Skip to main content

Neo-Expressionist More Art

NEO-EXPRESSIONIST STYLE

A resurgence of interest in Expressionism, Pop art, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism and other movements gained steam among artists of the 1970s and ’80s, in part as a reaction to the austerity of the prevailing minimalism and Conceptual art of the era. A decadent, bold and brash art style called Neo-Expressionism saw painters returning to figural representation, creating highly textured works that were imbued with intensely personal narratives.

Neo-Expressionist paintings are sensuous in nature and highly subjective in meaning. Expressive brushwork, highly pigmented colors and layered forms and materials lent sculptural attributes to the work and were used to depict symbolic narratives from history, mythology and the artist’s personal experience. 

Prominent figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat led the Neo-Expressionist movement in the United States with paintings and prints that were raw, emotional and often violent in nature. In Germany, Die Neuen Wilden (the “New Fauves”) was the name given to a group of postwar artists that included the likes of sculptor Georg Baselitz and Gerhard Richter, a painter and photographer who explored the possibilities of both abstraction and realism, sometimes in a single piece. The work of the New Fauves — labeled as such for its return to Fauvism’s textured brushwork and use of vibrant colors — shares commonalities with Neo-Expressionism, and Baselitz was a pioneer of the movement in Europe. In addition, Willem de Kooning’s pulsating action paintings and Julian Schnabel’s experimentation with the materiality of paintings also took shape during this period.

“I was trying to make paintings different from the paintings that I saw a lot of at the time, which were mostly minimal, and they were highbrow and alienating, and I wanted to make very direct paintings that most people would feel the emotion behind when they saw them,” said Basquiat. 

Neo-Expressionism generated some polarizing opinions, with some celebrating the revival of personal subjectivity in art while others criticizing the movement for being too commercially driven and nostalgic. But most experts agree that Neo-Expressionism was a huge commercial success and culturally impactful, paving the way for the postmodern work of artists like Richter and Sigmar Polke

Find original Neo-Expressionist paintings, prints, mixed-media works and other art on 1stDibs.

to
54
6
12
7
29
12
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
7
59
3
3
1
2,910
2,406
1,853
1,590
990
371
246
200
157
45
36
32
30
28
46
15
3
58
57
57
57
57
24
2
1
1
1
33
9
Style: Neo-Expressionist
Equality
Equality

Equality

By Sax Berlin

Located in Brecon, Powys

"Sharp Edge" Neo Expressionism from the studio of Sax Berlin. Reflecting on his time living and painting on the streets of New York City in the 1980's and a contemporary of Basquiat and Haring...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist More Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Monograph: Francesco Clemente (Hand signed, inscribed and dated 2014 (MMXIV) )
Monograph: Francesco Clemente (Hand signed, inscribed and dated 2014 (MMXIV) )

Monograph: Francesco Clemente (Hand signed, inscribed and dated 2014 (MMXIV) )

By Francesco Clemente

Located in New York, NY

Francesco Clemente (Hand signed, inscribed and dated 2014 (MMXIV) to Nadine with drawings in black marker), 2002 Hardback monograph with dust jacket (Hand signed, inscribed and dated...

Category

Early 2000s Neo-Expressionist More Art

Materials

Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset

'King of Farts' original ceramic vase and relief signed by Michael Gross
'King of Farts' original ceramic vase and relief signed by Michael Gross

'King of Farts' original ceramic vase and relief signed by Michael Gross

By Michael Gross

Located in Milwaukee, WI

The ceramic sculptures of Wisconsin artist Michael Gross are personal narratives that reveal an unusual mix of earthly magic and primal vitality. The artist works in a variety of forms, including figurines, large vessels and furniture. The present vase is among the top tier of his works from the 1980s, showing multiple playful figures in relief around the vessel. In his Neo-Expressionist style, hearkening to the works of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, the figures are colored in painterly polychrome. Also, not unlike the painted narrative vessels of Ancient Greece, though much more subversive, many of the figures and stories are identified with text: 'King of Fart,' 'Dance Little Sister,' 'Girls for Every Boy,' and 'Beach Boy.' 22 x 13 x 12 inches overall Signed 'Gross' near base Dated 1986 near upper rim SELECTED COLLECTIONS INCLUDING WORKS BY GROSS: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.; Sharon Lynne Wilson...

Category

1980s Neo-Expressionist More Art

Materials

Ceramic

Rousselle
Rousselle

Rousselle

By Mimmo Paladino

Located in New York, NY

Color lithograph on Arches paper. Signed by the artist and dated in pencil. lower right. One of five numbered printer's proofs. Numbered 3/5 an inscribed "Prova per lo stampatore" ...

Category

1980s Neo-Expressionist More Art

Materials

Lithograph, Color

Untitled
Untitled

Untitled

Located in New York, NY

This sophisticated lithograph was executed by the renowned visual artist Peter Eugene Ball circa 1970. Realized in black and white, it depicts a styl...

Category

1970s Neo-Expressionist More Art

Materials

Lithograph

Untitled
Untitled

Untitled

Located in New York, NY

This sophisticated lithograph was executed by the renowned visual artist Peter Eugene Ball circa 1970. Realized in black and white, it depicts a styl...

Category

1970s Neo-Expressionist More Art

Materials

Etching

Still life  1986. 1/21. Paper, etching, aquatint, 31x40 cm
Still life  1986. 1/21. Paper, etching, aquatint, 31x40 cm

Still life 1986. 1/21. Paper, etching, aquatint, 31x40 cm

Located in Riga, LV

Still life 1986. 1/21. Paper, etching, aquatint, 31x40 cm Ivars Poikans 1952. Riga Ivars Poikāns works in painting, graphics, book illustration, cinema art. Born on October 24, 19...

Category

1980s Neo-Expressionist More Art

Materials

Paper, Etching, Aquatint

Different Places, Hardback monograph (Hand signed and inscribed by Sean Scully)
Different Places, Hardback monograph (Hand signed and inscribed by Sean Scully)

Different Places, Hardback monograph (Hand signed and inscribed by Sean Scully)

By Sean Scully

Located in New York, NY

Sean Scully Different Places (hand signed and inscribed by Sean Scully), 2015 Limited Edition hardback monograph (hand signed and inscribed to Nadine in felt tip pen on the title pag...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist More Art

Materials

Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset

Neo-expressionist more art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Neo-Expressionist more art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Tatiana Levchenko, Sax Berlin, Francesco Clemente, and Enzio Wenk. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Canvas and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Neo-Expressionist more art, so small editions measuring 3.94 inches across are also available. Prices for more art made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $533 and tops out at $35,000, while the average work sells for $2,496.