Used to refer to a time rather than an aesthetic, Contemporary art generally describes pieces created after 1970 or being made by living artists anywhere in the world. This immediacy means it encompasses art responding to the present moment through diverse subjects, media and themes. Contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, performance, digital art, video and more frequently includes work that is attempting to reshape current ideas about what art can be, from Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s use of candy to memorialize a lover he lost to AIDS-related complications to Jenny Holzer’s ongoing “Truisms,” a Conceptual series that sees provocative messages printed on billboards, T-shirts, benches and other public places that exist outside of formal exhibitions and the conventional “white cube” of galleries.
Contemporary art has been pushing the boundaries of creative expression for years. Its disruption of the traditional concepts of art are often aiming to engage viewers in complex questions about identity, society and culture. In the latter part of the 20th century, contemporary movements included Land art, in which artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer create large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations and other works in soil and bodies of water; Sound art, with artists such as Christian Marclay and Susan Philipsz centering art on sonic experiences; and New Media art, in which mass media and digital culture inform the work of artists such as Nam June Paik and Rafaël Rozendaal.
The first decades of the 21st century have seen the growth of Contemporary African art, the revival of figurative painting, the emergence of street art and the rise of NFTs, unique digital artworks that are powered by blockchain technology.
Major Contemporary artists practicing now include Ai Weiwei, Cecily Brown, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker.
Find a collection of Contemporary prints, photography, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
$650
"Harvest" - Contemporary Portrait of Woman in Profile, Oil on Silver Leaf, 2016
Located in Denver, CO
Cody Erickson (American, b. 1986) "Harvest," 2016 Oil on silver leaf 5 x 5 in (12.7 x 12.7 cm) Signed lower right. Unframed, but ready to hang. A young woman is seen in profile faci...
Silver Leaf
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Best of Friends -21st Century, Contemporary Figurative Portrait, Art Deco Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This is for a special person in my life, the person I talk to about my plans, my best friend. Someone who is close and dear and always there when I need him, the one who walks with ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
The Peace Within - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Mariana Paris Mon Amor: Renaissance Inspired Collage Art Mixed Media Painting
By Maria Torroba
Located in Atlanta, GA
Torroba cites Diego Velazquez’s 1653 portrait of Mariana of Austria as a major source of inspiration. During Velazquez’s tenure as the leading artist in the Spanish court of King Phi...
Mixed Media, Panel, Canvas, Acrylic
$1,450
Ireti (Hope) - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait, African Woman
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Oil on Canvas Gestural Abstracted Expressive Portrait
Located in Cape Town, ZA
This is a unique, gesturally abstracted oil painting on stretched canvas by South African artist Johan van Vuuren. His portraits are expressive and evocative, with beautiful colour c...
Canvas, Oil
$2,680Sale Price|20% Off
Self Held 1 -21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait, Modern, Art Deco
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Sam...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,040Sale Price|20% Off
Beauty Within: Contemporary Portrait Painting in Oil and Acrylic
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Black is a powerhouse of confidence, as well as being comfortable in your skin and embracing everything about yourself (including your hair). Her hair is like a halo around her head,...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$2,750Sale Price|44% Off
TURNING INTO STONE 3 Neo Mythology original oil large 30x38in in Florida
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Turning into Stone 3 " . Original, unique painting. oil on canvas, 30x38in. Shipped stretched from Florida, ready for display in the US, and shipped rolled in a tube to Europe and ...
Canvas, Oil
Anny - 21st Century, Contemporary Figurative, Neo-Expressionism, Women
By Wisdom Uche
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique; this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Ar...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,850
Joy Among Brothers 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary Figurative, Modern, Men
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
A moment of laughter, unguarded and true, between three men who know each other’s histories and hearts. Their closeness speaks of trust, vulnerability, and the quiet strength of frie...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$700Sale Price|30% Off
AGE OF INNOCENCE - original round painting by Paula Craioveanu in New York
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Age of Innocence", original unique painting. A feminine, innocent presence, portrait of a girl with a Venetian mask. acrylic on canvas. 20in / 50cm, round. Shipped from Forest Hil...
Canvas, Acrylic
I Have Been Here Before - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative, Modern, Art Deco
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
I have lived through different stages of my life, and each stage has come with its own challenges, struggles, and fears. The three figures represent my childhood, my teenage years, a...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$360Sale Price|20% Off
With You - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Tos...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$520Sale Price|20% Off
Guy - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Neo-Expressionism, Africa, Love
By Wisdom Uche
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique; this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Ar...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,960Sale Price|20% Off
State of Mind 15 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women, Floral
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The artist's expressive strokes, rendered with bold acrylics, bring to life a figurative portrait that speaks volumes about resilience and aspiration. The interplay of colors and tex...
Canvas, Acrylic
$520Sale Price|20% Off
Nicole - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Neo-Expressionism, Africa, Love
By Wisdom Uche
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique; this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Ar...
Canvas, Acrylic
Waiting for a Miracle- 21st century Contemporary Figure painting
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Ksenya Istomina – Waiting for a Miracle Oil on linen, 105 x 70 cm In Waiting for a Miracle, Ksenya Istomina captures a moment of quiet contemplation and anticipation. A young woman ...
Linen, Oil
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
Shadow of Resilience - 21st Century, Contemporary Figurative Portrait, Art Deco
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This piece represents the hidden or shadow side of the constant strength of black men, often highlighting how forced resilience can mask burnout, emotional suppression, or trauma fro...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$12,595
Melody of Silence- 21st century Contemporary Interior painting with Young Woman
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Ksenya Istomina 'Melody of Silence' 105 x 70 cm Oil on linen Painted after life, the artist always works with a real scenery. Her realistic but impressionistic paintings look amazin...
Linen, Oil
$1,139Sale Price|28% Off
Signed Oil on Canvas Painting of Gentleman, Circa 2000, 90x60 cm
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Title: Gentleman in Interior (After Fernando Botero) Artist: Sanz (Spanish painter, active late 20th – early 21st century) Year: circa 2000 Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (unfr...
Oil
Orisun 5 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Oríṣun explores Black femininity through beauty, identity, origin, and continuity. Across the five portraits, the women are presented not simply as subjects of beauty, but as sources...
Canvas, Oil
$1,160Sale Price|20% Off
Self Pride 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Africa Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$6,000
Abstracted Figures, Floral, Bright Color, Sunshine Afternoon by Rebecca Jack
By Rebecca Jack
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Rebecca Jack "Sunshine Afternoon" Acrylic on Canvas, White Frame 40 x 40 in (101.6 x 101.6 cm) Framed 41.25 x 41.25 in ____________________________________________ Rebecca Jack, an...
Canvas, Acrylic
$6,839
No. 120 by Hongyu Zhang - Contemporary portrait painting, abstract, face, grey
By Zhang Hongyu
Located in Paris, FR
No. 120 is a unique painting by contemporary artist Hongyu Zhang. The painting is made with India ink, acrylic and pastel on canvas, dimensions are 116 × 81 cm (45.7 × 31.9 in). Dime...
Canvas, Pastel, Ink, Acrylic
Kristal - Original Silver Leaf and Gold Floral Sally K Figurative Artwork
By Sally K
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lebanese American artist Sally K.'s captivating floral portraits are both mesmerizing and empowering. Her pop-realistic paintings are inspired by strong, feminine women, celebrating ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$1,880Sale Price|20% Off
Looking Beyond 8 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
No matter what life throws at you to discourage or change your good personality, or change the reflections people see on your face or identity, one should try to look beyond and ahea...
Canvas, Acrylic
![[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Portrait of a Fair Young Man](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/mark-beard-paintings-bruce-sargeant-1898-1938-portrait-of-a-fair-young-man-for-sale/a_9323/a_182091121781979428162/Beard_Mark_Bruce_Sargeant_1898_1938_Portrait_of_a_Fair_Young_Man_Framed_1200_master.jpg?width=240)
![[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Portrait of a Fair Young Man](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/mark-beard-paintings-bruce-sargeant-1898-1938-portrait-of-a-fair-young-man-for-sale-picture-2/a_9323/a_182091121781979456623/Beard_Mark_Bruce_Sargeant_1898_1938_Portrait_of_a_Fair_Young_Man_1200_master.jpg?width=240)
[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Portrait of a Fair Young Man
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Signed in red, u.l. $3,000 + $125 framing
Oil
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
Beauty in Her Space, Contemporary Oil on Ankara Fabric, 21st Century
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Beauty in her space was created by Tunde Bakare. Tunde created the painting with Oil paint on Ankara Wax Fabrics of 32W by 33H. Beauty in Her Space depic...
Fabric, Oil
Pugna 061 by Chidy Wayne, Minimalist Style, Large Format
By Chidy Wayne
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Chidy Wayne (b. 1981, Spain) is an artist based in Barcelona. Over the years, he has established himself as a recognized figure in the art world, developing a personal artistic langu...
Mixed Media, Textile
$1,880Sale Price|20% Off
Free But Hungry 7 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Look into the eyes of the Homeless man Tell me what you see In the eyes of a jobless man Tell me what you see What about the eyes Of a prisoner What do you see Now you've seen it all...
Canvas, Acrylic
Hombre Duro, Oil Painting
By Duane Brown
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A cowboy sits on a blue couch with a confident yet relaxed posture. The contrast between the figure and the background creates a theatrical atmosphere, as tho...
Oil
Side Eye, still-life, contemporary, original
Located in Deddington, GB
A quirky pair of Staffordshire Pot Dogs give a sneaky bit of side eye in this lively oil painting framed in a contemporary white St Ives style frame. Additional information: Acrylic...
Acrylic
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Where the Light Stays 10 - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
In my world, colors aren't always reliable. I often struggle to tell where a deep blue ends and a purple begins, or where a red turns into wine, and deep yellows turn into oranges. I...
Canvas, Oil
"Remy" by Yulia Kim; Framed Oil on Linen Panel, 22" x 18"; 2025
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 20" x 16" oil on linen panel by Kazakhstan-born, Oklahoma-based artist Yulia Kim is a testament to the artist's technical skill and particularly successful portrayal of l...
Linen, Oil
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Where the Light Stays 2 - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
In my world, colors aren't always reliable. I often struggle to tell where a deep blue ends and a purple begins, or where a red turns into wine, and deep yellows turn into oranges. I...
Canvas, Oil
Dusky - Original Dramatic Warm Feminine Figurative Portrait Acrylic Painting
By Xenia Gray
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rooted in introspection and emotional nuance, Xenia Gray’s figurative mixed media works capture the quiet tension between solitude and connection. Her paintings often depict the huma...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,920Sale Price|20% Off
The Chess - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Men, Game
By Oluwatimileyin Tega Adegbenjo
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Think twice before you make your decision. A slightly wrong action can lead to the destruction of your empire. Life is like a game of chess. Every decision you make can either bring ...
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
Good Woman - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women on African Fabric
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
A circle of women may just be the most powerful force known to humanity. If you have one, embrace it. If you need one, seek it. If you find one, for the love of all that is good and ...
Canvas, Acrylic
After the Game (Figurative Painting, Two Men in Athletic Uniforms by Mark Beard)
By Mark Beard
Located in Hudson, NY
Academic style figurative portrait painting of a handsome young men "After the Game", By Mark Beard as Bruce Sargeant (pseudonym in homage to the fashion photographer, Bruce Weber, a...
Canvas, Oil
$3,080Sale Price|20% Off
Tropical Thoughts -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
As I connect with life's rhythm, I see my small but important role in the big picture of life. Time keeps moving, reminding me to enjoy each moment and think carefully. Like plants t...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,400Sale Price|20% Off
Black Essence - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Africa, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Black Essence' captures the unbreakable spirit of every woman who has long been the pillar of strength in their community. With a steadfast gaze, the subject embodies determination a...
Canvas, Acrylic, Charcoal, Mixed Media
$7,922
L'Antagoniste- 21st Century Contemporary Figure Painting of a Bare Chest Man
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Tania Rivilis l'Antagoniste 80 x 70 cm Oilpaint on wood (OSB board) Tania Rivilis (born in Ukraine 1986) 2022 winner of the 'William Locke Price' from the Royal Society of Portra...
Oil, Wood Panel
![[Bruce-Sargeant (1898-1938)] Two Wrestlers on Opposing Teams](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/mark-beard-paintings-bruce-sargeant-1898-1938-two-wrestlers-on-opposing-teams-for-sale-picture-2/a_9323/a_182089621781973162067/Beard_Mark_Bruce_Sargeant_1898_1938_Two_Wrestlers_on_Opposing_Teams_framed_1200_master.jpg?width=240)
![[Bruce-Sargeant (1898-1938)] Two Wrestlers on Opposing Teams](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/mark-beard-paintings-bruce-sargeant-1898-1938-two-wrestlers-on-opposing-teams-for-sale/a_9323/a_182089621781973135668/Beard_Mark_Bruce_Sargeant_1898_1938_Two_Wrestlers_on_Opposing_Teams_unframed_1200_master.jpg?width=240)
[Bruce-Sargeant (1898-1938)] Two Wrestlers on Opposing Teams
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Signed in red, u.r. Oil on canvas 20 x 18 inches (91.4 x 61 cm) Price includes $150 additional cost of framing This work is offered by CLAMP in New York City
Oil
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
First Fruit -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Mother and Child
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"First Fruit" is a poignant and intimate painting that captures the essence of motherhood and protection. The title "First Fruit" symbolizes the preciousness and value of the first ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,003Sale Price|20% Off
Modality 14. Abstraction Acrylic Painting on Board, Colorful, Polish artist
By Monika Rossa
Located in Warsaw, PL
Abstract acrylic on high impact styrene board painting by Polish artist living in the USA, Monika Rossa. Artwork is colorful. It can be exhibited vertically or horizontally. MONIKA ...
Board, Acrylic
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
Bulb of Awakening: Contemporary Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Bulb of Awakening" is a captivating artwork that centers around a woman adorned with an exclusive and mesmerizing hairstyle. Created by the talented artist Ekele Francis...
Canvas, Acrylic
1986 Intimate Couple Portrait by Mystery Artist
Located in New York, NY
Mystery Artist Tennessee, 9/12/86 Oil on canvas 34 x 43 3/4 x 1 in. Titled and inscribed upper left
Canvas, Oil
Crown of Union 4 - 21st Century, Contemporary Figurative Pixelated
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This piece celebrates the women who have upheld the spirit of unity in Nigeria, women whose influence not only blesses this nation but extends across Africa and into the diaspora. Du...
Canvas, Acrylic
Feeling Good -21st Century Portrait Painting of a young guy
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Carolien van Olphen Feeling Good Oil on wood panel 122 x 70 cm (Framed 130 x 78 cm, frame is included) Dutch artist Carolien van Olphen has left a great impression in many places w...
Oil, Wood Panel
$2,600Sale Price|20% Off
Heart Space - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Men, Love, Home
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Sam...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$2,280Sale Price|20% Off
Genesis 2 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Culture Africa Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This striking work explores African cultural identity as both personal and collective memory. Through the interplay of concealment and adornment, it presents the African body as a sa...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa, Women Hair
By Oluwatimileyin Tega Adegbenjo
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Olu...
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic, Pastel
Abstracted Figures, Floral, Fruit, Bright Color, Pinwheel by Rebecca Jack
By Rebecca Jack
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Rebecca Jack "Pinwheel" Acrylic on Canvas 36 x 60 in. __________________________ Rebecca Jack, an intuitive painter, creates vibrant, figurative works that highlight the beauty of...
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil
French School Post Synthetic 95 Evanescence Chut les Barbizons! Signed
Located in Zofingen, AG
Portrait PS 95 Evanescence Technique: oil, acrylics and ink on thick paper (430g) 48x36cm ■■ 18.9x14.2 in ⏩》-------------------SHIPPING -----FLAT----------------《⏪ 🟢 → Original ...
Paper, Oil, Acrylic
$2,280Sale Price|20% Off
You and I (Just The Way We Are) - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative Portrait
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$2,280Sale Price|20% Off
Still, I Carry It - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Floral
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
“Still, I Carry it” evokes quiet strength and the endurance of fragility. It is a meditation on resilience, tenderness, and the delicate balance between vulnerability and inner forti...
Canvas, Oil
$1,028Sale Price|40% Off
"The Star", Figurative tarot painting by Olha Vlasova
By Olha Vlasova
Located in Zofingen, AG
The edges are painted The painting was part of an exhibition 'Ancestral call' in Switzerland This canvas is infused with the energy and symbolism of tarot cards, especially the Star...
Acrylic
No. 217 by Hongyu Zhang - Contemporary portrait painting, mixed media
By Zhang Hongyu
Located in Paris, FR
No. 217 is a unique painting by contemporary artist Hongyu Zhang. The painting is made with Indian ink, acrylic, pastel and engraving on grey cardboard mounted on canvas, dimensions ...
Canvas, Pastel, India Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Cardboard, Engraving
$8,834
Francis Portrait of a Woman Oil Painting on Canvas Contemporary Art In Stock
Located in Utrecht, NL
Francis Portrait of a Woman Oil Painting on Canvas Contemporary Art In Stock Candace Charlton (1968) was born in Natal in South-Africa. Since 2000 she has moved to the north of the ...
Canvas, Oil