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.
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
$1,160Sale Price|20% Off
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
$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
$800Sale Price|20% 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
It's Late - Original Dramatic 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
$3,000Sale Price|40% 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 ready for display in the US, and shipped rolled in a tube to Europe and to the rest of...
Canvas, Oil
Untitled 6 - 21st Century, Contemporary Figurative, Neo-Expressionism
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
Thorns Before Roses - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern Men
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This work questions what happens after arrival. When the life once desired is finally attained, soft, beautiful, without struggle, why does the mind remain unsettled? Thorns Before ...
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
$1,960Sale 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
$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
$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
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
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
$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
$520Sale Price|20% Off
Pleasure - 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.
Canvas, Oil, 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
$1,318Sale Price|20% 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
"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
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 thoug...
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
![[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
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Such is Life - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa, Men
By Oluwatimileyin Tega Adegbenjo
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Life's journey twists and turns, Ups and downs, joys and burns. Moments sweet, moments sour, Such is life, in every hour. Dreams bloom, dreams fade away, Hopes rise, hopes fade to g...
Canvas, Oil
$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
Too Late to Scare Me Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, Signed, 105x80 cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
The most compelling works of contemporary art do not simply depict events—they reveal shifts in human consciousness. Too Late to Scare Me belongs to this tradition, transforming an i...
Lacquer, Cotton Canvas, 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
$12,916
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
$4,208
"Love" Contemporary oil painting .Vertical large size . Female portrait. Framed
Located in Oslo, NO
Crafted with delicate brushstrokes in oil, my work captures a timeless moment of introspection and stillness. It embodies the deep connection with one's inner self, exploring the com...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Chroma-Q- 21st Century Contemporary portrait Painting
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Tania Rivilis Chroma-Q 41 x 29 cm framed (included in price) 44 x 32 cm Oilpaint on wood panel Tania Rivilis (b. 1986) 2022 winner of the 'William Locke Price' ( £ 30.000 ) from ...
Oil, Wood Panel
$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
$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
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
$8,181
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
$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
![[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
$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
$2,943
To Leave or Stay: Contemporary Figurative Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
This sophisticated contemporary figurative painting examines the psychological atmosphere of civilian life during the war in Ukraine through a carefully orchestrated symbolic interio...
Lacquer, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$3,500Sale Price|30% Off
Philosopher Original Oil Neo Mythology 30x38in Signed Paula Craioveanu
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Philosopher" part of my Neo Mythology project. Original, unique painting. oil on canvas, 30x38in. Shipped rolled in a tube from Europe to the USA using DHL or FedEx, no custom or im...
Canvas, Oil
$1,130Sale Price|20% Off
Summer Gold and Corn - Contemporary Art, Figurative, Yellow
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
Summer Gold and Corn, 2021 acrylic on cardboard 119 H x 79 W cm 46 27/32 H x 31 7/64 W cm The series of painted cardboards by Alexandru Rădvan is about our moments of 'respiro' abo...
Acrylic, Cardboard
$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
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
$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
$12,566
Sweet dreams in the Moonlight -21st century interior painting with figures
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Ksenya Istomina 'Sweet Dreams in the Moonlight' 100 x 80 cm Oil on linen Painted after life, the artist always works with a real scenery. Her realistic but impressionistic paintings...
Linen, Oil
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Soliloquizing 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern Black
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
$1,160Sale Price|20% Off
"The Space Between" - Expressive Mixed Media Figurative Painting
By Jon Wassom
Located in Denver, CO
Jon Wassom’s "The Space Between" is a striking mixed media painting on panel, measuring 16 x 12 inches. This evocative figurative work merges expressive brushwork with geometric abst...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$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
$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
$1,035Sale 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
$3,500Sale Price|30% Off
The Trophy Neo Mythology 30x38in, Signed oil canvas original
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"The Trophy" part of my Neo Mythology series. Original, unique painting. oil on canvas, 30x38in. Shipped rolled in a tube from Europe using DHL or FedEx, no custom or import fees in...
Canvas, Oil
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
$2,260Sale Price|20% Off
Two horses. Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting, Colorful, Dynamic, Polish art
By Monika Rossa
Located in Warsaw, PL
Abstract painting by Polish artist living in USA Monika Rossa. Painting depicts two horses running, it is in warm colors. The background is abstract and it is dynamic. MONIKA ROSSA ...
Canvas, Oil
Dogon by Christophe Dupety - Female nude painting, abstract, vivid tones, bright
Located in Paris, FR
Dogon is a unique oil on canvas painting by contemporary artist Christophe Dupety, dimensions are 55 × 46 cm (21.7 × 18.1 in). The artwork is signed, sold unframed and comes with a ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
Inner Peace: Contemporary Mixed Media on Canvas, Unframed
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide 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 Authent...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Unleashed by Christophe Dupety - Male Nude Painting, Contemporary
Located in Paris, FR
Unleashed (2018) by French contemporary artist Christophe Dupety. Oil on canvas, 100 x 81 cm. In his Human Figures series, Christophe Dupety shows us some bodies which aspect reminds...
Canvas, Oil
$400Sale Price|20% Off
Strokes and Emotions 2 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Strokes and Emotions captures struggles of identity, inner battles, and resilience. The fragmented strokes mirror fractured emotions, while the red/orange palette amplifies raw inten...
Canvas, Acrylic
Untitled 7 - 21st Century, Contemporary Figurative, Neo-Expressionism
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
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Playboy -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern, Men, Fashion
By Alawaye Tope
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 Top...
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
Bond -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Modern, Women Love
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
What binds us together isn't just blood; Love binds us, Nature binds us, and Time binds us together. The beauty of this all is that the Bond that binds us together is the inseparabl...
Canvas, Acrylic
Goodbye Mixed Media Oil Painting on Canvas, Abstract Figurative Art
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
Mixed media oil painting on canvas depicting a human figure intertwined with animal forms. The composition combines vibrant colors, abstract shapes, and figurative elements to explor...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic