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.
Price Upon Request
Solar Flare
Located in New York, NY
An abstract sculpture hand molded with styrene. This pie consist of various shades of orange, pink, blue, and green that begin dark around the edges and are very light in the center....
Plastic, Polystyrene
Price Upon Request
Prinsman
Located in New York, NY
An abstract sculpture hand molded with styrene. This piece is very consist of many shades of orange and blue, contrasting against each other. Rick Lazes is a three dimensional arti...
Plastic, Polystyrene
Price Upon Request
Introspect
Located in New York, NY
An abstract sculpture hand molded with styrene. This piece is very consist of bright yellow and blue, contrasting against each other. Rick Lazes is a three dimensional artist who w...
Plastic, Polystyrene
Price Upon Request
Charbon
Located in New York, NY
An abstract sculpture hand molded with styrene. This piece is very has very vibrant colors such as pink, yellow, red, blue, white, and green. Rick Lazes is a three dimensional arti...
Plastic, Polystyrene
Price Upon Request
Asteroids
Located in New York, NY
An abstract sculpture hand molded with styrene. This piece is very has very vibrant colors such as pink, gold, red, blue, and green. Rick Lazes is a three dimensional artist who wo...
Plastic, Polystyrene
El conejo sobre la Luna (The Rabbit on the Moon)
Located in Denver, CO
El conejo sobre la Luna (The Rabbit on the Moon), 2021
Canvas, Oil
Price Upon Request
Basket
By Ken Ferguson
Located in Missouri, MO
Basket By Ken Ferguson (1928-2004) 21" x 13" Ken Ferguson received an M.F.A. in 1954 from Alfred University, and went on to become an influential teacher and artist in his field of pottery. From 1964 until 1996, when he was named Professor Emeritus, Ferguson was Head of the Ceramics Department at the Kansas City Art Institute. His students included Kurt Weiser...
Earthenware, Glaze
Price Upon Request
Vessel IX
Located in Missouri, MO
Vessel IX By Lydia Buzio (1948-2014) 10" x 9" Signed and Dated on Bottom Recognized for the unique Cityscape paintings applied to her ceramic work, Lydia Buzio was heavily influenced by the work of a leading Constructive Universalism artist, Joaquin Torres...
Ceramic, Paint
Price Upon Request
Mathieu Matégot - Sans titre, tapestry, french, modern, abstract, wool, design
Located in London, GB
Mathieu Matégot (1910-2001) Sans titre c.1950s wool tapestry, Manufactura de Tapeçarias de Portalegre 150 x 70 cm signed ‘Matégot’ and with the Manufactura de Tapeçarias de Portalegre monogram (lower right) Price: $11,000 USD Provenance: Barry Friedman Ltd, New York (stock no. BF21324) Notes: Mathieu Matégot was a Hungarian-born French designer, architect and artist. After studying at Budapest's School of Fine Arts in 1929, Matégot travelled across Italy and the USA until settling in Paris in 1931 where he worked as a set designer, window dresser and tapestry maker. Matégot volunteered for the French resistance at the start of the Second World War, only to be captured by the Nazis. A dreadful fate for most, however, it was during his time as a prisoner of war that the artist discovered metalworking techniques (such as Rigitulle) which he later patented and became renowned for. Upon his release, Matégot was awarded French citizenship. After the war, the artist's interest in tapestry was renewed after being introduced to contemporary tapestry revivalist, Jean Lurçat. However, in order to make ends meet, Matégot pursued furniture design; he established a workshop in Paris and dedicated his time to translating the groundbreaking metal techniques into popular handcrafted objects. In 1959, Matégot abandoned furniture design and focused exclusively on his passion for abstract tapestries. He continued his work as a pioneer of French Modern tapestry...
Tapestry
Price Upon Request
Mathieu Matégot - Oberon, tapestry, french, modern, abstract, wool, design
Located in London, GB
Mathieu Matégot (1910-2001) Oberon c.1950s wool tapestry, Manufactura de Tapeçarias de Portalegre; (possibly) no. 2 125 x 202 cm signed ‘Matégot’ and with the Manufactura de Tapeçarias de Portalegre monogram (lower right); titled, inscribed, numbered and signed (workshop label on the verso) Price: $18,000 USD Provenance: Barry Friedman Ltd, New York (stock no. BF19387) Notes: Mathieu Matégot was a Hungarian-born French designer, architect and artist. After studying at Budapest's School of Fine Arts in 1929, Matégot travelled across Italy and the USA until settling in Paris in 1931 where he worked as a set designer, window dresser and tapestry maker. Matégot volunteered for the French resistance at the start of the Second World War, only to be captured by the Nazis. A dreadful fate for most, however, it was during his time as a prisoner of war that the artist discovered metalworking techniques (such as Rigitulle) which he later patented and became renowned for. Upon his release, Matégot was awarded French citizenship. After the war, the artist's interest in tapestry was renewed after being introduced to contemporary tapestry revivalist, Jean Lurçat. However, in order to make ends meet, Matégot pursued furniture design; he established a workshop in Paris and dedicated his time to translating the groundbreaking metal techniques into popular handcrafted objects. In 1959, Matégot abandoned furniture design and focused exclusively on his passion for abstract tapestries. He continued his work as a pioneer of French Modern tapestry...
Tapestry
Price Upon Request
Mathieu Matégot - Castille, tapestry, french, modern, abstract, aubusson, design
Located in London, GB
Mathieu Matégot (1910-2001) Castille c.1950s Aubusson tapestry, Pinton Frères; (probably) unique 156 x 120 cm signed ‘Matégot’ and with the Pinton Frères monogram (lower right); titled, inscribed, numbered and signed (workshop label on the verso) Price: $14,000 USD Provenance: Barry Friedman Ltd, New York (stock no. BF11410) Notes: Mathieu Matégot was a Hungarian-born French designer, architect and artist. After studying at Budapest's School of Fine Arts in 1929, Matégot travelled across Italy and the USA until settling in Paris in 1931 where he worked as a set designer, window dresser and tapestry maker. Matégot volunteered for the French resistance at the start of the Second World War, only to be captured by the Nazis. A dreadful fate for most, however, it was during his time as a prisoner of war that the artist discovered metalworking techniques (such as Rigitulle) which he later patented and became renowned for. Upon his release, Matégot was awarded French citizenship. After the war, the artist's interest in tapestry was renewed after being introduced to contemporary tapestry revivalist, Jean Lurçat. However, in order to make ends meet, Matégot pursued furniture design; he established a workshop in Paris and dedicated his time to translating the groundbreaking metal techniques into popular handcrafted objects. In 1959, Matégot abandoned furniture design and focused exclusively on his passion for abstract tapestries. He continued his work as a pioneer of French Modern tapestry...
Tapestry
Price Upon Request
Mathieu Matégot - Apollo, tapestry, french, modern, abstract, aubusson, design
Located in London, GB
Mathieu Matégot (1910-2001) Apollo c.1950s Aubusson tapestry, Manufactura de Tapeçarias de Portalegre; edition 3 of 6 142 x 118 cm signed ‘Matégot’ with the Manufactura de Tapeçarias de Portalegre monogram (lower right); titled, inscribed, numbered and signed (workshop label on the verso) Price: $13,000 USD Provenance: Barry Friedman Ltd, New York (stock no. BF19383.3) Notes: Mathieu Matégot was a Hungarian-born French designer, architect and artist. After studying at Budapest's School of Fine Arts in 1929, Matégot travelled across Italy and the USA until settling in Paris in 1931 where he worked as a set designer, window dresser and tapestry maker. Matégot volunteered for the French resistance at the start of the Second World War, only to be captured by the Nazis. A dreadful fate for most, however, it was during his time as a prisoner of war that the artist discovered metalworking techniques (such as Rigitulle) which he later patented and became renowned for. Upon his release, Matégot was awarded French citizenship. After the war, the artist's interest in tapestry was renewed after being introduced to contemporary tapestry revivalist, Jean Lurçat. However, in order to make ends meet, Matégot pursued furniture design; he established a workshop in Paris and dedicated his time to translating the groundbreaking metal techniques into popular handcrafted objects. In 1959, Matégot abandoned furniture design and focused exclusively on his passion for abstract tapestries. He continued his work as a pioneer of French Modern...
Tapestry
Price Upon Request
Historic San Ildefonso Pueblo Pottery
Located in Missouri, MO
San Ildefonso large pottery bowls are among the scarcest items made at the pueblo. One rarely sees them. Water jars or ollas are much more available.
Earthenware
Price Upon Request
"Adalt" Abstract Figurative Painting of Two Abstract Figures
Located in Houston, TX
Abstract black and blue painting by Spanish artist Carlos Planell of two blocky figures from the 1960's. The black dots across the canvas penet...
Oil, Acrylic
Price Upon Request
Approaching Kether, large copper sculpture, green, red, black, gold Jeff Maron
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Approaching Kether, large copper sculpture, green, red, black, gold Jeff Maron unique, etched copper alloy with polychrome oxides Jeffrey Maron is an artist with a long history of ...
Copper