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
Porcelain
2010s Contemporary More Art
Screen
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Offset
20th Century Contemporary More Art
Vinyl
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Plastic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
2010s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
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
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Panel
Artist Comments
A bowl of lemon rests on a wooden table, with a whole piece and a sliced half arranged below. A bird-patterned wallpaper in the background adds a layer of whims...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
1980s Contemporary More Art
Screen
Artist Comments
This still-life oil painting vividly portrays three overripe pears featuring wrinkled stems and noticeable discoloration on their skins. With the light shinin...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Plastic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Mixed Media, Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Bronze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Plastic
1960s Contemporary More Art
Paper
1980s Contemporary More Art
Paper
1980s Contemporary More Art
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Vinyl
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Fabric, Textile, Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pencil, Color Pencil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Wood, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Vinyl
1920s Contemporary More Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Paper, Offset
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Plastic, Color
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Digital
1930s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Porcelain
1970s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset, Board
Artist Comments
A nude woman reclines, bathed in soft light against a dark green backdrop. Subtle brushstrokes accentuate the contours of her body, creating a sense of depth ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Copper
Artist Comments
A whole lemon transforms when sliced in half, revealing its vibrant, juicy interior. Striking red and blue light emanates from the fruit, contrasting against ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Concrete, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Vinyl
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Organic Material