Figurative Paintings
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Figurative Paintings
Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Minimalist Figurative Paintings
Ink, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Wood Panel
1910s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Board, Gouache, Watercolor
1920s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1910s Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Late 20th Century Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Conceptual Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1960s Post-War Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor
Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Gouache, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Illustration Board, Oil, Pen
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
Early 2000s Surrealist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cotton Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Fabric, Trimming, Charcoal
2010s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Permanent Marker
1970s Feminist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
20th Century Figurative Paintings
Archival Paper, Oil Pastel
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Diana Elena Chelaru depicts figures grooving to the pulsating beat of the music. Bright lights cast vibrant hues across the scene, adding an electrifying...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
In this lively and spirited painting, five figures revel in the music and each other's company. Tones of blue and orange embrace their forms as they hit the dan...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, 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 Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
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
2010s Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
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.