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.
Day Break.. Contemporary Abbstract Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Lorraine was born in London and studied sculpture for several years before undertaking a Fine Art Degree. She currently spends much of the year in the French Alps, which is a great i...
Acrylic
Pearlescent Drapery. 3D textured
Located in Zofingen, AG
The artwork, created on 1 cm thick plywood, is a unique combination of textures and natural elements. The upper part of the painting is made from faux leather with a pearlescent tint...
Plywood, Mixed Media
"Meditation"
Located in Zofingen, AG
The immersive painting “Meditation” is created in oil on Belgian linen canvas using the ancient glazing technique. This refined method of applying multiple transparent layers produce...
Linen, Oil
Cellular Reaction Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, Framed, 1980s
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This colourful contemporary abstract painting is by the highly collectable artist Milly Ristvedt. Milly Ristvedt is considered one of Canada's foremost abstract artists. Hailed as a...
Canvas, Acrylic
Crazy Apartment - Abstract Figurative Cubist Portrait Still Life Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Valerie Etitinwo's unique approach to abstract figurative painting celebrates the unconventional beauty found in imperfection and awkwardness. The Nigerian-Swiss artist uses bold col...
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
City Joy - Original Abstract Colorful Figurative Textured Impasto Oil Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ekaterina Ermilkina’s original, abstract fine art paintings are created using a skillful combination of applying and removing oil paint with a palette knife on canvas. Her inspiratio...
Canvas, Oil
Abstract Expressionist French Urban Scene. Gouache on Paper. 50cm x 65cm.
Located in Cotignac, FR
Colorful abstract expressionnist village scene in gouache and watercolor on paper by Belgian artist André Pierard. Signed bottom right and dated August 1976 bottom left. This artwo...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
$1,200
Botanical Interval, original botanical painting, pink, green, Abstract
Located in Cumming, GA
Botanical Interval – Original Contemporary Abstract Botanical Painting, 24 x 24 inches Botanical Interval captures a quiet, atmospheric moment where softened botanical forms emerge ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Where it is quiet No.4
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this work, the artist explores silence as a state of inner balance and presence. Drawing from the ощущення of natural landscapes, she creates a distilled, atmospheric space where ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$795
154 Squares V.3 - Modern Colorful Abstract Geometric Squares Acrylic Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brandon Neher is a California artist whose original paintings embody a profound exploration of space, structure, and balance, infused with a touch of modern minimalism. Drawing inspi...
Wood, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Contemporary Neo-Expressionist Fauvist influence still-life art "Blooming aura"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
Contemporary Neo-Expressionist floral still life with Fauvist chromatic influence, expressive mixed-media painting on heavyweight professional acid-free paper (50 × 65 cm / 19.7 × 25...
Paper, Acrylic
$14,380
Couleurs en équilibre -Abstract oil painting, stylized bookshelf with warm tones
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Sophie Dumont (b. 1964, Paris) French contemporary painter Sophie Dumont has developed a distinctive body of work over the past two decades, exploring the intersection of memory, str...
Oil
"Untitled" Jackson Pollock Style Abstract Expressionist Painting on Board Framed
Located in New York, NY
This painting is a vibrant abstract expressionist work in the style of Jackson Pollock, characterized by energetic, chaotic splatters, drips, and interwoven lines of paint. With bold...
Mixed Media, Board
Architecture of Colors, Contemporary Large Abstract Oil Painting, 42x42 in
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Architecture of Colors This work is part of Sophie Dumont’s recent Architectural Abstractions series, an ongoing body of work exploring constructed space through layered oil painting...
Canvas, Oil
$4,110
Floating - Large Color Drenched Impasto Mixed Media Textural Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Acrylic
Robot Circleish - Large Scale Abstract Expressive Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The paintings of Bruce Rubenstein seamlessly marry sophistication with affordability. His expressive abstract landscape artwork 'Robot Circleish' features whimsical details and vibra...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$850
Untitled I (Skyscape, Warm, Glowing, Abstract, Pulsating, Lilac, Pink, Yellow)
By Annieo Klaas
Located in Kansas City, MO
Annieo Klaas Untitled I (from 7:45 am Series) 2025 Oil on Canvas Size: 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm) Signed and titled verso COA included *On stretcher frame, gallery-wrapped - ...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
$10,150
Mid-Hudson Inscape - Large Abstract Landscape Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The paintings of Bruce Rubenstein seamlessly marry sophistication with affordability. His expressive abstract landscape artwork 'Mid-Hudson Inscape' features whimsical details and vi...
Enamel
Golden Circles
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting features an abstract composition consisting of various flat circles of different sizes, made from clay. The lines of the circles create dynamic movement and an appealin...
Canvas, Acrylic, Clay
Golden Elegance. Abstract
Located in Zofingen, AG
This exquisite piece of art is a small square canvas crafted using modeling paste. The magnificent white-gold color scheme creates an atmosphere of sophistication and luxury. The pai...
Paste, Canvas, Acrylic
$31,701
Umbrella - Silent Rain No.5 , Abstract, Painting, 21st Century, Acryl and Clay
By Roger König
Located in Dessau-Rosslau, Sachsen Anhalt
A unique large-scale work from the ongoing Umbrella series. The figure appears suspended between presence and dissolution, as dripping layers evoke the quiet persistence of rain. T...
Clay, Acrylic
Water flowers abstract painting
Located in London, London
Decor floral, vintage flowers Abstract painting on canvas, blue, extra-large, XXL, large oil on canvas painting, abstract expressionism. Abstract art, water flowers, exotic flower...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$1,833Sale Price|25% Off
Fallen Angel Painting, Abstract Oil on Linen, Signed, 120x60 cm
Located in Silverthorne, CO
A dramatic expressionist painting dedicated to the soul of me before cancer, who believed in a benevolent universe, who saw signs and followed them, who somehow thought she would liv...
Linen, Oil
$3,500
In The Loop - Large Scale Color Drenched Impasto Textural Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Acrylic, Glitter
The Vanguard Series Nr. XXIV: A Collection of Postwar European Abstractions
Located in London, GB
"The Vanguard Series Nr. XXIV: A Collection of Postwar European Abstractions", oil on board, by 'R.G.' (circa 1950s–70s). A compelling body of work emerging from the forgotten studio...
Board, Oil
$3,576
Articulation Point, Modern Abstract painting, Geometric, Original Oil on Canvas
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Oil on canvas, 60 x 60 cm (23.6 x 23.6 in) Framed: 67 x 67 cm (26.4 x 26.4 in) Signed lower right Framed in a black or natural wood floater frame (your choice) Certificate of authen...
Oil
Where it is quiet, No.1
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work emerged from an inner need to pause and enter a space where tension no longer exists. In a world where silence has become rare and fragile, painting becomes a way to briefl...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$5,692Sale Price|40% Off
Eternity Abstract Canvas Painting, Oil & Acrylic XXL
Located in London, London
All custom charges are included in the final price agreed. unframed, shipped rolled XXL, Extra-large painting, large painting, abstract art, abstract painting on canvas, oil on can...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Golden Country: Abstract Impressionist Landscape
Located in Atlanta, GA
Georgia based artist Niyati Jiwani creates works that aim to fuse abstraction and themes of nature utilizing color, gesture, and light. Born in India, Niyati grew up with a flair an...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Blush of Spring II - Impressionistic Painting on Linen Canvas, floral art
Located in Zofingen, AG
Blush of Spring II captures a quiet moment of early bloom. Delicate pink buds and soft white petals emerge along slender branches, floating gently across a pale green background. The...
Canvas, Linen, Acrylic
$5,752
Triptych “Symphony of nature” X-Large size . Semi-abstract interior painting
Located in Oslo, NO
This triptych showcases a dramatic seascape that captures the raw energy of turbulent waves crashing against rugged rocks. The swirling, frothy waters are depicted with dynamic brush...
Canvas, Acrylic
#253, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
$1,198
Liberty
Located in Zofingen, AG
Liberty is an oil abstract painting and minimalist abstract landscape shaped by the quiet meeting of a sky-blue horizon and warm ochre earth tones, creating a subtle dialogue between...
Canvas, Oil
Jits on A Wire - Abstract Modern Organic Shape Mixed Media Artwork on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rue Bootay, a New York-born artist now rooted in the vibrant artistic landscape of Los Angeles, navigates the avant-garde realm of nonrepresentational surrealism with a style uniquel...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$5,800
Infinity Bliss - Bue Tone Abstract Atmospheric Landscape Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mark Acetelli’s oil and mixed media paintings awaken the viewer’s sense of exploration and adventure; they demand a new discovery. His artworks exhibit a chemistry of complexity and ...
Canvas, Oil
Axe de convergence, Abstract Geometric, oil on canvas, Contemporary
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Size unframed: 50 x 50 cm (15.75 x 15.75 in) Size framed 57 x 57 cm or 22.44 x 22.44 in. Choose the color of frame black or wood. A certificate comes the painting the painting is re...
Oil
$850
"Many For The Empath" (abstract, flora, fauna, roses, oil painting, green, pink)
Located in Paris, IDF
MANY FOR THE EMPATH 2026 Paris, France This complex and layered floral painting of an abundant, overflowing bouquet presents an energetic and mesmerizing subject. This original mixe...
Oil Crayon, Dye, Cotton Canvas, Ink, Oil, Acrylic
$23,967
DAMIEN HIRST - THE CURRENCY. Original work The Currency Project. Dots. Colors
By Damien Hirst
Located in Madrid, Madrid
DAMIEN HIRST - THE CURRENCY: 6274. NOBODY SHOULD HEAR IT Date of creation: 2016 Medium: Enamel paint on handmade paper Edition: 5.149 unique works on paper Size: 21.5 x 30 cm Conditi...
Enamel
0316. Abstract Painting on Canvas
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The process of creating a painting leaves behind a series of elements that become the starting point for a new piece. A mark, a line, color and shape become elements of a new paintin...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,230Sale Price|55% Off
Fusion Acrylic Painting on Cotton Canvas, Abstract Expressionism
Located in London, London
Title: "Fusion" Artist: Katarina Joys Medium: Acrylic on Cotton Canvas Dimensions: 110x180cm (114x184 cm full size) original painting on canvas hand signed one-of-a-kind Certificate...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$3,230
Modern abstract expressionist floral painting on linen canvas "Peony Bloom"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Peony Bloom" is a contemporary floral still life by French artist Natalya Mougenot, where vibrant color and expressive gesture celebrate the joyful abundance of peonies at their pea...
Acrylic, Canvas, Linen
$3,576
Zone de rencontre - Modern Abstract painting, Geometric, Original Oil on Canvas
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
French contemporary painter Sophie Dumont is known for her abstracted library compositions and layered oil technique. Working from her studio in Normandy, she builds each canvas thr...
Oil
$838
Modern abstract Impressionist still life floral painting on paper "Roses Trio"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Roses Trio” is a vibrant contemporary floral still life by French artist Natalya Mougenot, whose intuitive, spontaneous brushwork transforms everyday blooms into a burst of emotiona...
Paper, Acrylic
Golden Glow. Abstract expressionist, Japandi, Wabi-Sabi, Shabby Chic
Located in Oslo, NO
"Golden Glow" is a painting filled with bright, warm light and abstract shapes that convey a sense of powerful energy and inner light. The painting depicts a bright sun piercing the...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,100
Flowing Creativity - Large Abstract Romantic Textural Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from an immersive and impressionistic interpretation of nature, Canadian artist Vé Boisvert paints textural original artworks that capture the fleeting effects of...
Canvas, Acrylic
#204, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
Portrait of a Woman in Black Dress
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Portrait of a Woman in Black, 1963. Stylistically influenced by Modigliani and Soutine. Signed "Woody" and dated lower right. Oil painting on canvas 34 x 18 in, 42 x 26 in (fram...
Burlap, Oil
Abstract Composition with Color Fields – Contemporary Oil Painting "Far Blue 2"
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
"Distant Blue 2." Abstract Composition with Fields of Blue Color is an original oil painting on canvas by Colombian artist Luis Xiua, created in his Bogotá studio. The work explores ...
Acrylic, Oil, Cotton Canvas
$4,785Sale Price|33% Off
sense of pink
Located in London, London
The Designer Choice: Large Horizontal Abstract Expressionist Canvas – Warm Terracotta & Rose Statement Art The Emotional Choice: “Ember Glow” – Original Extra Large Mixed Media...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$8,200
Return to Presence - Moody Abstract Atmospheric Landscape Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mark Acetelli’s oil and mixed media paintings awaken the viewer’s sense of exploration and adventure; they demand a new discovery. His artworks exhibit a chemistry of complexity and ...
Canvas, Oil
Line of Silence No. 7
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Line of silence” is an ongoing painting cycle that explores the fragile boundary between presence and dissolution. Through a restrained color palette, layered surfaces, and a soften...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$778
Contemporary abstract expressionist woman's portrait on paper "Present moment"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Present Moment” is a contemporary abstract portrait by French artist Natalya Mougenot, created as part of her ongoing series dedicated to women and their inner emotional landscapes....
Paper, Acrylic
Sculpted white folds. 3D texture
Located in Zofingen, AG
The artwork is crafted on a wooden circular canvas, enhancing its organic and natural appeal. The folds, created from durable mesh and coated with plaster, add depth and texture to t...
Mixed Media
$1,285
A Moment In Time - Colorful Impasto Mixed Media Textural Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Glitter, Acrylic
Echoes of the Flow
Located in Zofingen, AG
This piece from the *"Silhouettes"* series presents a bright abstract landscape where hints of a river, fields, and sky can be discerned. It continues the exploration of the connecti...
Acrylic, Archival Paper
$1,553
Large French Vintage Landscape Abstract Impressionist Coastal Oil Painting
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Large Vintage Abstract Impressionist oil painting on canvas, signed by the artist, Maryvonne LE DEIST (b.1936). This amazing painting hails from the 1960's and is entitled, 'Port de...
Oil
Rythmes croisés — Contemporary Geometric Abstract Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
This oil on canvas by Sophie Dumont presents a structured composition where curved forms and vertical elements intersect in a finely balanced architectural space. Built through succ...
Canvas, Oil
$8,820
Eroded horizon- Large Abstract Painting – Landscape –Contemporary, French art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
This original oil painting by Sophie Dumont, a French contemporary painter, reflects her distinctive approach to landscape through abstraction, structure, and material depth. Born i...
Canvas, Oil
Belle Golinko Vintage American Female Modernist Abstract Expressionist Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Measuring: 31 by 43 inches overall, and 24 by 36 painting alone. Signed. Nicely framed. Excellent condition, ...
Oil, Canvas
Vintage Abstract Impressionist French Countryside Oil Painting by Jacques Birr
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Vintage mid-century abstract impressionist oil painting on board signed at the bottom, Jacques Birr 91. With expressive cloud swirls created by a large brush, the artist has given u...
Oil
The Italian-American’s 2020 abstract painting “The Hoe” personifies his “art of not knowing.”
In his current show at New York's Lehmann Maupin gallery, the Puerto Rican–born talent reveals new paintings with a semiautobiographical aspect.