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.
Axe Intérieur, Large Abstract Oil Painting, Signed, 2026, Textured
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Inner Axis (Axe intérieur) is a masterful work by contemporary French artist Sophie Dumont, exploring the delicate tension between architectural structure and painterly freedom. True...
Oil
Confluence des formes - Large Abstract Oil Painting, Signed, 2026, French
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Artist Presentation Sophie Dumont is a French contemporary painter whose work explores abstraction through memory, architecture, and the silent presence of objects. Working primaril...
Canvas, Oil
$472Sale Price|20% Off
Sakura glamor // Blooming trees in spring / good vibes / flower oil painting /
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this artwork you can feel the vitality and mildness of spring. The blossoms emerge in dynamic strokes, merging impressionism with expressionism's spirit. This painting is ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,416
"Blooming Current" impressionistic painting, colorful flowers on cotton canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Look at the flowers. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.” — Osho Blooming Current reflects the energy of nature through an expressive composition of blossoms and branc...
Canvas, Linen, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$544Sale Price|20% Off
Apotheosis of Twilight, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, 61x80 cm
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
Painting on canvas constructed through overlapping layers of color. The composition is organized by chromatic fields that intersect and extend in different directions. The surface pr...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Odyssey in Pink, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, Signed, 100x78 cm
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
Abstract painting with a rich texture and interwoven layers of color. Pink tones predominate, enhanced by flashes of other colors and a geometric element. The composition displays a ...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$750
Message of Eternity Abstract Painting, 2010s, New, 77x61 cm
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
Painting with a composition of overlapping planes and figures. The scene presents a space constructed through geometric and organic forms in relationships of crossing and continuity....
Canvas, Oil
Encounters at Dawn: Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
"Encounters at Dawn" – Contemporary Abstract Painting on Canvas in Violet Tones with Figuration is an abstract oil painting that explores color field and abstract expressionism. The ...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$2,124
Warm Evening. Semi-abstract floral painting, warm color, large, horizontal
Located in Oslo, NO
What we see here is not an ordinary floral landscape, but a state of time, that brief moment between day and night, when the air still retains warmth, but the light has already becom...
Canvas, Acrylic
ABSTRACT 2565
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured vibrant emotion into layers of soft pastels, letting acrylics dance freely across the canvas. The swirling pinks, yellows, and blues express an uplifting ener...
Oil, Acrylic
$6,491
Dialogues geometriques, Abstract textured, French artist, Oil paint Contemporary
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Oil on canvas Unframed size: 100 x 81 cm (39.37 x 31.88 in) Framed size: 107 x 88 cm (42.12 x 34.64 in) Choice of natural oak or black floater frame Year: 2025 Signed lower right Cer...
Oil
$2,738Sale Price|20% Off
l'Atelier en suspens, Abstract, Textured, Geometric, Contemporary, French art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
In The Studio in Suspension, Sophie Dumont reimagines the atmosphere of a working artist’s studio, where canvases, color fields, and subtle objects appear to hover in a poised, quiet...
Oil
Large Vintage American Modernist Framed Abstract Expressionist Signed Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large vintage American modernist oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Handsomely framed. Excellent condition, ready to hang and ...
Oil, Canvas
Vintage American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Large Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Measuring: 24 by 36 inches overall. Excellent condition, ready to hang ...
Oil, Canvas
Abstract 2562
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I let emotions flow freely through sweeping layers of soft blues and warm beiges, blending impressionistic textures with abstract forms. The contrasts evoke a serene y...
Oil, Acrylic
$330Sale Price|20% Off
Small abstract expressive nature painting wood frame "Vibrant essence of spring"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressive nature painting, created by French artist Natalya Mougenot, bursts with color and emotion. Titled "The Vibrant Essence of Spring", it captures ...
Canvas, Acrylic
The Emerald Archipelago by Frédérique Domergue - Contemporary abstract painting
Located in Paris, FR
The Emerald Archipelago is a unique painting by French contemporary artist Frédérique Domergue. This painting is made with oxidized bronze leaves on aluminium panel, patina fixed wit...
Bronze
$2,454Sale Price|20% Off
"Floral Landscape" very large diptych on linen, colorful impressionistic art
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Look at the flowers. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are." - Osho „Floral Landscape“ is a captivating diptych with two parts, each measuring 80x80x2 cm/31,5x31,5x0,8 in...
Spray Paint, Canvas, Acrylic
$4,130
Entre 2 calmes, Contemporary textured Oil on Canvas, Abstract, Geometric art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
First Lights (Premières Lueurs) is an emblematic work by contemporary French artist Sophie Dumont, capturing the fleeting moment when day breaks over an abstract landscape. True to h...
Oil
Sunkissed by Kirsten Jackson, modern contemporary colorful abstract
Located in DE
Kirsten Jackson creates vibrant abstract paintings filled with sunny color blocks, showcasing her contemporary and original style. Fiercely independent, this Australian artist aims t...
Varnish, Acrylic
$1,125Sale Price|25% Off
"Spring" Floral Art
Located in Zofingen, AG
Abstract textured acrylic painting on canvas 90x90x2 cm (35,4 x 35,4 x0,8inches). Mixed Media on gallery wrapped canvas. The work is ready to hang. No framing required. The sides of ...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
Signed Antique Painting: 'Still Life of Fruit and Flowers'
Located in St. Albans, GB
Mary Armour 1902 – 2000 Signed. Oil Paint on Board. Picture size: 24 x 24 inch (61 x 61 cm) Mary Nicol Neill Armour, née Steel, (27 March 1902 – 5 July 2000) was a Scottish landsc...
Board, Oil
$519Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract expressive floral painting on canvas "Floral symphony in color""
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Floral Symphony in Color" is a vivid, expressive contemporary painting created by French artist Natalya Mougenot, and it forms part of her Floral series. In this series, Natalya ble...
Canvas, Acrylic
$434Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract expressive floral roses acrylic painting on paper "Pink blooms"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This vibrant floral abstract artwork titled "Pink Blooms," created by French artist born in Kazakhstan, beautifully captures the essence of blooming roses through bold and expressive...
Paper, Acrylic
$1,888
"Potpourri III" colorful 3d impressionistic painting with flowers on canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Look at the flowers. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are." — Osho Dimensions: 90 × 90 × 2 cm / 35.4 × 35.4 × 0.8 in Potpourri celebrates the joyful abundance of color ...
Canvas, Linen, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
"Easter Lily & Spring Dancers" - Figurative Floral Abstract
Located in Soquel, CA
Vivid Berkeley school figurative abstract titled "Easter Lily and Spring Dancers" by Patricia Gren Hayes (American, 20th Century), 1976 with wash and varnish added 1983. Signed "Gren Hayes", titled and dated "1976 washes, 1983 washes/demo" on verso. Presented in a new bronze colored frame. Image size: 23.5"H x 29.5"W. Bay Area Figurative / Bay Area Feminist Art Movement artist, Patricia Gren-Hayes, studied at Winnipeg Public Art School in 1950. She received early recognition in Museum and Gallery competitions and exhibitions and was awarded a Special Education in Art recognition by the Winnipeg Museum of Fine Art, and was awarded a scholarship to the Banff College of Fine Art. Further studies were at The University of Manitoba. She was a Member of Winnipeg Free Press Sketch Club and was a Cartoonist and paste-up for a French-English bi-weekly, in Eastern Canada; She studied outdoor impressionism in New York in 1960; in 1962, attended The California College of Arts and Crafts, and in 1976 B.A., U.C. Berkeley where she studied under Elmer Bischoff, David Simpson, Joan Brown, Felix Ruvolo, Yolanda Lopez and Vincent Perez...
Canvas, Oil
$2,068Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 2297
Located in Zofingen, AG
This high quality acrylic painting is done on gallery wrapped canvas, with no need for framing, as the edges are painted. You will receive it "ready to hang", with a hook on the back...
Acrylic
$472Sale Price|20% Off
Spring Impression near Mount Fuji / oil impasto painting, Sakura bloom.
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting combines the pure beauty of nature with an impressionistic view of spring. Blooming can't just be seen, it can be felt. This art work vibrates with the ener...
Oil
$1,125Sale Price|25% Off
"Floral Alchemy"
Located in Zofingen, AG
Abstract textured acrylic painting on canvas 90x90x2 cm (35,4 x 35,4 x0,8inches). Mixed Media on gallery wrapped canvas. The work is ready to hang. No framing required. The sides of ...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$519Sale Price|20% Off
А Quiet Еvening in Italy // oil original impasto 3d painting; impressionism.
Located in Zofingen, AG
This original oil impasto painting was created in impressionism style. The artwork is dedicated to the beauty of Italian nature and the feelings of romanticism it evokes. It mast...
Oil
New York Misses You Too, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
"The source of inspiration for this painting came as I was walking in Manhattan in the rain," says artist Onelio Marrero. "This street is based on 8th Avenue ...
Oil
Signals - original artwork - abstract art - contemporary painting
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$1,593Sale Price|25% Off
Contemporary large abstract expressionist nature painting canvas "Floral breath"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Floral Breath” is a vibrant contemporary abstract floral painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, celebrating spring renewal through expressive brushwork and luminous color field...
Acrylic, Canvas
Abstract 2288
Located in Zofingen, AG
There’s something ethereal, almost magical, about contemporary paintings. The incredible Expressionism bleeds through the canvas, transforming any room into an entirely new experienc...
Acrylic
After the Rain, Tennessee Tobacco Farm, Oil Painting
By Doug Cosbie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
In this painting, artist Doug Cosbie features small-scale American tobacco farms with their fields. Each has a curing shed that is attached to the main structure. "The atmosphere is humid after the rain, and the air has an overwhelming but delightfully sweet and pungent smell."
About the Artist
Artist Doug Cosbie presents the vibrancy found in nature with his impressionist, rural architecture centered artwork. Longing to create something that connects with people, Cosbie spent countless years perfecting how he portrays the world on canvas. Within his journey, he studied as an apprentice in the studios of Sam Black and Jack Shadbolt. As a plein air artist, Doug's studio is a portable pochade box...
Oil
Between Light and Bloom - Contemporary floral colorful impressionistic painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
Between Light and Bloom Contemporary Floral Abstraction Cotton canvas, 90 × 90 × 2 cm In Between Light and Bloom, Anastassia Skopp investigates the t...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$1,416
"Garden of Light" impressionistic painting, colorful flowers on linen canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Look at the flowers. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.” — Osho Garden of Light is a contemporary floral painting inspired by the energy of nature. Slender branches m...
Canvas, Linen, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$8,970
Geometrie de la pensee- Large Abstract Library – Oil on canvas, Contemporary art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Oil on canvas – 39.37 × 39.37 in (100 × 100 cm) Framed: approx. 42.13 × 42.13 in (107 × 107 cm) Frame options: natural wood or black Year: 2025 – Signed front Certificate of authenti...
Canvas, Oil
Vintage American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Framed Original Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist abstract expressionist oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Measuring: 25 by 19 inches overall. Handsomely fr...
Oil, Canvas
L'Atelier Venard en Hiver - Abstract Interior and Landscape Oil by Claude Venard
Located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Signed oil on canvas interior overlooking a landscape by French abstract painter Claude Venard. The piece depicts an interior scene with a table in the foreground. Amongst the items ...
Oil, Canvas
Rhapsody in Yellow - oil on canvas - abstract
Located in Burlingame, CA
Color is always central in Henriques' delightful compositions that are at once, balanced, harmonious, and a toast to life. 'Rhapsody in Yellow' with its bright and pure hues shimmer...
Canvas, Oil
Vintage American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Framed MCM Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist abstract oil painting. Oil on board. Signed. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Measuring: 15 by 19 inches overall. Handsomely framed in...
Oil
$424Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract expressive floral acrylic painting on paper "Flourish of colors"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
The abstract floral artwork "Flourish of Colors" by French artist Natalya Mougenot is part of her Floral series. This vibrant painting bursts with energy, capturing a rich array of c...
Paper, Acrylic
"Midnight Blossoms" impressionistic painting, dark blue flowers on linen canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Look at the flowers. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.” — Osho Fine branches carry clusters of deep blue blossoms and buds that drift gently across the canvas. Layer...
Canvas, Linen, Spray Paint, Acrylic
The magic of Jasmines. Foliage Original oil painting on canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
This original painting from collection «Unity with Nature» in which the theme of herbal spirits helping us to remain in harmony with nature speaks on a symbolic level about the re...
Canvas, Oil
$937Sale Price|25% Off
Coral Gems, Bauhaus Arches & Curves, Squared Pixel, Geometric Red, Blue Diptych
Located in Barcelona, ES
This vibrant painting of Bauhaus reminiscences celebrates the bold colors, geometric forms, and architectural elegance of the Bauhaus movement. This captivating artwork combines dyna...
Paper, Acrylic
$584Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Color Field Composition, Oil on Canvas, 78x61 cm, Signed
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
Abstract Composition with Color Fields is an original oil painting on canvas by Colombian artist Luis Xiua, created in his studio in Bogotá. The work explores the relationship betwee...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Untitled 01 - Contemporary, Abstract Painting, White, Monochrome, Organic
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
Untitled 01, 2017 Mixed media: white oil painting, adhesive on canvas (Signed on reverse) 46.85 H x 39.37 W in. 119 H x 100 W cm Zsolt Berszán treats the first layer of the drawing ...
Canvas, Adhesive, Oil
The Energy Within Nature. Diptych Abstract paintings in the wood gold frame
Located in Zofingen, AG
Diptych of The paintings was created alongside my tropical series and does not depict a specific scene, but rather abstract forms and shades of nature. Contemplating these natural mo...
Canvas, Acrylic
Pratyabhigyan, Acrylic on Canvas by Contemporary Indian Artist "In Stock"
By Amit Kalla
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Amit Kalla - Pratyabhigyan - 36 x 72 inches (unframed size) Acrylic on Canvas, 2021 ** Free Shipment ...... will be delivered in rolled form. Style : Kalla’s work can be represented...
Canvas, Acrylic
Layers of Silence: Abstract Acrylic Painting on Canvas, 100x100 cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
Elevate your interior with "Layers of Silence," a stunning original abstract painting by renowned contemporary artist Alex Senchenko. This piece is a masterclass in texture and depth...
Oil, Acrylic
Nature’s Flow. Abstract square painting in the wood gold frame
Located in Zofingen, AG
-The painting was created alongside my tropical series and does not depict a specific scene, but rather abstract forms and shades of nature. Contemplating these natural motifs always...
Canvas, Acrylic
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
Important and Large Antique American Abstract Expressionist Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Nicely painted mid century abstract oil painting by Ken Munowitz. Oil on canvas. Framed.
Canvas, Oil
Untitled
Located in PARIS, FR
This original painting by Sigismond Kolos-Vary, dated 1982, reflects the artist’s distinctive abstract visual language. The composition is built around a dynamic interplay of geometr...
Canvas, Oil
$1,199Sale Price|20% Off
Complementary Patterns 18 - Large Abstract Pastel Painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
Original artwork description: * 2 pieces diptych * Original unique artwork * Ready to hang with the edges painted. * Size: 160x80X2 cm - 2 PCS of 80x80x2 cm, 63x31.5x0.8 inches - 2 P...
Canvas, Acrylic
Magic 6 Contemporary Abstract Acrylic Painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
Magic 6. It is very important to remember that there is magic in each of us. A modern, abstract, expressive, sophisticated painting that fits into a modern interior. The work was cre...
Acrylic
Mémoire Obscure - Large Abstract Oil Painting, Signed, 2026, French
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Artist Presentation Sophie Dumont is a French contemporary painter whose work explores abstraction through memory, architecture, and the silent presence of objects. Working primaril...
Canvas, Oil
$1,440
Emerald Coral Reef Painting Underwater Art Palette Knife Original Oil Painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
Emerald Coral Reef Painting Underwater Art Palette Knife Original Oil Painting 🎨 Materials: Oil, Rolled Canvas, Palette Knife. 🎨 Shipping: gallery standards packaging, rolled in ...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil
The Energy Within Nature. Abstract square painting in the wood gold frame
Located in Zofingen, AG
-The painting was created alongside my tropical series and does not depict a specific scene, but rather abstract forms and shades of nature. Contemplating these natural motifs always...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
Energy of Love // Abstract expressionism / 5 elements of Feng Shui /good vibes /
Located in Zofingen, AG
What could be stronger and more beautiful than Love? Perhaps you watched the movie "The 5th Element". It is Love that helps save our World from the evil that threatens our Planet. ...
Oil, Resin