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.
Doughnut Chocolate Pocket Painting 209, original painting, still life
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Chocolate Doughnut (with Sugar Sprinkles) 209 (canvas size 5x5cm) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale r...
Canvas, Oil
Strawberry Ruby Red Pocket Painting 202, original painting, still life
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Ruby Red Strawberry 202 (canvas size 5x5cm) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings...
Canvas, Oil
Iris - Night Bloom
Located in Zofingen, AG
The iris appears here not simply as a flower, but as a quiet presence shaped by light, memory, and stillness. Set against a deep petrol blue-green field that shifts with changing ill...
Canvas, Acrylic
'Lemoneighbors' by Marie Kash Weltzheimer; Framed Oil on Linen, 13.5" x 13.5"
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 13.5" x 13.5" x 2" oil on linen work by Oklahoma-based artist Marie Kash Weltzheimer portrays three lemons, arranged side by side. They are nestled in a striped blue and ...
Linen, Varnish, Oil
Morning in Color
Located in Zofingen, AG
Morning in Color captures an intimate moment suspended within the warmth of early light. Two figures sit facing one another, framed by an open architectural structure that blurs the ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Pearl — Light and Shadow
Located in Zofingen, AG
Series: Sea Within — Shells & Pearls. An open oyster reveals two luminous pearls — one soft and airy, the other deep, dark, and iridescent. Painted with a balance of realism and deco...
Canvas, Acrylic
Dotted Clover - Warm Abstract Folk Art Inspired Botanical Painting on Raw Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Meredith Walker’s "Dotted Clover" is a bold and meditative piece of contemporary folk art that highlights her ability to blend simplicity with symbolic resonance. This original acryl...
Canvas, Acrylic, Gouache
Freedom Flowers: Acrylic Painting, Bold, Contemporary, Nature, Art, Large
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Freedom Flowers Painting Flowers Freedom Contemporary Modern Bold Original Nature Statement Joy Whilst creating Freedom Flowers, I connected to the gift of nature, the abund...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Sébastien Ardouin Dumazet - "Japanese Chrysanthemums" Floral painting
Located in Montfort l’Amaury, FR
Sébastien Ardouin Dumazet (b. 1972) – "Japanese Chrysanthemums" Oil on oxidized gilded leaf on canvas, 2026, 25⅝ × 36¼ in. (65 × 92 cm) "Japanese Chrysanthemums" is a floral composi...
Copper
Lemniscate - 21st Century Contemporary Realistic Still life Painting
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Erik van de Beek (Dutch artist) Lemniscate 15,2 x 27,9 cm ( framed included 19,2 x 31,9 cm) Oil paint on wood panel Artist Erik van de Beek lives and works in Nijmegen. The modest N...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Raining Cats and Dogs" - Contemporary Mixed-Media Collage on Wood
By Zoa Ace
Located in Denver, CO
Born in Rockford, Illinois, 1951 Zoa Ace creates figurative oil paintings that explore human relationships through theatrical narratives infused with symbolic animals and whimsical...
Canvas, Oil
Blue Mist - Large Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, Floral Theme
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This large abstract contemporary painting by Jennifer Hornyak has a floral theme and features the colour blue. Celebrated internationally as a superb artist, Jennifer Hornyak has pr...
Canvas, Oil
"Rabbit Lake Summer 3" summer nostalgia, floating raft, childhood, swimming, sun
Located in Edgartown, MA
"Rabbit Lake Summer 3" is a part of Elizabeth Lennie's beloved summer lake raft series. Elizabeth's children grew up spending summers at Rabbit Lake, and these paintings are inspired...
Canvas, Oil
Seeing Bloom - Abstract Contemporary Folk Art Inspired Painting on Raw Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Meredith Walker’s "Seeing Bloom" is a striking original painting that fuses abstract botanical symbolism with a rich, earthen palette, capturing the viewer's attention through its el...
Canvas, Acrylic, Gouache
Emerald Rain - Contemporary Still Life Flowers Fruit Landscape Green, 2024
Located in Kent, CT
In this contemporary oil painting on canvas, a bright and inviting interior scene is set with a still life with arrangements of flowers in a vase and a glass pitcher, a pear and lemo...
Canvas, Oil
Fall, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This sunlit wildflower scene flows from earthy browns at the base through a gradient of warm reds and oranges in the blooms, set against a soft sky of green and...
Acrylic
Point of Balance
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this work, flowers, a vase, and a fragment of an architectural form create a space of quiet co-presence. The objects do not construct a narrative or strive for symbolic completen...
Canvas, Acrylic
Anemones in Enamel Can - 21st Century Contemporary Still-Life Painting
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
This still-life is painted by Dutch Painter Ingrid Smuling. The now 77-year-old artist is still most in her element when she is painting in her beautiful studio in the middle of The...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Elderberries", Botanical Study of Elderberries with Autumn Leaves
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Elderberries" is an original artwork by Vasilisa Romanenko and is made of acrylic on canvas, and measures 10"h x 8"w. It is signed en verso by the artist. Vasilis...
Canvas, Acrylic
Landscape - Oil Painting by Franco Marzilli - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Oil on canvas realized by Franco Marzilli (1934-2010) in 1970s. Hand signed lower right. Very good condition. Franco Marzilli was born in Rome in 1934. He received his first artis...
Oil
Blue and White Bowl with Cherries, Oil Painting
By Pat Doherty
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Luscious red cherries fill a blue and white ceramic bowl, their glossy surface catching the light. A soft purple tone creates a soothing contrast in the backgro...
Oil
Tomatoes, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This still life celebrates the simple beauty of homegrown produce. With warm tones and detailed brushwork, artist Steve Boggs captures the essence of his summer...
Oil
The Post Party. Geometric Figurative Still Life Painting, Acrylic on Canvas 2026
Located in FISTERRA, ES
The Post Party by Héctor Francesch is an acrylic on canvas created in 2026. Measuring 104 x 77 cm, this geometric figurative still life painting transforms domestic objects into anth...
Canvas, Acrylic
Clutter- 21st Century Contemporary Still-life painting with cutter plug
By Erik Zwaga
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
This still-life is made by Dutch painter Erik Zwaga. The painter started in the style of the romantic school, Erik Zwaga began to search more and more for his own visual language...
Oil, Wood Panel
Large Canadian 20thC Oil Painting Still Life Of Irises Flowers - French Painter
Located in Cirencester, GB
Artist: André Bertounesque (1937-2005) French Title: "Cut Iris Flower on A Windowsill" Medium: oil on board Size: 106cm x 85cm inclusive of frame Notes: Born in Saint Livrarde Franc...
Oil
Shrimps Wanna Have Cocktails Too, Still-Life Painting, 90x90 cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
Shrimps Wanna Have Cocktails Too is a quiet rebellion served on a silver plate, a reminder that even those placed on the sidelines of the table deserve the center of the scene, becau...
Canvas, Acrylic
Amaryllis Study no. 3
Located in Burlingame, CA
'Amaryllis Study no. 3' by master watercolorist Gary Bukovnik, who fuses sensual vitality with fluid yet powerful colorations to create floral images of great depth, intensity, and s...
Paper, Watercolor
Pear Blush Pocket Painting 10c, original painting, still-life
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Blush Pear 10c (canvas size 5x7cm) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a ...
Canvas, Oil
Contemporary Figurative Still Life Painting with Fruit and Female Figure
Located in Atlanta, GA
Playful yet refined, Marlene and Plums by Alison Duncan blends figurative painting with still life elements in a composition full of charm and personality. Rich acrylic brushwork and...
Paper, Acrylic
Iris - The Sign of Florence
Located in Zofingen, AG
Series: The Sign of Iris – Giglio is a painting series dedicated to Florence and its visual legacy. The iris — the historical emblem of the city — appears not as a botanical subject,...
Canvas, Acrylic
Sébastien Ardouin Dumazet - "Twilight" Contemporary floral painting
Located in Montfort l’Amaury, FR
Sébastien Ardouin Dumazet (b. 1972) – "Twilight" (Crépuscule) Oil on oxidized gilded leaf on canvas, 2026, 15¾ × 15¾ in. (40 × 40 cm) "Twilight" is a small-scale floral composition ...
Copper
A Single Bud - Abstract Contemporary Folk Art Inspired Painting on Raw Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Meredith Walker’s "A Single Bud" is a luminous example of modern abstract botanical painting that fuses organic minimalism with symbolic form. This unique painting invites viewers in...
Canvas, Acrylic, Gouache
Lily Study III
Located in Burlingame, CA
'Lily Study III' by master watercolorist Gary Bukovnik, who fuses sensual vitality with fluid yet powerful colorations to create floral images of great depth, intensity, and size. I...
Paper, Watercolor
Snowdrop Pocket Painting 6c, original painting, still-life, nature
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Snowdrop 6c is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque still li...
Canvas, Oil
Bananekürbis. Still life Painting, Oil on canvas, Contemporary
Located in Miami Beach, FL
When an artist works with more conventional still life subjects, they focus primarily on the formal properties of the painting, such as color relationships, form, proportions, and ot...
Canvas, Oil
Clementine Small & Green Fig Pocket Painting, Set of 2, original painting
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Small Clementine 4c is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque ...
Canvas, Oil
THE FRESCO - original large oil canvas painting by Paula Craioveanu
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"The Fresco" Oil on canvas Large original, one-of-a-kind, painting - 33.5x63in / 85x160cm Nude in a Italian Baroque interior, with blue marine painted fresco. Picture from the sol...
Canvas, Oil
Vase With Flowers - Floral Painting By Marc Zimmerman
Located in Carmel, CA
Floral - Abstract Painting - Oil On Canvas By Marc Zimmerman Marc Zimmerman creates playful paintings, whether deep mysterious jungle or delightfully whimsical florals. His color ...
Canvas, Oil
Solar Eclipse (Diamon Ring) Pocket Painting, original painting, still-life
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Solar Eclipse (Diamond Ring Effect) (canvas size 5x5cm) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic o...
Canvas, Oil
Desert Sunflower - Modern Warm Abstract Folk Art Inspired Painting on Raw Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Meredith Walker’s "Desert Sunflower" is a luminous original painting that bridges abstract symbolism and folk art tradition through radiant color and bold composition. This unique ac...
Canvas, Acrylic, Gouache
"Mist" City Landscape with Flowers and Construction Equipment by Max Seckel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Mist" is an original artwork by Max Seckel is made of flashe, acrylic, and spray paint on canvas. This piece measures 23”h x 31”w x 1.75”d framed, is signed by the...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
"Arrows & Cents" Contemporary Abstract Green, Red, & Yellow Target Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Contemporary colorful target painting by Texas based artist Nick Stevenson. The work features a central neon red, green, and yellow target flanked by the text "Arrows & Cents." Signe...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Nude Model - Oil Painting - Mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Nude Model is an original modern artwork realied by Artist of the mid-20th Century. Mixed colored oil painting. Signature of the artist on the lower margin. Fair conditions due to...
Oil
Large Landscape Painting Contemporary Impressionist Oil on Linen Framed 36 x 48
By Millie Gosch
Located in Atlanta, GA
Golden Goodbye by Millie Gosch is a large-scale landscape painting rendered in oil on linen, capturing a warm, atmospheric moment with soft, impressionistic brushwork. The compositio...
Linen, Oil, Board
Spring flowers (set of 2) Pocket Paintings set, Still life, Original
Located in Deddington, GB
Set of 2 paintings by Dani Humberstone Crocus Purple Pink Pocket Painting Pocket Striped Bellona Tulip Pocket Purple Pink Crocus is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as ...
Canvas, Oil
Sunlight Acrylic Painting, Contemporary Botanical Art, 40 x 30 Inch
Located in Oakland, CA
The graceful arcs of this botanical painting call to mind Chinese ink brush paintings or Japanese textiles. The silhouette is that of a money tree, a plant traditionally believed to ...
Acrylic, Graphite, Canvas
Cherries Dark Pocket Painting 2c, original painting, contemporary
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Dark Cherries 2c is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque sti...
Oil
Amaryllis in a Tall Vase
Located in Burlingame, CA
'Amaryllis in a Tall Vase'. Watercolor on paper measuring 40 1/4 x 22 3/4 inches. Currently unframed. Gary Bukovnik fuses sensual vitality with fluid yet powerful colorations to cre...
Paper, Watercolor
Field and Orchard (Land and Skyscape with Open Field and Dark Treeline)
Located in Hudson, NY
Field and Orchard (Land and Skyscape with Open Field and Dark Treeline) by David Konigsberg 2025, oil on panel, 23.5 x 24 inches Konigsberg is a conceptual realist who works across ...
Oil, Panel
Peas in a Pod Painting 3c, original painting, still-life
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Peas in Pod 3c (canvas size 7x5cm) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a ...
Canvas, Oil
Lilies Still-Life Painting, Acrylic on Paper, Contemporary, 2010+
Located in Oslo, NO
This artwork presents a captivating botanical study, showcasing a lush bouquet of delicate flowers rendered with a masterful blend of pastel hues and vibrant greens. The flowers, in ...
Acrylic, Paper
Wild Flowers Painting by Marc Zimmerman
Located in Carmel, CA
Wild Flowers - Still Life Flowers Painting by Marc Zimmerman Inventive flowers and strong color placed in juxtaposition in a wild manor makes for a one of a kind work of art. Marc...
Oil
Cherry On Top - Original Abstract Cocktail Still Life Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Columbus, Georgia (USA) based artist Kellie Newsome specializes in dynamic and abstracted still-life artworks. Her expressive style emphasizes line structure, creating vibrant painti...
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Canvas
Fig Green Pocket Painting 3c, original painting, still-life
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Green Fig 3c is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque still l...
Canvas, Oil
Cerises Rouges Limited Edition Print, Archival Ink, 30x40 cm, Signed, Still Life
Located in AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FR
Work : Limited Edition Print of 20, from the original oil painting "Cerises Rouges" by Gabriel Riesnert. Medium : Archival Pigment inkjet on BFK Rives White Arches 310g. Dimensions...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Contemporary Abstract Black, White, and Pink Shapes on Blue Field Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Contemporary colorful abstract painting by Houston based artist Shelbi Nicole. The work features black, white, and pink shapes floating against a blue background. Signed and dated in...
Canvas, Acrylic
Northcoast
Located in Burlingame, CA
Northcoast - The painting was created in 2025 by celebrated American realist artist Willard Dixon, who has captured the undeniable beauty of the west for the past 35 years. Dixon’s ...
Canvas, Oil
A Soundless Song, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A glass jar rests to the left of the composition, holding a single branch with pale leaves that appear wilted, with one leaf fallen at its base. The branch stre...
Acrylic
Coral with Green and Lemon - Contemporary Oil Painting on Wood Panel
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This abstract contemporary oil painting has a floral theme featuring the colours coral, green and lemon. This elegant oil painting is by one of Canada’s finest contemporary artists,...
Oil, Wood Panel
Daybreak Japanese Maple (Framed 36 x 36 inch contemporary oil painting)
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a ‘dancing peacock Japanese maple’ (Acer Japonicum Aconitifolium) also known as ‘Maiku-jaku' in Japanese. Its massive leaves have nine points instead of 5. They can be as b...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic