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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2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic, Ink, Mixed Media
2010s Abstract More Art
Offset, Wood
Artist Comments
Artist Sherri Aldawood shares her fascination with light by using highly contrasting colors. In this piece, she makes elegant Koi fishes her subjects. The symbol of love, strength and dedication. She mimics their graceful movements into her strokes resulting into this tranquil composition.
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...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Textile, Canvas, Paper, Mixed Media, Oil
Artist Comments
A man casts off from a dock in morning sunshine, his reflection softly distorted in the lapping water below. "The fisherman prefers catching fish early in the...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper
1980s Abstract More Art
Ink, Postcard, Mixed Media, Offset
Artist Comments
An impressionist view inspired by the Great Lakes of North America by artist Valerie Berkely. Using her fingers, Valerie forms a gentle rendering of crashing ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Gold
Early 2000s Abstract More Art
Screen, Color
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic, Glitter
Artist Comments
"This painting was inspired by the coastal palette of the Mendocino region in California," shares artist Lisa Elley. The soothing cool hues present the scene ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Fabric, Silk, Wood
Artist Comments
Artist Samuel Pretorius paints a bright sunny day at Shark Fin Cove near Santa Cruz in impressionism. A breathtaking cove stre...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Pastel, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
"Monet's Garden in Giverny, France - just a delightful train ride outside of Paris - never fails to inspire artists just as it was intended to do when it was ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Textile, Canvas, Paper, Mixed Media, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Abstract More Art
Gold, Bronze
Artist Comments
Working from memory, artist Onelio Marrero paints a full moon in the early morning hours over the salt marshes in coastal New Jersey. The silvery glow in the early morning hours reflects dreamily onto still waters. "These wetlands are profoundly affected by the tides," says Onelio. "The channels that meander throughout the marshes invite the viewer to visually follow the bends and turns." There is a timeless and mysterious quality in these natural elements and Onelio's memory of the scene is well served in the execution of this painting.
About the Artist
Onelio Marrero paints city scenes of everyday life. In an impressionistic style he captures the romanticism of New York City, the picturesque fountains in Central Park and the wet city streets after a rainy afternoon. His use of warm tones creates a sense of nostalgia and the feeling that you have visited or seen this particular scene before. Onelio will often paint from direct observation, or he will work from a combination of photographs and combine numerous sources into one piece. In this way his work combines reality with fantasy, creating a new story with each painting. His work captures an appreciation for beauty in all of its greatest forms; nature, art, and people.
Words that describe this painting: marsh, wetland, swamp, inlet, waterway, stream, river, grass, tree, cloud, moon, mist, morning, water, reflection, dawn, impressionism, oilpaint, panoramic, nature, impressionism, nature, oil painting, blue
Morning Moon and Cloud...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
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
Artist Mary Pratt paints a surreal expressionist habitat surrounding a brightly colored bird perched on a branch. She believes birds are earthly showstoppers and captures them as such. These animals enhance our lives by encouraging us to pause and observe. "Oh look, there goes a beautiful bird—I always stop to look," says Mary.
About the Artist
Mary Pratt, a Georgia...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
20th Century Abstract More Art
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Abstract More Art
Textile, Linen, Thread, Yarn, Fabric, Tapestry
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Metal, Steel
Artist Comments
A warm impressionist still life of pink peonies against a pink backdrop. "Soft, happy colors are what I envisioned," says artist Judy Mackey. "I created the u...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Brian McCarty depicts a quiet rural home behind a red barn. Surrounded by a field of grass and autumnal trees, a car sits on the winding dirt path. "Everyday life is caught in a moment," says Brian. "Arriving home, or getting ready to leave home. A lazy afternoon." Just the type of subject Brian loves to paint.
About the Artist
Artist Brian McCarty paints idyllic landscapes and bucolic architecture. “Growing up in rural New Jersey, I’ve always found old houses, barns, and the countryside interesting subjects,†says Brian. Influenced by his mom who was a self-taught artist and art teacher, she encouraged Brian to pursue anything artistic. After graduating from Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art and earning his BA in Art from Thomas Edison State College, he worked professionally as a graphic designer in New York for the largest publishing houses in the country. A career that spanned thirty-six years. Brian has done comedy and sketch writing with the Groundling Theater, and worked in a few major feature films as an actor. To begin his process, Brian takes photos of his references with an iPad, crops the images to his liking, and paints directly on his canvas with a quick oil wash. Recently returning to painting full time, he converted a room in his house into a working studio. “I get lots of natural light, and listen to music and podcasts while I paint.â€
Words that describe this painting: country, house, home, barn, farmhouse, farm life, country living, road, architecture, impressionism, autumn, oilpaint, architecture, impressionism, oil painting, green, brown
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
1990s Abstract More Art
Offset, Lithograph
20th Century Abstract More Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil, Board
1970s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
"This painting shows the mist in the morning where the Pines wake up," says artist Rebecca Klementovich. "This gestural way of painting pines is heavily influ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist George Peebles embodies solemnity in a calm and pensive seascape. He envisions the composition reflecting on a dream by the water. Deep ocean waves rhythmically drift along the tantalizing vista. George displays the brief electric moment in nature entirely from his imagination.
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: water, sky, clouds, dreamy, moody, dramatic, waves, water, seascape, expressionism, abstract, oilpaint, calm, tranquil, still, peaceful, expressionism, seascape, oil painting
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract More Art
Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic, Wood Panel
2010s Abstract More Art
Porcelain, Stoneware, Glaze
Artist Comments
"When surrounded by shoreline views most of your life, you take a closer look at the water, studying the lines, shadows, and cloud reflections enhanced by light," says artist Nancy Jadatz...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Thread, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Color Pencil
Artist Comments
Artist Gail Ragains portrays two gestural figures clad in swimwear on a hot summer day. The piece pays homage to the Bay Area figurative movement yet retains ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Nicole Lamothe presents a bundle of fresh petunias placed in a clear rounded vase. "The petunias flourish in the garden, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A young girl walks along the beach in search of shells buried in the sand. Artist Claudia Verciani used the light coming off of the water to illuminate the ch...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Linen, Oil
Artist Comments
A blaze of color warms sunset clouds. "It was early autumn and the leaves turned into yellow, orange, and pink, but some were still very green," explains arti...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Linen, Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Textile, Cotton
1970s Abstract More Art
Ink, Lithograph, Offset
1980s Abstract More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Gold Leaf
2010s Abstract More Art
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
Artist Janet Dyer pictures an expressionist sun setting behind lakeside mountains. She captures the warm orange glow of the last moments of its descent. "Softly the evening came with the sunset," quotes Janet. In her trademark style of minimalist strokes, she envisions Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's iconic poetry.
About the Artist
Janet Dyer doesn’t like to spend too much time talking about her art, as she’d rather be creating it. She doesn’t have an artist statement, the traditional statement of purpose crafted by visual artists to explain their method. On becoming an artist, Janet simply states, “I picked up some crayons and pencils and brushes and kept using them.†She believes the process of creating art is equal in importance to the final product. The artist enjoys relinquishing control of her paintings to find delightful surprises in her so-called “mistakes.†Janet's expressively gestural yet bucolic landscapes are a testament to the success of her method.
Words that describe this painting: nature, spring, forsythia, yellow, river, water, trees, reflection, abstract, acrylicpaint, sunset, expressionism, expressionism, nature, acrylic painting, green
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic