Beginning in the early 20th century, abstract art became a leading style of modernism. Rather than portray the world in a way that represented reality, as had been the dominating style of Western art in the previous centuries, abstract paintings, prints and sculptures are marked by a shift to geometric forms, gestural shapes and experimentation with color to express ideas, subject matter and scenes.
Although abstract art flourished in the early 1900s, propelled by movements like Fauvism and Cubism, it was rooted in the 19th century. In the 1840s, J.M.W. Turner emphasized light and motion for atmospheric paintings in which concrete details were blurred, and Paul Cézanne challenged traditional expectations of perspective in the 1890s.
Some of the earliest abstract artists — Wassily Kandinsky and Hilma af Klint — expanded on these breakthroughs while using vivid colors and forms to channel spiritual concepts. Painter Piet Mondrian, a Dutch pioneer of the art movement, explored geometric abstraction partly owing to his belief in Theosophy, which is grounded in a search for higher spiritual truths and embraces philosophers of the Renaissance period and medieval mystics. Black Square, a daringly simple 1913 work by Russian artist Kazimir Malevich, was a watershed statement on creating art that was free “from the dead weight of the real world,” as he later wrote.
Surrealism in the 1920s, led by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Meret Oppenheim and others, saw painters creating abstract pieces in order to connect to the subconscious. When Abstract Expressionism emerged in New York during the mid-20th century, it similarly centered on the process of creation, in which Helen Frankenthaler’s expressive “soak-stain” technique, Jackson Pollock’s drips of paint, and Mark Rothko’s planes of color were a radical new type of abstraction.
Conceptual art, Pop art, Hard-Edge painting and many other movements offered fresh approaches to abstraction that continued into the 21st century, with major contemporary artists now exploring it, including Anish Kapoor, Mark Bradford, El Anatsui and Julie Mehretu.
Find original abstract paintings, sculptures, prints and other art on 1stDibs.
$185
3.8 #4 - Original Impasto Cool Earthy Tone Textured Paint Abstract Art on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$185
3.8 #3 - Original Impasto Color Drenched Textured Paint Abstract Art on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$1,175
Liberty
Located in Zofingen, AG
Liberty is an oil abstract painting and minimalist abstract landscape shaped by the quiet meeting of a sky-blue horizon and warm ochre earth tones, creating a subtle dialogue between...
Canvas, Oil
$4,110
Floating - Large Color Drenched Impasto Mixed Media Textural Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Acrylic
The Vanguard Series Nr. XXIV: A Collection of Postwar European Abstractions
Located in London, GB
"The Vanguard Series Nr. XXIV: A Collection of Postwar European Abstractions", oil on board, by 'R.G.' (circa 1950s–70s). A compelling body of work emerging from the forgotten studio...
Oil, Board
$1,483
The Vanguard Series Nr. XX: A Collection of Postwar European Abstractions by JG
Located in London, GB
"The Vanguard Series Nr. XX: A Collection of Postwar European Abstractions", oil on board, by JG, circa 1950s–70s. A compelling body of work emerging from the forgotten studios and a...
Oil, Board
$1,833Sale Price|25% Off
Fallen Angel Painting, Abstract Oil on Linen, Signed, 120x60 cm
Located in Silverthorne, CO
A dramatic expressionist painting dedicated to the soul of me before cancer, who believed in a benevolent universe, who saw signs and followed them, who somehow thought she would liv...
Linen, Oil
$3,500
In The Loop - Large Scale Color Drenched Impasto Textural Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Acrylic, Glitter
"Echoes if Silence"
Located in Zofingen, AG
This is an abstract landscape exploring the subtle tension between presence and absence, where color dissolves into atmosphere and form becomes memory. Layers of muted brown, beige, ...
Canvas, Oil
$23,501
DAMIEN HIRST - THE CURRENCY. Original work The Currency Project. Dots. Colors
By Damien Hirst
Located in Madrid, Madrid
DAMIEN HIRST - THE CURRENCY: 6274. NOBODY SHOULD HEAR IT Date of creation: 2016 Medium: Enamel paint on handmade paper Edition: 5.149 unique works on paper Size: 21.5 x 30 cm Conditi...
Enamel
#204, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
$850
"Many For The Empath" (abstract, flora, fauna, roses, oil painting, green, pink)
Located in Paris, IDF
MANY FOR THE EMPATH 2026 Paris, France This complex and layered floral painting of an abundant, overflowing bouquet presents an energetic and mesmerizing subject. This original mixe...
Oil Crayon, Dye, Cotton Canvas, Ink, Oil, Acrylic
$655
The Under Glow - Color Drenched Impasto Textural Thick Paint Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Glitter, Acrylic
$5,800
Infinity Bliss - Bue Tone Abstract Atmospheric Landscape Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mark Acetelli’s oil and mixed media paintings awaken the viewer’s sense of exploration and adventure; they demand a new discovery. His artworks exhibit a chemistry of complexity and ...
Canvas, Oil
Coastal Equilibrium
Located in London, London
SPECIAL SPRING FLASH SALE: 25% OFF this weekend only to celebrate our 2026 Collection launch. Ships safely rolled in a gallery tube. All the custom charges are included in the final...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,146
Vibrant Abstract with Bold Green Moody Colours French 20th Century Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition signed by Gilbert Pelissier (French born 1924) oil painting on canvas, unframed inscribed verso and dated 85' canvas size: 35 x 46 inches condition...
Oil
Portrait of a Woman in Black Dress
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Portrait of a Woman in Black, 1963. Stylistically influenced by Modigliani and Soutine. Signed "Woody" and dated lower right. Oil painting on canvas 34 x 18 in, 42 x 26 in (fram...
Burlap, Oil
$658Sale Price|20% Off
Modern abstract Impressionist still life floral painting on paper "Roses Trio"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Roses Trio” is a vibrant contemporary floral still life by French artist Natalya Mougenot, whose intuitive, spontaneous brushwork transforms everyday blooms into a burst of emotiona...
Paper, Acrylic
Marine lovers
Located in London, London
Marine landscape Marine lovers We sail towards an unknown shore, towards those who awaits for us, towards those whom we love dearly. Abstract painting on canvas, blue, extra-large,...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Eternity Abstract Canvas Painting, Oil & Acrylic XXL
Located in London, London
All custom charges are included in the final price agreed. unframed, shipped rolled XXL, Extra-large painting, large painting, abstract art, abstract painting on canvas, oil on can...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$2,538Sale Price|20% Off
Modern abstract expressionist floral painting on linen canvas "Peony Bloom"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Peony Bloom" is a contemporary floral still life by French artist Natalya Mougenot, where vibrant color and expressive gesture celebrate the joyful abundance of peonies at their pea...
Acrylic, Canvas, Linen
Golden Glow. Abstract expressionist, Japandi, Wabi-Sabi, Shabby Chic
Located in Oslo, NO
"Golden Glow" is a painting filled with bright, warm light and abstract shapes that convey a sense of powerful energy and inner light. The painting depicts a bright sun piercing the...
Canvas, Acrylic
#253, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
$7,551
Feeling on Top of the World & Journey Together, diptych, abstract, contemporary
Located in Deddington, GB
Feeling on Top of the World is an expressionistic painting by abstract artist Diane Whalley. Created over a number of weeks allowing time for layering, show through and mark making. ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$300Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Abstract Impressionist French Countryside Oil Painting by Jacques Birr
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Vintage mid-century abstract impressionist oil painting on board signed at the bottom, Jacques Birr 91. With expressive cloud swirls created by a large brush, the artist has given u...
Oil
India Tantric Painting Blue Red Cosmic Egg Minimalist Mixed Media on Cloth
Located in Norfolk, GB
Rahul Kumar Untitled Mixed Media on Cloth 75cm x 55cm 2026 Rahul Kumar is from a family of traditional miniature painters working in Jaipur. The atelier where his family learnt thei...
Cotton, Mixed Media
The Assembled Whole. No 6
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting from the The Assembled Whole series is created on canvas using a collage technique with various textured materials. The composition features soft pink, gray, and black ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$1,397Sale Price|30% Off
Large French Vintage Landscape Abstract Impressionist Coastal Oil Painting
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Large Vintage Abstract Impressionist oil painting on canvas, signed by the artist, Maryvonne LE DEIST (b.1936). This amazing painting hails from the 1960's and is entitled, 'Port de...
Oil
#64, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
$8,648
Eroded horizon- Large Abstract Painting – Landscape –Contemporary, French art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
This original oil painting by Sophie Dumont, a French contemporary painter, reflects her distinctive approach to landscape through abstraction, structure, and material depth. Born i...
Canvas, Oil
$2,175
Golden Slumber - Moody Abstract Atmospheric Landscape Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mark Acetelli’s oil and mixed media paintings awaken the viewer’s sense of exploration and adventure; they demand a new discovery. His artworks exhibit a chemistry of complexity and ...
Canvas, Oil
"Tosca" Large-Scale Acrylic, Oil Pastels, Pencils Abstract 72"x108"
Located in New York, NY
"Tosca", 2026, 72" H x 108" W. "Tosca" is a large-scale mixed media painting informed by the structure and emotional range of Puccini’s opera of the same name consisting of acrylic,...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Carbon Pencil, Color Pencil
Overlapped by Tejinder Kanda - Contemporary Impasto Painting
Located in DE
Tejinder Kanda "In-Within" reflects the Artist's exploration of time and space, presenting spontaneous works that embody absolute independence, free from preconceived notions. These...
Acrylic
$1,527
"Blooming Silence” Contemporary Acrylic Painting on canvas Floral Still life
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Blooming Silence” – Acrylic on Canvas by French Artist Natalya Mougenot Contemporary Floral Still Life (80 × 60 × 1.5 cm / 31.5" × 23.6" × 0.6") "Blooming Silence" captures a mome...
Canvas, Acrylic
Colours of the Wind by Tejinder Kanda - Contemporary Impasto Painting
Located in DE
Tejinder Kanda "In-Within" reflects the Artist's exploration of time and space, presenting spontaneous works that embody absolute independence, free from preconceived notions. These...
Acrylic
Axe Intérieur, Large Abstract Oil Painting, Signed, 2026, Textured
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Inner Axis (Axe intérieur) is a masterful work by contemporary French artist Sophie Dumont, exploring the delicate tension between architectural structure and painterly freedom. True...
Oil
Echoes of the Flow
Located in Zofingen, AG
This piece from the *"Silhouettes"* series presents a bright abstract landscape where hints of a river, fields, and sky can be discerned. It continues the exploration of the connecti...
Acrylic, Archival Paper
TBG Origins: You Bring Me Joy - Large Meditative Abstract Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract minimalist artist Jason DeMeo presents a collection of artworks designed to engage viewers in a meditative experience, drawing them closer to the enduring ideals of truth, b...
Gold Leaf
$3,525Sale Price|50% Off
sense of pink
Located in London, London
SPECIAL SPRING FLASH SALE: 25% OFF this weekend only to celebrate our 2026 Collection launch. Ships safely rolled in a gallery tube. The Designer Choice: Large Horizontal Abstract E...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$3,400
Fruity Ramen Alchemy: ARRIVAL - Meditative Abstract Blue Tone Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract minimalist artist Jason DeMeo presents a collection of artworks designed to engage viewers in a meditative experience, drawing them closer to the enduring ideals of truth, b...
Gold Leaf
"Forevermore 2" - Original Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Denver, CO
Forevermore 2 by Dorothy Fagan is a 2023 oil on canvas measuring 48 x 36 inches, with a framed size of 49.50 x 37.50 x 2 inches. Professionally framed and ready to hang, this vibrant...
Canvas, Oil
Where Silence Rests
Located in Zofingen, AG
Oil on linen Belgian canvas. This minimalist seascape explores stillness as a spatial and perceptual experience. The horizon dissolves into a unified field where water and atmospher...
Canvas, Oil
Open Configuration – Contemporary Abstract Oil on Linen
Located in Zofingen, AG
Open Configuration This work explores structure as an evolving process rather than a fixed form. Geometric suggestions and color fields come together in an open configuration, where...
Canvas, Oil
La Materialidad del Tiempo: Abstract Geometric Triptych in Oil Crayon
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Juan Carlos Amador grounds his recent work in two essential elements: cellulose and time. Using reclaimed wooden moldings from the 1980s and ’90s-originally designed for framing artw...
Paper, Oil Crayon
$4,700
Fruity Ramen Alchemy: THE ANSWER IS WITHIN - Large Meditative Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract minimalist artist Jason DeMeo presents a collection of artworks designed to engage viewers in a meditative experience, drawing them closer to the enduring ideals of truth, b...
Gold Leaf
$18,000
Sonia Gechtoff - Portico, painting on masonite, Signed, Ex- Andre Zarre, Framed
Located in New York, NY
Sonia Gechtoff Untitled portico, from the estate of gallerist Andre Zarre, 1977 Acrylic and graphite on masonite Signed and dated '77 in graphite on the front Unique Provenance: Acqu...
Masonite, Acrylic, Graphite
$2,200
Absolute Wealth - Large Contemporary Abstract Maximalism Painting, Ready to Hang
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Absolute Wealth Large Painting Absolute Wealth - Contemporary Abstract Colorful Maximalism Bold Invest Another soulful artwork by Karnish. Symbols and forms unfold in this m...
Gesso, Canvas, Acrylic, Wood, Charcoal, Spray Paint, Color Pencil, Stret...
Coral Reef, Abstract Mixed Media Painting, Acrylic & Sand, 24x18in, 2025
By a.muse
Located in New york, NY
For a 24 x 18in abstract painting on paper Coral Reef, a. muse uses acrylic, oil pastel, gouache, sand, and diamond dust to render colorful biomorphic forms from the sea. Warm and co...
Rag Paper, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Gouache
#264 Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Solace (Companionship) -21st Century Contemporary Abstract Expression, Love, Dog
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
There’s a silence that speaks when words can’t; the kind of silence that feels like a hand resting gently on your heart. Solace was born from that quiet. I painted this after a long...
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
Colored circles, abstraction
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting shows an abstract composition of interwoven colorful forms set against a dark background. The background is painted in deep burgundy tones. Broad, semi-transparent brus...
Canvas, Acrylic
$451
Mid Century French Abstract Expressionist Black Ink Minimalist Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid Century French Abstract Expressionist Black Ink Minimalist Painting Medium: Black ink/ gouache painting on paper, unframed French, circa 1950's Size: 19.75 inches x 25.75 ...
Paper, Ink, Gouache
$1,230
Modernist Curves on Mauve, Organic Forms Diptych in Cold Tones, Yellow Accent
Located in Barcelona, ES
This abstract diptych features flowing, organic forms layered in blues, soft neutrals, and warm yellow accents. The composition balances movement and structure, with interlocking sha...
Paper, Oil
$6,800
Lighthearted, 2024, by Murray Duncan, Mix Media on Canvas, Geometric Abstract
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Lighthearted By Murray Duncan Lighthearted is a large-scale abstract composition defined by gestural movement, architectural line-work, and a warm, luminous ground. Working in layer...
Glaze, Oil Crayon, Acrylic, Pencil
Pink Fantasy. Abstraction.
Located in Zofingen, AG
The work is created in the fluid art technique using acrylic on canvas. The composition is built on the soft, flowing interweaving of pink, coral, and milky white tones, creating a s...
Canvas, Acrylic
Apotheosis of Twilight, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, 61x80 cm
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
Painting on canvas constructed through overlapping layers of color. The composition is organized by chromatic fields that intersect and extend in different directions. The surface pr...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,753
Original-Jardin d'Hiver-British Awarded Artist-Impasto, oil, goldleaf on Dahlias
Located in London, GB
Jardin d'Hiver Series is Shizico Yi's latest collection, created in her winter studio while savouring for the summer left behind. Reflecting on the vibrant days spent painting en pl...
Gold Leaf
$3,627
Original-Constable’s Clouds, Van Gogh’s Blue-Brit Awarded Artist-oil-gold leaf
Located in London, GB
Constable’s Clouds, Van Gogh’s Blue is Shizico Yi’s latest series—an exploration of landscape reimagined through memory and material experimentation and emotional resonance. In this ...
Gold Leaf
$2,300
Atmospheric Balance - Contemporary Abstract Painting, Soft Blue and Neutral
Located in Cumming, GA
Atmospheric Balance original painting captures a luminous, tranquil moment inspired by light, air, and natural equilibrium. Soft layers of pale blue, warm ivory, and subtle neutral t...
Canvas, Acrylic
The Assembled Whole. 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
An abstract work from the series “The Assembled Whole.”, continuing the exploration of wholeness emerging from the connection of fragments. The composition is structured through the ...
Canvas, Mixed Media