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
Vinyl, Plastic
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Video, Mixed Media
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
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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Video, Mixed Media, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
1970s Contemporary More Art
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1970s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
2010s Contemporary More Art
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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
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Artist Comments
"This horse was just one in the midst of a crowd at the Santa Fe rodeo - a group that was waiting in the pens behind the action," shares artist Heather Foster...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Digital
2010s Contemporary More Art
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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Thread
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
Artist Comments
"A solitary deep pink daisy in an antique cup paired with a dried flower seed pod found on the path of my afternoon walk," shares artist Nicole Lamothe...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
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2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin, Plastic, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Polyester
Artist Comments
Delicate lilac flowers fill a glass vase, while a fallen cluster rests beside it, adding a natural touch. Gentle light filters through the scene, adding a warm ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel
2010s Contemporary More Art
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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
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Video, Mixed Media