Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Perhaps one of the most influential contemporary art movements, Pop art emerged in the 1950s. In stark contrast to traditional artistic practice, its practitioners drew on imagery from popular culture — comic books, advertising, product packaging and other commercial media — to create original Pop art paintings, prints and sculptures that celebrated ordinary life in the most literal way.
ORIGINS OF POP ART
- Started in Britain in the 1950s, flourished in 1960s-era America
- “This is Tomorrow,” at London's Whitechapel Gallery in 1956, was reportedly the first Pop art exhibition
- A reaction to postwar mass consumerism
- Transitioning away from Abstract Expressionism
- Informed by neo-Dada and artists such as Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg; influenced postmodernism and Photorealism
CHARACTERISTICS OF POP ART
- Bold imagery
- Bright, vivid colors
- Straightforward concepts
- Engagement with popular culture
- Incorporation of everyday objects from advertisements, cartoons, comic books and other popular mass media
POP ARTISTS TO KNOW
- Richard Hamilton
- Andy Warhol
- Marta Minujín
- Claes Oldenburg
- Eduardo Paolozzi
- Rosalyn Drexler
- James Rosenquist
- Peter Blake
- Roy Lichtenstein
ORIGINAL POP ART ON 1STDIBS
The Pop art movement started in the United Kingdom as a reaction, both positive and critical, to the period’s consumerism. Its goal was to put popular culture on the same level as so-called high culture.
Richard Hamilton’s 1956 collage Just what is it that makes today’s homes so different, so appealing? is widely believed to have kickstarted this unconventional new style.
Pop art works are distinguished by their bold imagery, bright colors and seemingly commonplace subject matter. Practitioners sought to challenge the status quo, breaking with the perceived elitism of the previously dominant Abstract Expressionism and making statements about current events. Other key characteristics of Pop art include appropriation of imagery and techniques from popular and commercial culture; use of different media and formats; repetition in imagery and iconography; incorporation of mundane objects from advertisements, cartoons and other popular media; hard edges; and ironic and witty treatment of subject matter.
Although British artists launched the movement, they were soon overshadowed by their American counterparts. Pop art is perhaps most closely identified with American Pop artist Andy Warhol, whose clever appropriation of motifs and images helped to transform the artistic style into a lifestyle. Most of the best-known American artists associated with Pop art started in commercial art (Warhol made whimsical drawings as a hobby during his early years as a commercial illustrator), a background that helped them in merging high and popular culture.
Roy Lichtenstein was another prominent Pop artist that was active in the United States. Much like Warhol, Lichtenstein drew his subjects from print media, particularly comic strips, producing paintings and sculptures characterized by primary colors, bold outlines and halftone dots, elements appropriated from commercial printing. Recontextualizing a lowbrow image by importing it into a fine-art context was a trademark of his style. Neo-Pop artists like Jeff Koons and Takashi Murakami further blurred the line between art and popular culture.
Pop art rose to prominence largely through the work of a handful of men creating works that were unemotional and distanced — in other words, stereotypically masculine. However, there were many important female Pop artists, such as Rosalyn Drexler, whose significant contributions to the movement are recognized today. Best known for her work as a playwright and novelist, Drexler also created paintings and collages embodying Pop art themes and stylistic features.
Read more about the history of Pop art and the style’s famous artists, and browse the collection of original Pop art paintings, prints, photography and other works for sale on 1stDibs.
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Spray Paint, Wood, Acrylic, Archival Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Wood Panel
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Resin, Plexiglass, Ink, Spray Paint
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Glue, Mixed Media, Oil, Spray Paint, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Glue, Mixed Media, Oil, Spray Paint, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Wax, Oil, Panel
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Ink, Mixed Media, Oil, Spray Paint, Acryli...
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Wood Panel, Polyurethane
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Metal
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Wire
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Metal
Artist Comments
Three stylized figures stand against a vibrant orange background. Their animated features and exaggerated use of color infuse the scene with personality and whimsy. Artist John McCabe created this artwork as a promotional poster for the band Good at Rockets' performance at the Orange County Fair in 2024.
About the Artist
Artist John McCabe produces graphic illustrations that take a progressive spin on pop art. He typically takes influence from his music to create vibrant caricatures of people, places, and things significant to the industry. Growing up, one of the highlights for John when buying music is the artwork on the packages. Inspired by that, he created art for his first EP, and every subsequent release includes artwork for each single, plus a front and back cover for the record. "The pieces are normally tied or related to the lyrics of a particular song," shares John. "In the case where I have made a series structured around music, a unique narrative unfolds within each." As imaginative as he is, John usually paints from the island surface of his kitchen or the dining room table. His music studio also doubles as a work area where he does pre-sketches. John has had several profiles from VoyageLA, Shoutout LA, and Queen City Arts and Sounds. His record label has featured his works along with his eclectic music releases.
Words that describe this painting: band, stripes, polka dot, men, trio, small, group, friends, musicians, people, pop, fashion, acrylic painting, orange
Green Room...
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Ink, Watercolor
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Wood, Acrylic, Archival Paper
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Charcoal, Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Wood Panel, Archival Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Ink, Watercolor
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Plastic, Wood
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Stencil
20th Century Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Enamel
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Gesso, Canvas, Linen, Varnish, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Acrylic, Screen
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Metal
Late 20th Century Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Ink, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Gold Leaf
1960s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A woman sits cross-legged, peering at the city through binoculars. The scene shows a strong sense of composition and color interplay, with contrasting hues and ...
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A biker firmly grips the handlebars. Cropped just above the wrist, the composition draws attention to the dynamic interplay of form and pattern. The garment, wi...
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Ink, Watercolor
1980s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Synthetic, Ink, Polymer
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Spray Paint, Canvas, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Ink, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Newsprint
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Oil Pastel, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Spray Paint, Acrylic, Wood Panel
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Spray Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Varnish, Acrylic, Cotton Canvas
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Wood, Spray Paint, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Board
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Spray Paint, Plywood, Acrylic
2010s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Wax, Oil, Wood Panel