Skip to main content

Contemporary Figurative Paintings

CONTEMPORARY STYLE

Used to refer to a time rather than an aesthetic, Contemporary art generally describes pieces created after 1970 or being made by living artists anywhere in the world. This immediacy means it encompasses art responding to the present moment through diverse subjects, media and themes. Contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, performance, digital art, video and more frequently includes work that is attempting to reshape current ideas about what art can be, from Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s use of candy to memorialize a lover he lost to AIDS-related complications to Jenny Holzer’s ongoing “Truisms,” a Conceptual series that sees provocative messages printed on billboards, T-shirts, benches and other public places that exist outside of formal exhibitions and the conventional “white cube” of galleries.

Contemporary art has been pushing the boundaries of creative expression for years. Its disruption of the traditional concepts of art are often aiming to engage viewers in complex questions about identity, society and culture. In the latter part of the 20th century, contemporary movements included Land art, in which artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer create large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations and other works in soil and bodies of water; Sound art, with artists such as Christian Marclay and Susan Philipsz centering art on sonic experiences; and New Media art, in which mass media and digital culture inform the work of artists such as Nam June Paik and Rafaël Rozendaal.

The first decades of the 21st century have seen the growth of Contemporary African art, the revival of figurative painting, the emergence of street art and the rise of NFTs, unique digital artworks that are powered by blockchain technology.

Major Contemporary artists practicing now include Ai Weiwei, Cecily Brown, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker.

Find a collection of Contemporary prints, photography, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.

22
to
582
5,785
5,952
1,524
1,222
2,901
1,669
1,124
1,238
840
759
945
2,000
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
2,483
1,944
1,436
927
712
517
504
422
258
138
51
38
30
3,034
1,880
1,290
1,057
997
503
413
260
253
240
213
201
190
159
156
144
121
121
116
116
341
5,443
4
2
14
46
78
99
103
98
71
55
43
5,218
3,078
3,019
2,786
2,137
Item Ships From: USA
Style: Contemporary
'Reclining Nude - Resting Nude Large Contemporary Abstract Oil On Wood
Located in Carmel, CA
'Reclining Nude' is a captivating 28" x 65" oil on wood creation by artist Kristy Chettle, embodying the abstract figurative realm with a masterful interplay of color and form. Throu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood, Oil

Players
Located in Bayonne, NJ
This is an oil on Belgian linen painting by a Ukrainian-American artist, Valeriy Skrypka. Numbered by the artist 1156. A label from Joan Perkes Fine Art gallery on the back. Skrypka ...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of Benjamin - Fleur de Lis Background, Oil, Antique Florentine Frame
Located in Chicago, IL
Twenty-first century Classical Portraiture has a casual feel as seen here in "Portrait of Benjamin" by Peter Lupkin. The very masculine Benjamin, with his heavy beard, dark tousled ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

When Hell Freezes Over
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Hunter Potter Title: When Hell Freezes Over Medium: Oil on Drop Cloth Size: 60 x 70 Inches Year: 2022 Notes: Featured at his Solo show at Prima...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Fabric, Oil

"LEAVING VENICE" Oil Painting 40" x 30" inch by Khoren Keshishyan
Located in Culver City, CA
"LEAVING VENICE" Oil Painting 40" x 30" inch by Khoren Keshishyan Khoren Keshishyan is a celebrated American-Armenian painter and artist whose unique blend of architectural sensibil...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Original Abstract Expressionist - Hawaiian Mother and Baby
Located in Soquel, CA
Polynesian Mother and Baby - Original Abstract Expressionist Figurative Acrylic on Paper Abstract Expressionist figurative painting by Michael William Eggleston (American, 20th Cent...
Category

1980s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

"Splash I" - Original Acrylic Painting Evoking Water Motion, Energetic Abstract
Located in Denver, CO
Andrew Gray's "Splash I, 2024" is an energetic work from his 'Currents of Color' series, represented in his recent solo exhibition. Measuring 26 x 21 inches and framed to 27 x 22 inc...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Reflection of Self" - Acrylic Painting with Swimmer, Goggles, Pool Vibes
Located in Denver, CO
Andrew Gray's "Reflection of Self, 2024" is a poignant addition to the 'Currents of Color' series and is showcased in his solo exhibition. The 36 x 24-inch acrylic on canvas, encased...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Splash II" - Acrylic Painting Evoking Water Motion, Energetic Abstract
Located in Denver, CO
Andrew Gray’s "Splash II, 2024," a continuation of the 'Currents of Color' series, is presented within a thin white frame, enhancing the artwork to a total size of 27 x 22 inches. Th...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Stay in Your Lane" - Acrylic Painting of Dynamic Swimmer Preparing to Dive
Located in Denver, CO
Andrew Gray's "Stay In Your Lane, 2024" joins the 'Currents of Color' series with a resonant depiction of a Black man poised on the edge of a diving block, about to enter the water. ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

"CAVALIERY" Oil Painting 27.5" x 21.5" inch by Khoren Keshishyan
Located in Culver City, CA
"CAVALIERY" Oil Painting 27.5" x 21.5" inch by Khoren Keshishyan Khoren Keshishyan is a celebrated American-Armenian painter and artist whose unique blend of architectural sensibili...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Unbound" - Original Acrylic Painting featuring a Male Model in a Pool
Located in Denver, CO
Presenting "Unbound, 2024" by Andrew Gray, a piece from his 'Currents of Color' series. This acrylic on canvas measures 40 x 40 inches and is framed in a thin white border, bringing ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Figurative/Portrait_Abstract Figure_Oil/Acrylic/Canvas_Banou, Rebecca Jack_2024
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
Rebecca Jack "Banou" Oil & Acrylic on Canvas 40 x 40 in. 41.25 x 41.25 in. Framed __________________________ Rebecca Jack, an intuitive painter, creates vibrant, figurative works...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

"Beach Balls 2" - Original Painting of Colorful Summer Fun, Vibrant Acrylic Art
Located in Denver, CO
Andrew Gray’s “Beach Balls 2, 2024” is an exceptional piece from the vibrant 'Currents of Color' series, which was a highlight of his recent solo exhibition. Encased in a delicate wh...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Beach Balls 1" - Original Painting of Colorful Summer Fun, Vibrant Acrylic Art
Located in Denver, CO
Andrew Gray's "Beach Balls 1, 2024," part of the 'Currents of Color' series and solo exhibition, brings forth a unique narrative where the element of water becomes a canvas for histo...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"El Fud" (FRAMED) Painting 14.5" x 20" inch by Antonio Pelayo
Located in Culver City, CA
"El Fud" (FRAMED) Painting 14.5" x 20" inch by Antonio Pelayo Medium: Pencil on Paper, Acrylic Ink & Paint on Animation Acetate Size: 12" x 17" inch Size framed: 14.5" x 20" inch ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Pencil

"Condition Week" - Original Acrylic Painting Featuring two Male Swimmers
Located in Denver, CO
Andrew Gray’s series "Currents of Color" finds a mesmerizing intersection in "Condition Week, 2024", an acrylic on canvas that stands out at 61 x 43 inches, framed elegantly to 62 x ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

"Colored Floater" - Original Acrylic Painting Featuring a Male Figure
Located in Denver, CO
Andrew Gray's "Colored Floater, 2024" is a compelling acrylic on canvas that conveys the dynamism of the human form intertwined with the fluidity of water. Measuring 40 x 40 inches w...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Archer - Abstract Figurative Art by Lesley Spowart - Contemporary Painting
Located in Carmel, CA
Lesley Anne Spowart, an abstract artist hailing from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is renowned for her transformative creations that blur the boundaries...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Connected Red
Located in Dallas, TX
The "Heads“ for which he is known serve as his starting point for creative explorations. He uses different styles and mediums to explore the facets of these heads and delve deeper an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Beautiful Chaos
Located in Dallas, TX
Every shape of Johannes Ehemann's artworks is 100% unique. Together with his eye & passion for photography, Johannes developed a combination of abstract creation, deconstruction and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood, Oil, Acrylic

Organized Chaos
Located in Dallas, TX
Every shape of Johannes Ehemann's artworks is 100% unique. Together with his eye & passion for photography, Johannes developed a combination of abstract creation, deconstruction and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood, Oil, Acrylic

Hope
Located in Dallas, TX
Every shape of his artworks is 100% unique. Together with his eye & passion for photography, Johannes developed a combination of abstract creation, deconstruction and realistic paint...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Number Five
Located in Dallas, TX
Every shape of his artworks is 100% unique. Together with his eye & passion for photography, Johannes developed a combination of abstract creation, deconstruction and realistic paint...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Le Grand Picnic
Located in Dallas, TX
Every shape of his artworks is 100% unique. Together with his eye & passion for photography, Johannes developed a combination of abstract creation, deconstruction and realistic paint...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Ethereal by Susan Kinsella, Beach, Canoe Acrylic on Canvas Painting, Blue
Located in Atlanta, GA
In Susan's own words: "Painting provides balance in my life. For me, the process is a working meditation. It quiets my mind and soothes my soul. My paintings represent respite amid t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Color of Water by Susan Kinsella, Beach, Canoe Acrylic on Canvas Painting, Blue
Located in Atlanta, GA
In Susan's own words: "Painting provides balance in my life. For me, the process is a working meditation. It quiets my mind and soothes my soul. My paintings represent respite amid t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

Distance Beyond by Sherrie Russ Levine, Square Landscapr Painting
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sherrie Russ Levine is an artist noted for her paintings that capture the play of light and color as it appears in nature, and provide a welcome respite from the hectic environment o...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Wistful Moment by Sherrie Russ Levine, Vertical Landscapr Painting
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sherrie Russ Levine is an artist noted for her paintings that capture the play of light and color as it appears in nature, and provide a welcome respite from the hectic environment o...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Misty Morning by Sherrie Russ Levine, Square Landscapr Painting
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sherrie Russ Levine is an artist noted for her paintings that capture the play of light and color as it appears in nature, and provide a welcome respite from the hectic environment o...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Figurative_Animals_Birds From The Wind_2023_America Martin_Oil/Acrylic
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
America Martin "Birds From The Wind" Oil & Acrylic on Canvas 49.5 x 49.5 in. Framed Exploring the identity of both her namesake and country, LA-based America Martin draws inspiratio...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas, Acrylic

Moth Finder - Male Couple Embracing, Piercing Blue Eyes, Original Oil Painting
Located in Chicago, IL
A couple embraces, one looking directly out at the viewer. His piercing blue eyes are enhanced by the dark backdrop. A colorful moth sits upon his fingertips but he seems more enga...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Enigma - Surreal Scene With Figure in Muted Greys, Original Oil on Canvas Framed
Located in Chicago, IL
An enigma by definition is a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. Such is the subject matter of John Seubert, aka John Grey's painting of the same name. The sphynx-like figure stares out at the viewer holding what appears to be a large bowl. The surreal scene is framed in a repurposed frame that the artist has distressed and painted. It measures 25.5h x 21.5w inches. John Seubert Enigma, 2023 oil on canvas 20h x 16w in 50.80h x 40.64w cm JSE076 John Seubert b. 1958, Chicago, IL In the early Nineties, John Seubert was living in a former hotel in a high-rise building on St. James Place in Chicago. The apartment was tiny, as hotel rooms tend to be, and clad with paper-thin walls allowing sound to pass from one apartment to the other. At the time, John’s artwork consisted of pounding copper sheets into tables which was a noisy endeavor to say the least. Following several noise complaints from the neighbors, John had a dream that he was living in a ramshackle house but with plenty of room to work and no attached neighbors. The following day after lunching at the McDonalds in Lincoln Park, John wandered the neighborhood a came upon a shabby, falling-down old Victorian house. He located the real estate agent, put in an offer, and weeks later was pushing a shopping cart full of his belongings to his new home. This 144-year-old Painted Lady provided a blank canvas for this inimitable artist. For many years the house remained so empty that John was able to ride his Japanese fold up bike throughout the 1st floor. “Some people want to have sex...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Secret Cove (Diptych), 2023_Greg Miller_Acrylic/Collage/Panel_Text/Swimmer
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
GREG MILLER "Secret Cove (Diptych)" Acrylic, Collage on Panel 36 x 36 in. each 36 x 72 in. overall Drawing from the diverse cultural and geographic makeup of his Californian roots...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Acrylic, Panel

Garden of Rose and Gold by Jessica Pisano, Contemporary Bird Painting in Oil
Located in Atlanta, GA
Inspired by nature, Jessica Pisano’s interest in art began at a young age. It was the beautiful landscape of her hometown of Martha's Vineyard that served as her muse. She later purs...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Bloody Birthday - Female Nude, Bold Colors and Heavy Textured Paint on Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
A female nude dances in a private moment yet the figure in the background seems to be watching. The figure's face is obscured adding to the intrigue of the subject. Loose brushwork, thick with expressive, bold colors and strong contrast in shadows, add to the overall aesthetic. Georgia Hinaris...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Panel, Oil

Melancholia - Based on Albrecht Dürer, Modern Interpretation, Oil on Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
This painting, inspired by Albrecht Durer's "Melancholia 1," was done during the COVID Pandemic and the last year of the Trump presidency. Hopes for the ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

La-La Tempesta - Modern Interpretation of Giorgione's Renaissance Painting
Located in Chicago, IL
Lamenting the lack of clear queer imagery in Renaissance painting I decided to paint a Gay version of "La Tempesta" by Giorgione. The small creature in the for...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Panel, Oil

Embalming - Civil War Surgical Re-Enactment Painting of Injured Soldier on Table
Located in Chicago, IL
"During a battle reenactment At the Daniel Lady Farm in Gettysburg, I helped carry a soldier from the field to the hospital. This painting depicts that soldier as his leg is amputated. Clara Barton...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Linen

Half Men - Figures Cast in Shadow and Female Nude, Bold Colors, Heavy Paint
Located in Chicago, IL
Two figures, cast in shadows, stand in the foreground between a nude female figure in the background. Loose brushwork, thick with expressive, bold colors and strong contrast in shadows, add to the mystery of this gathering of characters. This artwork is mounted to a wood cradle and can hang directly on the wall. Please contact the gallery for framing options. Georgia Hinaris...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Panel, Oil

Submerged Mermaid - Dark Haired, Fair Skinned Mermaid Emerging From the Water
Located in Chicago, IL
A thwarted lover cannot conceal her shame so she jumps into the lake to become a fish but her beauty cannot be hidden - thus the legend of the mermaid is born. Here, Bruno Surdo bri...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Nero - Modern Portrait of Roman Emperor, Framed, Oil on Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
The fifth emperor of Rome, Nero was the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty line of emperors following his suicide. Nero was popular with the lower-class Roman citizens during his tim...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Panel, Oil

I Spit on Your Angst - Original Oil Painting on Panel with Nude Woman
Located in Chicago, IL
Jennifer unveils her bare breast, luring her unsuspecting rapist towards her so that she may seek her revenge. Should her morals be questioned? It makes no difference to her animal companion. This dog’s family was murdered and his response is to bite on a pair of dentures. Morality is exclusive to humanity. Nature simply carries forward. Featuring the films "I Spit on Your Grave", 1978, "High Tension", 2003 and "Angst", 1983. Georgia Hinaris I Spit on Your Angst oil on panel 28h x 56w in 71.12h x 142.24w cm GHS012 Horror films are the most profound and visceral of films, garnering the most extreme responses: vehement hatred and cultish admiration. Horror elicits a controlled neurosis while exposing the rejected weaknesses and brutalities of humanity. I embrace the power of cinema and its ability to alter perception, as it is media that is a reflection of our primordial desires. I’m fascinated by concepts involving the limits of human perception, the ambiguity of morality in relation to nature, the paradoxical nature of reality, and the human struggle to reckon with uncertainty. Humans bear the burden of being as we are, all caught in a flux of unbelievable cognitive abilities and animalistic instincts. Every painting is in its own universe and I cater to it. Nothing is precious. Chaos is embraced. Georgia Hinaris, b. 1993, Chicago, Illinois Education 2019 MFA Painting, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY 2015 BFA Painting, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Exhibitions 2020 Summer Exhibition, Flowers Gallery, New York, NY Summer Juried Exhibition, Prince Street Gallery, New York, NY 2019 Di Donna Gallery, New York, NY AXA Art Prize, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA, Richard Gray...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Panel, Oil

Incredulity -American Civil War Soldier, After Caravaggio, Original Oil on Linen
Located in Chicago, IL
Caravaggio painted "The Incredulity of St. Thomas" with Christ looking down as he pilots Thomas’ hand to his side. Not looking at Thomas or the others, but to his wound. He seems interested in the proof of his embodiment. He wants to know that this is real. He too, questions his body, his life and death. As for the paintings, William uses materials and methods of the Civil War era. The linen on which he paints was in use at that time as well as the tubed oil paints. He is one of the few artists who tacks his canvas to the stretchers using similar tacks that would have been used by Winslow Homer. While he leaves the works unframed for this reason, the artwork could certainly be framed. This artwork is unframed. Contact the gallery for framing options. Reenactment is a material culture where the feel of authentic wool has transformative power. The closer you can recreate the “kit” of the authentic soldier the closer you are to that past. In the pursuit of touching the past there are questions- Is this real? Did this happen? Is this me? Is this us? The gesture of piloting a finger into the side represents these repetitive questions. - William Blake Known for his highly charged depictions of Civil War reenactments, William Blake’s powerful paintings show the recursive bodies of reenactors as they gesture across time. Participating in over 40 reenactment events, Blake currently interprets as the artist-correspondent Winslow Homer at these battle reenactments. He immerses himself in the materiality of his own obsession by constructing period clothes, camping on battlefields, and documenting the reenactment similar to Homer’s documentation of the authentic war. The figures in the paintings reverberate the past with respect and with a desire to educate, humble, and play. With each annual iteration of American Civil War...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Linen

Mage Love Flower - Surreal Symbolism in Highly Detailed Original Painting
Located in Chicago, IL
This painting, like each of the paintings in the Purple Dawn series, is based on an earlier work that was lost or destroyed in the course of time. Feeling that I wanted to finish wha...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Panel, Acrylic

Peonies in White Light - Oil Painting with 12K White Gold Leaf, Blond Female
Located in Chicago, IL
The blond figure, along with the floating peonies, combine to explore the dynamic between the eternal and the temporal, as well as our own relationship with nature. The gold leaf adds a three-dimensional softness as well as a glow upon which the female figure floats. Her skin is seductively painted; her teal dress falls off her shoulder; white peonies float by; the scene is set for a dreamy visual feast. The painting is framed in a gilt frame. Michael Van Zeyl Peonies in White Light oil and 12K gold leaf on linen wrapped panel 24h x 36w in 60.96h x 91.44w cm EDUCATION 1987-1990 American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL 1999-2000 American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL - Life Drawing & Oil Painting Palette & Chisel Academy, Chicago, IL - Painting & Life Drawing Art Students League, New York, NY - Painting EXHIBITIONS 2017 “Anne Harris...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Silverstone Yellow Jasmine - Original Oil Painting of Woman and Floating Flowers
Located in Chicago, IL
ARTIST STATEMENT I'm currently working with figures and portraits and combine human forms with botanicals to explore our relationship with natural elements. Capturing the movement of the figure or an expression of a living soul presents endless possibilities and inspiration enabling me to blend with different themes. I've studied classical methods of oil painting with a focus on the 17th century Dutch Masters. The subjects I am drawn to are individuals with character, athletic figures and blooming floral arrangements with elegance and ethereal beauty. The reference for my work comes from my direct observation of natural day light in my north light studio illuminating and blanketing the form of my subjects. I am fascinated and challenged by the process of transforming a flat, blank canvas into the illusion of dimensional form, atmosphere and mood. That process is usually well thought out but sometimes painted direct and use intuition to complete my idea. Both of these methods present challenges but each way fills the void of the other and opens up the possibility of new visual ideas to meet my objective. BIOGRAPHY For Michael Van Zeyl, portraiture is much more than a one-sided translation of the artist’s point of view taking form in a subject. It’s an engaging visual dialogue that renders a soul in light, shadow and pigment, continuing the conversation for future generations to appreciate. While subtle observation and technical skill are only part of Michael’s gift, his experience has honed his craft to the highest standard. His talents were apparent by age seven and he spent subsequent decades mastering a wide range of painting techniques. In particular, 17th century Dutch and 19th century impressionist styles have resonated with him and surfaced in his own works. His formal training began at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, continuing on at Chicago’s Historic Palette & Chisel Academy and the Art Students League in New York, where he studied with the most accomplished artists who also paint directly from life under natural light. Michael is currently a faculty and board member at the Palette & Chisel and has been the club’s most popular instructor for several years. Michael’s work is already appreciated in many public and private collections, such as the United States District Court, University of Chicago, DePaul University School of Law, Chicago Theological Seminary and American Hotel Register. He has received awards from the Portrait Society of America, The Artists Guild, the Oil Painters of America and the 2014 recipient of the Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship for Midwestern Artists. EDUCATION 1987-1990 American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL 1999-2000 American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL - Life Drawing & Oil Painting Palette & Chisel Academy, Chicago, IL - Painting & Life Drawing Art Students League, New York, NY - Painting EXHIBITIONS 2017 “Anne Harris...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Panel, Oil

Paradox of St. Sebastian - Contemporary Oil Painting with Graffiti and Shackles
Located in Chicago, IL
This figure of St. Sebastian has long been a favorite subjects for artists. In this modern interpretation we see St. Sebastian shackled in chains and leather restraints against an industrial graffiti covered wall. He gazes upwards while his body is pummeled with rubber suction cup darts. Historical references are ripe for interpretation in this painting. St. Sebastian is known as the patron saint for athletes, soldiers and warriors. He is said to have survived his initial wounds from arrows by way of divine intervention only to be beaten to death later after warning the emperor of his sins. St. Sebastian is known to be a protector from plague. Bruno Surdo Paradox of St. Sebastian oil on canvas 60h x 36w in 152.40h x 91.44w cm Bruno A. Surdo b. Chicago, 1963 EXHIBITIONS 2018 Liberation, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL Blood Sport, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL Art on Paper 2018, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Pier 36, New York, NY SOFA Chicago 2018, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 2017 POP!ARAZZI, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL Coming Attractions, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL 2015 SOFA Chicago 2015, Ann Nathan Gallery, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL Bruno Surdo: Allegories, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2014 Bruno Surdo: Respond, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Modern Metaphors, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, IL 2013 Bruno Surdo: Revelations, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Vice + Virtue, Northern Illinois University Museum of Art 2012 Contemporary Realism Biennial, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN 2011 Bruno Surdo, University of St. Francis School of Creative Arts, Fort Wayne, IN Uncensored, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2010 Art Chicago 2010, Ann Nathan Gallery, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL 2009 Art Chicago 2009, Ann Nathan Gallery, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL 2007 Bruno Surdo, Art Institute of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 2006 Context/Content: Making Meaning with the Figure, University of Arkansas, Conway, AR Creative Imaginings, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL Bruno Surdo: Cycles, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2005 Art Chicago 2005, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2004 Tragedy, Memory, & Honor, Richard M. Daley Center, Chicago, IL Art Chicago 2004, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Group Show, Arcadia Gallery, New York, NY Drawings VII, Koplin Del Rio Gallery, West Hollywood, CA Armory Show, New York Armory, New York, NY 2003 Paintings & Drawings, College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL The Art Show, New York, NY Bruno Surdo: New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Art Chicago 2003, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2003-10 International Show of Contemporary Artists, Chicago Art Open, Chicago, IL 2002 Bruno Surdo: Perception of Appearance, Frye Museum, Seattle, WA Tragedy, Memory, & Honor, Richard M. Daley Center, Chicago, IL Bruno Surdo: Transcendence, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Art Chicago 2002, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL Tragedy, Memory, & Honor, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2001 Magic Vision, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR 1998 Evanston and Vicinity Artists, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL 1996 Bruno Surdo: A Personal View, University of Wisconsin, Kenosha, WI 1995 Bruno Surdo: Recent Works, College of Lake County, IL AIDS in Our Society, Loyola University, Chicago, IL Bruno Surdo: Life, Struggle, and Hope, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL 2001 Magic Vision, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR Bruno Surdo: Dualities of Life, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 1999 Group Show, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 1998 Group Exhibition, Fine Arts Building Gallery, Chicago, IL 1995 Spiritual Inquiries, Struve Gallery, Chicago, IL 1994 Recent Works, The 14th Annual Juried Exhibition for Lake County Artists, Grayslake, IL Go Figure, Figurative Works on Paper, Chicago Printmakers Collaborative, Chicago, IL SELECTED COLLECTIONS The Re-Birth of Venus, Temporary Loan, Fort Wayne Museum of Art Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR College of Lake County, Greyslake, IL Flashpoint Academy, Chicago IL John Robert Wiltgen Design Shoemaker Ruud Collection Julie & Thomas Danilek Michael Vozzella and Mike Silver Benjamin Fernandez Tom Braake Betsy Colburn Michael Diemand & Lor LaRose Michael Staab & Kathy Brock Bruce Leep Frank Tzurect Mary Foley Rosalyn Carlson Mimmy Turney Janet Long Halstead Billy Hunt Carol Galli Myles Kerrigan Honorable & Mrs. Edwin Berman Theodore Gage Northrop Art Museum Past Present & Future Company Dr. James & Peggy Kemmler Salvatore Monastero Nix & Virginia Lauridsen Joel Miller David & Marlene Zerkel Ann & Andy Abel Claudia Rush Marc Miller Leonard Goldberg Lawrence Pucci Howard Tullman Collection Susan & Manny Kramer James Rinnert Richar Interiors Michael & Nancy Colt Khalid Altijir Dr. Joe Grodman Beryl & Jack Gore Larry Wolf & Eric Naegle Chuck Wolandi Jack Schwab & David Sandelin Thomas Kaczmarek Marti Dinerstein Craig & Michael Golden...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Love Knot - Archaic Irish Manuscript Inspired Erotic Artwork of Entwined Figures
Located in Chicago, IL
Painting Description: This painting began as an adaptation of a sketch I made after figures in an old Irish manuscript- probably The Book of Kells or Li...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Panel, Acrylic

Richard E Howard (1912 - 1996) Massachusetts.
Located in New York, NY
Richard E Howard (1912 - 1996) Massachusetts. Medium: Gouache / Paper Frame Size: 19.5" x 19" Size: 13" x 13 " Condition:great, no visible damage Provenance: ...
Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

"My Aquarius Heart" Colorful Pop Art Oil Painting with White Floater Frame
Located in New York, NY
Motivated by bold color and fast brushwork, we are moved by the simplicity and thick textured oil paints in these works. Shaoul’s “My Heart Collection” is a vibrant and energetic dis...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Glass, Mixed Media, Oil, Board

"Girl in Cool Blue" Original Oil Painting 36 in x 36 in
Located in Boca Raton, FL
"Girl in Cool Blue" is a figurative landscape of a young woman stepping into the tranquil turquoise waters of an island cove. A holiday in St. Bart's where everyday is spent in a bat...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Balaguer 8 Car Races Le Mans 1960 Ferrari 250 TR59 orig. acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
BALAGUER , Alex ( Barcelona 1968 ) During early childhood, Àlex Balaguer began to sketch motorcars symbolic of Maranello’s trademark vehicle. Self-taught in the art world, Balaguer d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Persona A' - Woman Figurative Oil Painting - Abstract
Located in Chicago, IL
Oil on canvas 39 x 32 inches Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, Kostis Georgiou studied stage scenery in Florence (1981-1982), painting and sculpture in the School of Fine Arts, Athen...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Giant Egret
Located in Atlanta, GA
Ana Guzman is known for work that is fresh, colorful, vibrant, and often playful. Her drawing resonates with electric energy, and her subject matter has the ability to transport the ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Interior-Red Roses and Birds
Located in Atlanta, GA
Ana Guzman is known for work that is fresh, colorful, vibrant, and often playful. Her drawing resonates with electric energy, and her subject matter has the ability to transport the ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Dancers #3
Located in Southampton, NY
Inspired by various facets of his own life story, Salvadoran-American artist J Oscar Molina creates work that seamlessly bridges cultures, industries, and feelings. With a commitment...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Dancers #2
Located in Southampton, NY
Inspired by various facets of his own life story, Salvadoran-American artist J Oscar Molina creates work that seamlessly bridges cultures, industries, and feelings. With a commitment...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Contemporary figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Contemporary 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 America Martin, Alexandru Rădvan, Sax Berlin, and Adam Mysock. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Fabric and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Contemporary figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 0.75 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 $13 and tops out at $254,827, while the average work sells for $3,411.

Recently Viewed

View All