Abstract Landscape Paintings
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.
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil, Paper
20th Century Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Valerie Berkely presents a fiery sunset above thick silhouetted trees. The warm rays of the sun brighten the landscape with cooling hues of violet spreading across the forest floor. With her finger painting technique, Valerie uses transparent oils on top of gold iridescent acrylic textures creating a luminescent glow. It results in a captivating image with a gentle flow of movement.
About the Artist
Valerie Berkely uses her finger tips as brushes to create her abstract paintings. For Valerie, the art is all about the process, the paint, her mood, and the moment. She admires the artist Wolf Kahn, who once said, “the picture is the conclusion of an experiment in which the hint of an image becomes actuality." Like Kahn, Valerie’s paintings combine pictorial landscapes with painterly abstraction. The vibrant primary colors capture the hues of the sun rising and setting, and the texture of her fingers across the surface divides sea, land, and sky. There is something very dreamy about these works, exemplified by their color, texture, and atmospheric quality. Valerie’s first “art epiphany†was seeing Seurat's La Grande Jatte at the Art Institute of Chicago. “Bowled me over! I actually fell down. And I knew I was to become a painter.â€
Words that describe this painting: small, trees, sunlight, sun, sunset, oilpaint, nature, forest, impressionism, etching, impressionism, nature, oil painting, purple
Golden Glow...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Part of a series inspired by Colette's journey through the french countryside. An abstracted foreground gives way to a small village scene, with the town chur...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Janet Dyer pictures an expressionist sun setting behind lakeside mountains. She captures the warm orange glow of the last moments of its descent. "Softly the evening came with the sunset," quotes Janet. In her trademark style of minimalist strokes, she envisions Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's iconic poetry.
About the Artist
Janet Dyer doesn’t like to spend too much time talking about her art, as she’d rather be creating it. She doesn’t have an artist statement, the traditional statement of purpose crafted by visual artists to explain their method. On becoming an artist, Janet simply states, “I picked up some crayons and pencils and brushes and kept using them.†She believes the process of creating art is equal in importance to the final product. The artist enjoys relinquishing control of her paintings to find delightful surprises in her so-called “mistakes.†Janet's expressively gestural yet bucolic landscapes are a testament to the success of her method.
Words that describe this painting: nature, spring, forsythia, yellow, river, water, trees, reflection, abstract, acrylicpaint, sunset, expressionism, expressionism, nature, acrylic painting, green
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A rustic farm stretches over the field in artist Janet Dyer's impressionist landscape. The charming Cornwall scene depicts the buildings clustered around the ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Suren travels extensively, seeking out unique compositions in the neighborhoods, architecture and nature he encounters. For Suren, it is important for him to ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"I was on one of my drives through the Texas hill country and wandered upon this beautiful scene," shares artist David Forks. "I immediately noticed the stark...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil, Paper
Artist Comments
Artist Melissa Gannon paints a vibrant landscape of autumnal aspens. Melissa draws inspiration from her adventure of a trip thro...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Srinivas Kathoju demonstrates an expressionist landscape in dreamy hues of purple. He divides the composition into thre...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
In his signature style, artist George Peebles depicts a colorful gigantic tree in the middle of a vast landscape. He portrays the temperate dressing of autumn in the tree's multi-hued feathery leaves. Clouds dreamily sail on the ethereal sky in the background.
About the Artist
Award-winning artist, George Peebles specializes in contemporary panoramic scenes. Breathtaking combinations of brilliant hues and gradients of rich skies map out his paintings. “My art is a reflection of the place inside each of us where we connect to nature,†says George. Based in Michigan, he draws inspiration from electric moments within his environment. Each stroke is an inward expression of his emotions as he paints from memory. George, being colorblind views his work as a lifelong process that leads him to new concepts and ideas best expressed on his canvas. When he’s out of the studio, George works as a chef at their local hospital. His work is represented in eighteen healthcare facilities.
Words that describe this painting: autumn, fall, season, tree, landscape, sky, horizon, clouds, oilpaint, expressionism, nature, field, meadow, large, expressionism, nature, oil painting, blue
All Dressed...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Elizabeth Garat pictures a dramatic late afternoon sun in the summer. An impressionist landscape of California during the golden hour. Majestic purple mountains stand behind a golden glowing field. Sunlit trees shade cool lavenders in the foreground, displaying a balanced relationship between shadow and light...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
1980s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
1980s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist John Jaster displays a forest with tall aspens rendered in a playfully abstract style. Bold shades of yellow, orange and red suggest a warm autumn day in the woods. In his process, John creates stunning color combinations by utilizing multiple layers of heavy body acrylics and brushwork. He results with captivating scenery with intense contrasting hues and high-spirited energy.
About the Artist
Artist John Jaster paints in a style he describes as realistic impressions, capturing colorful views of his adventures across the Americas. "People always ask me how I get such deep brilliant colors," says John. "The answer is layers. Since acrylic paint dries mostly transparent, it requires multiple layers of paint to build up to a specific color. With the right lighting that depth of layering is like sunshine glistening through clear water." In college, John felt a pull towards computer science and pursued a career in software architecture. Although the two paths may seem unrelated, John says his work in software strongly influences his artwork in terms of distilling complex systems without losing the magic and wonder. Today, John works from a large home studio with a fireplace, lots of natural light, and jazz playing in the background. Since 2010, John’s paintings have been displayed in over 90 juried exhibitions and published in leading art magazines and books.
Words that describe this painting: forest, trees, birch, aspen, nature, playful, impressionism, grove, warm, impressionism, nature, acrylic painting, orange
Forest Abstractions - Chorus Line...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Crystal DiPietro reflects a magnificent view of Southwestern Arizona. On an evening hike, Crystal came across prickly pear ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Shuxing Fan displays a scene of a suburban neighborhood after a snowfall. Painting in classical realism, he details the envi...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
1970s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Sarah Parsons presents an abstract depicting an expansive landscape. She paints bold contrasts of color, texture, and movement. The piece expresses tha...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Linen, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Elizabeth Garat presents an impressionist autumnal pond. She works on landscapes from direct observation, inspired by the changing seasons. "This is a pond I visit throughout the year," shares Elizabeth. She captures a quiet mood with the blooming red berry...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Gesso, Acrylic, Mixed Media, Cotton Canvas, Paint, Cotton, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
A glowing spring sunset along Highway 1 in Big Sur. "I was inspired by the bounty of California coastal wildflowers," says Kajal Zaveri. "They are a treat for...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
20th Century Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Resin, Acrylic, Board
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
Late 20th Century Abstract Landscape Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
Artist Comments
Mesmerizing autumnal trees flourish in artist George Peebles' serene landscape. Radiant hues of orange take over the green foliage as the season gently but dr...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Mixed Media
1980s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Charcoal, Oil, Gouache
2010s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
"This piece is inspired by the difficult traverse of a dramatic, jagged ridgeline," says artist Crystal DiPietro. A high vantage point offers an expansive view of veined mountains. The sun's rays glow golden on one side while cool shadows of purple fall between the deep crevices. "Despite its rugged appearance, the ridge seemed to have a harmonic rhythm."
About the Artist
Many artists work with the landscape, but Crystal DiPietro sees her works as different from most in the genre. "I tend not to see landscapes as soft and pretty, but as rugged, dramatic and colorful." Many of her works depict wild storms and moody sunsets. She spends a lot of time in remote spots and uses layers of color to create her compositions. Her work hovers between a brief impression of a scene and a pure dream. Crystal's landscapes of southern Utah seem to undulate and continuously change. What's interesting, though, is that these mountains and valleys seem to do the same thing in person. In these areas, the view changes constantly throughout the day as the light shifts, throwing shadows of faces, mazes and alien patterns across the cliff faces. Crystal impressively captures what's there, and what seems to be but isn't.
Words that describe this painting: ridge, ridgeline, mountains, desert, southwest, west, western, southwestern, viewpoint, impressionism, sunlight, shadow, oilpaint, landscape, impressionism, landscape, western, oil painting, yellow
The Brute...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Elizabeth Garat paints a dramatic view of the sky above the vast ocean's choppy waters and distant coastal islands. The brilliant rays of the sun illum...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Landscape Paintings
Oil





