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Modern Abstract Paintings

MODERN STYLE

The first decades of the 20th century were a period of artistic upheaval, with modern art movements including Cubism, Surrealism, Futurism and Dadaism questioning centuries of traditional views of what art should be. Using abstraction, experimental forms and interdisciplinary techniques, painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers and performance artists all pushed the boundaries of creative expression.

Major exhibitions, like the 1913 Armory Show in New York City — also known as the “International Exhibition of Modern Art,” in which works like the radically angular Nude Descending a Staircase by Marcel Duchamp caused a sensation — challenged the perspective of viewers and critics and heralded the arrival of modern art in the United States. But the movement’s revolutionary spirit took shape in the 19th century.

The Industrial Revolution, which ushered in new technology and cultural conditions across the world, transformed art from something mostly commissioned by the wealthy or the church to work that responded to personal experiences. The Impressionist style emerged in 1860s France with artists like Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas quickly painting works that captured moments of light and urban life. Around the same time in England, the Pre-Raphaelites, like Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, borrowed from late medieval and early Renaissance art to imbue their art with symbolism and modern ideas of beauty.

Emerging from this disruption of the artistic status quo, modern art went further in rejecting conventions and embracing innovation. The bold legacy of leading modern artists Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Piet Mondrian and many others continues to inform visual culture today.

Find a collection of modern paintings, sculptures, prints and other fine art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Modern
1950s "Rectangle" Mid Century Abstract Gouache Painting
Located in Arp, TX
Opper Estate Maroon Abstract c. 1940-1950's Gouache on Paper 15" x 18" Unframed From the estate of Ruth Friedmann Opper & Jerry Opper. Ruth was the daughter of Bauhaus artist, Gustav Friedmann. San Francisco Abstract Expression A free-spirited wave of creative energy swept through the San Francisco art community after World War II. Challenging accepted modes of painting, Abstract Expressionists produced highly experimental works that jolted the public out of its postwar complacency. Abstract Expressionism resulted from a broad collective impulse rather than the inspiration of a small band of New York artists. Documenting the interchanges between the East and West Coasts, she cites areas of mutual influence and shows the impact of San Francisco on the New York School, including artists such as Mark Rothko and Ad Reinhardt. San Francisco's Beat poets...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

"The Voyage" Abstract Oil Bill Shields Chicago Academy of Fine Art
Located in Arp, TX
William Shields "The Voyage" 1992 Oil paint on canvas 60"x48" artist framed Signed in pencil lower right Very Good Condition - Minor wear consistent w...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

1997 "Brown, Blue Fusion" Abstract Bill Shields Chicago Academy of Fine Art
Located in Arp, TX
William Shields Jr., 1925-2010 "Brown, Blue Fusion" 1997 Mixed media, oil on panel 48"x48" artist framed Signed in pencil lower center William Stephens Shields, Jr., 1925 - 2010 He was born in san Francisco, in 1931, Bill moved to Texas, where he grew up. Moved to New York in 1940 and later joined the Naval Air Corps at the age of 18. He served as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. At the end of WWII, Bill returned to Texas. At 21, Bill re-focused his energy and enrolled in the Chicago Academy of Fine Art as an Illustration major. What followed was a whirlwind of success, great friendships and a sense of belonging he had never before experienced. Art was his calling and the art-world could not have been less prepared for the likes of Bill Shields. He took them by storm, first Houston, then San Francisco, followed by New York in the late 60's. For 35 years, Bill produced some of the country's best illustrations: fresh, playful, loose and innovative. His illustrations were coveted by such clients as Bantam Books, Time Life, MacMillan Publishing Co., and were awarded numerous gold medals by the Societies of Illustrators in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and the Houston Artists Guild. Later, following inspirational trips to Mexico and France, Bill shifted his attention to the self-directed world of fine art. After years of sculpting, making assemblages, painting nudes and landscapes, he settled on the exploration of large abstract oil paintings. His paintings have been exhibited in galleries in San Francisco, Connecticut and New York. CV EDUCATION: Chicago Academy Of Fine Art San Antonio Art Institute MAJOR FIELDS OF PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVOR: Freelance graphic design and illustration Instructor of painting and illustration Landscape, figurative and abstract painting ART RELATED EMPLOYMENT: (Professor of Art) California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA Academy of Art College, San Francisco, CA San Francisco Art Institute San Jose State University AWARDS FOR ILLUSTRATION, Gold Medals: New York Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Society of Illustrators San Francisco Society of Illustrators Dallas-Fort Worth Art Director's Club Houston Artist's Guild BIBLIOGRAPHY: Feature articles in: American Artist, Communication Arts, Print, North Light. Architectural design featured in: Better Homes and Gardens, American Home, Sunset Magazine, Architectural Digest. ILLUSTRATION CLIENTS: Oil Companies: Champlin Oil Company, Mobil Oil Company, Continental Oil Company, Standard Oil Company, Humble Oil and Refining Company. Industrial: Hughes Tool Company, General Electric, United States Steel, Phelps Dodge, Sylvania Television, Texas Gulf Sulphur, Litton Industries, Houston Lighting and Power Company, International Business Machines. Institutional: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States Air Force, United States Department of the Interior, American Petroleum Institute, New York Stock Exchange, National Broadcasting Company, American Iron and Steel Institute, CBS Broadcasting Company, Vanguard Recording Company, Diners Club, Stanford Research Institute, Victoria Station, Neiman Marcus, Bank of America, Automobile Club of Southern California, Airlines: TWA, British West Indies Airlines, Pan American Airlines...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Surreale - Tempera on Paper - 2018
Located in Roma, IT
Tempera on paper realized by Contempologyc in 2018. Excellent condition.
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Tempera

Torso No. 1, Mid-Century Figural Abstract Acrylic Painting
Located in Beachwood, OH
Clarence Holbrook Carter (American, 1904-2000) Torso No. 1, 1967 Acrylic on paper Signed and dated upper right 15 x10 inches 24 x 20 inches, framed A mid-century figural abstract painting. Clarence Holbrook Carter achieved a level of national artistic success that was nearly unprecedented among Cleveland School artists of his day, with representation by major New York dealers...
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1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Large Trompe L'oeil Hyperrealism Painting Abstract Surrealist Photo Realist Art
Located in Surfside, FL
Large acrylic painting by Pat Rosenstein, American Woman Artist, graduate of Pratt Institute whose work has been exhibited extensively. Rosenstein, who...
Category

1990s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Red, Gray, and Black Modernist Abstract Expressionist Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Red, gray, and black abstract expressionist painting by an unknown artist. The piece depicts several geometric elements against a background of red, yellow, and black paint splatters...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Archival Pigment

"Boats of the Antibes" Modern Abstract Coast City Landscape Painting with Boats
Located in Houston, TX
Modern abstract coastal city painting by Houston, TX artist David Adickes. The work features a colorful town rendered in orange, blue, and white towns with boats docked on the shore....
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

A Rock and a Hard Place, Abstract Oil on Canvas Painting by Benjamin Benno
Located in Long Island City, NY
A small-scale oil painting by Benjamin Benno, executed in 1934. A large boulder perches precariously on a tiled slab of earth, echoing a sense of stillness. A Rock and a Hard Place...
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1930s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mid Century Abstract
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas, circa 1940. Unsigned. Image size, 37"L x 25"H.
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Untitled" Painting 39" x 30" inch by Patricio Gonzalez
Located in Culver City, CA
"Untitled" Painting 39" x 30" inch by Patricio Gonzalez Patricio Gonzalez Bezanilla (1974), studied at the School of Visual Arts at the University o...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

"Deux Harlequins" Abstract Figurative Portrait Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Blue and green-toned modern abstract figurative portrait painting by Houston, TX artist David Adickes. The work features two men figures standing side by s...
Category

1950s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Antique American Modernist Nature Study Lake Landscape Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist landscape oil painting. Oil on canvas, circa 1940. Signed illegibly lower left. Image size, 36L x 24H. Housed in a period modern frame.
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Gouache

Vintage American School Abstract Original Surreal Sky Study Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist abstract painting. Oil on board, circa 1950. Unsigned. Image size 20L x 10H. Housed in a period modern frame.
Category

1950s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Modernist Abstract Oil Painting
Located in Surfside, FL
Hea-Sook Yoo, artist, internationally renowned, has her paintings hanging in residences, businesses and art galleries on three continents over three decades.Ms. Yoo is classically tr...
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Modernist Painting, "Modernist Agenda"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind acrylic and mixed media painting on wood panel by San Diego artist, Peter Geise. It is unframed. Its dimensions are 11"x 14". A certificate of authenticity will follow its delivery. Unwired and requires hardware if you wish to hang. Peter J. Geise’s work non-objective and semi-abstract art-making practice began at the age of 12 and is informed by modern art of the 20th century. Major artists...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Wood Panel

City Scape, Ovoid Geometrical Abstract Green & Brown Structures
Located in Beachwood, OH
Clarence Holbrook Carter (American, 1904-2000) City Scape, 1978 Acrylic on scintilla Signed and dated lower right 30 x 22 inches A surrealist mid-century figural abstract painting....
Category

1970s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Large Scale Modernist Abstract Square and Circle
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful large scale natural toned mixed media abstract comprising a rectangle of antiqued white texturized with gesso'd hemp sacking and set above second ivory rectangle in pale ivory with circle of scumbled grey by British contemporary artist Richard Lawrence...
Category

1980s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Oil

#90 Strange Creature
Located in Fairlawn, OH
#90 Strange Creature Oil and pencil on board, 1932 Signed and dated in the image lower right (see photo) Provenance: Joseph M. Erdelac, Cleveland, OH Condition: excellent Archival framing Image size: 10 1/2 x 11 3/4 inches Frame size: 25 x 24 inches Painter, illustrator and commercial artist Norbert Lenz was born in Norwalk, Ohio and received his artistic training at both the Huntington Polytechnic Institute and the Cleveland School of Art. During his career Lenz exhibited his paintings and drawings at such institutions as the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Butler Institute of American Art. Today the art of Norbert Lenz is held by the Columbus Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Butler Institute of American Art. Lenz was also a very highly regarded commercial designer of stamps. He worked for a number of years at the House of Farman, a leading vendor of first day covers...
Category

1930s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Abstract composition
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Yellow Dialogue" Abstract Oil on Board Award Winning Illustrator Bill Shields
Located in Arp, TX
Bill Shields "Yellow Dialogue" c.1970 Oil on masonite Artist's wood frame 24"x2"x30" Signed in paint lower right Excellent Condition - Minor wear consistent with age and history. CV EDUCATION: Chicago Academy Of Fine Art San Antonio Art Institute MAJOR FIELDS OF PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVOR: Freelance graphic design and illustration Instructor of painting and illustration Landscape, figurative and abstract painting ART RELATED EMPLOYMENT: (Professor of Art) California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA Academy of Art College, San Francisco, CA San Francisco Art Institute San Jose State University AWARDS FOR ILLUSTRATION, Gold Medals: New York Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Society of Illustrators San Francisco Society of Illustrators Dallas-Fort Worth Art Director's Club Houston Artist's Guild BIBLIOGRAPHY: Feature articles in: American Artist, Communication Arts, Print, North Light. Architectural design featured in: Better Homes and Gardens, American Home, Sunset Magazine, Architectural Digest. ILLUSTRATION CLIENTS: Oil Companies: Champlin Oil Company, Mobil Oil Company, Continental Oil Company, Standard Oil Company, Humble Oil and Refining Company. Industrial: Hughes Tool Company, General Electric, United States Steel, Phelps Dodge, Sylvania Television, Texas Gulf Sulphur, Litton Industries, Houston Lighting and Power Company, International Business Machines. Institutional: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States Air Force, United States Department of the Interior, American Petroleum Institute, New York Stock Exchange, National Broadcasting Company, American Iron and Steel Institute, CBS Broadcasting Company, Vanguard Recording Company, Diners Club, Stanford Research Institute, Victoria Station, Neiman Marcus, Bank of America, Automobile Club of Southern California, Airlines: TWA, British West Indies Airlines, Pan American Airlines...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Masonite

'The Soul is Music' France, Provence, California, Post Impressionist Figural Oil
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower left, 'J.da Silveira' for Jose Da Silveira (French-American, born 1965), titled, 'The Soul is Music' and painted circa 2002. Additionally signed and titled, and with figural drawing, verso; Previously with: Chabot Gallery, Campbell, California Born in a tiny jungle village in Mozambique to a Portuguese bullfighter and the daughter of one of the leaders of the French Resistance...
Category

Early 2000s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Saura Face Garfio, 1973 original mixed media papel painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Garfio, 1973 original mixed media papel painting painter Antonio Saura was born in Huesca on September 22, 1930. Self-taught, he began painting at age 15 during the convalescence of...
Category

1970s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Cardboard

"Falling Squares" Abstract, Linear, Muted Colors, Acrylic
Located in Detroit, MI
SALE ONE WEEK ONLY "Falling Squares" is a rich gouache painting by William Antonow. Though the colors are muted they blend in a harmony that contrasts slightly with the falling squares that bring a movement to the piece. One of the original Cass Corridor artists from the 1960s William Antonow studied at the School of the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts (now the College for Creative Studies) and at Wayne State University, where he received his BFA (1967) and MA (1970.) Other well-known individuals who taught or studied at Wayne State University and are connected with the arts are Arthur Danto, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Susan Aaron-Taylor, Tyree Guyton, Hughie Lee-Smith, Philip Levine, Casey Kasem, Helen Thomas, Sergio DeGuisti, Stanley Rosenthal...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

1950's British Modernist Oil Painting Cumberland Lake District Dramatic View
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: E.Johnson, British, signed & dated 1951 Title: "Cumberland". A most dramatic and captivating view of this Lake District landscape, the hill tops covered in snow. M...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

20th Century German Modernist Oil Painting Abstract Figures
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist: Elisabeth Hahn (German 1924-2021), Elisabeth Hahn was born in Dortmund, Germany, where she began her artistic studies. In 1953, she moved to Paris. She continued her studie...
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Animal" Abstract Oil on Canvas Award Winning Illustrator Bill Shields
Located in Arp, TX
Bill Shields "Pink Abstract" 1970's Oil on canvas Artist's wood frame 30"x2"x24" Signed in paint lower right Excellent Condition - Minor wear consistent with age and history. CV EDUCATION: Chicago Academy Of Fine Art San Antonio Art Institute MAJOR FIELDS OF PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVOR: Freelance graphic design and illustration Instructor of painting and illustration Landscape, figurative and abstract painting ART RELATED EMPLOYMENT: (Professor of Art) California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA Academy of Art College, San Francisco, CA San Francisco Art Institute San Jose State University AWARDS FOR ILLUSTRATION, Gold Medals: New York Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Society of Illustrators San Francisco Society of Illustrators Dallas-Fort Worth Art Director's Club Houston Artist's Guild BIBLIOGRAPHY: Feature articles in: American Artist, Communication Arts, Print, North Light. Architectural design featured in: Better Homes and Gardens, American Home, Sunset Magazine, Architectural Digest. ILLUSTRATION CLIENTS: Oil Companies: Champlin Oil Company, Mobil Oil Company, Continental Oil Company, Standard Oil Company, Humble Oil and Refining Company. Industrial: Hughes Tool Company, General Electric, United States Steel, Phelps Dodge, Sylvania Television, Texas Gulf Sulphur, Litton Industries, Houston Lighting and Power Company, International Business Machines. Institutional: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States Air Force, United States Department of the Interior, American Petroleum Institute, New York Stock Exchange, National Broadcasting Company, American Iron and Steel Institute, CBS Broadcasting Company, Vanguard Recording Company, Diners Club, Stanford Research Institute, Victoria Station, Neiman Marcus, Bank of America, Automobile Club of Southern California, Airlines: TWA, British West Indies Airlines, Pan American Airlines...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

Fading Nights
Located in East Hampton, NY
Stripes Shipping price can change depending on location Artist Statement: Painting has been a powerful medium for expressing my emotions. Through my art, I am able to escape, dream,...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Dark Harbor, Maine
Located in Lawrence, NY
Art critic Hilton Kramer called the Greek-American artist Aristodimos Kaldi's paintings "beautifully executed landscapes in a lyric mode. . . all delicacy and nuance and romance. . . " Kaldis was a New York School painter...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

#15-1984
Located in New York, NY
Signed (on stretcher): Stanley/ Twardowicz Stanley Twardowicz (1917–2008), a one-time orphan, Golden Gloves boxer, professional baseball player and auto worker, emerged from a hard...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Bottles Brown and Green" Green Toned Modernist Abstract Still Life
Located in Houston, TX
Green-toned modern cubist abstract still life painting by Houston, TX artist David Adickes. The work features green and brown bottles on top of a table with fruits and other objects....
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Cuban Artist Emilio Martinez Untitled Painting
Located in Surfside, FL
Emilio Adan Martinez was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, in 1954. In 1961 at the age of six he immigrated to Miami with his family. He earned his BFA from Florida International University in 1995. As a child, Martinez was always making art– creating toys, sculptures and other pieces from the humblest of found objects. With the Cuban revolution...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Modernist Painting, "Modernist Construct (Retro Abstract)"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind acrylic and mixed media painting on wood panel by San Diego artist, Peter Geise. It is unframed. Its dimensions are 12"x12"x.75"" A...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Wood Panel

"Red and Black Cubist with White" Modern Red-Toned Abstract Geometric Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Warm toned modern cubist abstract painting by Houston, TX artist David Adickes. The work features red, white, and aqua geometric shapes set against a black background. Currently hung in a black floating frame. Dimensions Without Frame: H 20.5 in. x W 14 in. Artist Biography: Born (1927) and raised in Huntsville, TX, David Adickes is an artist whose art and heart are closely aligned with Paris, France. After studying art at the Atelier F. Leger in the late 40s, Adickes burst onto the art scene in Houston and elsewhere in the early 50s and has been a prominent member of Houston’s art community ever since. While his most visible works are his giant sculptures, from the Virtuoso in downtown Houston...
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

20th Century German Modernist Oil Painting Still Life of Fruit in Bowl
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist: Elisabeth Hahn (German 1924-2021), Elisabeth Hahn was born in Dortmund, Germany, where she began her artistic studies. In 1953, she moved to Paris. She continued her studie...
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

'Biomorphic Abstract', Mid-century Modernism, SFMOMA, Whitney, Rochester Museum
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'Provenzano' for Sam Provenzano (American, 1923-1999) and painted circa 1949. Exhibited: Rochester Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester Finger Lakes Exhibition (from l...
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American Modernist Surreal Street Scene Unsigned Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist street scene painting. Oil on board, circa 1930. Unsigned. Image size, 24L x 20H. Housed in a period modern frame.
Category

1930s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Gouache

Mid Century American Abstract, possibly Fisherman's wharf San Francisco, Ca
Located in Woodbury, CT
Midcentury oil on canvas , Wharf scene, possibly Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco. Mel Fowler (1921-1987) was a listed Italian-American painter known for ...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Modern Grey and Light Yellow Toned Geometric Linear Abstract Diamond Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Modern abstract painting by Houston, TX artist Margaret Nobler. The work features a grey toned diamond shaped canvas with geometric light yellow accent...
Category

1970s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Flight, " 1960s Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
This Modern Abstract Expressionist painting by Stanley Bate is made with gouache on paper. It features a muted palette and large, textured brush strokes. The painting itself is 13" x 22" and it measures 21.25" x 29.25" x 1" framed. It is signed by the artist in the lower right-hand corner of the painting, and is framed in a black frame with an acid-free mat. Wired and ready to hang. Stanley Bate was born on March 26, 1903 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bates were an established Tennessee family, in fact, Henry’s brother William Bate was the governor of Tennessee from 1883-1887 and a United States Senator from 1887-1905. Stanley studied art at the Watkins Institute in Nashville. In the 1920’s Bate moved to New York City to study at the Art Students League under Frederick Bridgman. He soon landed a job with Encyclopedia Britannica, and from 1927-1929 served as art editor. From 1929 until his death in 1972, Stanley was a self-employed artist. He taught art classes at both the Art Students League and the Albany Institute of History and Art and brought in extra income by making illustrations for magazines such as “Outdoor Life” and “Popular Science”. On January 27, 1934 Stanley married Emilie Rossel. Emilie had emigrated from Switzerland to New York in 1923. She found work as a governess to Alfred Vanderbilt and later as an executive secretary for Wall Street investment brokers Kahn, Loeb and Co. Emilie met Stanley in New York in the early 1930’s when she attended one of his art exhibitions with a friend. The couple, who had no children, lived on 34th Street in Manhattan. During this period, Bate was producing and exhibiting his art and joined several artists groups. Stanley and Emilie became part of the New York art scene, dining weekly at the Society of Illustrators Clubhouse. Stanley Bate’s time in New York was pivotal in the formation of his painting style. He lived in New York during the inception of one of the most important Modern Art movements, one that helped New York replace Paris as the center of avant-garde art. This movement, which was called the New York School of artists, was later known as Abstract Expressionism. It was comprised of a loosely associated group of vanguard artists working in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s. The New York School was not defined by a specific style, but instead reflected a fusion of European Modernism and American social relevancy that was depicted in many individual styles. Influences of Surrealism, Cubism, and Modernism can be found in their work, along with an interest in experimenting with non-traditional materials and methods. American art was in the forefront of international avant-garde for the first time. Stanley Bate was undoubtedly exposed to the varied styles and techniques that were emerging during the formative years of the New York School. Mark Rothko and Robert Motherwell were formulating their versions of color field paintings. Joseph Cornell was experimenting with assemblages, collage and the use of different types of textured paints. Jackson Pollock was adhering objects such as buttons and coins into his early works, while Louise Nevelson was using found objects. Helen Frankenthaler added sand to her early paintings. The New York School artists were undermining traditional fine art by using mixed media and non-traditional methods. Stanley Bate absorbed these varied influences and soon his early realistic landscapes and still-lifes were replaced with something entirely new. The influence of Cubism, notably the flat shallow space of the picture plane, is obvious in many of Bate’s paintings. Surrealism is evident in Bate’s use of subjects from myth, primitive art and antiquity, along with the Automatism-like line work in his more linear images. The unfettered experimentation of the New York School is everywhere in Stanley Bate’s work. We see nods to color field, collage, the mixing of textures into paint, mixed media, the inclusion of found objects and thick, luscious impasto. Bate was prolific and experimented in various media including oil, watercolor, lithography, silk screen, wood cut, drawing, collage, ceramics and sculpture. Bate is considered a true Modernist. His work is largely abstract, but sometimes figures and buildings are discernable. He frequently mixed paint, sand and glue together to achieve a textured surface, and then scraped and scratched through this layer to expose some of the underpainting below. His sculpture, which is often whimsical, also reflects the non-traditional methods of the New York School. Bate pioneered the use of enamel and copper in his work. The sculptures are not carved or modeled as was done in the past, but instead are built using mixed media and new materials. In addition to the New York School influence, many of Bate’s works exhibit a strong connection to the Spanish school, especially the work of Antonio Tapies and Modesto Cuixart. These artists were both part of an avant-garde group known as Art Informel, the Spanish equivalent of Abstract Expressionism. These artists likewise worked in mixed media and introduced objects and texture into their work. Many of Bate’s subjects and titles relate to Spanish locations and words. It is likely that Stanley spent time in Spain and found inspiration there. By the early 1940s, Stanley and Emilie had started spending weekends in a barn they purchased in Craryville, New York, a few hours north of Manhattan. The barn had no electricity or plumbing, but when the Bates eventually decided to leave New York and live full time in Craryville, they remodeled the barn, putting a gallery downstairs and a studio and living quarters upstairs. Although the Bates moved out of New York City, Stanley remained part of the New York art scene, exhibiting in New York and elsewhere throughout the 50s and 60s. During his lifetime he was represented by the New York galleries Knoedler and Company, Kennedy Galleries, Rose Fried Gallery and Key Gallery, along with Tyringham Gallery located in Tyringham, Massachusetts. Craryville was Stanley’s home until his death on August 21, 1972. Emilie died 1984...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Modernist Painting on Canvas
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Striking modernist painting on canvas with a hot palette that conveys a strong reference to the sun's energy. Signed in the upper left C. Rosenberg ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Other Medium

Serious Moonlight, abstract figures on gold metal leaf inspired by David Bowie
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Collage and acrylic paint on gold leafed sintra panel, excellent gift Work inspired by David Bowie music
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Panel

Antique American School Modernist Abstract Farm Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist farm landscape oil painting. Oil on board, circa 1970. Image size, 24L x 24H. Framed.
Category

1970s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Marine I - Sunset, " 1960s Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
This modern abstract expressionist painting by Stanley Bate features a muted, earthy palette with warm accents. The painting itself is made with gouache on paper and measures 13" x 22". It measures 21.25" x 29.25" x 1" framed and is framed in a black frame with an acid-free mat. It is signed by the artist in the lower right-hand corner of the painting, and is ready to hang. Stanley Bate was born on March 26, 1903 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bates were an established Tennessee family, in fact, Henry’s brother William Bate was the governor of Tennessee from 1883-1887 and a United States Senator from 1887-1905. Stanley studied art at the Watkins Institute in Nashville. In the 1920’s Bate moved to New York City to study at the Art Students League under Frederick Bridgman. He soon landed a job with Encyclopedia Britannica, and from 1927-1929 served as art editor. From 1929 until his death in 1972, Stanley was a self-employed artist. He taught art classes at both the Art Students League and the Albany Institute of History and Art and brought in extra income by making illustrations for magazines such as “Outdoor Life” and “Popular Science”. On January 27, 1934 Stanley married Emilie Rossel. Emilie had emigrated from Switzerland to New York in 1923. She found work as a governess to Alfred Vanderbilt and later as an executive secretary for Wall Street investment brokers Kahn, Loeb and Co. Emilie met Stanley in New York in the early 1930’s when she attended one of his art exhibitions with a friend. The couple, who had no children, lived on 34th Street in Manhattan. During this period, Bate was producing and exhibiting his art and joined several artists groups. Stanley and Emilie became part of the New York art scene, dining weekly at the Society of Illustrators Clubhouse. Stanley Bate’s time in New York was pivotal in the formation of his painting style. He lived in New York during the inception of one of the most important Modern Art movements, one that helped New York replace Paris as the center of avant-garde art. This movement, which was called the New York School of artists, was later known as Abstract Expressionism. It was comprised of a loosely associated group of vanguard artists working in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s. The New York School was not defined by a specific style, but instead reflected a fusion of European Modernism and American social relevancy that was depicted in many individual styles. Influences of Surrealism, Cubism, and Modernism can be found in their work, along with an interest in experimenting with non-traditional materials and methods. American art was in the forefront of international avant-garde for the first time. Stanley Bate was undoubtedly exposed to the varied styles and techniques that were emerging during the formative years of the New York School. Mark Rothko and Robert Motherwell were formulating their versions of color field paintings. Joseph Cornell was experimenting with assemblages, collage and the use of different types of textured paints. Jackson Pollock was adhering objects such as buttons and coins into his early works, while Louise Nevelson was using found objects. Helen Frankenthaler added sand to her early paintings. The New York School artists were undermining traditional fine art by using mixed media and non-traditional methods. Stanley Bate absorbed these varied influences and soon his early realistic landscapes and still-lifes were replaced with something entirely new. The influence of Cubism, notably the flat shallow space of the picture plane, is obvious in many of Bate’s paintings. Surrealism is evident in Bate’s use of subjects from myth, primitive art and antiquity, along with the Automatism-like line work in his more linear images. The unfettered experimentation of the New York School is everywhere in Stanley Bate’s work. We see nods to color field, collage, the mixing of textures into paint, mixed media, the inclusion of found objects and thick, luscious impasto. Bate was prolific and experimented in various media including oil, watercolor, lithography, silk screen, wood cut, drawing, collage, ceramics and sculpture. Bate is considered a true Modernist. His work is largely abstract, but sometimes figures and buildings are discernable. He frequently mixed paint, sand and glue together to achieve a textured surface, and then scraped and scratched through this layer to expose some of the underpainting below. His sculpture, which is often whimsical, also reflects the non-traditional methods of the New York School. Bate pioneered the use of enamel and copper in his work. The sculptures are not carved or modeled as was done in the past, but instead are built using mixed media and new materials. In addition to the New York School influence, many of Bate’s works exhibit a strong connection to the Spanish school, especially the work of Antonio Tapies and Modesto Cuixart. These artists were both part of an avant-garde group known as Art Informel, the Spanish equivalent of Abstract Expressionism. These artists likewise worked in mixed media and introduced objects and texture into their work. Many of Bate’s subjects and titles relate to Spanish locations and words. It is likely that Stanley spent time in Spain and found inspiration there. By the early 1940s, Stanley and Emilie had started spending weekends in a barn they purchased in Craryville, New York, a few hours north of Manhattan. The barn had no electricity or plumbing, but when the Bates eventually decided to leave New York and live full time in Craryville, they remodeled the barn, putting a gallery downstairs and a studio and living quarters upstairs. Although the Bates moved out of New York City, Stanley remained part of the New York art scene, exhibiting in New York and elsewhere throughout the 50s and 60s. During his lifetime he was represented by the New York galleries Knoedler and Company, Kennedy Galleries, Rose Fried Gallery and Key Gallery, along with Tyringham Gallery located in Tyringham, Massachusetts. Craryville was Stanley’s home until his death on August 21, 1972. Emilie died 1984...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Chromatic, Ovoid Head, Geometric Figurative Abstract Acrylic & Collage Painting
Located in Beachwood, OH
Clarence Holbrook Carter (American, 1904-2000) Chromatic, 1965 Acrylic and collage on scintilla Signed and dated upper right 30 x 22 inches A surrealist mid-century figural abstrac...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Modernist Painting, "Invader"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind acrylic and mixed media painting on wood panel by San Diego artist, Peter Geise. It is unframed. Its dimensions are 12"x12"x.75"" A certificate of authenticit...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Wood Panel

Salutations, Architectural Abstract Scene, Cultural and Spiritual Commentary
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Salutations" is a 12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas painting by American modernist and surrealist, female artist Peter Miller. The work is painted in a vibrant color palette. The painti...
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American School Modernist Winter Landscape Signed Framed Oil Painting
By Rosario Urbino Gerbino
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist landscape abstraction. Oil on board, circa 1940. Signed. Image size 30L x 25H. Housed in a period modern frame.
Category

1930s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

El cuarto de Tula
Located in ARANJUEZ, ES
Memories from Cuba. A vibrant selections of colors to paint a landscape from the stories I have being told since I was little. Strong purples and light blues make a playful composi...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil Crayon, Ink, Spray Paint, Acrylic

Stained Glazes - Tempera on paper - 2021
Located in Roma, IT
Tempera on paper realized by Compempologyc in 2021. Excellent condition.
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Tempera

Modernist Painting, "Modernist / Outsider Abstracts "
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind acrylic and mixed media painting on wood panel by San Diego artist, Peter Geise. It is unframed. Its dimensions are 11"x14" A certificate of authenticity will...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Wood Panel

Large Israel Modernist Landscape Painting Bezalel Artist
By Larry Abramson
Located in Surfside, FL
In this painting the artist Larry Abramson depicts an abstract landscape with a high degree of simplification, taking references from the stylistic conventions of conceptual and minimalistic neo avant-garde art movements. Here, the artist applies thick layers of paint allowing for a textural feeling on the surface of the canvas. LARRY ABRAMSON South Africa, b. 1954 Larry Abramson is a South African-born Israeli artist. Born in 1954, Abramson and his family immigrated to Jerusalem in 1961. Shortly after graduating high school, Abramson entered London's Chelsea College of Art and Design in 1973 where he studied a Foundation Course. In 1975, he held his first solo exhibition. Abramson continued to develop his style, combining abstraction and figurative art to create dynamic situations. Upon returning to Israel, he worked as a printer and curator of exhibitions at the Jerusalem Print Workshop until 1986. In 1984, he joined the teaching staff of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem and, in 1992, was appointed head of the Fine Art department. In 1996, he founded and headed the Bezalel Program for Young Artists, the first Master of Fine Arts program in Israel. He served as a guest lecturer at the San Francisco Art Institute in 2000 and 2003. In 2002, Abramson continued to be a leader in art academia by planning the establishment of a new art department at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Ramat Gan, Israel. He is a founding member of Artists Without Walls, a dialogue group of Israeli and Palestinian artists. Throughout his career as an artist, Abramson has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Jacques Ohana Prize, The Minister of Education Culture Prize, and the Mendel and Eva Pundik Prize for Israeli Art. He has shown at prestigious group and solo exhibitions around the world and, in recent years, held two special museum projects, "Searching for the Ideal City" at the Magnes Museum, Berkeley (2005), and "Mini Israel" at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem (2006). Larry Abramson was born in Durban, South Africa. In 1961, he immigrated to Israel with his family and settled in Jerusalem. He studied art with Yona Mach at the Hebrew University High School and devoted much time to painting. In 1970, he signed the High School Seniors Letter protesting the Israel government's foot-dragging on the subject of peace. In the early 1970s, Abramson studied art history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and moved to London to continue his art studies, but only remained there for one year. In 1975, he began to work in printmaking. He became an instructor and curator at the Jerusalem Print Workshop and began exhibiting in Jerusalem galleries. In 1984, he began to teach at Bezalel. His work in the 1970s and 80s quoted from art history as a tool for critical reflections on art. This was particularly evident in "Anatomical Painting" (1980-1983), "Nevo" (1984-1986) and "Column" (1988). In 1992, he was elected chairman of the Fine Arts Department of Bezalel. In 1996, he received his professorship. In 1995, he showed his series, Tsooba, which explored the politics of Israeli landscape and aroused great public debate. From the 1990s, he published many essays on the link between art history and the political and social significance of art. Major works from this period include "The Return of the Black Square" and a series of drawings, "The Pile" (2002-2004). Education 1972 Art History, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 1973 Chelsea School of Art, London, UK 1971 Hebrew University High School, Jerusalem, art with Yona Mach Teaching 1984-92 Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem 1992-96 Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem,Head of Fine Arts Department, 1992-96 Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, Head of Young Artists Program, 2000-03 San Francisco Art Institute, California, USA, Guest Lecturer, 2002 onwards Shenkar College, Ramat Gan, Professor of Art, Multidisciplinary Art Department, Awards And Prizes 1978 Beatrice Kolliner Prize for a Young Israeli Artist, Israel Museum, Jerusalem 1988 The America-Israel Cultural Fund Scholarship 1991 Jacques and Eugenie Ohana Prize for a Young Israeli Artist, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv 1993 The America-Israel Cultural Foundation, Sharett Fund Scholarship for a Young Artist 1998 Prize, Ministry of Education and Culture 2007 The Mendel and Eva Pundik Foundation Prize for an Israeli Artist, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv Genia Schreiber University Art Gallery, Tel Aviv Abramson, Larry Avigdor Arikha, Dei Ben Shaul, David Michail Grobman, Michael Gross, Uri Lifschitz, Ofer Lellouche, Menashe Kadishman, Shaul Schatz and others Sarig - in Israeli Paintings Israel Pollak School of Art Kalisher Five, Art Sc, Tel Aviv Abramson, Larry Menashe Kadishman, Pinchas Cohen Gan, David Reeb, Arnon Ben David...
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Patchwork Abstracted Landscape
Located in Soquel, CA
Abstracted landscape by an unknown artist (20th Century). The landscape is made up of patches of color, reminiscent of viewing agricultural land f...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pastel, Ink, Watercolor, Newsprint, Tissue Paper

Midcentury Abstract Acrylic Painting
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Evocative midcentury abstract acrylic painting on canvas with a dreamy warm palette and mysterious vague inscriptions.
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

"The Red Dome" Modern Abstract Red and Blue Toned Italian Landscape Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Modern abstract landscape painting by Houston, TX artist David Adickes. The work features a red architectural dome and white equestrian statue set ...
Category

Early 2000s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Modernist Painting, "Nordic Woods "
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind acrylic and mixed media painting on wood panel by San Diego artist, Peter Geise. It is unframed. Its dimensions are 12"x12"x.75"" A...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Wood Panel

"People" - Mid-Century Ovoid Geometrical Abstract Black & White Drawing
Located in Beachwood, OH
Clarence Holbrook Carter (American, 1904-2000) People, 1964 Ink and crayon on paper Signed and dated upper right 36.5 x 24 inches Clarence Holbrook Carter achieved a level of nation...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Crayon, Ink

Pastel Tones, Moss Green, Yellow, Purple, Simple Round Shapes Transparencies
Located in Barcelona, ES
"Simple Tilted Landscape Icon" is a hand-painted acrylic painting on high-quality 300g paper by artist Ryan Rivadeneyra. These painting, influenced by modernist artists of the 50's,...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel, Ink, Sumi Ink, Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Archival Paper

Modern abstract paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Modern abstract paintings 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. If you’re looking to add abstract paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, orange, red, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Stanley Bate, Christel Haag, Clarence Holbrook Carter, and Carmen Gutierrez. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Modern abstract paintings, so small editions measuring 18 inches across are also available. Prices for abstract paintings 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 $380 and tops out at $175,000, while the average work sells for $2,970.

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