Contemporary Still-life 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.
Artist Comments
A poppy in full bloom pairs with a closed bud. Written fragments from books layer the background, adding a narrative depth to the composition. The vivid red con...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A vivid red poppy stands at the center of a textured navy-blue background filled with delicate handwritten script. A gingham ribbon ties the stem, adding contra...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A vivid bouquet of pansies with deep green foliage blooms at the center of the composition. The detailed botanical illustration stands out against a layered bac...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A vibrant yellow rose blooms at the center, its layered petals unfolding with warmth and life. A black-and-white gingham ribbon ties around the stem, creating a...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A single orange-red rose blooms vividly against a soft blue-toned background filled with a handwritten script. Subtle gradients bring depth to each petal, highl...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A bold bird of paradise stands out with vivid orange and red petals against a background of dense handwritten script. The contrast between the tropical vibrancy...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Paper, Acrylic, Pencil, Color Pencil
Artist Comments
Delicate blue flowers bloom from a central stem, painted with soft gradients and fine detail. Their organic shapes complement the structure of handwritten text ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A single delicate rose, tied with a flowing white ribbon, blooms at the center of the composition. Handwritten text fills the background, creating a layered, in...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A Baltimore oriole perches gracefully among blooming white flowers against a clear blue sky. The bird’s orange plumage contrasts with the soft petals surround...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Paper, Etching
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Pigment, Charcoal
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Ink, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
A still life of flowers creates a serene, light, and airy atmosphere. Delicate white hydrangeas in a vase stand out against a red embroidered tablecloth, with...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A glass vase holds a bouquet of white flowers, their petals standing out against the gray backdrop. The water distorts the stems, adding an intriguing effect....
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Color Pencil, Paper, Pencil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Pigment
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Pigment, Charcoal
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic, Paper, Coffee, Pastel, Ink
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Screen
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Charcoal, Pastel, Oil, Spray Paint, Archival Paper, Pigment
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Charcoal, Pastel, Oil, Spray Paint, Archival Paper, Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Ink
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Inkjet
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Egg Tempera
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Birch, Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Ink, Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Pigment, Tea
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Gesso, Watercolor, Gouache
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Linen, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Encaustic, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Birch, Oil, Panel
Early 2000s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Paper, Watercolor