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.
Artist Comments
Simple geometric shapes and colors take command in this abstract piece by artist Shyun Song. Defining her roots, she stacks the letters of her parents' family n...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This abstract painting features a red linear shape against a brown background. It is inspired by a Chinese character that means "human," signifying that a perso...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
An orange diagonal line crosses over a purple background, symbolizing a Chinese character that means "human." It conveys that individuals require a support syst...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
The painting employs colors and shapes as visual metaphors. The aquamarine background symbolizes positive forces, and the vertical arrangement of yellow rectang...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
The timeless coexistence between light and darkness unfolds in this abstract piece. A viscous force takes form in hot pink, suggesting the temptation that leads...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This abstract painting features color blocks and simple geometric forms. A long vertical rectangle on an intense red background symbolizes elevating passion. As...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This abstract painting features simple geometric forms and solid colors to create a bold statement. It depicts a horizontal rectangle symbolizing rational discr...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Employing simple geometric forms, artist Shyun Song uses lines of color to create a bold statement. She believes that seclusion brings out authenticity in creat...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"Amid the autumn season, I revisit the natural stages from sprouting to maturing and the long waiting in between," says artist Shyun Song. The yellow-green, str...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Shyun Song employs linear geometric forms and a monochromatic color palette to create a bold statement. "In this painting, I captured the blissful sensat...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Shyun Song reveals artistic visual imagery created with sleek linear work. An expression of insouciance with a few lines scatter casually on a soft yello...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Minimal geometric forms make a bold statement in artist Shyun Song's abstract piece. Sleek linear strokes cross over the background of refined coral shades. An ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"When we see a rainbow that stretches from the sea or field towards the sky, it always evokes awe and hope," says artist Shyun Song. She displays a minimalist a...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Shyun Song brings an emphasis on symmetry in her conceptual abstract piece. She illustrates minimalist geometric figures with sleek linear forms. The two...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Shyun Song conceptualizes a minimalist geometric composition with clean linear forms. She paints the canvas a deep-sea blue implying the unpredictability...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"This diptych illustrates two sides of being alone," explains artist Shyun Song. "Loneliness is depicted as a downcast state when we miss other people, while al...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"Nothing is static in reality," states artist Shyun Song. "The split between the two shades of blue shapes depict the breaking up of a whole." With her clean, m...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"This piece captures the inner feminine side of a man which instinctively releases nurturing energies," states artist Shyun Song. "The blue on blue rectangle st...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"This piece illustrates an inner dialogue which we frequently go through by exchanging and interchanging our thoughts, ideas, knowledge, and views," explains ar...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"When we rise above ourselves, our souls also rise and begin an arduous venture which leads to the fulfillment of our innate potential," states artist Shyun Son...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"Red and blue shapes which are overlapped in the piece imply emotional dependency," explains artist Shyun Song. "The yellow background signifies the emotional f...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"Emotional freedom is portrayed by the parallel placement of the red and blue shapes together with the space between them," states artist Shyun Song. "The yello...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A minimalist abstract in shades of blue, yellow, orange, and white created by artist Shyun Song. "The four elements which refer to water, earth, fire, and air a...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"The right panel of this diptych where three secondary colors are applied, radiates protective quietude that leads to our inner sanctuary," says artist Shyun ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"The arrangement of three primary colors in the left panel of this diptych emanates intense light," states the artist Shyun Song. "Its whole atmosphere exudes...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
With her minimalist conceptual approach, artist Shyun Song delicately joins a psychological occurrence with stunning visual imagery. "A mysterious phenomenon ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"This painting captures a notion that reality consists of two opposing states," explains artist Shyun Song. "The dark line between the warm and cool colors st...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"This piece is inspired by a musical keyboard representing harmony," explains artist Shyun Song. A delicate seam between sound and visual imagery, Shyun picks...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"I used firm and thick closed lines to symbolize the boundaries that people set in order to curb their indulgent tendencies," says artist Shyun Song. A box wi...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Shyun Song explains of her clean, minimalist oil paintings, "As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come across ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come across a concept that sums up an element of psychology, I start sketching....
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come across a concept that sums up an element of psychology, I start sketching....
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come across a concept that sums up an element of psychology, I start sketching....
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting is on gallery wrapped canvas with white edges. It comes ready to hang.
About the Artist
Painting is not merely an aesthetic endeavor...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Shyun Song explains of her clean, minimalist oil paintings, "As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come acros...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Shyun Song explains of her clean, minimalist oil paintings, "As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come acros...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Shyun explains of her clean, minimalist oil paintings, "As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come across a concept ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Shyun explains of her clean, minimalist oil paintings, "As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come across a concept ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
About the Artist
Painting is not merely an aesthetic endeavor for Shyun Song, but also an existential one. Her art matches aspects of geometric sh...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Shyun explains of her clean, minimalist oil paintings, "As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come across a concept ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Shyun explains of her clean, minimalist oil paintings, "As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come across a concept ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Shyun explains of her clean, minimalist oil paintings, "As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come across a concept ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Shyun explains of her clean, minimalist oil paintings, "As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come across a concept ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Shyun explains of her clean, minimalist oil paintings, "As an intense observer, I am interested in mythology and psychology. Whenever I come across a concept ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This piece is one of two images of Metamorphosis. This one is the metamorphosis of a bud into a flower. The second painting, Metamorphosis II, is the metamorp...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This piece is one of two images of Metamorphosis. This one is the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. The second painting, Metamorphosis I, is th...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
About the Artist
Painting is not merely an aesthetic endeavor for Shyun Song, but also an existential one. Her art matches aspects of geometric sh...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
I wanted to express our adaptable existence by juxtaposing two different colored shapes.
About the Artist
Painting is not merely an aesthetic endea...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
I wanted to express our adaptable existence by juxtaposing two different colored shapes.
About the Artist
Painting is not merely an aesthetic endea...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting is on gallery wrapped canvas with white edges. It comes ready to hang.
About the Artist
Painting is not merely an aesthetic endeavor ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting is on gallery wrapped canvas with white edges. It comes ready to hang.
About the Artist
Painting is not merely an aesthetic endeavor ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting is on gallery wrapped canvas with white edges. It comes ready to hang.
About the Artist
Painting is not merely an aesthetic endeavor ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting is on gallery wrapped canvas with white edges. It comes ready to hang.
About the Artist
Painting is not merely an aesthetic endeavor ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
When I feel chaos in the world, I visualize a serene moment to calm me.
About the Artist
Painting is not merely an aesthetic endeavor for Shy...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
The dynamic duet of yin and yang makes everything happen. The white space represents all kinds of possibilities.
About the Artist
Painting is not m...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A colorful springtime exudes hope all around. It also reminds me that everything changes sooner or later.
About the Artist
Painting is not merely a...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
The two primary colors, red and yellow, symbolize a raw state of mind which allows me to see things as they are.
About the Artist
Painting is not m...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This is a bright yet minimalist abstract painting.
About the Artist
Painting is not merely an aesthetic endeavor for Shyun Song, but also an existe...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Oil
