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Abstract Portrait Paintings

ABSTRACT STYLE

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.

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Item Ships From: USA
Style: Abstract
"OBLIVION" Abstract Painting 40" x 30" inch by Carlos Delgado
Located in Culver City, CA
"OBLIVION" Abstract Painting 40" x 30" inch by Carlos Delgado ABOUT: Carlos Delgado is a Colombian artist with international recognition living betwe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

Guinovart. 21 Thoughtful Man Black and White. drawing on cardboard
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Guinovart. Thoughtful man. black and white. drawing on cardboard Josep Guinovart i Bertran (Barcelona 1927-2007) was a painter, draftsman and engraver from Catalonia, Spain. After ...
Category

1950s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Queen Elizabeth 2 Oil on Birch Panel Unique Style Women in the Arts 30”x40”
Located in Houston, TX
LOOK FOR FREE SHIPPING AT CHECKOUT. ARTIST EXPLANATION OF THE PAINTINGS: Queen Elizabeth 2 30”x40” x 1.5" oil on birch panel . Ready to hang with wire on the back They are blurred....
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel, Birch

Portrait of a Woman
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Neo-Expressionist painting depicts a young woman in luminous light. Encaustic on canvas, 14 x 17 inches. Unsigned. Minor paint loss along edge.
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Encaustic

Portrait of a Woman
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Neo-Expressionist painting depicts a young woman in luminous light. Encaustic on canvas, 13 x 15 inches. Unsigned. Minor paint loss along right edge.
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Encaustic

Portrait of a Woman
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Neo-Expressionist painting depicts a young woman in luminous light. Encaustic on canvas, 13 x 16 inches. Unsigned. Minor paint loss along left edge.
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Encaustic

Brave Girl 18
Located in New York, NY
Angels Grau is a Catalan artist who spends her time between Barcelona, New York, and a small village located in the breathtaking Priorat, one of the most notorious wine regions in Eu...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Brave Girl 15
Located in New York, NY
Angels Grau is a Catalan artist who spends her time between Barcelona, New York, and a small village located in the breathtaking Priorat, one of the most notorious wine regions in Eu...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Vermilion
Located in New York, NY
Angels Grau is a Catalan artist who spends her time between Barcelona, New York, and a small village located in the breathtaking Priorat, one of the most notorious wine regions in Eu...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Brave Girl 16
Located in New York, NY
Angels Grau is a Catalan artist who spends her time between Barcelona, New York, and a small village located in the breathtaking Priorat, one of the most notorious wine regions in Eu...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Brave Girl II
Located in New York, NY
Angels Grau is a Catalan artist who spends her time between Barcelona, New York, and a small village located in the breathtaking Priorat, one of the most notorious wine regions in Eu...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Brave Girl 12
Located in New York, NY
Angels Grau is a Catalan artist who spends her time between Barcelona, New York, and a small village located in the breathtaking Priorat, one of the most notorious wine regions in Eu...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Brave Girl 14
Located in New York, NY
Angels Grau is a Catalan artist who spends her time between Barcelona, New York, and a small village located in the breathtaking Priorat, one of the most notorious wine regions in Eu...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Gingham
Located in New York, NY
Angels Grau is a Catalan artist who spends her time between Barcelona, New York, and a small village located in the breathtaking Priorat, one of the most notorious wine regions in Eu...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Spanish Beauty (Portrait of the Artist's Wife)
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Spanish Beauty (Portrait of the Artist's Wife) Oil on canvas, c. 1940's Signed upper right "A.G. Warshawsky" (see photo) According to the daughter-in-law of the artist, this painting...
Category

1940s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Counterparty Art, Self Portrait, Serj Tankian.
Located in La Canada Flintridge, CA
This artwork, created by the multi-talented artist Serj Tankian, is a captivating self-portrait rendered in a vibrant and eclectic mix of media. Executed on paper with a blend of col...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Abstract Expressionist Original Oil Portrait of Man with Beard
Located in Soquel, CA
Mid Century Abstract Expressionist Portrait of Man with Beard Original mid century abstract expressionist of man with beard by California artist Genevieve Rogers (American, 1904 - 1...
Category

1960s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Paper

'Ponder' by Masri - Colorful Portrait of a Man - Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
Located in Carmel, CA
The enthralling piece 'Ponder' by the artist Masri is a masterful example of abstract portraiture stretched across a 40" x 30" canvas. Masri's unique application, forgoing brushes fo...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

'Stoic' by Masri - Black and White Abstract Portrait - Mixed Media Painting
Located in Carmel, CA
"Stoic," is an enthralling piece by the distinguished Masri. The artist employed his bare hands, utilizing his thumbs and palms in place of a traditional paintbrush, to craft this un...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

'Emerging' - Minimal Abstract Female Portrait - Geometric Acrylic Painting
Located in Carmel, CA
"Emerging" by Robert Glick is a captivating 30" x 30" acrylic on canvas that celebrates the simplicity and elegance of minimal abstraction. Dominated by a palette of soothing blues, ...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Laßt Blumen sprechen and Hole, Diptych. Mixed media fashion portrait photograph
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Laßt Blumen sprechen and Hole, Diptych, 2022 by Hunter & Gatti From the series INFINITE Acrylic and scratch on fine art metallic paper with a pearlescent coating Overall size: 21.2 i...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Archival Paper

Spur, Noiseless and Stuttgen Triptych. Mixed media on a B&W photograph
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Spur, Noiseless and Stuttgen Triptych 2022 by Hunter & Gatti From the series INFINITE Acrylic and scratch on fine art metallic paper with a pearlescent coating Overall size: 21.6 in ...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Archival Paper

Original Painting on board by Serg Graff, Portrait, "Stranger", COA Gold frame
Located in Framingham, MA
This is a unique original acrylic painting on canvas board in abstract style by Serg Graff, Portrait titled "Stranger". It comes signed, dated, and with a COA (Certificate of Authe...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Vintage Latin American School Original Painting of Artist’s Self Portrait
Located in Soquel, CA
Vintage Latin American School Original Minimalist Painting of Artist’s Self Portrait in Acrylic on Paper Oustandingminimalist self portrait by California-based Latin American artis...
Category

1980s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Basic Instincts
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This abstract portrait painting is inspired by the work of Picasso. A unique patchwork style composition by artist Ilana Greenberg. The work is framed ...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

'Steinbeck Re-Visited' - Portrait of John Steinbeck - Geometric Portrait
Located in Carmel, CA
"Steinbeck Re-Visited" by Robert Glick is a 20" x 16" oil on canvas that gracefully intersects the realms of contemporary abstract expressionism and geome...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sophie
Located in Greenwich, CT
Sophie is an expressive and highly individualistic Post Impressionist work reminiscent of Chaim Soutine. Cottavoz isn known and celebrated for using incredibly thick paint that is a...
Category

1960s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

'Mayor of Lyon' - Portrait of an Older Man - Vibrant Abstract Geometric Portrait
Located in Carmel, CA
"Mayor of Lyon" by Robert Glick is a 36" x 36" oil on canvas that exemplifies contemporary abstract expressionism with a distinct geometric twist. This st...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Contemporary, Floral Portrait. Minas Halaj Floral.
Located in La Canada Flintridge, CA
The artist certificate is included. Floral Portrait" by Minas Halaj is a captivating masterpiece that seamlessly blends natural beauty with the human form. The artwork features a fi...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

'Naiad' - Abstract Profile of a Woman by Masri
Located in Carmel, CA
Presenting 'Naiad,' a stunning abstract portrait by Masri, celebrated for its vivacious flow and splatter techniques. This singular piece portrays a woman in profile, her form crispl...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic

'Shattered Atlas: The Modern Burden' - Abstract Cubism Portrait by Masri
Located in Carmel, CA
In "Shattered Atlas: The Modern Burden," the artist Masri presents a 40" x 30" mixed media canvas that epitomizes 'Shattered Cubism,' a style that fragments reality into geometric fo...
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic

American Modernist Black Woman Artist New Orleans Family Portrait Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist southern school painting. A family portrait on a New Orleans porch. Beautiful detail in the wrought iron. Brilliant color palette here. Signed verso. ...
Category

1950s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

'Daughter of the Dark' - contemporary abstract portrait - mixed media - impasto
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Daughter of the Dark" features hues of black, yellow and orange. 30 by 23.5 inches framed Sachi Rome is inspired by the works of Gerhard Richter, Deborah Dancy, Ed Clark, M. Florin...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Archival Paper

"Her" Mixed Media Contemporary Abstract Portrait Of A Young Woman by Masri
Located in Carmel, CA
In "Her," a 28" x 22" mixed media canvas, Masri captures a woman's visage with the spontaneous vigor characteristic of abstract expressionism. This portrait, paper on canvas, is a ri...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paper, Mixed Media

"Audrey in Gold" Audrey Hepburn Gold Leaf Haute Couture Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in New York, NY
Exploring the purity of the feminine form and the drama of French haute couture, artist Cindy Shaoul creates a dialogue between the figurative and the abstract. Her spirited composit...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

"Shattered Mind" Mixed Media Abstract Expressionist Cubism Male Portrait
Located in Carmel, CA
"Shattered Mind" by Masri is a 30" x 24" canvas that exemplifies 'Shattered Cubism', a style that deconstructs and reimagines the traditional form. This portrait is a kaleidoscope of...
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

"Shattered Silence" Mixed Media Abstract Male Portrait Shattered Cubism by Masri
Located in Carmel, CA
"Shattered Silence," a 24" x 20" mixed media on canvas by Masri, evokes the disruptive energy of 'Shattered Cubism,' a style that fractures form and perspective similar to taking a h...
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

"Obsession" Mixed Media Abstract Expressionist Self Portrait by Masri
Located in Carmel, CA
"Obsession" by Masri is a 20" x 16" expressionist portrayal that captures the intensity of fixation through chaotic yet deliberate strokes. The warm palette of amber, crimson, and bu...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic

"Glitch" Small Abstract Expressionist Male Portrait by Masri
Located in Carmel, CA
This 14" x 11" work titled "Glitch" by Masri embodies 'Shattered Cubism', where the essence of a face is captured in a constellation of fragmented shapes and vibrant colors. Against ...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

"Essence" Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Female Portrait by Masri
Located in Carmel, CA
"Essence" by Masri is a 20" x 16" (21" x 17" Framed) contemporary abstract expressionist portrait that captures the intangible qualities of the human spirit. With a harmonious yet bo...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

"The Glance" Mixed Media Abstract Expressionist Young Woman Portrait by Masri
Located in Carmel, CA
In this 20" x 16" (22" x 18" Framed) mixed media canvas by Masri, contemporary abstract expressionism meets portraiture in a symphony of color and form. Strokes of blue, green, red, ...
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Portrait of a Young Woman
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Sylvia Bernstein (1918-1990). Portrait of a Young Woman, ca. 1960. Gouache on paper, image measures 9.5 inch h.., 10 inches w. ; 17 x 17 inches framed measurement. Signed lower right. Excellent condition. Born : New York City Education : National Academy of Design Exhibits (group) Juried Shows at : Allied Artists; Audubon Artists; National Society of Painters in Casein; Hudson River Museum; Butler Institute of American Art; Portland Summer Art Festival; Columbia Painting Biennial; Columbia Museum; Riverside Museum; Brick Store Museum; First National Exhibition of American Art, Chautauqua, New York; New York City Center; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; Philadelphia Watercolor Annual; Brooklyn Museum International Watercolor Exhibition; Art-USA; J & M Ringling Museum; 9th Annual American Watercolor Traveling Show; Whitney Museum of American Art; Parrish Museum; American Academy of Arts and Letters; Wadsworth Atheneum. Solo Exhibits 1956 Ruth White Gallery; 1959 Ruth White Gallery; 1959 Silvermine Guild of Artists; 1960 Ruth White Gallery. Awards : National Association of Women Artists, 1954, 1957; New York City Center 1956; 1957 Honorable Mention National Arts Club, Allied Artists, Jane C. Stanley Memorial Award, Grumbacher Award in Watercolor at New England Painting...
Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Gouache

“Rough Seas”
Located in Southampton, NY
Early original oil on canvas painting of sailboats in stormy seas by the American artist, Nahum Tschacbasov. Artist signed lower right and dated 1945. Condition is very good. Prese...
Category

1940s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Pop Art, Pink Pop Art, Portrait Artwork-Sparkling Rosé
Located in Delaware , OH
Pop Art, Pink Pop Art, Portrait Artwork-Sparkling Rosé A R T I S T S T A T E M E N T: Introducing the iconic Andy Warhol style print with neon colo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Vintage Incredible Large Abstract Portrait Thick Impasto Signed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist abstract portrait of Freddie Mercury. Oil painting by Abraham Pariente. Oil on canvas, circa 2000. Signed. Displayed in a modernist frame. Important large and impressi...
Category

1990s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Vintage Incredible Large Abstract Portrait Signed Modernist Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist abstract portrait oil painting by Abraham Pariente. Oil on canvas, circa 2000. Signed. Displayed in a modernist frame. Important large and impressive work!
Category

1990s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Death of Marat
Located in New York, NY
Eric Friedmann Death of Marat, 2018 Acrylic polymer and pigment on canvas 200 x 150 cm
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic Polymer

Vintage Incredible Large Abstract Portrait Signed Modernist Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist abstract portrait oil painting by Abraham Pariente. Oil on canvas, circa 2000. Signed. Displayed in a modernist frame. Important large and impressive work!
Category

1990s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Vintage Incredible Large Abstract Portrait Signed Modernist Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist abstract portrait oil painting by Abraham Pariente. Oil on canvas, circa 2000. Signed. Displayed in a modernist frame. Important large and impressive work!
Category

1990s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Vintage Incredible Large Abstract Portrait Signed Modernist Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist abstract portrait of Mozart oil painting by Abraham Pariente. Oil on canvas, circa 2000. Signed. Displayed in a modernist frame. Important large and impressive work!
Category

1990s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Love is in Her Eyes" Colorful Contemporary Abstract Portrait by Sveta Hessler
Located in Carmel, CA
Sveta Hessler's 40" x 40" portrait is a symphony of emotion and color. In this evocative piece, the viewer is drawn into the depths of a gaze that seems to harbor a universe of stori...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"The Dreamer" Abstract Oil Painting 58" x 102" inch by Carlos Delgado
Located in Culver City, CA
"The Dreamer" Abstract Oil Painting 58" x 102" inch by Carlos Delgado ABOUT: Carlos Delgado is a Colombian artist with international recognition livi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a Woman Reading - Bay Area Figurative School Abstract Expressionist
Located in Soquel, CA
Portrait of a Woman Reading - Bay Area Figurative School Abstract Expressionist Abstracted portrait of a woman reading by San Francisco artist Heather Speck (American, b. 1978). A w...
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas, Foam Board

Donna Isham Portrait Female Abstract Figurative Modern Face Gray Red
Located in Nantucket, MA
Blurred is the title of this painting. A softer pallet of grays with touched of red gives a more gentle image of the female than her newer works.
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Ink, Acrylic, Graphite

Donna Isham Gold Portrait Face Female Bright Colors Abstract Figurative Blue
Located in Nantucket, MA
Pheobe is part of a series of abstract portraits Donna Isham created in 2022. Bold brush strokes and the use of brilliant colors form into confident and strong female images.
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Donna Isham Portrait Female Blue Face Black Abstract Figurative People
Located in Nantucket, MA
The title of this painting is Isis. Dark tones combined with accents of blue present a confident female portrait.
Category

2010s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Ink, Acrylic, Graphite

Portrait of a Woman in Red - Bay Area Figurative School Abstract Expressionist
Located in Soquel, CA
Portrait of a Woman in Red - Bay Area Figurative School Abstract Expressionist Abstracted portrait of a woman in red by San Francisco artist Heather Speck (American, b. 1978). A wom...
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil

"DESTINATION" Abstract Oil Painting 64" x 64" inch by Carlos Delgado
Located in Culver City, CA
"DESTINATION" Abstract Oil Painting 64" x 64" inch by Carlos Delgado ABOUT: Carlos Delgado is a Colombian artist with international recognition livin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Abstract portrait paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Abstract portrait 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 portrait 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, purple, red, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Beatrice Werlie, Carlos Carnero, Masri Hayssam, and Addison Jones. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Abstract portrait paintings, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available. Prices for portrait 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 $22 and tops out at $570,000, while the average work sells for $1,960.

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