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.
1990s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Stainless Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Silk, Screen
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Color Pencil
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Stainless Steel
1960s Contemporary More Art
Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Panel
Early 20th Century Contemporary More Art
Oil, Engraving, Lithograph
Artist Comments
This still-life painting depicts three Bosc pears against a dark background. Their placement demonstrates a sense of balance in form and space. The interplay ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Wood, Screen
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Porcelain, Glaze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Stone, Granite, Iron
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
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Video, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Enamel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper
1940s Contemporary More Art
Mosaic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
2010s Contemporary More Art
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Limestone
1990s Contemporary More Art
Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
Artist Comments
A herd of bison descends a mist-shrouded mountain, embodying majesty and resilience. Erratic brushstrokes and bold applications of paint create a dynamic visu...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
1950s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
1960s Contemporary More Art
Archival Paper, Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Metal, Steel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Oil
1950s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
1980s Contemporary More Art
Copper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Clay
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Silk, Paint
20th Century Contemporary More Art
Textile, Found Objects, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Clay, Wood, Glaze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Offset
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Porcelain, Digital
1970s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Offset
2010s Contemporary More Art
Lacquer, Photographic Paper
1990s Contemporary More Art
Stoneware, Glaze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Lacquer, Paint
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
Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin
1950s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment