In 1967, artist Sol LeWitt wrote that in “Conceptual art the idea or concept is the most important aspect of the work.” He was giving a name to an art movement that had emerged in the 1960s in which artists were less focused on their medium being something traditionally “artistic” and instead engaged in using any object, movement, form, action or place to express an idea.
LeWitt’s work was featured alongside an assemblage of notes, drawings and outlines by other artists in “Working Drawings and Other Visible Things on Paper Not Necessarily Meant to Be Viewed as Art,” a groundbreaking show at New York City’s School of Visual Arts curated by Mel Bochner, another leading exponent of Conceptualism. Building on radical 20th-century statements, like Fountain (1917) by French artist Marcel Duchamp, Conceptual artists around Europe and North and South America were not interested in the commercial art scene and rather directly challenged its systems and values.
Stretching into the 1970s, this movement has also been called Post-Object art and Dematerialized art. Conceptual art reflected a larger era of social and political upheaval. Pieces associated with the style range from Roelof Louw’s Soul City (Pyramid of Oranges) (1967) — a work of installation art that sees fresh oranges stacked into a pyramid from which visitors are allowed to take one orange away — to On Kawara’s “Today” series, which saw the Japanese artist carefully painting a date in white acrylic on canvases consisting of a single color from 1966 to his death in 2014. Artists such as Ed Ruscha, who created the Twentysix Gasoline Stations book — a collection of photos of gas stations that is widely said to be the first modern artists’ book — made photography a major platform for Conceptual art, as did Bruce Nauman, who burned one of Ruscha's books and then photographed it for his own.
Conceptual art’s legacy of questioning artistic authorship, ownership and how to work with complex ideas of space and time had a significant influence on the decades of culture that followed, and it continues to inform art today.
The collection of Conceptual photography, paintings and sculptures on 1stDibs includes artworks by John Baldessari, Jenny Holzer, Lawrence Weiner, Joseph Kosuth and others.
Gaze of Ambition - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa
By John Ali
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Unbridled Joy - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa
By John Ali
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,850
Unraveling - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Woman, Modern
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. About Artist Mic...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,450
Still Waiting In Silence - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Love
By Aba Linus
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide 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 Authent...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,450
Peace from Within 3 - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern
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. About Artist Mic...
Canvas, Acrylic
Face to Face Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Conceptual, 21st Century
By Aba Linus
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Face to Face" by Aba Linus is a thought-provoking and enigmatic artwork that presents a powerful visual representation of human connection and communication. In this piece, two youn...
Canvas, Acrylic
Souvenirs of Beauty 1 - 21st Century Mixed Media with Oil and Ankara Fabrics
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Souvenirs of Beauty" is a captivating portrayal of a woman steeped in tradition and grace, adorned in a rich green headwrap and matching attire that exudes elegance. Her deep brown ...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Game of Life Mixed Media Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 21st Century
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
In this game of life, we fiercely strive, Chasing dreams, hoping to survive. Each step we take, is a move on the board, Sometimes rewarded, sometimes ignored. We start with a roll of...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Pearl of Heritage - 21st Century Mixed Media with Oil and African Women Fabrics
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Bakare Babatund...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Joyful Moment 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Children
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Oluwatobiloba A...
Paper, Coffee, Watercolor
Tender Weight of Waiting 2 -21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait Modern
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The Tender Weight of Waiting captures a moment of calm shaped by unseen expectations. Surrounded by books centered on love, marriage, and self-preparation, the subject retreats into ...
Canvas, Archival Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$3,700
Steadfast Gaze 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa, Girl
By John Ali
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Cave paintings on paper, Indian ink, hand drawing, leather papyrus style
By Peter Kramer
Located in Carballo, ES
Obsessive, meticulous, almost monastic, Kramer immerses us in a universe of graphic and sculptural repetitions. His drawings on kraft paper glued with rabbit glue recall both ancient...
Ink, Handmade Paper
Onileke Ara (Beaded in Style) 2 -21st Century Contemporary, African Woman, Beads
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Regal and radiant! 'Onileke Ara (Beaded in Style)' celebrates the beauty and elegance of African culture 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. About Artist Bakare Babatunde, born in Ogun State, Nigeria, is a dynamic artist whose journey in the world of art has been shaped by a rich cultural background. Completing his higher education in Lagos State, Nigeria, Bakare earned a Higher National Diploma in Library and Information Science, laying the foundation for a unique artistic perspective. Bakare's artistic evolution began with pencil drawing, a modest start that eventually led him to experiment with various mediums. Among these, oil color, acrylic, and Ankara fabrics on canvas emerged as his favored mediums, allowing him to explore the depth of his creative vision. Primarily focusing on figurative painting and portraiture, Bakare's work delves into the intricacies of human expression and identity. His art becomes a canvas for the narratives of emotions and cultural appreciation. Bakare's artistic journey has been punctuated by notable exhibitions, showcasing his talent on both national and international platforms: Icreate Skill Festival Abuja (2017). Ijakadi Art Exhibition, Kwara State (2020). Kwara State Youth Fair 2.0 Art Exhibition Category (2022). 'Unconditional Love Is Not Beyond Us' An Online Group Exhibition by Constance and Sons...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Fragments of Light - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa
By John Ali
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Studio Muse - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa
By John Ali
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Crimson Contemplation - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa
By John Ali
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Shades and Substance - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa
By John Ali
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Ascending Joy - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa, Girl
By John Ali
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 Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Untitled
Located in Barcelona, CT
The painting is being offered with a work and authenticity certificate
Mixed Media
$1,850
Seeking Perfection 2 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern
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. About Artist Mic...
Canvas, Archival Ink, Acrylic, Mixed Media
Silent Grace - 21st Century, Contemporary Oil and African Women Fabrics, Floral
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The Silent Grace captures the serene profile of a woman, adorned in a bright yellow dress and matching hat, embellished with vibrant patterns. Her deep purple complexion contrasts be...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Random Thought Oil Painting on Canvas, Conceptual 21st Century Art
By John Ali
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Random Thought," a captivating creation by artist John Ali, invites viewers into the enigmatic realm of introspection. The artwork features a young man, his head covered with nylon, adorned by an intricate African bead necklace...
Canvas, Oil
$320Sale Price|20% Off
"Untitled Abstract Village with Horses, Color Lithograph, 20th Century"
Located in Belgrade, MT
This piece is from my private collection of 20th Century -21st Century artists, many of which are from the School of Paris era. Pelayo produced this lithograph in colors. The Latin American spirit...
Paint, Lithograph
Dialogue, Conceptual Oil Painting on Canvas, 21st Century, Unframed
By John Ali
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Dialogue," a thought-provoking creation by artist John Ali, beckons viewers into a realm of symbolism and introspection. The artwork features a young man with his head covered in ny...
Canvas, Oil
Head Tie 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Indigenous, Women, African
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Oluwatobiloba A...
Canvas, Acrylic
Cast Aside 2 -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait Africa Modern Woman
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The inspiration for this work was gotten from the view of some African parents, most of our African parents believe that earrings and dreadlocks are meant for ladies and when they ha...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Nightly Rendezvous: Oil Painting on Canvas, Conceptual, 2010+, Unframed
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Maciej Rauch's paintings are often shaped by the people around him, his friends, the places he lives, and the emotions that drift through everyday life. He works in the language of m...
Canvas, Oil
Deborah Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Conceptual Style, 21st Century
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell and got back up again." I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. “The peasantry ceased, they ceas...
Canvas, Acrylic
' Do You See That I Love You? ' oil on canvas
Located in London, GB
' Do You See That I Love You? ' 2013 oil on canvas 70 w x 60 h cm signed on reverse by artist. Unique work. About the artist : Katherine Russell is a L...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
$1,850
Embrace of Solitude - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern
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. About Artist Mic...
Canvas, Acrylic
Dusk Pool by Karen Lynn, Hockney Inspired, Architectural, Contemporary
By Karen Lynn
Located in Deddington, GB
Dusk Pool [2022] original and hand signed by the artist oil on canvas Image size: H:100 cm x W:100 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:100 cm x W:100 cm x D:4cm Sold Unframed Please note that insitu images are purely an indication of how a piece may look This is a painting from my architectural series of works. I wanted to paint a twilight scene using deep rich colours against a beautiful lit up pool. A window depicting another world inside a modernist house reflecting interiors with warm and inviting colours. I am inspired by modern architecture as I love painting the straight lines against the softness of nature with its trees and plants and cactii. This painting is painted in oils on a thick painted edged canvas and is ready to hang. Discover original architectural paintings online with Wychwood Art and in our Oxfordshire art gallery by artist Karen Lynn...
Canvas, Oil
Sisters in Yellow: Conceptual Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"I cherish our memories and the bond we share. My love for you is like a precious gem, shining bright and always treasured." Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor on...
Canvas, Acrylic
$6,000
Yoko Ono and John Lennon, Mixed Media Conceptual Painting by Anton Solomoukha
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Anton Solomoukha, Russian (1945 - ) Title: Yoko Ono and John Lennon Year: 1990 Medium: Oil and Collage on Canvas, signed and dated l.r. Size:...
Canvas, Paper, Mixed Media, Oil
Make My Day - Chicken Rooster Painting by Marc Zimmerman
Located in Carmel, CA
Make My Day - Chicken Rooster Painting by Marc Zimmerman He stands there, blocking all who dare challenge him in their pursuit to get by. This heroic cock, Charlie, the great intimi...
Oil
Post Conceptual Digital Artist Oil Painting Screenprint Diptych Joseph Nechvatal
Located in Surfside, FL
Joseph Nechvatal The Oedipal God of Oil Paint and Destruction, Diptych Oil and screenprint on two canvases, 1985, both signed 'Joseph Nechvatal', titled and dated on the reverse, with label from Brooke Alexander, NY. Joseph James Nechvatal (born 15 January 1951) is a post-conceptual digital artist and art theoretician who creates computer-assisted paintings and computer animations, often using custom-created computer viruses. Joseph Nechvatal was born in Chicago. He studied fine art and philosophy at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Cornell University and Columbia University, where he studied with Arthur Danto while serving as the archivist to the minimalist composer La Monte Young. From 1979, he exhibited his work in New York City, primarily at Galerie Richard, Brooke Alexander Gallery and Universal Concepts Unlimited. He has also solo exhibited in Berlin, Paris, Chicago, Cologne, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Aalst, Belgium, Youngstown, Senouillac, Lund, Toulouse, Turin, Arles and Munich. His work in the early 1980s chiefly consisted of post minimalist gray graphite drawings that were often photo mechanically enlarged. During that period he was associated with the artist group Colab and helped establish the non-profit cultural space ABC No Rio. In 1983 he co-founded the avant-garde electronic art music audio project Tellus Audio Cassette...
Canvas, Oil, Screen
Chinese Contemporary Art by Su Yu - Rope Swing
By Su Yu
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas Su Yu is a Chinese artist born in 1987 who lives and works in Beijing. He was an old student of prestigious art teachers as Shi Liang & Chen Danqing at Oil Paintin...
Canvas, Oil
$2,800
Krishna, Mythology, Acrylic, Tempera, Green, Yellow by Indian Artist "In Stock"
By Aditya Basak
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Aditya Basak - Untitled - 36 x 30 inches (unframed size) Acrylic & Tempera on Canvas ** This work will be shipped in a roll form. "Through the medium of the fantasy, Basak probes...
Canvas, Acrylic, Tempera
$2,567Sale Price|20% Off
Russian authorities. 2002, oil on canvas, acrylic, collage, 60x40 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Russian authorities. 2002, oil on canvas, acrylic, collage, 60x40 cm Igor Leontiev (1957) - one of the leading independent painters in Latvia Born in Riga, Latvia. Studied in the A...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$8,000Sale Price|33% Off
Flower Goddess - Figurative Paintings - Conceptual Art By Marc Zimmerman
Located in Carmel, CA
Primal woman of the jungle with a headdress of vibrant tropical plants Flower Goddess - Figurative Paintings - Conceptual Art By Marc Zimmerman This masterpiece is exhibited in th...
Oil
The Grand Crowning: Conceptual, Figurative Oil Painting, 180 x 240cm.
Located in BARCELONA, ES
I cannot anticipate an element that would define a new line. I have not encountered one yet. Each painter has a spectrum of ideas they stick to. I am largely a figural painter. I pai...
Oil, Canvas
Untitled
Located in Barcelona, CT
the painting is being offered with a work and authenticity certificate
Ink
Untitled
By Juan Canals
Located in Barcelona, CT
The painting is being offered with a work and authenticity certificate
Mixed Media
Tender Weight of Waiting 1 -21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait Modern
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The Tender Weight of Waiting captures a moment of calm shaped by unseen expectations. Surrounded by books centered on love, marriage, and self-preparation, the subject retreats into ...
Canvas, Archival Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Garment of Hope Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Conceptual, 21st Century
By John Ali
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Garment of Hope," a poignant masterpiece crafted by the skilled hands of artist John Ali, invites viewers into a world where innocence and resilience converge. This evocative artwor...
Canvas, Acrylic
Joyful Moment 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Children
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Oluwatobiloba A...
Paper, Watercolor, Coffee
Very Very Sweet Cherries: Original 180 x 240cm, Figural Painting
Located in BARCELONA, ES
I cannot anticipate an element that would define a new line. I have not encountered one yet. Each painter has a spectrum of ideas they stick to. I am largely a figural painter. I pai...
Oil, Canvas
Untitled
Located in Barcelona, CT
The painting is being offered with a work and authenticity certificate
Lithograph
$85,000
Monet Cane
By General Idea
Located in Toronto, Ontario
General Idea was formed in 1967 in Toronto and over the next nearly 30 years, the trio made a remarkable contribution to post-modern art. With their subversive approach and intere...
Mixed Media
"Backstage Rant" Conceptual Text Based Painting
By David Kramer
Located in New York, NY
This large scale conceptual text based painting by New York artist, David Kramer, features, in bold type the phase: "... I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY...
Oil, Canvas
Unreal Blue: Oil Painting, Conceptual Style, 21st Century, 240x180 cm
Located in BARCELONA, ES
I cannot anticipate an element that would define a new line. I have not encountered one yet. Each painter has a spectrum of ideas they stick to. I am largely a figural painter. I pai...
Oil, Canvas
Anatomical bodies in Indian ink on paper, antique papyrus, human being
By Peter Kramer
Located in Carballo, ES
Obsessive, meticulous, almost monastic, Kramer immerses us in a universe of graphic and sculptural repetitions. His drawings on kraft paper glued with rabbit glue recall both ancient...
Ink, Handmade Paper
$4,000
Conceptual Text Based Painting "Paved with Gold" (tax the poor, feed the rich)
By David Kramer
Located in New York, NY
38"x28" signed by the artist, David Kramer. (oil, acrylic, enamel, pencil on gessoed paper) In this conceptual work on paper, the title: "Paved with Gold" counters the text which ov...
Paper, Oil, Pencil
Untitled
Located in Barcelona, CT
the painting is being offered with a work and authenticity certificate
Mixed Media, Oil
Untitled
Located in Barcelona, CT
The painting is being offered with a work and authenticity certificate
Mixed Media
Weight of Return -21st Century Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern, Skate
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This piece captures the moment where emotion becomes stronger than ego. The running figure carries two contrasting elements (a skating machine symbolizing movement, escape, and the f...
Canvas, Archival Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Stripes as Far as the Eye Can See: Figurative Oil Painting, 180 x 240cm
Located in BARCELONA, ES
I cannot anticipate an element that would define a new line. I have not encountered one yet. Each painter has a spectrum of ideas they stick to. I am largely a figural painter. I pai...
Oil, Canvas
Untitled
Located in Barcelona, CT
the painting is being offered with a work and authenticity certificate
Mixed Media, Lithograph
Enduring Echoes 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Old Masters
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Enduring Echoes portrays a striking and vibrant portrait of a man, set against a bold and contrasting background. The artist uses a rich palette of purples, reds, and oranges, highli...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Radiance of Joy 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, African, Women, Happily Smiling
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide 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 Authen...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic