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.
$560Sale Price|30% Off
Silence of the Animals, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, 95x80 cm
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
"The Silence of the Animals" is an original oil painting on canvas by Colombian artist Luis Xiua, known for blending figurative and abstract elements inspired by nature and pre-Hispa...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$5,500
Contemporary American Abstract Expressionist Landscape Painting Japanese screen
By Monica Angle
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original mixed media monotype and painting by American contemporary artist Monica Angle. This work was featured in a major exhibition for the artist at the Burchfield Penney Art ...
Canvas, Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor
$875
Color Field in Red, White, and Black - Vintage Latin American School, Signed
Located in Soquel, CA
Color Field in Red, White, and Black - Vintage Latin American School, Signed Bold abstract painting by Latin American California-based artist, Ricardo de Silva (American/Brazil, 20t...
Paper, Acrylic, Pencil
$15,100
Ellen Hackl Fagan, Seeking the Sound of Cobalt Blue_Grasslands II, 2018
Located in Darien, CT
Seeking the Sound of Cobalt Blue is a series of larger paintings on 8 ply museum board and large sheets of rag paper that have been created since the winter of 2016. Using domestic...
Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Pigment
Serg Graff "Lucky Catch" Seascape Acrylic Painting Ship Nautical Art
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
A whimsical and imaginative maritime composition by Serg Graff, Lucky Catch presents a fantastical sailing vessel navigating colorful waters beneath a radiant pink sky. Painted in th...
Acrylic
"Machine Dream " (2025) Original Surrealist Abstract Cityscape Oil Painting
By Tibor Nagy
Located in Denver, CO
Tibor Nagy's "Machine Dream" (2025) is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts an abstracted scene of the front of a city apartment building. About...
Oil
$243
Abstract Expressionist impressionist nature oil painting "Calling to nature""
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This small-format oil painting "Calling to nature " by French artist Natalya Mougenot evokes the quiet ambiguity of nature. Painted on stretched cotton canvas (20 x 20 cm / 7.9 x 7...
Canvas, Oil
$595
"Ghost of the Gardens" (original flora, floral, vibrant, abstract landscape)
Located in Paris, IDF
"Ghosts of the Gardens" is a mysterious and captivating abstract painting, evoking the untamed beauty of wild gardens and chaotic floral motifs with its energetic and loose movement....
Canvas, Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Oil, Acrylic
$2,500
avp_1519 - Original Abstract Deep Magenta Tone Contemporary Painting on Paper
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...
Paper, Acrylic
High-Rise, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This abstract composition features blocks and shapes in shades of blue, teal, gray, black, and white, forming a towering, building-like structure. A light blue ...
Acrylic
Overhead - Large painting on canvas, rose garden, flowers
Located in Zofingen, AG
After a long day, the body knows what it needs before the mind does. Not silence exactly — but green. Weight lifting. Air that hasn’t been inside. This painting is not a landscape. ...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$240
Mauve - Contemporary Colorful Impasto Inspired Abstract Painting Wooden Frame
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, Mixed Media, Acrylic
"Horizon I", Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, Framed, 20x20, 2010+
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original oil painting by San Diego artist, Julia San Roman. Its dimensions are 20x20 It is framed in neutral wooden frame. A certificate of authenticity will ...
Canvas, Oil
"Last Light" (2025) Abstract Figurative Oil and Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
By John McCaw
Located in Denver, CO
John McCaw's (US based) "Still Life" is an abstract oil painting in greens, grey, black and yellow. John McCaw (b. 1967), the eldest son of American expressionist Dan McCaw and bro...
Canvas, Oil
Back to Nature, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The painting captures the tranquil essence of nature through a harmonious blend of abstract shapes and realistic tree imagery. Soft, luminous shades of blue, green, and amber imbue t...
Acrylic
$1,510
"Blooming Silence” Contemporary Acrylic Painting on canvas Floral Still life
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Blooming Silence” – Acrylic on Canvas by French Artist Natalya Mougenot Contemporary Floral Still Life (80 × 60 × 1.5 cm / 31.5" × 23.6" × 0.6") "Blooming Silence" captures a mome...
Canvas, Acrylic
$193Sale Price|20% Off
Small Abstract Graphite Drawing, 2000-2009, Unframed
Located in Bournemouth, Dorset
George Dannatt (1915-2009) Small Linear Composition on Graphite 1997 Image: 19.0 x 14.0 cm Mount: 27.6 x 20.5cm Reference number: 1345 George Dannatt’s long career as a painter and...
Pencil, Graphite
$605
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
#105, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket of realism to...
Pigment
$2,400
Straight Into the Middle - Lively Impasto Thick Paint Colorful 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 a...
Canvas, Glitter, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$650Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Painting Landscapes Minimal Drops Blue Contemporary Spanish Pau Escat
By Pau Escat
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...
Linen, Ink, Pigment
#238, 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
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
Whisper In A Hurricane
By Lloyd Tabing
Located in Jönköping, SE
This painting is part of a series titled Wander, Wonder and Recall. The series is about movement. The movement of wind and water in nature. Have you ever just stopped and listened t...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,831
Contemporary Minimalist Yellow Earth Abstract Painting Canvas Tete Alurralde
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, Pigment
Pocket Gala Apple with Oil Paint on Canvas, Painting by Dani Humberstone
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Gala Apple [2023] Pocket Tangerine is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a...
Canvas, Oil
Mixed Colors Composition - Mixed Media by Giorgio Lo Fermo - 2020
Located in Roma, IT
Mixed Colors Composition is an original artwork realized by Giorgio Lo Fermo (b. 1947) in 2020. Mixed media in tempera and watercolor on paper Hand-signed and dated by the artist o...
Tempera, Watercolor, Paper
Two Lovers - Abstract Figurative Oil Painting on Canvas, 21st Century
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
$754
Water Lilies Original Painting Abstract Flowers Lotus Pond Art Kuwshinka Floral
Located in Zofingen, AG
Water Lilies Original Painting Abstract Flowers Lotus Pond Art Kuvshinka Floral Artwork” is a vibrant and expressive Original Painting that captures the poetic beauty of a blooming l...
Canvas, Oil
Le Bouquet, 1955 - oil paint, 110x83 cm, framed
Located in Nice, FR
Oil on canvas, signed lower left. Gérard Altmann, né à Paris le 23 septembre 1923 et mort à Paris le 19 avril 2012, est un peintre français. Il est le ...
Oil
Tidal Memories, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This abstract painting explores a serene yet dynamic seascape through rich layers of turquoise, teal, and deep indigo. Subtle passages of white and warm orange ...
Acrylic
Original Diptych-Sunset Song-British Awarded Artist-Plein Air evening oil
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
Sunset Song Series was created entirely en plein air, painted directly under the dimming light of late-summer and autumn sunsets and moonlight, with no artificial light to guide her...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
$4,296
Contemporary Minimalist Green Earth Abstract Painting Canvas Tete Alurralde
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, Pigment
$2,200Sale Price|20% Off
Antique American School Female Artist Abstract Expressionist Cubist Oil Painting
By elsie orfuss
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique modernist abstract painting by Elsie Orfuss (Born 1913). Oil on canvas. Signed on verso. Nicely framed. `
Canvas, Oil
$26,500
Large Abstract Expressionist Mid-Century Acrylic Painting, Cleveland School
Located in Beachwood, OH
Richard Andres (American, 1927–2013) Untitled, 1968 acrylic on canvas signed lower right, signed and titled verso 88.5 x 50.5 inches Has an indent and a tear in the canvas. See phot...
Acrylic
How Time Flies - Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Abstract, 30in x 40in
By Mario Angel
Located in Mississauga, CA
In "How Time Flies," Mario Angel presents a captivating exploration of the ephemeral, utilizing his signature figurative abstraction to chart the elusive passage of time. The composi...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,400
Diamond XXXII /// Contemporary Abstract Geometric Minimal Painting Striped Art
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Jack Graves III (American, 1988-) Title: "Diamond XXXII" Series: Diamond *Signed by Graves lower right. It is also signed, titled, and dated on verso Year: 2021 Medium: Orig...
Canvas, Paint, Acrylic
$645
Flower Arrangement in Carved Wooden Bowl - Abstract 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
Reclaimed 10, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Reclaimed 10 is an original painting, created with acrylic paint on gallery-wrapped canvas. It has a width of 48 inches and a height of 30 inches with a depth of 1.5 inches (30x48x1....
Acrylic
Under The Night Sky - Abstract Cool Tone Figurative 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
$7,900
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
P2
Located in Denver, CO
This painting by Florida - based artist Jason Hackenwerth from the features a bright yellow background, gestural black pigment, and bold configuration. Hackenwerth's expressive mark-...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Large French 1970s Abstract painting in orange hues by Jean-Maurice Lasnier
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Jean Maurice Lasnier (French, 1922 – 2006) VILLE SOLAIRE, OCTOBER 1971 Signed ‘LASNIER’ (lower middle) Oil on canvas 62.1/2 x 31.1/2 in. (158....
Canvas, Oil
"Pond Life" Colorful Japanese Koi Fish & Water Lily Oil Painting on Canvas
By Eric Alfaro
Located in New York, NY
An impressionistic portrayal of Japanese Koi fish jubilantly depicted with movement and enthusiasm. In a burst of motion, the fish joyfully swim in the clear light blue waters, as th...
Canvas, Oil
$538Sale Price|20% Off
Bright & Colorful French Signed Abstract Oil Painting Amazing Shapes & Colors
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition French School, circa 1970's indistinctly signed and dated oil painting board, unframed overall size: 18 x 21.5 inches condition: overall good and sound provenanc...
Oil
$1,814Sale Price|20% Off
1980's French Expressionist Painting Rolling Hills and Valleys Verdant Landscape
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition by Gilbert Pelissier (French born 1924) signed oil painting on canvas, unframed inscribed verso dated 85' canvas size: 35 x 46 inches condition: ov...
Canvas, Oil
$1,121Sale Price|25% Off
Vintage Signed Female Modernist Abstract Expressionist Naturescape Oil Painting
By Adele Becker
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist abstract oil painting by Adele Becker (1929-2021). Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed.
Canvas, Oil
#271 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
ABSTRACT Color Lines Artwork by Big Dimensions Contemporary Celia Lees
By Celia Lees
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
A work of very large dimensions. It would need to be sent rolled to the recipient's address. We can provide support for assembly at the customer's destination. 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 Authenticity, guaranteeing its originality and provenance. We offer secure worldwide delivery to any address you specify, ensuring that your purchase arrives in pristine condition. If you require additional shipping options or a bespoke quote from our trusted network of carriers, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team is here to help you find the best solutions for a smooth and secure delivery experience. Celia Lees...
Ink, Oil, Acrylic
ROJO NO. 1 - Oil and Gold leaf on canvas, abstract red, contemporary
Located in Signal Mountain, TN
ROJO #1 is dominated by the richness of the red in the oil paint on the canvas. The perfectly geometric gold leaf circle, a recurring visual element in Yuri's works, contrasts nicely...
Gold Leaf
$15,000Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Landscape, large mid-century green painting, COBRA art movement
Located in Beachwood, OH
Erik Ortvad (Danish, 1917 - 2008) Abstract Landscape, 1946 Oil on canvas Signed and dated lower right 32 X 37.5 inches 35 x 40.5 inches, framed Born in 1917 in Copenhagen, Erik Ortvad was a surrealist painter and a founding member of the COBRA art...
Oil
$3,600
Large Modernist French Abstract Expressionist Colorful Bird Painting Roger Lersy
By Roger Lersy
Located in Surfside, FL
Roger Lersy, French (1920 - 2004) Oil on canvas Signed, R. Lersy, dated 1961 lower right Measuring 35 X 31 Matted and framed. sight 26 X 21.5 Roger Lersy was born in Paris, France ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Tender abstract sunset painting DEEP INSIDE 108, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
DEEP INSIDE is an original large abstract oil painting inspired by the quiet horizon where sea and sky meet. Soft gradients create a feeling of infinity, while a thin horizon line gu...
Oil
Movement Along a Horizon - Abstract Impressionist 2 Sided Oil Painting, Signed
Located in Soquel, CA
Movement Along a Horizon - Abstract Impressionist Oil Painting, Signed Vibrant abstract painting by Monterey, California based artist Vladimir Yerokhin (Russian b.1942 d.2019.) A ho...
Oil, Board
Golden Day - Original Abstract Ocean Beach Still Life Landscape Acrylic Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kathleen Keifer's original artworks represent one of the most significant expressions of New California Realism. Keifer brings a fresh perspective to her colorful scenes of everyday ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Still Life 10 - Original Abstract Still Life Oil Pastel on Colored Paper, Signed
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, Paper, Oil
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
Large Mid Century Modern Texas Artist Abstract Expressionist Action Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
An abstract expressionist painting by Duayne Hatchett . Oil on canvas, circa 1990. Signed verso. Framed. Image size, 60"H x 56"L. Duayne Hatchett was a visual artist whose work...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Tropical Coral Reef Painting, Textured 3D Oil on Canvas, Signed
Located in Zofingen, AG
Hawaii Painting Coral Reef Original Art Textured 3D * Materials: oil, stretched canvas, mixed media * Shipping: gallery standards packaging, express shipping with tracking number ...
Paste, Cotton Canvas, Oil
A dynamic futurist inspired painting with a color-filled pallet
Located in Colfax, CA
A dynamic abstract painting from the 1950s. The work appears to be signed, Nicotine, Nicotina, or Vicotina? The artist was clearly influenced by earlier styles of abstraction, includ...
Oil
One of One Artist's Proof-Hand Painted-Dahlias-British Awarded Artist-Aluminium
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This is a rare hand-painted Artist's Proof by contemporary artist Shizico Yi, created on a deluxe matte-finish giclée aluminium panel. Each edition is 90% hand-painted with Shizico’s...
Metal
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.