Contemporary More Art
Used to refer to a time rather than an aesthetic, Contemporary art generally describes pieces created after 1970 or being made by living artists anywhere in the world. This immediacy means it encompasses art responding to the present moment through diverse subjects, media and themes. Contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, performance, digital art, video and more frequently includes work that is attempting to reshape current ideas about what art can be, from Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s use of candy to memorialize a lover he lost to AIDS-related complications to Jenny Holzer’s ongoing “Truisms,” a Conceptual series that sees provocative messages printed on billboards, T-shirts, benches and other public places that exist outside of formal exhibitions and the conventional “white cube” of galleries.
Contemporary art has been pushing the boundaries of creative expression for years. Its disruption of the traditional concepts of art are often aiming to engage viewers in complex questions about identity, society and culture. In the latter part of the 20th century, contemporary movements included Land art, in which artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer create large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations and other works in soil and bodies of water; Sound art, with artists such as Christian Marclay and Susan Philipsz centering art on sonic experiences; and New Media art, in which mass media and digital culture inform the work of artists such as Nam June Paik and Rafaël Rozendaal.
The first decades of the 21st century have seen the growth of Contemporary African art, the revival of figurative painting, the emergence of street art and the rise of NFTs, unique digital artworks that are powered by blockchain technology.
Major Contemporary artists practicing now include Ai Weiwei, Cecily Brown, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker.
Find a collection of Contemporary prints, photography, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
2010s Contemporary More Art
Terracotta
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
Artist Comments
A warm glow from a flickering candle illuminates the scene, casting soft light across every object. An antique clock nestled within a sculpture evokes a sense o...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
2010s Contemporary More Art
Concrete
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Glitter, Found Objects
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Canvas, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pencil
1950s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Offset
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin, Acrylic Polymer, LED Light, Tar
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Paper, Mixed Media, Screen
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Porcelain, Glaze
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Plastic, Vinyl
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Digital
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset, Plastic, Acrylic Polymer
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Vinyl, Plastic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Screen
1960s Contemporary More Art
Paper
Artist Comments
A red pear and yellow lemon huddle beneath sheltering leaves. Deep shadows and moody lighting mimic the atmosphere of an approaching storm. Artist Art Tatiin ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Porcelain
2010s Contemporary More Art
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Porcelain
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin, Plastic, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Porcelain, Glaze
1960s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Wood
Artist Comments
This still life celebrates the simple beauty of homegrown produce. With warm tones and detailed brushwork, artist Steve Boggs captures the essence of his summer...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Bronze
1960s Contemporary More Art
Paper
Artist Comments
Two pears rest on a wooden surface. The light accentuates their blemished yellow skin with reddish blush, along with their curvy form. A curling leaf adorns one...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Polyester
Artist Comments
A solitary lemon rests on a table, exuding a subtle blue glow. Soft light brings out its textured skin, creating a contrast with the shadow that pools beneath...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Metal
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Video, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary More Art
Screen
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Thread
Artist Comments
Artist McGarren Flack captures a seated male figure. The subject's thoughtful pose and warm skin contrast with the contemporary cropping of a gray background....
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
1970s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Offset
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Plastic