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.
1960s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Spray Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wood, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Mixed Media, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ink, Intaglio, Monotype
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Maple, Plywood, Screen
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Watercolor, Pencil, Color Pencil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wood
1950s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Masonite, Acrylic, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Bronze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Clay, Glass
2010s Contemporary More Art
Organic Material
2010s Contemporary More Art
Metal, Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Ink, Archival Paper, Screen
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Cord, Wood, Oak
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Printer's Ink, Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Monoprint, Other Medium, Ink
2010s Contemporary More Art
Gold
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic, Textile, Acrylic Polymer
1990s Contemporary More Art
Fabric
2010s Contemporary More Art
Bronze
Artist Comments
A diptych of trees boasts distinct silhouettes, with their roots seemingly reaching towards each other. Similarly, birds from their branches appear to exchang...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Encaustic
Artist Comments
Golden, rimmed petals create a textured ground, supporting a yellow-crowned canary framed against a purple backdrop. Surrounding butterflies add vibrancy and ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Linocut
Artist Comments
A soft blue and gray clay vase overflows with vibrant orange flowers, rendered in chiaroscuro. Light and shadow bring some petals into sharp detail while others...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Cotton
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Pansies bloom in spring, filling the white vase with their colorful petals. The composition focuses on the earthenware, creating a focal point for the flowers...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Textile, Yarn
1960s Contemporary More Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper