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 solitary lemon rests on a table, exuding a subtle blue glow. Soft light brings out its textured skin, creating a contrast with the shadow that pools beneath...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic, Paper
1970s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Encaustic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Screen
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pencil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Artist Comments
Every oyster shell is a unique thing of beauty. This is one of many I have smuggled from restaurants after devouring a dozen or mo...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
1970s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Linen
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Birch, Oil, Wood Panel
Artist Comments
"This painting was created in one fast sitting, with furious yet thoughtful brushstrokes," explains Rachel. "The acrylic paint ranges from thick impasto a thin watercolor-like veil." Part of Rachel's signature cubist coffee series. For these pieces, she studies her extensive collection of cafetieres that she keeps in her studio. The works are both about celebrating her love of coffee, and depicting light, pattern, and repetition as though it were set to music.
About the Artist
For Rachel Srinivasan, an idea is worth putting on a canvas only if it still feels exciting after a few days. Rachel enjoys mulling the idea over in her mind for some time before creating an artwork. She hopes viewers will engage with her work and wonder about the subject matter, shapes and colors. "My current work is all about creating a connection between the person on the canvas with the viewer," she explains. She prefers large paintings and sometimes even makes her own canvases. She currently lives in Arizona and enjoys baking rhubarb pies, reading, running and going to art museums.
Words that describe this painting: coffee, espresso, caffe, breakfast, cubism, still life, cuisine, non-representational, modern , acrylic painting, grey
Lighter Blue Coffee...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Watercolor, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Watercolor, Paper
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Steve Boggs used his homegrown Better Bay tomato as the subject for this still-life oil painting. Centered in warm sunlight, the fruit's vibrant red-oran...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A luscious tuxedo cake, drizzled with decadent chocolate syrup, rests elegantly on a pristine white pedestal plate. An assortment of berries crowns the top, a...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Vibrant flowers spill from a deep purple vase, their colorful petals popping against a neutral backdrop. The abstract floral details evoke the tranquil sunshi...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
Artist Comments
A whole lemon transforms when sliced in half, revealing its vibrant, juicy interior. Striking red and blue light emanates from the fruit, contrasting against ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
Delicate lilac flowers fill a glass vase, while a fallen cluster rests beside it, adding a natural touch. Gentle light filters through the scene, adding a warm ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
"Despite this being a classical still life, I wanted it to have a modern look," shares artist Nikolay Rizhankov. To achieve this, he arranged the monochrome f...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Paint, Ink, Mixed Media, Board
Artist Comments
Placed on a pale yellow table, an unwrapped chocolate cupcake topped with swirl mint frosting and sprinkle entices with its delectable appeal. Subtle details ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1980s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Still-life Paintings
Masonite, Oil