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.
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Artist Comments
Artist Janet Dyer projects an impressionist landscape of blooming Provence fields. "The setting is near Bonnieux, a historic hilltop village," notes Janet. Th...
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Acrylic
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Artist Kira Yustak blends impressionist and primitive approaches in her portrait of a blackbird amongst tall cattails. She draws inspiration from observing them in waterways and marshy areas nearby. Kira paints it larger than life to highlight the feathers and make a bold statement. Her style bears influence from natural history illustrations...
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Acrylic
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Festive holiday ornaments spread out in artist Hadley Northrop's jubilant impressionist rendering. A window display of a store in Los Angeles during the yuletide, the kind of still life that catches the painter's eye. Light beams from red chili pepper string bulbs, a spotlight, and reflections from the city street reflected in the round baubles and the shop window...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
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Artist Kira Yustak depicts a shiny red bicycle inspired by a love of vintage items and toys from childhood. "They bring back so many fond memories and emotions," says Kira. "That feeling of freedom when riding a bike as a child is so very wonderful and exciting!"
About the Artist
Kira Yustak paints fantastical scenes that come from her childhood memories, dreams, and the natural world. Each piece feels like part of a larger narrative of an alternative reality, rendered in a style she describes as comic realism. She feels art must trigger something inside the viewer’s soul.Kira currently lives in New Jersey and finds inspiration in the work of Lowbrow, Folk, and Surrealist artists.
Words that describe this painting: bike, bicycle, vintage, toy, still life, childhood, memories, impressionism, impressionism, still life, acrylic painting, yellow
Vintage Bike...
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Acrylic
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Artist McGarren Flack paints a chocolate frosted cookie on a solid white background. “Who doesn't like sweets?†asks McGarren. In his Sweets series, he dr...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Pamela Blaies was inspired by a little slice of light shining into her studio late one afternoon while she was cleaning up for the day. The illuminated stash ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Elizabeth Garat presents an impressionist autumnal pond. She works on landscapes from direct observation, inspired by the changing seasons. "This is a pond I visit throughout the year," shares Elizabeth. She captures a quiet mood with the blooming red berry...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset
Artist Comments
As late autumn approaches, the trees cast an array of colorful shadows over the sunny landscape. Pale blue skies peek through the branches and offset the yell...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
1970s Abstract More Art
Lithograph
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With an undertone of cool colors, artist Janet Dyer presents a serene composition of summer in Provence, France. Lush greene...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
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Mesmerizing autumnal trees flourish in artist George Peebles' serene landscape. Radiant hues of orange take over the green foliage as the season gently but dr...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
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Artist Elizabeth Garat paints an alluring empty backyard woods bathed in the golden sunset. The crisp fall foliage turns the terrain ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
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Yellow victorian on a quiet street in Cary, North Carolina. Bright spring light shines from the right, illuminating the new growth in the yard and casting an ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Sunset along the coast. Dark crimson clouds float over the glowing blue water. In the foreground, the landscape radiates with yellow and red. Benjamin explain...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Steel
Artist Comments
Artist Diana Elena Chelaru displays an expressionist spectacle of blue blossoms. Part of her series of miniature decorative paintings with floral arrangements...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A view of the tide coming in near the artist's home. "When the tide is out, there is a lot more beach and a lot less water," Teresa says. "A calm painting wit...
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Oil
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A luscious still-life depiction of bright red strawberries spilling out of a wicker basket by artist John Jaster. Bright green caps inject the perfect balance...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
As the sun sets behind the distant ridge, the fork in the river floods with warm hues from overhead. "I loved the way the light bounced on this southern river...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A thick green marshland shines from the bright reflections of the evening light in this expressionist landscape by artist George Peebles. Grasses fade away in...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Melissa Gannon paints a natural landscape of red. "I really wanted to explore all the variety of the fiery shade against muted blues and yellows," says...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Sherri Aldawood came across this old church in a forested area east of Santa Fe, New Mexico. "The setting sun cast a warm glow on the building, which I found very appealing," she says.
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: Santa Fe, New Mexico, southwest, western, architecture, Christian, Catholic, adobe, mountains, forest, church, building, architecture, impressionism, western, representational, oil painting, green
Old New Mexico Church...
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Oil
Artist Comments
"I'm a tough guy, don't mess with me," narrates artist Heather Foster on how she imagines the horse's thoughts. She paints the robust stallion in her alluring...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero paints a canoeist greeting the dawn in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. A dramatic sky unfolds, revealing the colors and warmth of a brillia...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Heather Foster paints an impressionist portrait of a brown horse. She takes inspiration from a colt she witnessed at Bishop's Lodge, a small complex on the outskirts of Santa Fe...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A cluster of butterflies beckons a young woman. Artist Sharon Sieben used graphite and acrylic paint to create this expressionistic portrait. With Sharon's th...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
In his signature style, artist George Peebles depicts a colorful gigantic tree in the middle of a vast landscape. He portrays the temperate dressing of autumn in the tree's multi-hued feathery leaves. Clouds dreamily sail on the ethereal sky in the background.
About the Artist
Award-winning artist, George Peebles specializes in contemporary panoramic scenes. Breathtaking combinations of brilliant hues and gradients of rich skies map out his paintings. “My art is a reflection of the place inside each of us where we connect to nature,†says George. Based in Michigan, he draws inspiration from electric moments within his environment. Each stroke is an inward expression of his emotions as he paints from memory. George, being colorblind views his work as a lifelong process that leads him to new concepts and ideas best expressed on his canvas. When he’s out of the studio, George works as a chef at their local hospital. His work is represented in eighteen healthcare facilities.
Words that describe this painting: autumn, fall, season, tree, landscape, sky, horizon, clouds, oilpaint, expressionism, nature, field, meadow, large, expressionism, nature, oil painting, blue
All Dressed...
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Oil
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One of artist Onelio Marrero's close neighbors is a master at the art of Bonsai. "When spring begins, my neighbor, Mark, goes about placing his potted plants ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
An expressionist portrait of relationships as a dance. Dominant blue palette with hints of red, purple and pink that offers both cal...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
"Snowed in for days, this dogwood with a few lingering leaves caught my eye one sunny morning," shares artist Elizabeth Garat. "I wanted to record the play of...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Archival Pigment
Artist Comments
"The vase in this painting is the main character," says artist Oksana Johnson. "This handmade Italian ceramic piece is a work of art in and of itself. I selected other elements for this composition to support and complement its timeless charm." Oksana applied distinct brushwork on the blue and white vessel and created a striking balance of color with the soft peach roses.
About the Artist
Oksana’s paintings embody the tradition of Impressionism in the truest sense of the style. While Impressionism in its 19th Century roots was intended to change both the method and perception of painting modern life, Impressionist work in a contemporary context is arguably entirely about aesthetics. Oksana’s paintings beautifully capture serene city and garden scenes with soft painterly strokes and a delicate depiction of light. She often works en plein air, particularly when she travels in Europe, following in the footsteps of the Impressionist masters. When she’s not travelling or painting outdoors, Oksana can be found admiring her tranquil view of the Pacific Ocean from her San Francisco home and studio.
Words that describe this painting: flowers, bouquet, still life, roses, table, floral, vase, impressionism, still life, representational, oil painting, purple
Yellow Roses and Italian...
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Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Jesse Aldana composes an exciting sunset with golden peach rays stretching across a speckled blue sky and crashing waves. "In this painting, the sea an...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting was inspired by the view from my hotel balcony in Paris of the pedestrian below me, trying to button his coat as he walked against the wind. I created the movement of the walking figure in expressive brushstrokes that emulate pixelation and motion. I use the unique aerial perspective to turn the human figure into a more abstract shape and to emphasize the movement of the figure.
About the Artist
Warren Keating's paintings start with documentation. He captures subjects on video from birds-eye views, digitizes the film on his computer and, finally, paints them on canvas in an active style he describes as Pixel Impressionism. He merges artistic elements of the 20th Century with 21st Century technology. Warren credits Futurism as well as Richard Diebenkorn and Willem de Kooning as influences in his paintings. Fun fact: Warren’s inspiration for this series came from a vacation to Paris where he photographed passersby from his hotel balcony in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Blue Monday...
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Oil
Artist Comments
Artist McGarren Flack paints a decadent chocolate mint cupcake on a solid white background. “Who doesn't like sweets?†asks McGarren. In his Sweets series...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Catherine McCargar paints a classic white house perched on top of a hill. Lush greenery circles the delightful scene. She depicts serene surroundings r...
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Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist John Jaster paints an impressionistic painting of two White Mandarin ducks. He displays them with their reflections swirling in the water. With intrica...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Resin, Epoxy Resin, Wood
2010s Abstract More Art
Resin, Epoxy Resin, Wood
2010s Abstract More Art
Resin, Epoxy Resin, Wood
2010s Abstract More Art
Resin, Epoxy Resin, Wood
2010s Abstract More Art
Resin, Epoxy Resin, Wood
2010s Abstract More Art
Resin, Epoxy Resin, Wood
Artist Comments
As the sun slowly sinks behind the sea stacks, waves peacefully roll toward the shore. The sailboats on the horizon are illuminated in the twilight. "I painte...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
In this fantastical jungle scene, artist Miranda Gamel uses tigers as a symbol of strength and leadership. "Placing the tigers in the fire is meant to bring c...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
"This diptych illustrates two sides of being alone," explains artist Shyun Song. "Loneliness is depicted as a downcast state when we miss other people, while ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist George Peebles depicts a fiery haze of a sunset across a wet marshland. Tall and wavy leaf-covered silhouettes of trees appear in the distance while gr...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Heather Foster paints a pair of horses along a road that leads to the Galisteo Dam in New Mexico. "The light was amazing at that time of day," recalls Heather. She combines hues that accentuate the cool shadows and warm colors that were quickly fading with the sun. Masterful plays of shadow and light rule this outback acrylic piece.
About the Artist
Artist Heather Foster captures an enduring image of the West. She paints the dramatic landscapes and stalwart animals she encounters on her adventures to ranches and rodeos. Heather says she has always known she wanted to be an artist. As a child, she spent her weekends and summers riding the bus into Philadelphia to attend art classes at Philadelphia College of Art, Moore College of Art, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Over the years, she's moved around the country quite a bit and done many jobs - everything from driving a pedicab (a giant tricycle that transports passengers) to art restoration and conservation (for one project, she unstretched and then restretched a $17 million painting that would not fit through the door of the buyer's house). The one constant though, no matter where she lived or what side jobs she held, she always made space and time to paint. Today, she works from a home studio in Santa Fe...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Sharon Sieben presents an expressive portrait of a woman in warm tones of red, maroon, beige, and ochre. With her eyes closed and head tilted forward, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
This painting is part of an ongoing series depicting the nature around Teresa Smith's home. Her main considerations as she works are color and shape. "I am p...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Light slowly filters through branches and leaves as the sun gradually rises. "It was early morning, the birds were singing, the light falling on the road was ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting was inspired by the idea that we are shaped by outside forces, but remain unchanged, we persist in the face of adversity. It is what makes us human. My energetic oil paintings of stallions explore and illustrate movement through nature. This work represents an immigrant journey or strength and perseverance. I incorporate both contemporary (watercolor) and traditional (ink calligraphy) painting styles into this series.
About the Artist
Art has been with Shao Yuan Zhang for the majority of his extraordinary, and at times difficult, life journey. Raised in communist China...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
More and more I love to experiment with abstraction. It's amazing how realism with some abstraction somehow looks more true than when rendered using just real...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
"Atlanta's oldest neighborhood, Inman Park, is a popular destination for locals, the movie industry and visitors," explains artist Mary Pratt. "I was walking through Inman Park with my daughter and spotted these cool chicks and approached them to photograph. My daughter, mortified changed direction. The women, who worked in the movie industry, offered to pose on a bench outside...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A monochromatic winter forest with warm tones of beige, brown, and yellow by artist Tatiana Iliina. With her swift and precise strokes, Tatiana captures the g...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
"It's all about the subject and the light," says artist Faye Vander Veer, when asked about her inspiration for this painting. "I saw this young girl talking on the phone while I was doing some sketching at a local coffeeshop. The light was the first thing that caught my eye, then I did a few sketches to design the composition. I kept wondering about her. I never saw her face, but it is so interesting to me how our lives can change in an instant all because of one phone call...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Janet Dyer depicts a burning glow of the setting sun slowly sinking below a snow-covered horizon. Its warmth dusts the clouds a pink hue as the night s...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
This piece is an abstracted cityscape painting, completed entirely with a palette knife. This work is on a gallery wrapped canvas with finished black edges. I...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
