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
Wool
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
Artist Comments
An orange tree captures the vibrant beauty and abundance of nature. Subtle gradients in the sky enhance the warmth and serenity of the piece. The composition ev...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Stone, Granite, Bronze, Enamel
1990s Contemporary More Art
Glass, Blown Glass
Artist Comments
A flock of mallard ducks soars gracefully through the sky against an ethereal background of vibrant blues, greens, and yellows. Artist Alana Clumeck employed ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
1960s Contemporary More Art
Archival Paper, Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Offset
Artist Comments
Afternoon at the lake in a classical style. Delicate shadows in the foreground give way to glistening water in the distance. The scene is nicely framed on the...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Stoneware, Glaze, Epoxy Resin
1980s Contemporary More Art
Offset
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Vinyl
2010s Contemporary More Art
Fiberglass
2010s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Offset
2010s Contemporary More Art
Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
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
Ceramic
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Polyester
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Board, Permanent Marker
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Metal, Wire
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
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Porcelain, Glaze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Digital
1990s Contemporary More Art
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Color Pencil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Stainless Steel
1990s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Permanent Marker
2010s Contemporary More Art
Mixed Media, Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Granite, Metal
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
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Linen
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Digital
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Gold
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
2010s Contemporary More Art
Stone, Granite, Bronze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
1960s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
Early 20th Century Contemporary More Art
Oil, Engraving, Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
1990s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Cord, Wood, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Vinyl
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Stainless Steel