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
Fabric, Textile, Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pencil, Color Pencil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Thread, Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Clay, Glass
1990s Contemporary More Art
Color
2010s Contemporary More Art
Inkjet
2010s Contemporary More Art
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Fabric, Canvas
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin, Plastic, Wood
1990s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
Artist Comments
A cut-up lemon rests on a muted surface, its interior revealing various color changes. The light and shadow emphasize the fruit's vibrant yellow skin and fles...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Stainless Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Wood, Mosaic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Vinyl
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Mulberry Paper, Woodcut
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Wool, Cotton, Silk
1980s Contemporary More Art
Screen
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Vinyl
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Magazine Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Glass
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Birch, Acrylic, Woodcut
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Metal, Wire
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
1960s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Polyester
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Thread, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Glitter, Found Objects
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
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Offset
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
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
Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Watercolor
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
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Fiberglass
2010s Contemporary More Art
Metal, Steel, Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wool
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
Paper, Ink