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, Digital
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Nestled among layers of pink and contrasting leaves, a bright red-breasted bird prepares for flight. A twig seemingly dangles from its beak. Its vibrant pluma...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Digital
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Digital
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Offset
Artist Comments
Artist Mary Pratt captures turmeric flowers with a playful touch. Pink petals rise from broad green leaves against a black-and-white patterned background. The...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
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 ethe...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Encaustic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paste, Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ink, Handmade Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Giclée
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic, Earthenware
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
2010s Contemporary More Art
Acrylic, Vinyl
1990s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
View at Civita Castella No. 2 captures the red glow of tufa cliffs at the golden hour. This town in the Roman countryside has long lured painters with its ti...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
A pink orchid stands out against a black-and-white geometric backdrop, contrasting the flower's softness with the pattern's repetition. Its stem curves gracef...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Metal
2010s Contemporary More Art
Wood, Screen
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Digital
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Digital
Artist Comments
Artist Shuxing Fan paints a wine bottle, a water, pitcher, and an old-fashioned glass with dried flowers in classical style. He dep...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Video, Mixed Media, Wood
2010s Contemporary More Art
Cotton, Thread, Sailcloth
2010s Contemporary More Art
Screen
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
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Wood
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Panel
20th Century Contemporary More Art
Paper, Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Fiberglass, Polyester, Lacquer
2010s Contemporary More Art
Digital, Archival Pigment
1970s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Digital
Artist Comments
Sometimes I paint objects that I think are "pretty." China, flowers, ribbons. Soft colors. It still needs a nice design. A center of interest. It has to stay...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Brass
1990s Contemporary More Art
Brass
1960s Contemporary More Art
Plastic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Acrylic, Board, Pencil, Color Pencil, Ink
2010s Contemporary More Art
Acrylic, Illustration Board, Pencil
Artist Comments
Artist Shuxing Fan pictures a classical still-life of a shiny kettle,various jars, and fragrant ripe pears. Soft white linen delic...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Concrete
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Metal
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Acrylic, Pencil, Color Pencil, Ink
2010s Contemporary More Art
Fabric, Textile, Tapestry, Linen, Thread
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Lithograph