Abstract Still-life Paintings
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.
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic, Archival Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Archival Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Ink, Archival Paper, Monoprint
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Ink, Archival Paper, Monoprint
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Sandstone
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Sandstone
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
This vibrant piece captures the essence of hydrangeas with varying shades of blue. Layers of liquid acrylics and thick application of full-bodied paint create v...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
This abstract floral painting features vibrant tones in expressive and quick brush strokes. While suggesting floral elements, the piece remains highly non-representational. The bouquet exhibits dynamic movement, with touches of cool blues and greens complementing the dominant warm reds and pinks.
About the Artist
Artist Alix Palo captures nature's tranquility and dramatic allure in her effusive floral works. She studied Art History, and after completing botanical art and illustration programs, she shifted from a realistic style to a non-representational and expressive approach. Directional lines and mark-making provide impact and emphasize a focal point in each of her pieces. "My use of color and light helps to achieve a painting's mood and I hope the viewer experiences this," says Alix. As a mom of six, she found herself wanting to carve out her interests—and encouraging her children to reach their goals has fueled her to achieve her own. Today, she works on the ground floor of her home, always surrounded by her dogs and occasionally cluttered with supplies. When she is not painting, Alix enjoys playing and coaching pickleball, cooking delicious dishes, and traveling to discover new sceneries and art.
Words that describe this painting: bouquet, flower, floral, garden, gestural, expressive, abstract, flora, acrylic painting, pink
Red Bouquet...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Sandstone
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Sandstone
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Paper, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Sandstone
Artist Comments
Artist Judy Mackey says she asked her patrons to help her title this impressionist painting of orange tulips, and she loved the sug...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil, Gesso
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Sandstone
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Sandstone
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Bold contrasts and intricate textural details define this large abstract painting. The striking blue, purple, and yellow florals imbue a dreamy quality into the...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Lacquer, Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Sandstone
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Paper, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Paper, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Paper, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil Pastel, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil, Pigment, Canvas
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil