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Abstract Figurative Paintings

ABSTRACT STYLE

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.

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Style: Abstract
Period: 1990s
Bright Vibrant Pop Art Enamel Oil Painting Flowers NYC Abstract Expressionist
Located in Surfside, FL
Flowers in a Vase, intensely and seductively colored: almost in a Japonaise style. Swooning purples and reds, ecstatic lemon yellows, Jostling shapes, lyrical and soft-edged, refuse ...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Enamel

Latin American Cuban Painting by Julio Antonio Devoroción (Devotion), 1992
Located in Washington, DC
Major painting by Cuban/American artist Julio Antonio (b. 1950). Painting is acrylic on canvas and titled "Devoroción". Painting is signed and dated 1992. Measures: 70" W x 78" H. ...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"The Ship “, acrylic on paper, 46x65
Located in Brooklyn, NY
acrylic paint.
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

“198002” by Kyoko Sasai
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Kyoko Sasai is a renowned Japanese artist, esteemed due to her innovative approaches to cultural representation and unique artistic methodologies. She liv...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The House - Mother & Child Figurative Abstract
Located in Soquel, CA
The House - Mother & Child Figurative Abstract Wonderfully vibrant mother and child abstract expressionist painting by Kristin Cohen (American, b. 1963). A stylized mother and child...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Original Acrylic Abstract Figurative Painting on Paper
Located in Columbus, OH
Simplified drawing that expertly captures the expression of the person. Inscribed 'Berlin' below signature Artist bio: Influenced by German Expressionism and graffiti elements, Keil...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Abstract Portrait acrylic painting on paper
Located in Columbus, OH
Simplified drawing that expertly captures the expression of the person. Inscribed 'Berlin' below signature Artist bio: Influenced by German Expressionism and graffiti elements, Keil...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Dreaming of the Future
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery) About Artist Abiodun Nafiu Azeez is an accomplished artist with a diverse background in contemporary painting, particularly Osogbo art. However, his true passion lies in abstract expression, where he seeks to promote African art, culture, and nature. Influenced by his artist father, he paints to preserve memories and connect with broader societal concerns. Abiodun's artistic style is characterized by the abstraction and simplification of human compositions. He employs vibrant oil colors, often focusing on primary colors that transition into secondary and tertiary hues. His subjects stand out against neutral backgrounds, creating a harmonious balance in his paintings. A prominent feature in his works is the use of red, blue, and yellow tones, subtly blended to emphasize form and shape. His artistic journey includes training under renowned bead painting contemporary artist Jimoh Buraimoh...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Emergence. Contemporary Mixed Media Abstract painting
By Kate McKennan
Located in Brecon, Powys
Intricate and lively work Watercolour, Acrylic paint and Ink. On paper framed
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Watercolor

One Robe One Bowl: Contemporary figurative oil painting by Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Sax Berlin offers this exquisite portrayal of a classical maiden which he calls "endearing" ............. who are we to dispute that, she's also very beautiful. Artist Biography: Sa...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Contemporary British Abstract Original Paintings 2 x Figure Portraits
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition Portraits by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) set of two (2) x gouache paintings on card, unframed measurements: 10.5 x 5.25 and 10.5 x 5 inches condition: very good...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) gouache painting on card, unframed measurements: 5.75 x 8 inches condition: very good provenance: from a large private collection...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting Black Horse Fantasy Landscape
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) gouache painting on card, unframed measurements: 4.75 x 6 inches condition: very good provenance: fr...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting Gold Fish Wall Paper Design
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition signed by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) dated 89' gouache painting on card, unframed measurements: 9.5 x 9.5 inches condition: very good provenance: from a large ...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting Swirly Town Landscape
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition signed by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) dated 89' gouache painting on card, unframed measurements: 12 x 11 inches condition: very good provenance: from a large pr...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting Colourful Figures
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) gouache painting on card, unframed measurements: 7 x 7.75 inches condition: very good provenance: fr...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting Four Walking Figures
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) gouache painting on card, unframed measurements: 7 x 5.5 inches condition: very good provenance: fro...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting Bright Colours
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) gouache painting on card, unframed measurements: 10.5 x 3.5 inches condition: very good provenance: ...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting Surrealist Head Portraits
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) gouache painting on card, unframed measurements: 10.25 x 9.25 inches condition: very good provenance: from a large private collec...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting Modernist Head Studies
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) gouache painting on card, unframed measurements: 10 x 10 inches condition: very good provenance: from a large private collection ...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting Surrealist Figures Fantasy View
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) gouache painting on card, unframed measurements: 6 x 8 inches condition: very good provenance: from a large private collection o...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Two x Contemporary British Abstract Original Paintings Head Portrait Figures
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Compositions by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) set of two gouache paintings on card, unframed measurements: 9.5 x 9.25 and 10.5 x 6 inches condition: very good provenance: fro...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting Surrealist Figures Pyramids
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) gouache painting on card, unframed measurements: 6 x 8 inches condition: very good provenance: from a large private collection o...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Contemporary British Abstract Original Painting Three Dancing Figures Surrealist
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition by Sally Vaughan (contemporary) gouache painting on card, unframed ( frame used in photos are for display purposes only. Not including in purchase.) measurement...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Black is Beautiful
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery) About Artist Abiodun Nafiu Azeez is an accomplished artist with a diverse background in contemporary painting, particularly Osogbo art. However, his true passion lies in abstract expression, where he seeks to promote African art, culture, and nature. Influenced by his artist father, he paints to preserve memories and connect with broader societal concerns. Abiodun's artistic style is characterized by the abstraction and simplification of human compositions. He employs vibrant oil colors, often focusing on primary colors that transition into secondary and tertiary hues. His subjects stand out against neutral backgrounds, creating a harmonious balance in his paintings. A prominent feature in his works is the use of red, blue, and yellow tones, subtly blended to emphasize form and shape. His artistic journey includes training under renowned bead painting contemporary artist Jimoh Buraimoh...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Untitled
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery) About Artist Abiodun Nafiu Azeez is an accomplished artist with a diverse background in contemporary painting, particularly Osogbo art. However, his true passion lies in abstract expression, where he seeks to promote African art, culture, and nature. Influenced by his artist father, he paints to preserve memories and connect with broader societal concerns. Abiodun's artistic style is characterized by the abstraction and simplification of human compositions. He employs vibrant oil colors, often focusing on primary colors that transition into secondary and tertiary hues. His subjects stand out against neutral backgrounds, creating a harmonious balance in his paintings. A prominent feature in his works is the use of red, blue, and yellow tones, subtly blended to emphasize form and shape. His artistic journey includes training under renowned bead painting contemporary artist Jimoh Buraimoh...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Crimson Adornment
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery) About Artist Abiodun Nafiu Azeez is an accomplished artist with a diverse background in contemporary painting, particularly Osogbo art. However, his true passion lies in abstract expression, where he seeks to promote African art, culture, and nature. Influenced by his artist father, he paints to preserve memories and connect with broader societal concerns. Abiodun's artistic style is characterized by the abstraction and simplification of human compositions. He employs vibrant oil colors, often focusing on primary colors that transition into secondary and tertiary hues. His subjects stand out against neutral backgrounds, creating a harmonious balance in his paintings. A prominent feature in his works is the use of red, blue, and yellow tones, subtly blended to emphasize form and shape. His artistic journey includes training under renowned bead painting contemporary artist Jimoh Buraimoh...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Homemade fish tank acrylic painting expressionism surrealist
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Elisabeth Sabala (1956) - Homemade fish tank - Acrylic Acrylic measurements 64x98 cm. Frame measurements 70x104 cm.
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Roller Coaster – No.5
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Tony Khawam is an established contemporary artist known for his figurative abstract work, and a technique based on accumulative singular strokes or lines in a chaotic but controlled ...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel

Roller Coaster – No.4
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Tony Khawam is an established contemporary artist known for his figurative abstract work, and a technique based on accumulative singular strokes or lines in a chaotic but controlled ...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel

Toy. 1998, canvas, oil, 50 x 60 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Toy. 1998, canvas, oil, 50x60 cm Ivars Muizulis (1936) 1956 – Graduated from the Liepaja Art College, Department of Sculpture 1956 – 1960 – Studied at the Art Academy of Latvia, P...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

News Update 2
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"News Update" by Abiodun Nafiu Azeez is a captivating artwork that portrays a group of people, some of whom are holding newspapers. Through this piece, Azeez skillfully explores the relationship between media and society. The juxtaposition of individuals reading newspapers in a group setting speaks to the shared experiences and conversations that news can generate among people. Azeez's work invites viewers to reflect on the influence of media in shaping our collective understanding of the world. The piece beautifully captures the essence of interconnectedness and the power of information in our lives. Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery) About Artist Abiodun Nafiu Azeez is an accomplished artist with a diverse background in contemporary painting, particularly Osogbo art. However, his true passion lies in abstract expression, where he seeks to promote African art, culture, and nature. Influenced by his artist father, he paints to preserve memories and connect with broader societal concerns. Abiodun's artistic style is characterized by the abstraction and simplification of human compositions. He employs vibrant oil colors, often focusing on primary colors that transition into secondary and tertiary hues. His subjects stand out against neutral backgrounds, creating a harmonious balance in his paintings. A prominent feature in his works is the use of red, blue, and yellow tones, subtly blended to emphasize form and shape. His artistic journey includes training under renowned bead painting contemporary artist Jimoh Buraimoh...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mother and Child - Abstract expressionist figuative original acrylic on paper
Located in Columbus, OH
Spontaneous, alive, pure joy expressed in lovely painting of a mother embracing her child. Hessam Abrishami is a master of vibrant colors, dynamic composition, and powerful expressi...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Leader and Followers
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Leader and Followers" is a visually striking piece of art that immediately captures the viewer's attention. The artwork, which was created using a combination of oil colors, feature...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

I'm Not Alone
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Abiodun Nafiu Azeez's "I'm Not Alone" is a powerful and emotionally resonant artwork that invites viewers to explore the depths of solitude, resilience, and self-discovery. Through its evocative visual imagery, the artwork encourages us to embrace moments of introspection as opportunities for growth and self-awareness. As we stand before this mesmerizing piece, we are reminded that, even in our most solitary moments, we are in the company of our own strength, thoughts, and emotions. "I'm Not Alone" serves as a beautiful reminder of the human capacity for resilience and self-discovery, making it a truly unforgettable work of contemporary art. Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery) About Artist Abiodun Nafiu Azeez is an accomplished artist with a diverse background in contemporary painting, particularly Osogbo art. However, his true passion lies in abstract expression, where he seeks to promote African art, culture, and nature. Influenced by his artist father, he paints to preserve memories and connect with broader societal concerns. Abiodun's artistic style is characterized by the abstraction and simplification of human compositions. He employs vibrant oil colors, often focusing on primary colors that transition into secondary and tertiary hues. His subjects stand out against neutral backgrounds, creating a harmonious balance in his paintings. A prominent feature in his works is the use of red, blue, and yellow tones, subtly blended to emphasize form and shape. His artistic journey includes training under renowned bead painting contemporary artist Jimoh Buraimoh...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Pairing
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"The Pairing" is a visually captivating artwork that immediately draws the viewer into its world of balance and harmony. Created with meticulous attention to detail using oil on canvas, the piece depicts two elements, symbolized by two figures that appear almost seamlessly connected. The intricate composition and vibrant colors employed by Azeez add depth and richness to the narrative. The composition of "The Pairing" is central to its narrative, highlighting the concept of balance and unity. The two figures, starkly different in demeanor, seem to be locked in a delicate dance, symbolizing the interdependence and equilibrium that underlie our existence. One figure radiates warmth, with soft, curved lines and soothing colors, representing elements of comfort and familiarity. The other figure, in contrast, exudes vibrancy and vitality, marked by bold angles and contrasting hues that suggest energy and dynamism. The juxtaposition of these elements illustrates the complementary nature of opposites and the harmony that can arise from their pairing. At its heart, "The Pairing" conveys a powerful message about the beauty of diversity and the harmony that can emerge from embracing contrasting elements. The artwork serves as a reminder that our world is enriched by the interplay of opposing forces, and it is through the coming together of these elements that balance and unity are achieved. In an age marked by division and polarization, "The Pairing" encourages us to celebrate our differences and seek common ground. It underscores the idea that, by recognizing the value of diverse perspectives and experiences, we can create a more harmonious and balanced world. As we engage with "The Pairing," we are reminded of the profound interconnectedness of all things and the potential for beauty and balance to emerge from the interplay of opposites. Azeez's work serves as a visual testament to the enduring power of harmony and unity, leaving a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to experience it. Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery) About Artist Abiodun Nafiu Azeez is an accomplished artist with a diverse background in contemporary painting, particularly Osogbo art. However, his true passion lies in abstract expression, where he seeks to promote African art, culture, and nature. Influenced by his artist father, he paints to preserve memories and connect with broader societal concerns. Abiodun's artistic style is characterized by the abstraction and simplification of human compositions. He employs vibrant oil colors, often focusing on primary colors that transition into secondary and tertiary hues. His subjects stand out against neutral backgrounds, creating a harmonious balance in his paintings. A prominent feature in his works is the use of red, blue, and yellow tones, subtly blended to emphasize form and shape. His artistic journey includes training under renowned bead painting contemporary artist Jimoh Buraimoh...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

'Assemblées', Figures In Motion, Oil on Paper on Board.
Located in Cotignac, FR
Abstract impressionist oil on paper on board by French artist Chantal Payet. Signed and dated April '96 to the reverse. An interesting and challenging Abstract Impressionist work in...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil, Board

"Babushka". Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Early work was impressionistic and hard abstract. Carola later developed a more mature way of working in a colourful exploration of the subject. Colour was her main interest and she...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Gouache

Carnival Abstract in Blue, Orange, and Yellow - Oil and Collage on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
Carnival Abstract in Blue, Orange, and Yellow - Oil and Collage on Paper Bright and colorful abstract by Jennie T. Rafton (American, b. 1925). Shapes are scattered across the page, ...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Tape, Paper, Oil

Modern Abstract Figurative Expressionistic Painting, "Red Golem" 1999
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original painting by southern California artist, Peter J. Geise. Its dimensions are 12" x 12" x 1.5" (HxWxD). It is acrylic on canvas, it is already framed. A...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Modern Abstract Figurative Expressionistic Painting, "Science Fiction" 1999
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original painting by southern California artist, Peter J. Geise. Its dimensions are 16" x 16" x 1.5" (HxWxD). It is acrylic on canvas, it is already framed. A...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Modern Abstract Figurative Expressionistic Painting, "Flora Dora Babylon" 1999
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original painting by southern California artist, Peter J. Geise. Its dimensions are 16" x 16" x 1.5" (HxWxD). It is acrylic on canvas, it is already framed. A...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Modern Abstract Figurative Expressionistic Painting, "Fortress (Spirit)" 1999
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original painting by southern California artist, Peter J. Geise. Its dimensions are 7.75" x 6" x 1.5" (HxWxD). It is acrylic on canvas, it is already framed. ...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Modern Abstract Figurative Expressionistic Painting, "Navigator" 1997
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original painting by southern California artist, Peter J. Geise. Its dimensions are 7.625" x 7" x 1.5" (HxWxD). It is acrylic on canvas, it is unframed. A cer...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Untitled
Located in Barcelona, ES
The painting is being offered with a work and authenticity certificate
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper

Abstract Expressionist -- Figurative Walk in Golden Gate Park Oil on Canvas
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful abstract expressionist painting of couple walking through Golden Gate Park titled, "Memorable Day" by California artist and poet Mary Rudge (American, 1929 - 2014), Circa 1...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Newsprint

Beach Surf Artist Wizard in red Abstract Figural Acrylic and Watercolor on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
Beach Artist Wizard in red Abstract Figural Acrylic on Paper Beach art Surf session abstracted scene of the artist under an umbrella with Surfboard by Ricardo de Silva (Brazilian, 20th Century). Watercolor in blue and red at the beach under and umbrella after de Kooning...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Paper, Watercolor

Abstract Expressionist Figurative -- Seated Nude Woman
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful abstract expressionist nude with heavy impasto of seated woman. Bay area find. Signed on verso "Swan," circa 1990. Unframed. Image size: 24"H x 18"W.
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Winter Witches in an Upside World Interfering with Each Other, Semi-Abstract Oil
Located in Denver, CO
Oil painting on burlap by Edward Marecak (1919-1993) titled "Winter Witches in an Upside World Interfering with Each Other" from 1990. Titled and dated by the artist on verso. Painted in shades of black, gray, red, purple, and green. Presented in the original artist frame, outer dimensions measure 44 ⅛ x 44 ⅛ x 1 ⅜ inches. Image size is 43 x 43 inches. About the artist: Edward Marecak Born Ohio 1919 Died Colorado 1993 Born to immigrant parents from the Carpathian region in Slovakia, Marecak grew up with his family in the farming community of Bennett’s Corners, now part of the town of Brunswick, near Cleveland, Ohio. When he turned twelve, his family moved to a multi-ethnic neighborhood of Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, and Slovenians in Cleveland. His childhood household cherished the customs and Slavic folk tales from the Old Country that later strongly influenced his work as a professional artist. During junior high he painted scenery for puppet shows of “Peter and the Wolf,” awakening his interest in art. In his senior year in high school he did Cézanne-inspired watercolors of Ohio barns at seventy-five cents apiece for the National Youth Administration. They earned him a full scholarship to the Cleveland Institute of Art (1938-1942) where he studied with Henry George Keller whose work was included in the 1913 New York Armory Show. In 1940 Marecak also taught at the Museum School of the Cleveland Institute. Before being drafted into the military in 1942, he briefly attended the Cranbrook Academy of Art near Detroit, one of the nation’s leading graduate schools of art, architecture, and design. A center of innovative work in architecture, art and design with an educational approach built on a mentorship model, it has been home to some of the world’s most renowned designers and artists, including Eero Saarinen, Charles Eames, Daniel Libeskind and Harry Bertoia. Marecak’s studies at Cranbrook with painter Zoltan Sepeshy and sculptor Carl Milles were interrupted by U.S. army service in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. Following his military discharge, Marecak studied on the G.I. Bill at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center from 1946 to 1950, having previously met its director, Boardman Robinson, conducting a seminar in mural painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Although he did not work with Robinson at the Fine Arts Center, who had become quite ill - retiring in 1947 - he studied Robinson’s specialty of mural painting before leaving to briefly attend the Cranbrook Academy in 1947. That same year he returned to the Fine Arts Center, studying painting with Jean Charlot and Mary Chenoweth, and lithography with Lawrence Barrett with whom he produced some 132 images during 1948-49. At the Fine Arts Center he met his future wife, Donna Fortin, whom he married in 1947. Also a Midwesterner, she had taken night art courses at Hull House in Chicago, later studying at the Art Institute of Chicago with the encouragement of artist Edgar Britton. After World War II she studied with him from 1946 to 1949 at the Fine Arts Center. (He had moved to Colorado Springs to treat his tuberculosis.) Ed Marecak also became good friends with Britton, later collaborating with him on the design of large stained glass windows for a local church. In 1950-51 Marecak returned to the Cleveland Institute of Art to complete his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. A year later he was invited to conduct a summer class at the University of Colorado in Boulder, confirming his interest in the teaching profession. In 1955 he received his teaching certificate from the University of Denver. Vance Kirkland, the head of its art department, helped him get a teaching job with the Denver Public Schools so that he and his family could remain in the Mile High City. For the next twenty-five years he taught art at Skinner, Grove, East, George Washington and Morey Junior High Schools. Prior to coming to Colorado, Marecak did watercolors resembling those of Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent and Charles Burchfield. However, once in Colorado Springs he decided to destroy much of his earlier oeuvre, embarking on a totally new direction unlike anything he had previously done. Initially, in the 1940s, he was influenced by surrealist imagery and Paul Klee and in the West by Indian petroglyphs and Kachinas. His first one-person show at the Garrett Gallery in Colorado Springs in 1949 featured paintings and lithographs rendered in the style of Magic Realism and referential abstraction. The pieces, including an oil Witch with Pink Dish, foreshadowed the output of his entire Colorado-based career, distinguished by a dramatic use of color, intricacy of execution and attention to detail contributing to their visual impact. He once observed, “Each time I start a new painting I always fool myself by saying this time keep it simple and not get entangled with such complex patterns, color and design; but I always find myself getting more involved with richness, color and subject matter.” An idiosyncratic artist proficient in oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, and casein, he did not draw upon Colorado subject matter for his work, unlike many of his fellow painters in the state. Instead he used Midwest landscape imagery, bringing to life in it witches and spirits adapted from the Slovakian folk tales he heard growing up in Ohio. A number of his paintings depict winter witches derived from the Slovak custom in the Tatra Mountains of burning an effigy of the winter witch in the early spring to banish the memory of a hard winter. The folk tale element imparts a dream-like quality to many of his paintings. A devote of Greek mythology, he placed the figures of Circe, Persephone, Sybil, Hera and others in modern settings. The goddess in Persephone Brings a Pumpkin to her Mother, attired as a Midwestern farmer’s daughter, heralds the advent of fall with the pumpkin before departing to spend the winter season in the underworld. Train to Olympus, the meeting place of the gods in ancient Greece, juxtaposes ancient mythology with modernity creating a combination of whimsy and thought-provoking consideration for the viewer. Voyage to Troy #1 alludes to the ancient city that was the site of the Trojan Wars, but has a contemporary, autobiographical component referencing the harbor of the Aleutian Islands recaptured from the Japanese during World War II. In the 1980s Marecak used the goddess Hera in his painting, Hera Contemplates Aspects of the Art Nouveau, to comment on art movements in the latter half of the twentieth century Marecak’s love of classical music and opera, which he shared with his wife and to which he often listened while painting in his Denver basement studio, is reflected in Homage of Offenbach, an abstract work translating the composer’s musical colors into colorful palette. Pace, Pace, Mio Dio, the title of his earliest surrealist painting, is a soprano aria from Verdi’s opera...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Burlap, Oil

Lookers
Located in La Canada Flintridge, CA
Oil on canvas and the canvas size is 31"H by 27"W.
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Garden Splendor and wonder abstract and visual Stimulation Sculptural Painting
Located in Soquel, CA
Garden Splendor and wonder abstract and visual Stimulation Abstract Garden Splendor by New York and California artist Ross Martin Fink (American, B-1935). An in depth abstract and Ga...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Coffee, Oil, Watercolor, Gouache

Found Visions
Located in Lawrence, NY
Beverly Brodsky Biography American, 1941- Brodsky’s first classroom experience under Ad Reinhardt at Brooklyn College in 1961 was an extraordinary one. The students were asked to ta...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Cuban 1998 Abstract/ figurative scene
Located in Woodbury, CT
Very Interesting and unique late 20th-century Cuban Abstract scene. Signed top left and inscribed on the reverse the piece has a great impact and presents. Influenced by Picasso with the Bull...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Matanza
Located in Lawrence, NY
Sometimes a single work of art sums up where an artist has gotten to; sometimes it prefigures to where an artist is headed. Matanza, a masterful work by Harriette Joffe (1935-2018), ...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Abstracted Self Portrait by Erica Whiteway
Located in Soquel, CA
Gorgeous acrylic and pencil abstracted self portrait by California artist Erika Whiteway (American, b. 1954). Signed and dated lower right "Whiteway, 5/90". Unframed. Size: 22"H x 28"W. Erika Whiteway (b. February 26, 1954, San Jose, California) is a California writer, artist, musician, and thoroughbred breeder/trainer. She lived slightly off the grid and off the computer entirely for nearly ten years, until returning to the Bay Area, where she once more resides, making art, writing, playing music and taking care of horses. She was an early member of The Well, dubbed by "Wired Magazine as "the world's most influential online community", where she met Tiffany Lee Brown...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

India Ink, Cardboard, Canvas, Acrylic

Large Scale Bay Area Figurative Inspired -- The Young Trumpet Player
Located in Soquel, CA
Large Scale Bay Area Figurative Inspired -- The Young Trumpet Player Compelling Bay Area Figurative Movement inspired painting of a young trumpet player, circa 1990. Unsigned. Unframed. The Bay Area Figurative Movement (also known as the Bay Area Figurative School, Bay Area Figurative Art, Bay Area Figuration, and similar variations) was a mid-20th Century art movement made up of a group of artists in the San Francisco Bay Area who abandoned working in the prevailing style of Abstract Expressionism in favor of a return to figuration in painting during the 1950s and onward into the 1960s. Spanning two decades, this art movement is often broken down into three groups, or generations: the First Generation, the Bridge Generation, and the Second Generation. Many of the "First Generation" artists in this movement were avid fans of Abstract Expressionism, and worked in that manner, until several of them abandoned non-objective painting in favor of working with the figure. Among these First Generation Bay Area Figurative School artists were: David Park, Richard Diebenkorn, Rex Ashlock, Elmer Bischoff, Glenn Wessels, Wayne Thiebaud, Raimonds Staprans, and James Weeks. The "Bridge Generation" included the artists: Henrietta Berk, Nathan Oliveira, Theophilus Brown, Paul Wonner, Roland Petersen, John Hultberg, and Frank Lobdell. Many "Second Generation" artists of this movement studied under the First Generation artists, or were late starters. Among these Second Generation artists were: Bruce McGaw, Henry Villierme...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Vintage Bay Area Figurative -- "Brilliance Dazzles"
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful large scale Bay Area Figurative School portrait titled "Jason's Brilliance Dazzles," 1996 by an anonymous bay area artist (M) Unsi...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

Contemporary Orange-Toned Abstract Figurative Female Nude Portrait Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Orange-toned abstract figurative work by contemporary Missouri artist Michael Stack. The work features a light cream and silver silhouette of a headless ...
Category

1990s Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Foam Board, Mixed Media

Abstract figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Abstract figurative 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 figurative 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, purple, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Cindy Shaoul, Simon Richard Halimi, Frank Arnold, and Judith Berry. 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 Abstract figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative 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 $121 and tops out at $570,000, while the average work sells for $2,500.

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