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
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
1940s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Thread, Textile
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset, Board
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Paper, Acrylic, Pencil, Color Pencil
Artist Comments
A school of fish captures a moment of abundance. Artist Alana Clumeck rendered some trout in crisp detail, while others appear smudged, symbolizing the unpred...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A cityscape features a yellow sky slicing down like a bolt of lightning between rows of Manhattan skyscrapers. The tall, thin shape of the painting emphasizes...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wood, Mixed Media
Artist Comments
This work is from Doug's painting trip to Bodie, California. He worked to show the rolling clouds, late day shadows and burnished color emblematic of the arid, hot day. Part of Doug's signature series of plein air paintings, capturing the character and enduring beauty of the rural American landscape. He says he loves working outdoors, where all of his senses are engaged. "It is a very creative environment, as you have to work quickly as nature changes," Doug explains. "I ignore what I don't want so the confusion of shapes and colors are reduced to the essentials. The key is to modify or even eliminate objects, as it's rare you will ever find ready-made compositions."
About the Artist
Artist Doug Cosbie...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Metal
20th Century Contemporary More Art
Paper, Lithograph
1950s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Mid-20th Century Contemporary More Art
Paper, Ink
2010s Contemporary More Art
Clay, Stoneware, Glaze
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset, Permanent Marker
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Thread, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Thread, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Thread, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Thread, Paper
Artist Comments
This still-life painting depicts white roses arranged in a brass vase, with a pink one at the bottom. The earth-toned palette and thick bravura brushstrokes impart a timeless aura to the piece. Against the brown background, the elements stand out with their soft and endearing details.
About the Artist
Sherri Aldawood didn't intend to always paint flowers, but over time her love of gardens started to permeate her art. She focuses on the light and color of the flowers on the canvas. Sherri prefers alla prima, working with wet layers of paint instead of letting them dry. She keeps the paint as wet as possible by using walnut and clove oil...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin, Polyester, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Ink
Early 20th Century Contemporary More Art
Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Stone, Granite, Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Polyester
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Charcoal
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Plastic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
1970s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Offset
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Watercolor
1920s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Ink
1950s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset
2010s Contemporary More Art
Thread, Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Silk, Paint
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
2010s Contemporary More Art
Clay, Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Wood, Paper, Black and White
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Vinyl
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Metal