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.
Artist Comments
A minimalist painting depicts a landscape with a purple sky and a golden field. The palette and loose brushwork convey the gloomy yet tranquil atmosphere of the...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Photographic Paper
1990s Contemporary More Art
Fabric
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
2010s Contemporary More Art
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Color
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Canvas, Paper, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Digital
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Canvas, Paper, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Yarn, Found Objects, Acrylic, Textile
Artist Comments
Silhouettes of trees cut across the horizon, defining the beige sky and turquoise field. The layers of colors with accents of gold metallic finish add an ethere...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Encaustic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Digital
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Bronze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Marble
2010s Contemporary More Art
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Marble
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Bronze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Bronze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Bronze
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Canvas, Paper, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Digital
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Color
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Color
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Acrylic
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Canvas, Color
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic, Textile, Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Color
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Digital
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Textile, Yarn, Acrylic
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Screen
Artist Comments
Two plump strawberries command attention with their vibrant red hues and lush green crowns. The light reveals their glossy surface, while the shadow adds depth ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Color
2010s Contemporary More Art
Brass
Artist Comments
A diptych of trees boasts distinct silhouettes, with their roots seemingly reaching towards each other. Similarly, birds from their branches appear to exchange ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Encaustic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Color
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic