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Abstract Paintings For Sale
Period: 1980s
Period: 1940s
This Week's Listings Only
Deep Blue Figures, Large French Expressionist Original Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Deep Blue Figures, French Expressionist Original Oil Painting French school, late 20th Century Oil painting on canvas, unframed Canvas size: 39 x 51 inches A deep and inky blue lar...
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Vintage American School Signed Nude Abstract Interior Scene Framed Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American school modernist interior nude painting. Watercolor and gouache and pastel on paper. Signed. Framed. Image size, 13L x 19H.
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Large Exhibited Modernist Surreal Nocturnal Winter Landscape Signed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist landscape painting. Oil on canvas, circa 1930. Signed. Housed in period frame. Image size 45L x 32H.
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

abstract with portrait oil and collage on canvas painting
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Horacio Sapere (1951) - Abstract - Oil and collage on canvas Signed lower right Canvas measures 61x46 cm. Frameless. Title: Abstract with Portrait - Oil and Collage on Canvas by Horacio Sapere (1985) Short Description: A unique abstract piece by Horacio Sapere, influenced by artists like Antoni Tàpies and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Mixed media combining oil and collage, perfect for contemporary art collectors. Detailed Description: Discover the fascinating intersection of abstraction and figuration with "Abstract with Portrait" by Horacio Sapere. Created in 1985, this piece blends oil and collage on a 24 x 18-inch canvas, showcasing the artist's mastery in layering textures and integrating forms. Horacio Sapere, known for his multidisciplinary approach that spans painting, visual poetry, and performance, aligns himself with the tradition of great contemporary art figures. His work echoes the material intensity of Antoni Tàpies, the gestural energy of Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the narrative capacity of Robert Rauschenberg, establishing a dialogue between chaos and order, abstraction and figuration. Inspired by the artistic movements of the late 20th century, Sapere crafts a visual language that resonates with Informalism and Abstract Expressionism, making it a standout choice for contemporary art enthusiasts. This piece is ideal for those looking to enrich their collection with a work that is not only visually striking but also conceptually grounded. It includes a certificate of authenticity to guarantee its provenance and originality. Related Artists: - Antoni Tàpies: For his use of unconventional materials and focus on texture - Jean-Michel Basquiat: For the energy and expressiveness of abstract strokes - Robert Rauschenberg: For the combination of mixed media and collage in compositions - Cy Twombly: For balancing visual chaos with the subtlety of abstract forms Key Points for Collectors: - A unique piece by an internationally recognized artist - Contemporary style that fits modern spaces - Mixed media highlighting the interplay of textures and color - Guaranteed provenance with a certificate of authenticity Dimensions: 24 x 18 inches (unframed) Technique: Oil and collage on canvas A Treasure for Contemporary Art Collectors This work represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire an original piece by an artist who, like Tàpies or Basquiat, challenges traditional art norms to offer a unique visual and emotional experience. --- Let me know if you need any further adjustments. Horacio Sapere (Buenos Aires, 1951). He has lived and worked in Mallorca since 1975 and since 2011 he has had a studio in New York. An intense and committed artist, he develops his creative process through theater and performance (1970-1980), visual poetry (1976-1982), painting and sculpture. Creator of major projects such as Poet's room (1995), presented for the first time at the BMB gallery in Amsterdam (1996), at the UIB -Universitat de les Illes Balears- (1997) and at the Sala de Cultura Sa Nostra in Ibiza (1998). ); and as a sculptural poetic installation at the MEIAC, the Spanish and Ibero-American Museum of Contemporary Art in Badajoz (2000), the Fernando Pessoa...
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Boat in Harbor Impasto Impressionism
Located in Soquel, CA
Vibrant impressionistic impasto Landscape with boat by shore by Kristin Cohen (American, b. 1963). Thick impasto oil and Alkyd acrylic paints in this colorful painting. From a collec...
Category

1980s Impressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

'Figurative Abstract', Woman Artist, Art Institute of Chicago, San Bernardino
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Stamped, verso, with certification of authenticity for Suzanne Gertz (American, 1938-2003) and painted circa 1985, partial signature lower right. Suzanne Gertz first studied at the...
Category

1980s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Graphite

Composition abstraite/Abstract composition
Located in Montfort l’Amaury, FR
Reference number A161 Not framed but could be with a natural oak floated frame (add 200 euros) 17 x 44 cm This work is painted with oil on a board. . It is signed and dated 1989 in ...
Category

1980s French School Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Exhibited American Abstract Expressionist Modern Mid Century Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American school abstract expressionist oil painting by Ray Prohaska (1901 - 1981). Oil on board. Very nice period frame. Signed. Exhibited at Mortimer Levitt Gallery. Im...
Category

1940s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Toscane II, Abstract Painting by Jeanick Buoys
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Jeanick Bouys, French (1950 - ) Title: Toscane II Year: 1988 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed verso Size: 52 x 42 inches
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"St. George and the Dragon" - Large Late 20th Century Framed Painting
Located in New Orleans, LA
You don't have to be a Catholic, or a medievalist, or a Catholic medievalist (Tolkien?) to appreciate this striking image of St. George taking on the dragon. In style it falls somewhere between Cubism and Guernica, to my eye. The limited color palette, with the bold red, gives it the energy of early 20th-century Russian poster...
Category

1980s Cubist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Antique American Cubist Still Life Cat Portrait Framed & Signed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Important cubist still life oil painting by Douglas Warner Gorsline (1913 - 1985). Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed.
Category

1940s Cubist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

American Abstract Expressionist Artist Melissa Meyer Oil Painting Flaming Heart
Located in Surfside, FL
MELISSA MEYER (American, b. 1946), ''Bleeding Heart'', 1982, Oil and wax (encaustic) on canvas, Signed to canvas verso. Canvas 39-1/4''h, 31-3/4''w. Melissa Meyer (born May 4,...
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wax, Oil

"Changing Seasons" - Red Over Blue Tribute to Mark Rothko in Acrylic on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
"Changing Seasons" - Red Over Blue Tribute to Mark Rothko in Acrylic on Paper A bright abstract painting by California-based artist, Ricardo de Silva (American/Brazil, 20th C). Draw...
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

1988 "Black and White Abstract" Large Painting on Paper
Located in Arp, TX
Artist unknown "Black & White Abstract" May 29, 1988 Acrylic on Strathmore paper 25.75"x40.5" unframed Unsigned
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Friedrich‘s Window: Variation IV (Water and Mist) 1981, Ian Hornak — Painting
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Friedrich‘s Window: Variation # 4 Year: 1981 Medium: Acrylic on canvas Size: 36 x 48 inches Condition: Good Provenance: Fischbach Gallery, New Y...
Category

1980s Photorealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

American Impressionist Coastal Seascape Framed Nautical Sailboat Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Nicely painted impressionist seascape painting. Oil on canvas. Framed.
Category

1980s Impressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Double Sculpture, unique sculptural study, Brazilian American sculptor, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Saint Clair Cemin (Brazilian-American) Double Sculpture, 1987 Graphite and watercolor on paper Hand signed, dated and titled on the back of the sheet ...
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Graphite, Pencil

Large Abstract Expressionist Color Monotype, Oil Painting Tom Lieber
Located in Surfside, FL
Tom Alan Lieber, (American, born 1949), GTW #11 -7, 1986, Oil and mixed media on paper, 30.25 x 44 inches, Hand signed and dated lower right Provenance: Garner Tullis Workshop, ...
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Oil, Monotype

Across the Water - calm, expressive, abstracted waterscape, acrylic on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
In this serene painting by one of Canada’s leading landscape artists, Pat Service deconstructs the elements of a view across a lake in summer. The form is abstracted, and the colours...
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Figure Sur Rouge (Figure on Red) /// Contemporary French Painting Minimalism Art
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Pierre Marie Brisson (French, 1955-) Title: "Figure Sur Rouge (Figure on Red)" *Signed by Brisson lower right. It is also signed and dated on verso Year: 1983 Medium: Origina...
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Rag Paper, Handmade Paper, Oil, Paint

Large Plein Air Landscape Oil Painting, Peach & Plenty, Hamptons, Janet Jennings
Located in Surfside, FL
Janet Jennings Oil Painting on Canvas Peace and Plenty, 1989. Hand signed Dimensions: Canvas, 65 1/2" x W: 59 1/2". framed 68 X 62 inches Janet Jennings received her BFA from the University of Dayton and attended The Dayton Art Institute, Antioch College and The Art Students League. Her paintings are in numerous corporate and private collections worldwide. She has exhibited at numerous galleries on Long Island, the Hamptons and New York City including The New York Design Center, Hampton Road Gallery, Pamela Williams Gallery, Folioeast, Lizan-Tops Gallery, Chase Edwards Gallery, Gallery North, Elaine Benson Gallery, Glenn Horowitz Gallery, Mark Humphrey...
Category

1980s Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Fall of Eden (Garden of Eden)—Untitled
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: The Fall of Eden (Garden of Eden)—Untitled Year: 1985 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Size: 48 x 24 inches Condition: Excellent Inscription: Signed, ...
Category

1980s Photorealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Vintage Mid Century Fauvist American Modernist Amusement Park Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
A Painting depicting an amusement park exploding in vibrant colors. The painting is signed "William Wright" lower right. Oil on Canvas. 20 x 24. Nicely framed.
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Phoebus
Located in Genève, GE
Work on wood
Category

1940s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Antique American Abstract Expressionist Vintage Framed New York School Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist abstract painting. Oil on canvas, circa 1940. Housed in a vintage frame. Image size, 18L x 24H.
Category

1940s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Untitled abstract expressionist oil painting by Cleveland School artist
Located in Beachwood, OH
Richard Andres American, 1927-2013 Untitled, c. 1980 acrylic and ink on paper mounted on canvas 30 x 34 inches Richard Andres was born in Buffalo, New York in 1927. A graduate of th...
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Ink, Acrylic

Garner Tullis, Large Painting with Collage by Tom Holland
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Tom Holland Title: Garner Tullis Year: 1988 Medium: Acrylic on paper, signed and dated in pencil Paper Size: 42 x 82 in. (106.68 x 208.28 cm)
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Archival Paper

Light from the Past, 1st version, 1985, Ian Hornak — Painting
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Light from the Past, 1st version Year: 1985 Medium: Acrylic on double layered Masonite Size: 21.5 x 18 inches Condition: Good Provenance: Estate...
Category

1980s Photorealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Acrylic

Antique American School Abstract Expressionist Waterfall Nature-scape Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Nicely painted early American modernist abstract landscape. Oil on canvas. Framed.
Category

1940s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Soweto" Figurative Abstract Expressionist in Acrylic on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
Red, Black, and Brown Figurative Abstract Expressionist in Acrylic on Paper A bold abstract painting by California-based artist, Ricardo de Silva (American/Brazil, 20th C). The left...
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Spring - large, bright, yellow, orange, gestural abstract, acrylic on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Passages of butter yellow, rose and light green float on a washed spring yellow ground in this elegant abstract painting by Milly Ristvedt. Milly Ristvedt (b. 1942, Kimberley, BC) MA, RCA, began her career in Toronto in 1964 after studies with Takao Tanabe...
Category

1980s Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Large Scale Vintage Abstracted Still Life with Fish In Style Of Henri Matisse
Located in Soquel, CA
Bright, ocean-like, tropical colors in this abstract with fish in the style of Henri Matisse by D.S. Silver. One of a group of works, by D.S. Silver...
Category

1980s Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars

Contour Detour No. 4 - colorful, abstract, pigmented plaster on board
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Yvonne Lammerich has used a dynamic pattern, bold colours and geometric form to create this visually stunning contemporary piece. The ‘building block ...
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Plaster, Board, Pigment

'Surrealist Abstract', Chouinard Institute, LACMA, MGM studios, Dr. Seuss, Osaka
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower left, 'Inman' for Robert Inman (American, 1927–2016) and dated, beneath the mat, 'September, 1983'. Titled on old backing 'The Wanderer'. Pap...
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Gouache, Paper

'Ocean View, California', Pasadena Art Institute, Hollywood, Urban Modernist Oil
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed, verso, on canvas, 'Sean Sult' for Sean Gilbert Sult (American, born 1949) and dated 'Spring, 1980'. A substantial oil showing an ocean view looking ...
Category

1980s Post-Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Vintage Abstract Figurative Vision
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderfully evocative abstract expressionist oil painting of a face with figure reflecting in the eye by an unknown California artist (American, 20th Century). Unsigned. Unframed. Im...
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Standing Figure: Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting by John Emanuel
Located in Brecon, Powys
Large oil on paper by this well collected British artist. Signed and dated 1980 lower left. Superb example of this artists work. Behind glass in excellent condition, new mount origin...
Category

1980s Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil

Patricia Zippin "Temescal 3" 1980s Abstract Painting Academie Julian Paris
Located in Arp, TX
Patricia Zippin Temescal 3 1980s Mixed Media 30.5"x 22.5", unframed Signed in paint on bottom right and signed and titled on reverse in pencil Patricia Jayne Zippin (1930-2015) She ...
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Encaustic, Acrylic, Pencil

Tortuga
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Jules Olitski (1922-2007) is one of Caviar20's favorite abstract artists of the 20th century. Over the course of his career, his aesthetic evolved in startling and fascinating ways....
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Linen, Acrylic

"No. 104_A" French Oil and Mixed Media Textured Abstract Painting on Canvas
Located in New York, NY
Pierre Marie Brisson is a French painter known for his Iconographic style. His work appropriates the forms, concepts, and imagery of art history. Spanning from prehistoric art to Roc...
Category

1980s Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Canvas, Oil

'Abstract in Coral and Jade', Painters Eleven, Ontario, Canadian Modernist Oil
By Hortense Mattice Gordon
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower left, 'Hortense M. Gordon' for Hortense Crompton Mattice Gordon (Canadian, 1886-1961) and dated 1949. Previously with: Dominion Gallery of Montreal (stamp, verso). Photo courtesy of Art Gallery of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Hamilton artist Hortense Crompton Mattice Gordon was one of Canada’s earliest non-representational painters, embracing abstraction in the 1930s. She was also an active member of Canada's first English-speaking abstract group, Painters Eleven. A scholarship recipient, Hortense Mattice first attended the Hamilton Art School and, subsequently, moved to Chatham, Ontario. Initially focusing on porcelain painting, Mattice quickly began building a portfolio of oils and, from 1908, was exhibiting both her porcelain and landscapes at what is now the Chatham Cultural Centre (1908) and the Art Gallery of Ontario (1909). During this time, Mattice frequently traveled to the United States and, in 1915, visited the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, where she would have seen early works by important modernists including Picasso and Matisse. She started her teaching career in Chatham but, having received a job offer from the artist John Sloan Gordon, returned to Hamilton to teach at the Hamilton Art School in 1918. The two artists married in 1920. In 1922, Gordon and her husband took a study trip to France and, inspired by the fervent of Modernist ideas in Paris, expanded her own approaches to art, developing an increasingly soft, loose paint handling style. It was not until the 1930’s, after a few more trips to France and her discovery of Piet Mondrian’s work, that elements of abstraction began to appear in Gordon’s work. After the death of her husband in 1940, Gordon attended the Cranbrook Academy of Art and studied with Hans Hoffmann (1941-1945) whose influence and friendship pushed her to explore non-objective painting. After her training with Hofmann and in Cranbrook, Gordon began to exhibit regularly and with success in both Canada and the United States including at the Riverside Museum (New York, 1947), Creative Gallery (New York, 1952), in Ann Arbor (Michigan, 1952), Phillips Gallery (Detroit, 1952), the Flint Institute of Arts (Michigan, 1952), Mount Allison University (New Brunswick, 1952), the Galerie Agnes Lefort in Montréal and Art Gallery of Hamilton (retrospective, 1960). She was a member of the Contemporary Artists of Hamilton (honorary president in 1948), the Ontario Society of Artists, the Hamilton Women...
Category

1940s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Antique American Sparse Modern Expressionist Flower Still Life Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage modernist still life painting. Oil on canvas. Image size, 18L x 24H.
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Untitled (Scottish Pastoral Landscape), circa 1982, Ian Hornak — Painting
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Untitled (Scottish Pastoral Landscape) Year: 1982 Medium: Acrylic on canvas Size: 16 x 20 inches Condition: Good Provenance: Estate of Ian Horna...
Category

1980s Photorealist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Cliff's Formation" - Modernist Geometric Abstracted Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Gorgeous abstracted geometric landscape titled, "Cliff's Formation" by Erle Loran (American, 1905-1999), 1984. Unframed. Signed and dated lower right "Loran '84" and titled "Cliff's ...
Category

1980s Abstract Geometric Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Antique Modernist Abstracted Southern School Cubist Woman Portrait Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Very impressive and a rare early work by Frederick E. Conway (1900 - 1973). Oil on board. Incredibly framed. Signed.
Category

1940s Cubist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Large Abstract Modernist Monterey Series Mixed Media Monotype Colorful Painting
Located in Surfside, FL
Terence La Noue was born in Hammond, Indiana in 1941. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1964. After going to Berlin as a Fulbright Meister Student ...
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paint, Mixed Media, Monotype

Untitled - Oil Paint by Mario Guglielmotti - Mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Untitled is a modern artwork realized by Mario Guglielmotti. Mixed media on canvas. Hand signed on the lower margin. Includes frame
Category

1980s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Celestial Sky in Reds
Located in Greenwich, CT
This Celestial Sky painting is what Michael Forster is most celebrated for in his highly interesting career spanning working in Mexico and Canada. The brushwork creates a reverberati...
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Abstract Painted Ceramic Tile Pop Art Painting Italian Neo Figurative Painting
Located in Surfside, FL
This painted ceramic tile by Italo Scanga, epitomizes the characteristics of his oeuvre. Polychrome and vibrant art from the Memphis Milano era. This is signed with his initials. This is reminiscent of the mid century work of Jean Lurcat and Jean Picart le Doux. Italo Scanga (June 6, 1932 - July 7, 2001), an Italian-born American artist, was known for his sculptures, prints and, paintings, mostly created from found objects. In his youth in Calabria, Italy he worked as a cabinetmaker's apprentice and studies sculpture with a man who carved statues of saints. Italo Scanga was an innovative neo Dada, neo-Expressionist, and neo-Cubist multimedia artist who made assemblage, collage, sculptures of ordinary objects and created prints, glass, and ceramic works. Modern Italian abstract geometric folk art. Scanga's materials included natural objects like branches and seashells, as well as kitsch figurines, castoff musical instruments and decorative trinkets salvaged from flea markets and thrift shops. He combined these ingredients into free-standing assemblages, which he then painted. Although visually ebullient, the results sometimes referred to gruesome episodes from Greek mythology or the lives and deaths of martyred saints. He considered his artistic influences to be sweepingly pan-cultural, from African sculpture to Giorgio de Chirico. He often collaborated with the sculptor Dale Chihuly, who was a close friend. Constructed of wood and glass, found objects or fabric, his ensembles reflect a trio of activities—working, eating, and praying. These activities dominate the lives of those who live close to the land, but they are also activities that are idealized by many who contemplate, romantically, a simpler, bucolic life. Italo graduated from Michigan State University where he befriended fellow artists Richard Merkin and David Pease. He studied under Lindsey Decker who introduces him to welding and sculpture after his initial interest in photography. Also studies with Charles Pollock, the brother of Abstract Expressionist Jackson Pollock. His first teaching job was at University of Wisconsin (through 1964). where he met Harvey Littleton, a fellow instructor. He later moves to Providence, Rhode Island,I to teach at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Is colleagues with artists Richard Merkin and Hardu Keck. Starts a correspondence with HC Westermann. Spends summers teaching at Brown University; colleague of Hugh Townley. Moves to State College, PA, and teaches at Pennsylvania State University for one year. Meets artists Juris Ubans, Harry Anderson, Richard Frankel, and Richard Calabro, who remain friends throughout his career. 1967: David Pease helps him get a tenure track position at Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, PA, . Artists he works closely with include Ernest Silva, Lee Jaffe, Donald Gill, and William Schwedler. Meets graduate student Dale Chihuly while lecturing at RISD and develops a lifelong friendship. 1969: One person exhibition, Baylor Art Gallery, Baylor University, Waco, TX. Works very closely with students Larry Becker and Heidi Nivling (who later run a gallery in Philadelphia, PA), and Harry Anderson. Welcomes many artists into his home including Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, Bruce Nauman (a former student), Vito Acconci, Ree Morton and Rafael Ferrer. 1973: "Saints Glass" at 112 Greene Street Gallery, NYC. Installation at the Institute of Contemporary Art at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Meets Gordon Matta Clark and contributes to an artist cookbook. Goes to Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA, founded by Dale Chihuly, as a visiting artist. He continues to work there annually through 2001. Works over the years with Pilchuck artists Richard Royal, Seaver Leslie, Jamie Carpenter, Joey Kirkpatrick, Flora Mace, Robbie Miller, Billy Morris, Buster Simpson...
Category

1980s Neo-Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Enamel

"Chasm" - Minimalist Abstract in Acrylic
Located in Soquel, CA
"Chasm" - Minimalist Abstract in Acrylic Minimalist abstract done in watercolor, acrylic and metallic paint (gold and light gray/blue). Titled, signed and dated on verso: "Chasm, d...
Category

1980s Symbolist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gold

Transendental Abstraction by William Schwartz Titled Impressions of the West #7
Located in Chicago, IL
A Transendental Abstraction by famed Chicago Modernist, William S. Schwartz titled "Impressions of the West #7". Anecdotally, Schwartz's notable "Impressions of the West" series wer...
Category

1940s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Masonite, Oil

The Magician oil and tempera painting by Julio de Diego
Located in Hudson, NY
Julio De Diego’s Atomic Series paintings made an extraordinary statement regarding the shock and fear that accompanied the dawn of the nuclear age. In the artist’s own words, “Scientists were working secretly to develop formidable powers taken from the mysterious depths of the earth - with the power to make the earth useless! Then, the EXPLOSION! . . . we entered the Atomic Age, and from there the neo-Atomic war begins. Explosions fell everywhere and man kept on fighting, discovering he could fight without flesh.” To execute these works, De Diego developed a technique of using tempera underpainting before applying layer upon layer of pigmented oil glazes. The result is paintings with surfaces which were described as “bonelike” in quality. The forms seem to float freely, creating a three-dimensional visual effect. In the 1954 book The Modern Renaissance in American Art, author Ralph Pearson summarizes the series as “a fantastic interpretation of a weighty theme. Perhaps it is well to let fantasy and irony appear to lighten the devastating impact. By inverse action, they may in fact increase its weight.” Exhibited 1964 Marion Koogler McNay Art Institute, San Antonio, Texas This work retains its original frame which measures 54" x 42" x 2" About this artist: Julio De Diego crafted a formidable persona within the artistic developments and political struggles of his time. The artist characterized his own work as “lyrical,” explaining, “through the years, the surrealists, the social-conscious painters and the others tried to adopt me, but I went my own way, good, bad or indifferent.” [1] His independence manifested early in life when de Diego left his parent’s home in Madrid, Spain, in adolescence following his father’s attempts to curtail his artistic aspirations. At the age of fifteen he held his first exhibition, set up within a gambling casino. He managed to acquire an apprenticeship in a studio producing scenery for Madrid’s operas, but moved from behind the curtains to the stage, trying his hand at acting and performing as an extra in the Ballet Russes’ Petrouchka with Nijinsky. He spent several years in the Spanish army, including a six-month stretch in the Rif War of 1920 in Northern Africa. His artistic career pushed ahead as he set off for Paris and became familiar with modernism’s forays into abstraction, surrealism, and cubism. The artist arrived in the U.S. in 1924 and settled in Chicago two years later. He established himself with a commission for the decoration of two chapels in St. Gregory’s Church. He also worked in fashion illustration, designed magazine covers and developed a popular laundry bag for the Hotel Sherman. De Diego began exhibiting through the Art Institute of Chicago in 1929, and participated in the annual Chicago Artists Exhibitions, Annual American Exhibitions, and International Water Color Exhibitions. He held a solo exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago in the summer of 1935. Though the artist’s career was advancing, his family life had deteriorated. In 1932 his first marriage dissolved, and the couple’s young daughter Kiriki was sent to live with friend Paul Hoffman. De Diego continued to develop his artistic vocabulary with a growing interest in Mexican art. He traveled throughout the country acquainting himself with the works of muralists such as Carlos Merida, and also began a collection of small native artifacts...
Category

1940s American Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil, Tempera

Huge French Modernist Oil Kissing Couple Abstract Figures, signed painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French School, signed and dated Title: Kissing Couple, beautfiful Modernist work with green, beige, brown, yellow, golden colors. Med...
Category

1980s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Mandarin Jazz - large, orange, blue, teal, gestural abstract, acrylic on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Capturing the energy and innovation of a jazz tune, this vividly coloured abstract painting is by Milly Ristvedt. Swatches of orange, violet, turquoise and black appear in a rhythmic...
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Moon Face" Pink, Black, Yellow, and Gray Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Gray, pink, red, and yellow toned abstract contemporary painting by Chicago-based artist, Richard A. Johnson. Painting depicts various shapes and lines that appear to be floating above the canvas. Dimensions Without Frame: H 49.75 in. x W 55.88 in. Artist Biography: "There is something about the ocean that is so entwined with our makeup, that I can't help but be drawn to it. There really is nothing more powerful or hypnotic. The movement is ever changing and the attempt to capture that moment of change is what has engaged me in these pieces. There is something so ephemeral about all life that is perfectly captured in a wave. It only exists for a moment, but it's beauty and dynamism is so powerful that for that brief amount of time, nothing else matters. And yet, there is a subtlety, a moment of expansive calm, the monochrome of the colors and yet the exquisite and diverse play of tones. All of this captivates me and compels me to try and capture it all that on canvas." - Richard Johnson The luminescent beauty and lyrical quality of Richard S. Johnson's work is what captivates collectors today. "Old Masters" technical virtuosity, pre-Raphael romanticism, and contemporary expressionism and abstraction all combine to create his unique works of touching depth and artistry. Born in Chicago to an artistic family, his earliest reminiscences are of pouring through Charles Dana Gibson, N.C. Wyeth, and John Singer Sargent books on rainy afternoons. While still in grade school he won a scholarship to the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago. He later attended the American Academy of Art and upon graduation began a very successful career as an illustrator. Turning his attentions to fine art after winning a competition in International Artists Magazine, Rick was invited to Japan where his one man show was so successful that he has been invited back numerous times and has developed an international base of collectors. He has also won many awards in competitions here in the United States including the Award of Excellence, in the Oil Painters of America Midwest regional Juried Competition and People's Choice Award at the International Museum of Contemporary Master's of Fine Art in San Antonio, TX. Perhaps the term that best describes Rick's work is "Poetic Intimacy". His sure brush strokes, bold use of color and impasto, and delicate rendering of the human face and form all work together in a harmony that refuses to draw attention to themselves for their technical virtuosity, but rather to draw their viewer into the awareness that they are sharing one, serene, contemplative moment; that the light that pours over the subject's skin also caresses theirs. Rick's expressive skill for capturing the human form has brought him numerous commissions: - John F. Kennedy at the JFK Memorial Library in Boston. - A commemorative painting of the presidents from Eisenhower to Bush currently hanging at the President's Council on Physical Fitness in Washington D.C. - Rear Admiral Richard S. Truly, USN, the first commander of the NASA Space Shuttle...
Category

1980s Abstract Geometric Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

1960's French Abstract Expressionist Pair Oils on Canvas Turquoise Blue Colors
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
French Post Impressionist, circa 1968 Joysne Gallet inscribed verso oil on canvas, framed 14.5 x 22 inches private collection, France the painting is in overall very good and sound ...
Category

1980s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Patterns and Reverberatons Abstraction
Located in Greenwich, CT
Patterns and reverberations in a celestial sense, this work can bring liveliness, movement and texture to a room. Its color palette is very attractive. Michael Forster was trailblaz...
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

1984 Extra-Large Colorful And Vibrant Modern Abstract Painting. Blue, Yellow.
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
An intriguing and vibrant extra-large contemporary (allegedly) French painting. In-versio: "Cardaillac", 1984, "Acryl sur papier de chine", "Yellow Orange and Blue". Not signed. ...
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Handmade Paper

Original Abstract Paintings for Sale on 1stDibs

Bring audacious experiments with color and textures to your living room, dining room or home office. Abstract paintings, large or small, will stand out in your space, encouraging conversation and introducing a museum-like atmosphere that’s welcoming and conducive to creating memorable gatherings.

Abstract art has origins in 19th-century Europe, but it came into its own as a significant movement during the 20th century. Early practitioners of abstraction included Wassily Kandinsky, although painters were exploring nonfigurative art prior to the influential Russian artist’s efforts, which were inspired by music and religion. Abstract painters endeavored to create works that didn’t focus on the outside world’s conventional subjects, and even when artists depicted realistic subjects, they worked in an abstract mode to do so.

In 1940s-era New York City, a group of painters working in the abstract mode created radical work that looked to European avant-garde artists as well as to the art of ancient cultures, prioritizing improvisation, immediacy and direct personal expression. While they were never formally affiliated with one another, we know them today as Abstract Expressionists.

The male contingent of the Abstract Expressionists, which includes Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning and Robert Motherwell, is frequently cited in discussing leading figures of this internationally influential postwar art movement. However, the women of Abstract Expressionism, such as Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell and others, were equally involved in the art world of the time. Sexism, family obligations and societal pressures contributed to a long history of their being overlooked, but the female Abstract Expressionists experimented vigorously, developed their own style and produced significant bodies of work.

Draw your guests into abstract oil paintings across different eras and countries of origin. On 1stDibs, you’ll find an expansive range of abstract paintings along with a guide on how to arrange your wonderful new wall art.

If you’re working with a small living space, a colorful, oversize work can create depth in a given room, but there isn’t any need to overwhelm your interior with a sprawling pièce de résistance. Colorful abstractions of any size can pop against a white wall in your living room, but if you’re working with a colored backdrop, you may wish to stick to colors that complement the decor that is already in the space. Alternatively, let your painting make a statement on its own, regardless of its surroundings, or group it, gallery-style, with other works.

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