Contemporary Portrait Paintings
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.
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Watercolor
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Paper, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Early 2000s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Paper, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Oil, Cotton Canvas
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Mixed Media, Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Mixed Media, Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Linen, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Fabric, Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Sitting on a silver stool, a woman immerses herself in mysterious and romantic thoughts. Against the dripping blue background, her warm skin tone radiates. Her eyes, intentionally obscured, add an element of intrigue to the painting. The artwork comes with a matte black wood frame measuring 2 inches deep and 0.75 of an inch thick.
About the Artist
Malia Pettit sees her artistic process as an act of “liberating the paint†and “allowing for the unexpected to occur.†Her portraits of women stem from a fascination with glossy magazines and their portrayal of models, actors and celebrities. Her work has been especially influenced by Chantal Joffe...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A red-haired woman in a black dress captivates with a sultry gaze, complemented by a black veiled headpiece that adds a layer of drama to her look. The title of the artwork not only references the accessory but also holds the essence of her spirit. The piece comes with a matte black wood frame measuring 1.5 inches deep and 0.75 inches thick.
About the Artist
Malia Pettit sees her artistic process as an act of “liberating the paint†and “allowing for the unexpected to occur.†Her portraits of women stem from a fascination with glossy magazines and their portrayal of models, actors and celebrities. Her work has been especially influenced by Chantal Joffe...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A woman wears a face of uncertainty, with slightly furrowed eyebrows and a contemplative gaze. Bold and powerful brushstrokes with vivid oil colors capture the intensity of her emotion. The portrait evokes a feeling of intrigue and second-guessing. The artwork comes with a Larson-Juhl...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Five women gather together, each striking a unique pose in their continuous yellow scalloped skirt. Pompom-like shapes dangle from below their hair, complementi...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Oil, Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Oil Pastel, Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Oil, Oil Pastel, Paper
2010s Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Oil