Abstract 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 Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A blend of muted greens, grays, and earth tones evokes a moody landscape. The composition suggests a horizon where the sky meets a textured field. Bold brushstrokes and layered colors create a sense of depth and movement, capturing the essence of a landscape in transition. Hints of blue and orange add contrast and intrigue.
About the Artist
Artist Ronda Waiksnis captures nature's visceral beauty in her abstract and expressionist works. Embracing the capriciousness of the creative process, she allows her intuition to guide her, resulting in pieces that feel both organic and unrefined. "My paintings have been found, not built," says Ronda. Rarely using brushes, she applies layers of paint with large palette knives or her fingers, emphasizing the importance of balancing creative abandon and physical control. Ronda operates in a gloriously messy studio, a standalone building behind her house, with a powerful sound system that keeps the vibe carefree and intense. When she's not creating art, Ronda enjoys spending time with her loved ones, playing with her dogs, and savoring a glass of wine.
Words that describe this painting: expressive, muted, soft, gestural, stream...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Enamel
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Earthy tones contrast with soft pinks and greens, hinting at a floral presence. This abstract painting conveys dynamic movement and emotional depth, balancing s...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Gold Leaf
2010s Abstract Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Early 2000s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1960s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Linen, Ink, Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Gold Leaf
2010s Abstract Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Abstract Paintings
Charcoal, Acrylic, Pencil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Resin, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Gesso, Oil, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Giclée
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
1950s Abstract Paintings
Oil
1960s Abstract Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Abstract Paintings
Gesso, Archival Ink, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Giclée
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Clay, Acrylic
Artist Comments
An abstract botanical piece emerges from expressive strokes of earthy and soft colors. The composition merges spontaneity with precision, evoking a sense of mot...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Oil, Acrylic
1960s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Gesso, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Giclée, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil Crayon, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Gesso, Archival Ink, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Giclée, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A blend of muted greens, grays, and earth tones evokes a moody landscape. The composition suggests a horizon where the sky meets a textured field. Bold brushstrokes and layered colors create a sense of depth and movement, capturing the essence of a landscape in transition. Hints of blue and orange add contrast and intrigue.
About the Artist
Artist Ronda Waiksnis captures nature's visceral beauty in her abstract and expressionist works. Embracing the capriciousness of the creative process, she allows her intuition to guide her, resulting in pieces that feel both organic and unrefined. "My paintings have been found, not built," says Ronda. Rarely using brushes, she applies layers of paint with large palette knives or her fingers, emphasizing the importance of balancing creative abandon and physical control. Ronda operates in a gloriously messy studio, a standalone building behind her house, with a powerful sound system that keeps the vibe carefree and intense. When she's not creating art, Ronda enjoys spending time with her loved ones, playing with her dogs, and savoring a glass of wine.
Words that describe this painting: expressive, muted, soft, gestural, stream...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Pigment
1940s Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A structured grid of organic, playful shapes emerges within a jade and yellow-green field. Abstract metallic fireflies add movement and contrast, shimmering aga...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1940s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Gold Leaf
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
1940s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Paintings
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
