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.
Original Painting on Canvas Titled: "PDP 1147” 48 x 60
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Painting on Panel signed verso Cecil Touchon Born 1956 Austin, Texas is a contemporary American collage artist, painter, published poet and theorist living in Pagosa Springs, Colora...
Acrylic
$926
Flowers and Shadows. Floral still life, blue flowers, sunlight, impressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
Hawaii, tropical flowers, Plumbago, blue flower painting, floral art, garden still life, plein air, American art Painted from life in Hawaii, th...
Canvas, Oil
$5,400
Wandering Backwards I Reach The End - Large Blue Figurative Abstract Original
By Jonas Fisch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Swedish artist Jonas Fisch’s imagery is vibrantly buzzing with colorful commentary on society - past and present - morphed into figures, words, and shapes. His heavily layered canvas...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Fabric
"Forevermore 1" Abstract Oil Painting, Vibrant Color Field
Located in Denver, CO
Dorothy Fagan’s "Forevermore 1" is a 2023 oil on canvas measuring 48 x 36 inches unframed, with a framed size of 49.50 x 37.50 x 2 inches. The artwork is professionally framed and re...
Canvas, Oil
Abstract Landscape in Earth Tones – Textured Oil Painting by Sophie Dumont
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Sophie Dumont transports us to a peaceful realm through her painting "Abstract Silence." With soft tones of beige, green, and orange, she evokes the tranquility of the dune landscape...
Oil
$611Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Canvas, Oil
#130, 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
$6,500
Sitting with the Shadows: framed painting w/ photos, Black African American art
Located in Bryn Mawr, PA
This is a large, framed acrylic painting with collaged photographs, gold leaf, metallic paint, and other mixed media. Is it by artist Lavett Ballard, who is the first Black woman to ...
Gold Leaf
School of Fish, Baitball, Oil on Canvas, 90x90 cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
This dynamic 90 × 90 cm original oil painting captures the mesmerizing energy of a sardine bait ball, inspired by the world-renowned Sardine Run along the wild coastline of South Afr...
Canvas, Oil, Cotton Canvas
Abstract expressive floral roses acrylic painting on paper "Pink blooms"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This vibrant floral abstract artwork titled "Pink Blooms," created by French artist born in Kazakhstan, beautifully captures the essence of blooming roses through bold and expressive...
Paper, Acrylic
Abstract impressionist nature forest acrylic painting on paper "Dance of trees"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary, expressive abstract impressionist painting, "Dance of Trees", vividly captures the serene essence of a forest landscape through the lens of a dynamic, impressionis...
Paper, Acrylic
0314. Abstract Painting on Canvas, Acrylic.
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
$1,835Sale Price|20% Off
Maurice Vagh Weinmann Floral Bouquet Still Life Oil Painting Framed
By Maurice Vagh-Weinmann
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title Maurice Vagh Weinmann Floral Bouquet Still Life Oil Painting Framed Key Details Artist: Maurice Vagh Weinmann, Hungarian, 1899–1986 Title: Summer Bouquet Medium: Oil painting o...
Oil
$9,500
'Abstract, Turquoise and Gray', Paris, Picasso, Andre L'Hote, Guernica, Benezit
By Dora Maar
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
'Abstract, Turquoise and Gray' by Dora Maar. Paris, Picasso, Andre L'Hote, Guernica, Benezit ----- Signed verso with artist monogram 'DM' for Dora Maar (Argentine-French, 1907-1997)...
Canvas, Oil
Psicodélico, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 160 x 190 cm Signed FREE SHIPPING ROLLED UP About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 1973) graduated from Escuela Nacio...
Canvas, Acrylic
$7,900
Midnight Blue - Large Modern Abstract Textured Color Drenched Landscape Artwork
By Lee Herring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lee Herring is a contemporary painter specializing in vibrant, textured, and abstract landscapes that convey fleeting moments. Herring's energetic artworks are inspired by everyday m...
Canvas, Varnish, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Live Passionately - Red Abstract Floral Painting
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
$29,500
"Seduction Series" O2JH , Abstract, Figurative Painting, 21st Century, Acrylic
By Roger König
Located in Dessau-Rosslau, Sachsen Anhalt
Artist: Roger König b. Dessau, Germany (1968) Master student of Kurt Schönburg, HWK Halle, Germany. König combines modern painting with acrylic with old techniques and in this way, h...
Clay, Acrylic
$529Sale Price|20% Off
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 ...
Pastel, Acrylic, Gouache, Board
Systems #3 - modern, contemporary, abstract, acrylic on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary abstract painting by Milly Ristvedt is expressed in geometric form. The power of pure colour and minimal form is masterfully displayed in this abstract painting by...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,766
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...
Resin, Cotton Canvas, Pigment
Leopard on the tree
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting depicts a leopard resting on a wide tree branch against a backdrop of lush greenery and a bright blue sky. The composition is horizontal, with the animal’s body stretche...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,059Sale Price|63% Off
Abstract Turquoise & Red Flowers on Pink Background by British Landscape Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Painting of Abstract Turquoise & Red Flowers on a Pink Background by British Landscape Artist, Angela Wakefield. This original is from th...
Gesso, Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Watercolor
Composition #1
Located in Zofingen, AG
A painting from the «Quite motion» series. Reflects a moment of inner balance — when light and space merge into one breath. In this state, there is no rush or effort — only a gentle ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Under The Painted Sky - Colorful Figurative Abstract Textured Impasto 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
$7,787
Feeling on Top of the World & Journey Together, diptych, abstract, contemporary
Located in Deddington, GB
Feeling on Top of the World is an expressionistic painting by abstract artist Diane Whalley. Created over a number of weeks allowing time for layering, show through and mark making. ...
Canvas, Acrylic
"Grapefruit & Honey", Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 30"x70".
Located in Westport, CT
This large abstract painting by California artist Kristen Guest features a colorful palette with warm sienna, pink, and yellow tones contrasted by white negative space. The artist co...
Canvas, Acrylic
Abstract Relief Painting in Vibrant White by José María de Aurora Contemporary
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...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Leopard
Located in Zofingen, AG
This artwork, painted with acrylic on canvas, is executed in a minimalist, almost graphic style. The bright orange silhouette of a sleeping leopard stands out strikingly against a ri...
Canvas, Acrylic
Source of Renewal
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work captures a moment of absolute tranquility-a private paradise bathed in light and hidden behind a dense veil of emerald greenery. Horses gathered at the water's edge in the ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Eco Feminist Mixed Media Botanic Painting Mira Lehr Miami Abstract Expressionist
By Mira Lehr
Located in Surfside, FL
Mira Tager Lehr (American, 1936-2023), Acrylic on canvas painting Interrupted Cell Formation series Circa 2008-2009. Mixed media technique incorporating organic forms, floral motifs...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$216
In Stillness. Small abstract painting, ochre, lilac, dusty rose, expressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
In Stillness is a contemporary abstract painting inspired by nature and the inner state formed through its contemplation. The work reflects personal impressions related to seasonal c...
Canvas, Acrylic
#240, 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
$1,248Sale Price|20% Off
Easy On by Murray Duncan, Abstract Mixed Media on Canvas
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Easy On by Murray Duncan is a striking abstract composition that merges bold gestural lines with an earthy, textured surface. Rendered in a muted, organic palette, the piece evokes a...
Glaze, Oil Crayon, Acrylic
"Adagio in Burnt Umber" Acrylic, Oil Pastels, Pencils Brown Hue Abstract 72"x60"
Located in New York, NY
"Adagio in Burnt Umber" 2025, 72" H x 60" W. Abstract, mixed media painting consisting of acrylic, pencils, and oil pastels on canvas by Argentine-born artist Karina Gentinetta (feat...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Carbon Pencil, Color Pencil
Waits River Church, Vermont, Oil Painting
By Doug Cosbie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Waits River is a small village on Highway 25 southeast of Stowe, Vermont. "The church, buildings and barns presented an iconic view of New England...
Oil
$625
CITGO sign and Fenway Park - original cityscape painting - contemporary artwork
By Lisa Bisbee
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet ...
Canvas, Oil
Abstract Painting, Black Gestural Expressionism on Linen, Contemporary Dutch
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Matthew van Liessum (b. 1989, The Netherlands) is an abstract painter based in Antwerp. His practice is rooted in gestural abstraction, where energetic mark-making meets a strong sen...
Linen, Ink, Oil, Acrylic
Botanical Drift 2– monochromatic, blue minimal, abstract
Located in Cumming, GA
Botanical Drift – Original Contemporary Abstract Botanical Painting 30x30 inches Botanical Drift captures a tranquil, suspended moment inspired by softened botanical forms, filtere...
Canvas, Acrylic
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...
Jute, Acrylic, Washi Paper
$8,950
A597 - Large Contemporary Colorful Modern Circles Abstract Painting (framed)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Swiss-born artist Marco Schmidli creates minimalist paintings with a contemporary edge. Placing emphasis on process, he lets the mediums naturally manifest within his artwork. “An im...
Canvas, Acrylic
$645
Moon Flower Potted Plant - Lively Abstract Colorful Botanical Painting on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Krisanne Souter weaves together elements of nature and ancient feminine archetypes, such as the Mother and the Mystic. Botanical themes, playful elements, and unexpected surprises ar...
Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor, Color Pencil
New York Misses You Too, Oil Painting
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 ...
Oil
Contemporary abstract impressionist floral painting on paper "In bloom"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“In Bloom” is a contemporary floral composition by French artist Natalya Mougenot, part of her ongoing series dedicated to flowers — a body of work in which nature becomes a medium f...
Paper, Acrylic
"Newport Fall Garden" Expressionist Composition in Acrylic on Canvas, Signed
Located in Soquel, CA
"Newport Fall Garden" Expressionist Composition in Acrylic on Canvas, Signed Vibrant and textured abstract composition by California artist Charles "Dave" Francis (American, 1951-20...
Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$2,201Sale Price|35% Off
Painting of the Winter Sunshine with Mountain Lake by 20th Century Dutch Artist
By Joop Smits
Located in Preston, GB
Oil Painting of the Winter Sunshine with Mountain Lake by 20th Century Dutch Artist, Joop Smits (1938-2014) Art measures 16 x 12 inches Fr...
Oil, Board
$540Sale Price|20% Off
Early American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Framed Mid Century Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Impressive early American modernist abstract oil painting. Framed. Oil on canvas.
Canvas, Oil
$541
Contemporary vivid expressive figurative dog's portrait on paper "Goofy eyes"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Goofy Eyes” is a contemporary acrylic painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, created on heavyweight Italian paper as part of her expressive series of character-driven animal po...
Paper, Acrylic
Mid Century Abstract Painting by Chamlin Oil Paint on Canvas
Located in San Francisco, CA
Mid-century Abstract Painting by Chamlin Oil Paint on Canvas
Oil
Surrealist Magical Exotic Birds in Tree Painting
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Exotic Magical Birds Perched on Tree Limbs, ca. 1950. Oil on canvas, 14 x 18 inches. Unsigned, artist unknown.
Oil
$109Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Oil
May 29 (Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting in Earth Tones of Green & Blue)
By James O'Shea
Located in Hudson, NY
Gestural, abstract expressionist oil painting on canvas in earth tones of blue and green, with accents of burgundy and pale yellow "May 29", Painted by Hudson Valley based artist, James O'Shea in 2021 Oil on canvas, 26 x 26 inches unframed, raw canvas sides Wire backing, ready to hang Signed verso James O’Shea’s deeply pigmented abstractions are grounded in the landscape. Taking his cues from the bare winter months in the Northeast when the horizon is stripped of its foliage, he suggests that “So much of life’s structure reveals itself when it goes into hibernation”. The architecture in O’Shea’s compositions takes form with expressive gestures using...
Canvas, Oil
$10,000
Luminary Nights, Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting by James Hiroshi Suzuki
By James Suzuki
Located in Long Island City, NY
Luminary Nights James Hiroshi Suzuki, Japanese/American (1932) Date: 1960 Oil on Canvas, signed lower right, dated and titled on verso Size: 23 x ...
Canvas, Oil
Squish
Located in Dallas, TX
encaustic on paper
Paper, Encaustic
Floral Study 13, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Valerie Berkely presents a floral still life in expressive and fluid paintwork. She executes the piece with wet-on-wet f...
Oil
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Antique American Modernist Abstract Cloudscape Framed Signed Rare Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Impressive early American modernist abstract cloudscape oil painting. Framed. Oil on canvas. Signed. Exhibition label verso. Image size, 16H by 18L.
Canvas, Oil
av_825 - Colorful Textured Original Contemporary Abstract Painting on Canvas
By Alex Voinea
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The colorful abstract artworks of Romanian artist Alex Voinea are inspired by experiments with paint poured over vibrating surfaces, such as speakers at full volume. Alex Voinea coll...
Acrylic, Canvas
Abraham Walkowitz (1878-1965) Signed Antique Modernist Abstract Framed Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist cityscape painting by Abraham Walkowitz (1878 - 1965). Mixed media on paper. Signed. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Measuring: 20 by...
Ink, Watercolor, Archival Paper
$25,000
Blue Lagoon - large, colourful, modernist, gestural abstract, acrylic on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Milly Ristvedt has captured, in vivid colour, and expressive form the wonders of the ‘deep’ in this gorgeous abstract painting. Against a rich blue colour field, ethereal forms and g...
Canvas, Acrylic
$781
Contemporary figurative expressive still-life painting "Quiet Observation"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Quiet Observation" is a contemporary still life painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, depicting a serene interior scene with a yellow table, a striped lamp, a blue vase of red...
Paper, Acrylic
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.