the fair weather.
About the Artist
Artist John Jaster paints in a style he describes as realistic impressions, capturing colorful views of his adventures across the Americas. "People always ask me how I get such deep brilliant colors," says John. "The answer is layers. Since acrylic paint dries mostly transparent, it requires multiple layers of paint to build up to a specific color. With the right lighting that depth of layering is like sunshine glistening through clear water." In college, John felt a pull towards computer science and pursued a career in software architecture. Although the two paths may seem unrelated, John says...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Pigment, Archival Pigment, Digital
1970s Abstract More Art
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset
Artist Comments
"No matter where they are, a flower is a flower!" says artist Sharon Sieben. She offers an expressive portrait of a hummingbird attracted to a blooming flower...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Color
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
"This painting depicts a typical sunny afternoon in Paris," shares artist Faye Vander Veer. "The long shadows coming in from t...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Textile, Canvas, Paper, Mixed Media, Oil
Artist Comments
A stoic portrait of a cheetah looking out over a glowing sunset, with the animal's cool and collected pose amplified by the painterly surroundings. "This piece gives a sense of the calm before the storm - of inner peace," says artist Miranda Gamel. "The cheetah is looking out into the fast landscape, looking for a sign, all while knowing there will be one to find."
About the Artist
The daughter of two artists, Miranda Gamel grew up with artistic aspirations. “When I was young, I couldn’t imagine that I would be anything else… it only seemed natural,” she says. She further developed her skills with her teachers (and fellow UGallery artists) John and Elli Milan. Miranda’s paintings exist on the edge of the surreal and the fantastical while remaining grounded in human emotion. Each painting, through its dynamic imagery, conveys the spirit embodied by the composition’s subject. Miranda’s ultimate goal is to portray each individual “being their true, raw, authentic self.”
Words that describe this painting: cheetah, wildlife, big cat, desert, sunset, animal, calm, expressionism, animals, non-representational, oil painting, purple
New Horizon...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Wood, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Steel
2010s Abstract More Art
Textile, Canvas, Paper, Mixed Media, Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A gentle touch, a delicate figure, a woman glows under a warm dappled ray of sunlight. "I especially enjoyed painting all of the beautiful colors in this scene," artist Sherri Aldawood says about capturing her model Alana, posing in a garden one spring morning.
About the Artist
Sherri Aldawood didn't intend to always paint flowers, but over time her love of gardens started to permeate her art. She focuses on the light and color of the flowers on the canvas. Sherri prefers alla prima, working with wet layers of paint instead of letting them dry. She keeps the paint as wet as possible by using walnut and clove oil to extend the drying time.
Words that describe this painting: portrait, woman, figure, figurative, Arizona, southwest, garden, nature, outdoors, spring, flowers, floral, John Singer Sargent, Joaquin Sorolla, impressionism, female, romantic, impressionism, people, oil painting, green
Alana in the Flower Garden...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
1980s Abstract More Art
Offset
2010s Abstract More Art
Textile, Paper, Mixed Media, Oil, Fabric
Early 2000s Abstract More Art
Porcelain
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Gary Leonard draws inspiration from a daydreaming woman by the beach. The sun envelopes her in warmth evoking a feeling of peace and relaxation that only this...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Fiery trees tower over a path that opens up to a sparkling hidden beach. Artist James Hartman rendered this piece by first creating his own cradled panel. He ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Encaustic
Artist Comments
Rustic wooden barns endure heavy snowfall in artist Doug Cosbie's captivating piece. The winter landscape stretches out into a snow...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Steel
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic, Board
2010s Abstract More Art
Linen, Archival Ink, Spray Paint, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Steel
Artist Comments
This is an impressionistic painting of light filtering in through cypress trees in a river. The overall hues in the painting are cool blues and greyed violets...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
"On December 21st, 2020 I witnessed the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn," shares artist Elizabeth Garat. "Astronomers said these planets hadn't appear...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
1990s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Acrylic, Canvas
Artist Comments
Artist James Hartman created this summer still life using the Zorn palette. Named after the Swedish artist Anders Zorn, the limited palette consists of just f...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract More Art
Glass
2010s Abstract More Art
Steel
Artist Comments
Artist Sally Adams paints a lone brown horse on a verdant landscape. She draws inspiration from the wild ponies on the islands off ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Kip Decker offers a thriving landscape with vibrant blooms spread across an expansive pasture. Thick trees stand tall on either side of the composition...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
1980s Abstract More Art
Tapestry
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Onelio lives near Manhattan and travels there often. Grand Central Station is one of his frequent stops. "It is a marvelous interior space that bustles with c...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Wood
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Recently, Sumner has been exploring the use of text in her paintings, adding poetry to accompany the message of the artwork. "This piece is about the loss we...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Metal
1970s Abstract More Art
Paper, Lithograph
2010s Abstract More Art
Pigment, Archival Pigment
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Glitter, Mixed Media, Acrylic
