Figurative Paintings
2010s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Metal
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Lacquer, Paint, Coating, Varnish, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Panel, Wood Pane...
21st Century and Contemporary Street Art Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Diana Elena Chelaru captures the essence of movement in her composition, where two figures dance, swaying to the rhythm. Bright beams from the strobe lig...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Gary Leonard creates a striking portrait of a woman plunging into the water. The large, spontaneous brushstrokes of the wave merge into the emotional flo...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Minimalist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Pastel
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Pointillist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Clay, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Permanent Marker
1980s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Wood Panel, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Wood Panel, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Early 2000s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Archival Paper
1990s Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Burlap, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1960s Modern Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Chalk, Charcoal
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Chalk, Charcoal
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Oil, Acrylic
Figurative Paintings for Sale
Figurative art, as opposed to abstract art, retains features from the observable world in its representational depictions of subject matter. Most commonly, figurative paintings reference and explore the human body, but they can also include landscapes, architecture, plants and animals — all portrayed with realism.
While the oldest figurative art dates back tens of thousands of years to cave wall paintings, figurative works made from observation became especially prominent in the early Renaissance. Artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and other Renaissance masters created naturalistic representations of their subjects.
Pablo Picasso is lauded for laying the foundation for modern figurative art in the 1920s. Although abstracted, this work held a strong connection to representing people and other subjects. Other famous figurative artists include Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. Figurative art in the 20th century would span such diverse genres as Expressionism, Pop art and Surrealism.
Today, a number of figural artists — such as Sedrick Huckaby, Daisy Patton and Eileen Cooper — are making art that uses the human body as its subject.
Because figurative art represents subjects from the real world, natural colors are common in these paintings. A piece of figurative art can be an exciting starting point for setting a tone and creating a color palette in a room.
Browse an extensive collection of figurative paintings on 1stDibs.