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.
Artist Comments
"Many types of phacelia are a welcome and colorful sight in the desert in spring," shares artist Crystal DiPietro. "In this piece, a large purple variety stan...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
1980s Abstract More Art
Oil, Canvas
Artist Comments
A lush and tonal depiction of a country salt marsh by artist Nancy Jadatz. She captures the scene with a complementing contrast of...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Gold Leaf
Artist Comments
"One of the most beautiful and iconic buildings in New York," states artist Suren Nersisyan. Thick textured strokes in a dusk-dipped palette make for a harmon...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A joyous bouquet of various flowers set against a dramatic dark background by artist Autumn Rose. Inspired by her never-ending love of botanicals, Autumn comb...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
An autumn mountain meadow glows in evening light, presiding over a small town with a prominent chapel. "The Stowe Community Ch...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
"This exciting composition features a flowing movement of bright warm colors," says artist Gary Leonard. "The dress brings an abstraction of colors that enhan...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Janet Dyer exhibits a picturesque view of a summer sunset in Provence. Groves of trees flourish in the evergreen landscape. She captures the distinct f...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Nicole Lamothe captures bright and vibrant daisies on a green bowl. "These are the first buds from the garden, ushering i...
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
2010s Abstract More Art
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Artist Comments
Evening in an italian town. The title "Passeggiata" refers to a leisurely stroll often taken after dinner where friends meet up on the street. Dramatic lighti...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Onelio endeavored to convey our culture's modern fixation with our phones. "It seems that wherever we are, we feel compelled to 'stay connected' even at the e...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract More Art
Fabric, Stretcher Bars
Artist Comments
Artist Janet Dyer displays an impressionistic landscape of lush lavender fields in Provence, France. Expressive strokes in bold shades of green and hints of g...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Apples on a branch glow in warm light, accentuated by the cool abstract backdrop. Sherri applied paint primarily with a palette knife. She says that because o...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
1960s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Janet Dyer displays a sunny landscape of Provence, France. A scenic woodland stretches toward a grove of trees flourishing over the terrain. "This fiel...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Wool
Artist Comments
Every spring, artist Melissa Gannon looks for the first blooming roses. She paints a joyful response to the wonders of the sprin...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Ceramic, Porcelain
1980s Abstract More Art
Wood, Lithograph, Offset
Artist Comments
Artist Lisa Elley depicts an exquisite view of the route from San Francisco to Monterey Bay. She paints en plein air directly on the iconic Carmel Beach...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero paints this piece based on a visit to Rome, Italy. He depicts a scene of Constantine's Arch and The Colosseum on a warm late May...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A woman comfortably sits under a shaded porch on a sunny morning. Artist Onelio Marrero captures the scene from Angel of The Sea, a breakfast inn located at C...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Early 2000s Abstract More Art
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Artist Comments
In broad expressive strokes, artist Doug Cosbie features a rustic barn in lush countryside scenery. He displays the charm of pastoral Pennsylvania in a charming ode to American regionalism. "Many old farms still have wooden frames, with a loft for hay and the main floor for milking," says Doug. The traditional timbered architecture retains its charm and stands beautifully around the carpeted fields of verdant herbage.
About the Artist
Artist Doug Cosbie presents the vibrancy found in nature with his impressionist, rural architecture centered artwork. Longing to create something that connects with people, Cosbie spent countless years perfecting how he portrays the world on canvas. Within his journey, he studied as an apprentice in the studios of Sam Black and Jack Shadbolt. As a plein air artist, Doug's studio is a portable pochade box...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
In this modernist nude portrait, artist Robin Okun highlights the soft curves of the body against the structure of the space, adding expression with a subtle ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
"A vision of palm trees and the cool turquoise Pacific Ocean together creates the vibe of California, unlike any other place," states artist Suren Nersisyan. ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Onelio Marrero captures this scene of a sunset's effects on a snow-covered trail near his home in northern New Jersey. The rich colors and textures of this painting, rendered in sensitive yet bold strokes, reflect the fleeting light filtering through the trees. Onelio works from a small oil study and paints the rest from memory.
About the Artist
Artist Onelio Marrero paints impressionist city scenes of everyday life. He captures the romanticism of New York City, from the picturesque fountains in Central Park to a glistening city street on a rainy afternoon. He creates a sense of nostalgia and intimacy with his work, offering the feeling that you have visited this particular scene before. “Each play of light, each texture, and each movement of a figure can have a captivating effect on me,†says Onelio. He studied at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art where he mastered discerning color and values, giving his work a more spontaneous appearance. Onelio’s work is an appreciation for beauty in all of its greatest forms; nature, art, and people.
Words that describe this painting: woods, forest, trees, leaves, snow, winter, season, trail, shadow, impressionism, sunset, oilpaint, nature, impressionism, nature, oil painting, purple
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Tatiana Iliina expresses a solemn woodland at sunrise. "The air is crisp and a cool breeze touches the hardwood trees," narrates Tatiana. The sun slowl...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Naoko Tadotsu displays ethereal expressionism with an image of a blazing tree. The sun sets behind it, giving its silhouette a dark translucent glow. The light reflecting from the river's surface filters through the leaves and twinkles like glass shards. The fiery orange hues against the blue and green accents give the composition warmth and brilliance.
About the Artist
Brilliant prismatic trees radiate in artist Naoko Tadotsu’s expressionist compositions. “I am always in awe of nature, color, and light,†says Naoko. These three facets establish her vibrant works in fluid strokes of vivid hues. Roots of her influence trace back to growing up in Osaka, where these elements were abundant. Naoko migrated to New York where she was immersed and fell in love with the world of art. What was once unexpressed inspiration inevitably translated onto the canvas. Her work often crosses into abstraction, capturing her feelings towards nature and painting it as its own entity. “The trees, like people, show different faces,†adds Naoko. In the same way, her pieces elicit different perspectives from every viewer. All Naoko needs is a portable easel...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Jennifer Ross paints a sunny and cheerful still life of a robin’s nest occupied with three eggs. Nestled within a carefully woven nook of grass and twigs, three blue eggs appear within its dark recesses. The nest is set against a white surface cut by a bright complementing yellow hue. “Robin’s egg blue is one of the most beautiful colors found in nature, and one found on my palette,†says Jennifer.
About the Artist
Artist Jennifer Ross creates intimate portraits of birds, nests and horses. Jennifer grew up surrounded by the art of her mother and grandfather. Her attempt to follow in their footsteps presented detours, however, and she ended up working in art galleries selling other's work. But her desire to paint continued to grow throughout the years. In 2008, a gift certificate...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Elizabeth Garat heralds the transition from summer to fall in a vibrant display of deep and bright hues. "The focal point is a tree along a pathway glo...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
"The Ottawa Valley is the valley of the Ottawa River that divides Eastern Ontario from Western Quebec," explains artist Doug Cosbie...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
"She seemed to be perfectly content in her thoughts," shares artist Sharon Sieben. A vibrant nude sits in an expressive pose with knees pulled up to her chest...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A traditional farmstead basks in the bright winter day in artist Robert Hofherr's expressionist piece. He emphasizes painterly strokes and bold hues, drawing ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
"This is a calf from a herd I met in Pagosa Springs, Colorado," shares artist Heather Foster. "I wanted the bold underpainting to show through and give a dist...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Color
Artist Comments
Artist Tara Zalewsky-Nease painted this rhododendron forest scene en plein air in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. Bold and gestural brushwork punctuates...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Part of artist Onelio Marrero's ongoing series exploring scenes from the world of ballet. Two ballerinas prepare their costumes on stage during a rehearsal an...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Faye Vander Veer depicts a warm summer day in the city of Vernazza, located in the Cinque Terre region of Italy. Crowds...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Inspired by the views of her annual trips to Northern New Mexico, artist Heather Foster recreates this scene on canvas. She displays an ethereal sky with lila...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
"The road may go on for what seems like forever, but someday you will arrive at the destination of your choice or one chosen for you," affirms artist Sally Adams...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract More Art
Sandstone
1970s Abstract More Art
Watercolor, Cardboard
Artist Comments
Artist Heather Foster displays a calm landscape of Northern New Mexico. Three bulls line up in the center of the grassy field in front of a breathtaking view ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Suren travels extensively, seeking out unique compositions in the neighborhoods, architecture and nature he encounters. For Suren, it is important for him to ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
