Skip to main content

Abstract Paintings

ABSTRACT STYLE

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.

to
4,853
6,656
6,588
6,884
7,160
14,407
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
6
19
5,642
36,029
1
11
14
46
123
424
783
791
847
770
1
41,698
38,124
23,184
8,597
4,721
3,532
3,240
2,573
1,228
1,170
940
934
442
282
17,817
13,794
9,633
2,624
1,769
1,258
581
487
455
415
370
335
257
251
209
206
182
178
171
144
134
115
111
37,144
21,994
21,912
17,079
16,119
690
560
360
294
274
7,446
5,747
22,505
14,963
Style: Abstract
Large Impressive American Abstract Expressionist Modern Interior Oil Painting
Large Impressive American Abstract Expressionist Modern Interior Oil Painting

Large Impressive American Abstract Expressionist Modern Interior Oil Painting

Located in Buffalo, NY

Vintage American modernist abstract interior scene oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed and titled verso, "Bertoia Chair". Handsomely framed in a period molding. Excellent ...

Category

1950s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Approaching the Wave" Original Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting, Signed
"Approaching the Wave" Original Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting, Signed

"Approaching the Wave" Original Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting, Signed

Located in Soquel, CA

"Approaching the Wave" Original Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting, Signed Vibrant oil painting by Jocelyn Auld (American, b. 1999.) A yellow curling shape stretches into the center...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas, Stretcher Bars

Sunny Day - Abstract Figurative Still Life Landscape Textured Impasto Painting
Sunny Day - Abstract Figurative Still Life Landscape Textured Impasto Painting

Sunny Day - Abstract Figurative Still Life Landscape Textured Impasto Painting

By Ekaterina Ermilkina

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Encounters at Dawn, Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, free shipping
Encounters at Dawn, Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, free shipping

Encounters at Dawn, Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, free shipping

Located in Bogotá, Bogotá

"Encounters at Dawn" – Contemporary Abstract Painting on Canvas in Violet Tones with Figuration is an abstract oil painting that explores color field and abstract expressionism. The ...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Vintage American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Large Oil Painting on Canvas
Vintage American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Large Oil Painting on Canvas

Vintage American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Large Oil Painting on Canvas

Located in Buffalo, NY

Vintage American modernist abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Measuring: 24 by 36 inches overall. Excellent condition, ready to hang ...

Category

1970s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Vibrant Modernist Abstraction by Claire Burch
Vibrant Modernist Abstraction by Claire Burch

Vibrant Modernist Abstraction by Claire Burch

Located in New York, NY

Claire Burch (American, 1925-2009) Untitled, 20th century Oil on canvas 24 x 30 in. Framed: 31 2/3 x 37 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. Signed lower right: Claire Burch After attending grade school in Brooklyn, Burch completed a commercial art course at Washington Irving High School in Manhattan and received her B.A. in English from NYU. In the suburbs of Great Neck, New York, she first began writing poetry and articles which were published in Life magazine, The New Republic, Mademoiselle, McCall's, Saturday Review, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, and numerous literary quarterlies and anthologies.[1] Burch also developed a career as a psychiatric writer, publishing two books on the subject: Careers in Psychiatry and Stranger in the Family. In the early 1970s Burch became a playwright and painter. Her play Ten Cents a Dance was optioned to be directed by José Quintero, the famous O'Neill interpreter. Burch wrote a total of seven plays and several folk operas, but eventually moved on to filmmaking and video anthropology—she was an early adapter of video as a medium. In 1978, Burch moved to California with her longtime companion Mark Weiman, publisher and owner of Berkeley's Regent Press. She had endured a series of illnesses and wanted to escape the harsh climate of Manhattan. Burch gained insight and inspiration from insanity and the often unexpected behavior associated with it. She would often videotape homeless people in People's Park and Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, which were collected in her film People's Park in Berkeley: Then and Now. The film documented the dispute between homeless activists and the University of California from the riots of 1969 through 1996 by interviewing park "regulars," and profiling the events surrounding the deaths of park supporters James Rector and Rosebud Denovo.[2] She also produced documentaries on noted cultural figures such as James Baldwin (whom she knew as a teenager), Timothy Leary and Country Joe McDonald. Also of note was Oracle Rising, a film about the legendary psychedelic newspaper The SF Oracle published in the Haight-Ashbury district during the Summer of Love. Her last completed film was Elegy for the Naked Guy...

Category

20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

20th Century Original French Expressionist Oil Painting Abstract Face
20th Century Original French Expressionist Oil Painting Abstract Face

20th Century Original French Expressionist Oil Painting Abstract Face

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Original oil painting by P. Valetti (French, second half 20th century) oil on canvas, unframed size: 24 x 19.75 inches condition: very good provenance: from the artists estate, Franc...

Category

20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Painting Animal Horse Abstract Nature Floral Unique Original Figurative Invest
Painting Animal Horse Abstract Nature Floral Unique Original Figurative Invest

Painting Animal Horse Abstract Nature Floral Unique Original Figurative Invest

By Karnish Art

Located in Pretoria, Gauteng

Title: Rainbow Bridge Painting Animal Horse Abstract Nature Floral Unique Original Bold Delight Invest Mixed Media One-of-a-kind Equestrian This strikingly beautiful artwork by Kar...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars

Abstract Geometric Composition with Paper, Fibers, and Acrylic on Canvas (Green)
Abstract Geometric Composition with Paper, Fibers, and Acrylic on Canvas (Green)

Abstract Geometric Composition with Paper, Fibers, and Acrylic on Canvas (Green)

Located in Soquel, CA

Abstract Geometric Composition with Handmade Paper, Fibers and Acrylic on Canvas Whimsical abstract composition by an unknown artist (20th Century). Lime green acrylic paint makes u...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Jute, Acrylic, Washi Paper

Crows. Contemporary Mixed Media Painting, Abstraction, Birds, Polish art

Crows. Contemporary Mixed Media Painting, Abstraction, Birds, Polish art

By Anna Mikke

Located in Warsaw, PL

Contemporary mixed media on board painting by Polish artist Anna Mikke. Birds are next to people favourite artistic subject of Mikke. This piece is in neutral colors, the background ...

Category

Early 2000s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Acrylic, Gouache, Board

YVETTE DUBOIS-HABASQUE (1929-2016) FRENCH CUBIST ABSTRACT PAINTING
YVETTE DUBOIS-HABASQUE (1929-2016) FRENCH CUBIST ABSTRACT PAINTING

YVETTE DUBOIS-HABASQUE (1929-2016) FRENCH CUBIST ABSTRACT PAINTING

By Yvette Dubois Habasque

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

"Abstract Composition" original Oil Painting on board by Yvette Dubois Habasque (1929-2016) signed on back Dated: November 2007 card: 15.75 x 15.7.5 inches Fine original abstract...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Untitled (3)
Untitled (3)

Untitled (3)

By John von Wicht

Located in Columbia, MO

Signed recto. John von Wicht (German-American, 1888 - 1970) was a painter and printmaker whose abstract works evolved from Euro...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil

Ray of Light 1
Ray of Light 1

Ray of Light 1

By Amy Van Winkle

Located in Santa Fe, NM

Encaustic on panel. It's simple; I create art because it makes me happy. I try not to overthink the process of what I’m painting and let my intuition be my guide. I love laying do...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Encaustic

Equinox - Abstract Acrylic Painting, Nature-Inspired, 40x36 Inches
Equinox - Abstract Acrylic Painting, Nature-Inspired, 40x36 Inches

Equinox - Abstract Acrylic Painting, Nature-Inspired, 40x36 Inches

Located in Bloomfield, ON

This contemporary acrylic abstract painting was inspired by nature. This joyful mélange of colour looks and feels like a moment in early spring has been captured on canvas. Claudia ...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Wood Panel

Simple Life
Simple Life

Katherine BelloSimple Life, 2021

$950Sale Price|47% Off

Simple Life

By Katherine Bello

Located in Kansas City, MO

Katherine Bello Title: Simple Life Oil and Oils stick on canvas Year: 2021 Dimensions: 20"x20"x1.5" Signed by hand Canvas on stretcher frame - ready...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas, Oil Pastel

Untitled
Untitled

Roland AyersUntitled, 1982

$960Sale Price|20% Off

Untitled

By Roland Ayers

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Roland Ayers (1932-2017). Untitled, 1983. Ink on paper, measures 17 x 23 inches. Unframed and unmounted. Signed and dated lower left. Ayers holds the distinction of having participated in the first important survey of African-Americans, Contemporary Black Artists in America, a 1971 show at The Whitney. Biography: Artist and art educator, Roland Ayers was born on July 2, 1932, the only child of Alice and Lorenzo Ayers, and grew up in the Germantown district of Philadelphia. Ayers served in the US Army (stationed in Germany) before studying at the Philadelphia College of Art (currently University of the Arts). He graduated with a BFA in Art Education, 1954. He traveled Europe 1966-67, spending time in Amsterdam and Greece in particular. During this period, he drifted away from painting to focus on linear figurative drawings of a surreal nature. His return home inaugurated the artist’s most prolific and inspired period (1968-1975). Shorty before his second major trip abroad in 1971-72 to West Africa, Ayers began to focus on African themes, and African American figures populated his work almost exclusively. In spite of Ayers’ travel and exploration of the world, he gravitated back to his beloved Germantown, a place he endowed with mythological qualities in his work and literature. His auto-biographical writing focuses on the importance of place during his childhood. Ayers’ journals meticulously document the ethnic and cultural make-up of Germantown, and tell a compelling story of class marginalization that brought together poor families despite racial differences. The distinctive look and design of Germantown inform Ayers’ visual vocabulary. It is a setting with distinctive Gothic Revival architecture and haunting natural beauty. These characteristics are translated and recur in the artist’s imagery. During his childhood, one of the only books in the Ayers household was an illustrated Bible. The images within had a profound effect on the themes and subjects that would appear in his adult work. Figures in an Ayers’ drawing often seem trapped in a narrative of loss and redemption. Powerful women loom large in the drawings: they suggest the female role models his journals record in early life. The drawings can sometimes convey a strong sense of conflict, and at other times, harmony. Nature and architecture seem to have an antagonistic relationship that is, ironically, symbiotic. A critical turning point in the artist’s career came in 1971 when he was included in the extremely controversial Whitney Museum show, Contemporary Black Artists in America. The exhibition gave Ayers an international audience and served as a calling card for introductions he would soon make in Europe. Ayers is a particularly compelling figure in a period when black artists struggled with the idea of authenticity. A questioned often asked was “Is your work too black, or not black enough?” Abstractionists were considered by some peers to be sell-outs, frauds or worse. Figurative* work was accused of being either sentimental or politically radical depending on the critical source. Ayers made the choice early on to be a figurative artist, but considered his work devoid of political content. Organizations such as Chicago’ s Afri-Cobra in the late 1960‘s asserted that the only true black art of any relevance must depict the black man and woman...

Category

1980s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

Original-Jardin d'Hiver-Cloud Dahlias in Blue-British Awarded Artist-Impasto
Original-Jardin d'Hiver-Cloud Dahlias in Blue-British Awarded Artist-Impasto

Original-Jardin d'Hiver-Cloud Dahlias in Blue-British Awarded Artist-Impasto

Located in London, GB

Jardin d'Hiver Series is Shizico Yi's latest collection, created in her winter studio with an expensive window view to the winter clouds while longing for the summer left behind. Ref...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Déchiré 03: Mixed Media Painting: Floral Motif & Feminist Discourse
Déchiré 03: Mixed Media Painting: Floral Motif & Feminist Discourse

Déchiré 03: Mixed Media Painting: Floral Motif & Feminist Discourse

Located in BARCELONA, ES

The work of Gloria Segura Jordá transcends mere aesthetics to constitute a feminist discourse deeply anchored in the pictorial. Her production challenges the passive gaze, inviting a...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel, Color Pencil

New York Misses You Too, Oil Painting
New York Misses You Too, Oil Painting

New York Misses You Too, Oil Painting

By Onelio Marrero

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
"The source of inspiration for this painting came as I was walking in Manhattan in the rain," says artist Onelio Marrero. "This street is based on 8th Avenue ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Evening in Silence, Abstract Oil Painting
Evening in Silence, Abstract Oil Painting

Evening in Silence, Abstract Oil Painting

By Ronda Waiksnis

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Soft greens, blues, and earthy tones suggest an abstract river nestled among dense foliage. The water reflects the overcast sky, creating a sense of depth and t...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Untitled 145_25 (Abstract Painting)
Untitled 145_25 (Abstract Painting)

Untitled 145_25 (Abstract Painting)

Located in London, GB

Ludovic Dervillez is a French abstract painter whose practice is a powerful interrogation of how painting can still be a living, resonant space, focusing on the vital tension between...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Abstract Painting Blue Sea I Pigments Contemporary Artist Gabriela Meunie
Abstract Painting Blue Sea I Pigments Contemporary Artist Gabriela Meunie

Abstract Painting Blue Sea I Pigments Contemporary Artist Gabriela Meunie

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

At Escat Gallery we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork in our collection comes with a Certificate of Au...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Resin, Cotton Canvas, Pigment

Vintage American Cloudy Pastel-Colored Abstract Oil Painting
Vintage American Cloudy Pastel-Colored Abstract Oil Painting

Vintage American Cloudy Pastel-Colored Abstract Oil Painting

Located in Buffalo, NY

Vintage American abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Measuring: 24.5 by 32.5 inches overall and 24 x 32 painting alone. Framed in a wood molding. Excellent condition, read...

Category

20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Awakening: Colorful Floral Landscape Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
The Awakening: Colorful Floral Landscape Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

The Awakening: Colorful Floral Landscape Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Karnish Art

Located in Pretoria, Gauteng

Title: The Awakening 2 Floral Landscape Nature Colorful Vibrant Flowers Joy Delight Texture Layers Little Gem In creating this painting, I portrayed the vibrant dance of nature and...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Stretcher Bars

An American Farm at Sunset by S. Salomon
An American Farm at Sunset by S. Salomon

An American Farm at Sunset by S. Salomon

Located in San Francisco, CA

On offer is an American Impressionist landscape painting featuring a vibrant sunset casting a glow over a farm setting. The work depicts a figure walking down a dirt path through a m...

Category

Early 20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Huge French Contemporary Modernist Abstract Oil Painting Exotic Blue Green Birds
Huge French Contemporary Modernist Abstract Oil Painting Exotic Blue Green Birds

Huge French Contemporary Modernist Abstract Oil Painting Exotic Blue Green Birds

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Abstract Composition signed by Jacqueline VERDET (French, 1931-2023) oil painting on canvas, unframed canvas: 46 x 35 inches condition: the work is in overall very sound and good con...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Garden
Garden

Garden

Located in Zofingen, AG

An abstract landscape of a summer garden. A vibrant mix of flowers and grasses, blue skies, and a dark forest in the distance. This is the kind of beauty we often pass by without not...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Floral Fantasy: Nature Abstract Bold Statement Colorful Invest Striking Delight
Floral Fantasy: Nature Abstract Bold Statement Colorful Invest Striking Delight

Floral Fantasy: Nature Abstract Bold Statement Colorful Invest Striking Delight

By Karnish Art

Located in Pretoria, Gauteng

Title: Floral Fantasy Nature, Abstract, Bold, Statement, Colorful, Invest, Striking, Delight, Modern, Landscape. In this work, I've poured my heart into a vivid garden of dreams, u...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Stretcher Bars

Abstract 5, Abstract Oil Painting
Abstract 5, Abstract Oil Painting

Abstract 5, Abstract Oil Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Patches of cream, turquoise, and grey fill this abstract painting. Blue and orange accents, along with black lines, create contrast. Scratches and marks bring d...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Memory of blooming
Memory of blooming

Memory of blooming

Located in Zofingen, AG

This work appears as a fragment of a future archive, where not events are preserved, but states — tenderness, tension, and the fragility of life. The tulip petals unfold like layers ...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

French Expressionist Abstract Original Painting Artists Studio Provenance
French Expressionist Abstract Original Painting Artists Studio Provenance

French Expressionist Abstract Original Painting Artists Studio Provenance

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Abstract Expressionist Composition by Jacques COULAIS (1955-2011) gouache painting on thick board unframed: 8 x 8 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we have fo...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Feeling Pink - Lifeguard Stand on Beach Original Pop Art Oceanscape Sky Painting
Feeling Pink - Lifeguard Stand on Beach Original Pop Art Oceanscape Sky Painting

Feeling Pink - Lifeguard Stand on Beach Original Pop Art Oceanscape Sky Painting

By Kathleen Keifer

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Kathleen Keifer is a California-based internationally collected artist. She is a leading force of the New California Realism. With a high level of technical virtuosity Keifer creates...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Unfolding
Unfolding

Unfolding

Located in Zofingen, AG

This work embodies the state of opening oneself to new experience. “Unfolding” is the moment of meeting your own strength and vulnerability at once — where chaos transforms into harm...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Easter Lily & Spring Dancers" - Figurative Floral Abstract
"Easter Lily & Spring Dancers" - Figurative Floral Abstract

"Easter Lily & Spring Dancers" - Figurative Floral Abstract

By Patricia Gren Hayes

Located in Soquel, CA

Vivid Berkeley school figurative abstract titled "Easter Lily and Spring Dancers" by Patricia Gren Hayes (American, 20th Century), 1976 with wash and varnish added 1983. Signed "Gren Hayes", titled and dated "1976 washes, 1983 washes/demo" on verso. Presented in a new bronze colored frame. Image size: 23.5"H x 29.5"W. Bay Area Figurative / Bay Area Feminist Art Movement artist, Patricia Gren-Hayes, studied at Winnipeg Public Art School in 1950. She received early recognition in Museum and Gallery competitions and exhibitions and was awarded a Special Education in Art recognition by the Winnipeg Museum of Fine Art, and was awarded a scholarship to the Banff College of Fine Art. Further studies were at The University of Manitoba. She was a Member of Winnipeg Free Press Sketch Club and was a Cartoonist and paste-up for a French-English bi-weekly, in Eastern Canada; She studied outdoor impressionism in New York in 1960; in 1962, attended The California College of Arts and Crafts, and in 1976 B.A., U.C. Berkeley where she studied under Elmer Bischoff, David Simpson, Joan Brown, Felix Ruvolo, Yolanda Lopez and Vincent Perez...

Category

1970s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Abstract paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Abstract paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Giorgio Lo Fermo, Sumit Mehndiratta, Nestor Toro, and Cindy Shaoul. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Synthetic Resin Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Abstract paintings, so small editions measuring 0.1 inches across are also available.