Abstract Figurative Paintings
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.
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Illustration Board
Artist Comments
"The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan has an extensive collection of Roman ancestral portrait busts," states artist Onelio Marrero. "Many art students ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Paper
Artist Comments
Artist Gary Leonard presents a portrait of a woman in a tropical setting. He paints with an impressionist approach but leaves the background subtly abstract t...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Gary Leonard connotes beauty in this refreshing piece of a woman in red by the beach. The stylish subject enjoys her time with the cool breeze, inspiri...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
1980s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Cotton, Acrylic, Rag Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
"A group of people, dressed in bright, colorful summer attire, wait in line for the store to open," describes artist John Jaster. "People watching has always ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Metal
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Fabric, Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1950s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A cluster of butterflies beckons a young woman. Artist Sharon Sieben used graphite and acrylic paint to create this expressionistic portrait. With Sharon's th...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
One of artist Onelio Marrero's close neighbors is a master at the art of Bonsai. "When spring begins, my neighbor, Mark, goes about placing his potted plants ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
1940s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Gouache
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
Artist Comments
This painting was inspired by the view from my hotel balcony in Paris of the pedestrian below me, trying to button his coat as he walked against the wind. I created the movement of the walking figure in expressive brushstrokes that emulate pixelation and motion. I use the unique aerial perspective to turn the human figure into a more abstract shape and to emphasize the movement of the figure.
About the Artist
Warren Keating's paintings start with documentation. He captures subjects on video from birds-eye views, digitizes the film on his computer and, finally, paints them on canvas in an active style he describes as Pixel Impressionism. He merges artistic elements of the 20th Century with 21st Century technology. Warren credits Futurism as well as Richard Diebenkorn and Willem de Kooning as influences in his paintings. Fun fact: Warren’s inspiration for this series came from a vacation to Paris where he photographed passersby from his hotel balcony in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Blue Monday...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Sharon Sieben presents an expressive portrait of a woman in warm tones of red, maroon, beige, and ochre. With her eyes closed and head tilted forward, ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Early 2000s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"Atlanta's oldest neighborhood, Inman Park, is a popular destination for locals, the movie industry and visitors," explains artist Mary Pratt. "I was walking through Inman Park with my daughter and spotted these cool chicks and approached them to photograph. My daughter, mortified changed direction. The women, who worked in the movie industry, offered to pose on a bench outside...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"It's all about the subject and the light," says artist Faye Vander Veer, when asked about her inspiration for this painting. "I saw this young girl talking on the phone while I was doing some sketching at a local coffeeshop. The light was the first thing that caught my eye, then I did a few sketches to design the composition. I kept wondering about her. I never saw her face, but it is so interesting to me how our lives can change in an instant all because of one phone call...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Pastel
1980s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Pastel, Acrylic
20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Graphite
Artist Comments
Relaxed and contemplative, a woman sits reclined with both legs tucked under. Artist Gail Ragains used broad strokes of color in a harmonious combination of t...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1960s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Clay, Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Pencil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A small bright yellow bird closely perches beside a young woman. Artist Sharon Sieben rendered this expressionist portrait with thick painterly strokes and fragments of dispersed bright colors. The woman, caught in a moment of thought, stands before a lightly shaded background while she entertains the personal visit.
About the Artist
Sharon Sieben prefers working in a loose, fluid technique and finds inspiration in the most unexpected things. Her parents bought her a set of oil paints when she was ten years old and it sparked her love of art. She especially admires the work of Impressionist artists such as Paul Cezanne because of how they broke tradition. When she's not making art, she enjoys reading and playing classical guitar and piano. She currently lives in Arizona.
Words that describe this painting: portrait, face, expressionism, bird, woman, expressionism, people, acrylic painting, blue
Bird Song...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil Pastel, Pigment, Varnish, Acrylic, Canvas
Artist Comments
A playful scene of four boys getting ready to take their surfboards into the cool summer waters. While contemplating the incoming waves, the sun moves across the sky drawing long shadows on the sand. "This piece reminds me of fun relaxing times at the beach during the summer months," shares artist Claudia Verciani.
About the Artist
Inspired by the great Impressionist painters, Claudia uses paint emotionally to depict the beauty of life. She is most inspired by light, and as such, tends to paint en plein air frequently. Claudia strives to capture singular, transient moments in time in which the contrast between light and dark values are striking. She presents a body of work that conveys traditionally Impressionist influences across varying choices of subject matter.
Words that describe this painting: beach, ocean, boys, play, impressionism, seascape, surf, surfboards, shore, sand, water, waves, children, kids, impressionism, people, seascape, representational, oil painting, blue
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
In this contemporary expressionist portrait, artist Ryan Pickart explores negative space with ethereal shapes. The model's gentle ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Spray Paint, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"This peaceful composition was inspired by the lush green colors of a summer day in the forest, with the softening effect of light rain and the sun finding it...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A modernist portrait combining a realistic face and an abstract figure. Artist Ryan Pickart uses bold linework to explore how the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"Isolation sometimes bodes well for artists," says Mary Pratt with a smile. "Since I am a people person, being trapped in my house has allowed me to paint wit...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil