A resurgence of interest in Expressionism, Pop art, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism and other movements gained steam among artists of the 1970s and ’80s, in part as a reaction to the austerity of the prevailing minimalism and Conceptual art of the era. A decadent, bold and brash art style called Neo-Expressionism saw painters returning to figural representation, creating highly textured works that were imbued with intensely personal narratives.
Neo-Expressionist paintings are sensuous in nature and highly subjective in meaning. Expressive brushwork, highly pigmented colors and layered forms and materials lent sculptural attributes to the work and were used to depict symbolic narratives from history, mythology and the artist’s personal experience.
Prominent figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat led the Neo-Expressionist movement in the United States with paintings and prints that were raw, emotional and often violent in nature. In Germany, Die Neuen Wilden (the “New Fauves”) was the name given to a group of postwar artists that included the likes of sculptor Georg Baselitz and Gerhard Richter, a painter and photographer who explored the possibilities of both abstraction and realism, sometimes in a single piece. The work of the New Fauves — labeled as such for its return to Fauvism’s textured brushwork and use of vibrant colors — shares commonalities with Neo-Expressionism, and Baselitz was a pioneer of the movement in Europe. In addition, Willem de Kooning’s pulsating action paintings and Julian Schnabel’s experimentation with the materiality of paintings also took shape during this period.
“I was trying to make paintings different from the paintings that I saw a lot of at the time, which were mostly minimal, and they were highbrow and alienating, and I wanted to make very direct paintings that most people would feel the emotion behind when they saw them,” said Basquiat.
Neo-Expressionism generated some polarizing opinions, with some celebrating the revival of personal subjectivity in art while others criticizing the movement for being too commercially driven and nostalgic. But most experts agree that Neo-Expressionism was a huge commercial success and culturally impactful, paving the way for the postmodern work of artists like Richter and Sigmar Polke.
Find original Neo-Expressionist paintings, prints, mixed-media works and other art on 1stDibs.
Her Echo, Nude Painting, Acrylic and Pastel on Canvas, 2025
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Echoes of Her is an expressive mixed-media painting that explores femininity, emotion, and the feeling of being immersed in one’s own inner world. I created this work using acrylic...
Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$514
"Alba di un nuovo giorno" by Enzio Wenk, 2020-2022 - Acrylic Paint and Marker
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Translated title: "Dawn of a new day" Acrylic paint and marker on high-quality cotton paper, which is handmade in Italy. This is part of an album. It's been drawn in one go, with n...
Paper, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
Snake Charmer warm sunny greens colorful mythic music theme female nude
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An early work by the artist one of his early female themes. It is signed and dated bottom left and is on heavy duty stretcher bars that do not need framing
Canvas, Oil
Duality, mysterious androgynous figure earth tone, yellow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oil on Canvas
Canvas, Oil
Au Pied Levé Mixed Media Painting, Neo-Expressionist, 20th Century
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media
Beach Volleyball Mixed Media Painting, Neo-Expressionist Style
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media
$2,750
H 39.5 in W 31.5 in
Nude Contemplative Woman, Art Deco Oil on Canvas, Signed, 39.5x31.5
Located in New York, NY
Art deco Nude Contemplative Woman by Julius Fehling (1869-1946) Oil on canvas 39 ½ x 31 ½ inches unframed (100.33 x 80.01 cm) Signed on bottom right De...
Canvas, Oil
$3,100
H 22.05 in W 31.89 in D 1.58 in
Earthy Male Nude Study Oil Painting on Belgian Linen Canvas "Deon: Study II"
Located in Cape Town, ZA
Reminiscent of 19th century Romantic painting in their depiction of sublime landscapes, the meticulously realized paintings of Jaco van Schalkwyk nevertheless retain their own identi...
Canvas, Oil
$1,353
H 33.12 in W 23.39 in D 0.04 in
Judith Brenner, Solfrid Dancing 2, Original Contemporary Figurative Nude Sketch
Located in Deddington, GB
Judith Brenner Solfrid Dancing 2 Original Figurative Drawing Acrylic Paint, Pan Pastel, Ink and Watercolour Pencil on Paper Sheet Size: 84.1cm x W 59.4cm x D 0.1cm Sold Unframed Plea...
Paper, Pastel, Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Watercolor
$800
H 21.5 in W 14.5 in
Red Mono Figure: Contemporary Mixed Media Figurative painting by John Emanuel
By John Emanuel
Located in Brecon, Powys
Very pretty Emanuel pose. "it is the figure , not the nude I am interested in..." J Emanuel Image 20.5" x 14" Matted 25.5" x 19" Signed Originally from Bury, in the North of Engl...
Mixed Media
Gray Scale Study for Pure Painting 3
By Lee Wells
Located in New York, NY
Gray Scale Study for Pure Painting 3, 2016 Acrylic on museum board mounted to board Artwork size - 8 x 6.5 inches Framed Size - 16 x 20 inches signed and dated on recto Lee We...
Acrylic
$32,500
H 39.5 in W 33.5 in
"Female Nude, " Edith Glackens Dimock, Ashcan School Figurative Painting
By Edith Glackens Dimock
Located in New York, NY
Edith (Glackens) Dimock (1876 - 1955) Untitled (Female Nude), circa 1915 Oil on canvas 34 1/2 x 28 1/4 inches Signed lower left Provenance: Private Colle...
Canvas, Oil
$300Sale Price|47% Off
H 13 in W 13 in D 1 in
Abstract Gouache Nude Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, Framed, 1970s
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
5-3161 Acrylic nude in a custom wood frame
Acrylic
$8,432
H 39.38 in W 59.06 in D 0.79 in
Dialogue V - Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting, Beach View, People, Nude
Located in Hallein, AT
Artodyssey "Julita Malinowska's paintings belong to those, which once seen - are never forgotten. The open spaces, sometimes cool and bright, at other times heavily saturated with co...
Canvas, Oil
Ondine by Pierre Marcel-Béronneau
By Pierre Marcel-Béronneau
Located in New Orleans, LA
Mystical and mysterious, a mythological Ondine rests beside an ethereal forest pond in this majestic, original oil on canvas by French Symbolist Pierre-Amédée Marcel-Béronneau. A stu...
Canvas, Oil
$3,000
H 24.02 in W 31.89 in D 1.58 in
Male Nude Study Oil Painting on Belgian Linen Canvas "Blue for Boys"
Located in Cape Town, ZA
Reminiscent of 19th century Romantic painting in their depiction of sublime landscapes, the meticulously realized paintings of Jaco van Schalkwyk nevertheless retain their own identi...
Canvas, Oil
$689
H 25.6 in W 19.69 in D 0.04 in
Contemporary abstract expressionist painting of women on paper "Shared warmth"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Shared Warmth" by French artist Natalya Mougenot is part of her ongoing series exploring human bonds and connections. This vibrant work presents two abstract figures set against a l...
Paper, Acrylic
Red Rest
By Kim Frohsin
Located in Burlingame, CA
Original acrylic mixed media painting on laid cream paper from 2011 in excellent condition. Sleeping female figure in grey and rust with stripes. Signed and dated on the front lowe...
Acrylic, Color Pencil, Crayon, Gouache, Ink, Mixed Media, Pigment
Midcentury Nude Portrait by Kevin McAlpin
Located in New York, NY
Kevin McAlpin (American, 20th Century) Untitled, c. mid-20th century Mixed media on canvas 24 x 19 7/8 in. Framed: 30 x 26 x 1 1/4 in. Signed lower right: Kevin McAlpin
Canvas, Pastel, Mixed Media, Oil
$2,741
H 22.05 in W 18.51 in D 0.04 in
In work/Four figures. Double-sided, cardboard, tempera, 56x47 cm
Located in Riga, LV
In work/Four figures. Double-sided, cardboard, tempera, 56x47 cm Vladimir Borisovich Glushenkov (May 21, 1948, Riga - December 26, 2009, Riga.) - painter, graphic artist, poet, translator. Born in Riga in a Russian-Polish-German family. Vladimir Glushenkov...
Mixed Media, Cardboard, Tempera
$1,850
H 29.75 in W 24.25 in D 0.75 in
Reclining Expressionist Nude Female Figure with Yellow, Blue, and Magenta
Located in Soquel, CA
Reclining Expressionist Nude Female Figure with Yellow, Blue, and Magenta Brightly colored expressionist nude figurative painting of a reclining nude female with bold yellow, blue, ...
Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Graphite
Things That Don't Belong To Me
Located in Bozeman, MT
"I am an artist and painter exploring female-centric visions and stories of violence, resistance, and tribulation inspired by women’s complicated history in the American West. Growin...
Canvas, Acrylic
There is a Life I Would Rather Be Living
Located in Bozeman, MT
"I am an artist and painter exploring female-centric visions and stories of violence, resistance, and tribulation inspired by women’s complicated history in the American West. Growin...
Canvas, Acrylic
Never Leave a Bucksaw Tightened
Located in Bozeman, MT
"I am an artist and painter exploring female-centric visions and stories of violence, resistance, and tribulation inspired by women’s complicated history in the American West. Growin...
Canvas, Acrylic
Noah
Located in Yerevan, AM
Noah, 2021, 100x100 cm
Canvas, Acrylic
Men
Located in Yerevan, AM
Men, 2021, 100x100 cm
Canvas, Acrylic
Noah
Located in Yerevan, AM
Noah, 2021, 100x100 cm
Canvas, Acrylic
El Manantial
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Original painting by Artemio Sepulveda "El Manantial". Signed by the artist. 48 x 32 in. Image.
Charcoal, Wax Crayon, Mixed Media, Panel
Self-portrait
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Original painting by Artemio Sepulveda "Self-portrait". Signed by the artist. 41.1 x 31.1 in. Image.
Charcoal, Wax Crayon, Mixed Media, Panel
Modelo con paño blanco
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Original Artemio Sepulveda painting "Modelo con paño blanco". Signed by the artist. 48 x 32 in. Image.
Charcoal, Wax Crayon, Mixed Media, Panel