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
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Plastic
1990s Contemporary More Art
Organic Material
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Ink, Spray Paint, Acrylic
1970s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Color
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Clay
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Charcoal
2010s Contemporary More Art
Printer's Ink, Archival Ink, Rag Paper, Monoprint, Other Medium, Monotype
2010s Contemporary More Art
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Marble, Metal
2010s Contemporary More Art
Gesso, Plaster, Acrylic, Pigment
2010s Contemporary More Art
Metal
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Acrylic, Pencil, Color Pencil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Wool, PVC
1990s Contemporary More Art
Thread, Cotton, Textile, Mixed Media
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
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
2010s Contemporary More Art
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pencil, Color Pencil
1950s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Artist Comments
"The most popular calla lily meaning these days is that of purity, faithfulness, and holiness," says artist Jo Galang. "The flower is often depicted in image...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin, Vinyl
2010s Contemporary More Art
Organic Material
Artist Comments
A herd of bison descends into a ravine, moving through a misty landscape. These majestic animals symbolize strength, power, and resilience as ethereal light s...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Digital, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Plaster
2010s Contemporary More Art
Acrylic, Pencil, Color Pencil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Glass
2010s Contemporary More Art
Stone, Granite, Bronze, Enamel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Wood, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Stone, Granite, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Canvas
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Canvas, Thread, Wool, Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Vinyl
2010s Contemporary More Art
Resin
2010s Contemporary More Art
Acrylic, Board, Pencil, Color Pencil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ink, Handmade Paper
1950s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Yarn, Plexiglass, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Fabric, Paper, Acrylic, Pencil, Color Pencil
1990s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
"This is a view from the clearing of an 18th century stone house that belonged to my art professor at Gettysburg," says artist Jay Jensen. "The painting was i...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Paper, Offset
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Vinyl
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Thread, Found Objects, Inkjet
2010s Contemporary More Art
Acrylic, Board, Pencil, Color Pencil, Ink
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset
1940s Contemporary More Art
Mosaic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
1950s Contemporary More Art
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic