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.
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wood, Maple
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Acrylic, Terracotta, Conté, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Washi Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Magazine Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
1970s Contemporary More Art
Watercolor
2010s Contemporary More Art
Acrylic, Vinyl
2010s Contemporary More Art
Charcoal, Acrylic, Archival Paper
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Wood, Mosaic
Artist Comments
Inspired by the coyote’s clever nature and striking presence, this portrait aims to capture both its likeness and spirit. The textured background and fur emph...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Mosaic, House Paint, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Vinyl, Plastic
1970s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Plaster
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Satin Paper, Screen
2010s Contemporary More Art
Fabric, Pastel, Ink, Mixed Media, Pencil, Archival Pigment, Acrylic
1970s Contemporary More Art
Cotton
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Archival Paper, Magazine Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
An arrangement of organic and graphic forms creates an abstract composition. Artist Sally Morris Clark made the piece with a durable hybrid of paint and plaster...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary More Art
Wood, Maple, Screen, Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Playful bursts of orange and yellow capture the vibrant spirit of summer. Layers of transparent, translucent, and opaque pigments build radiance and depth. The ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Fabric, Pastel, Ink, Mixed Media, Pencil, Archival Pigment
Artist Comments
This contemporary oil painting explores the quiet poetry of interior spaces. With a carefully considered composition and layered brushwork, artist David Thelen ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Neon Light
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Wood, Mosaic
20th Century Contemporary More Art
Paper, Stencil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Ink, Rice Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Wood Panel
Artist Comments
A floral-patterned mug stands beside a gleaming metal teapot accompanied by a plate of buttery, sweet palmier cookies. The polished stainless steel reflects t...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Mosaic, House Paint, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Metal, Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Plexiglass, Neon Light
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Found Objects, Acrylic, Panel
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," says Shao. "It is what makes us human." Shao's energetic paintings of stallions explore and illustrate movement through nature. This work represents an immigrant's journey, filled with strength and perseverance. Shao incorporates both contemporary watercolor and traditional ink calligraphy styles into this series of oil paintings.
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 Contemporary More Art
Oil
1970s Contemporary More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin, Fiberglass
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil, Canvas
1960s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile
2010s Contemporary More Art
Fabric, Pastel, Ink, Mixed Media, Pencil, Archival Pigment, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Archival Paper, Magazine Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Plexiglass, Neon Light
2010s Contemporary More Art
Archival Paper