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.
Belond time, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Emily STARCK
Located in Yardley, PA
Large work of abstraction. Worked in several layers with raw emotions expressed by colors and gesture. Edges are painted in the continuity of the work. Dimensions are for stretched...
Acrylic
Ensign No. 1
Located in Columbia, MO
A native of Upstate New York, Matt Ballou was educated at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago (BFA 2001) and Indiana University ( MFA 2005) before coming to The University of ...
Mixed Media, Plastic, Permanent Marker
Seaside Serenade: Minimalism Art-Deco Abstract Bold Invest Colorful Joy Bold
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Seaside Serenade Minimalism, Art Deco, Abstract, Bold, Invest, Colorful, Joy This series connects to that around as well as that within. Solitude takes the viewer to that ...
Oil, Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Stretcher Bars
Envie d'autre chose, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Emily STARCK
Located in Yardley, PA
Work of abstraction in a colorful palette. Realized in several layers with free and energic brush strokes. Professional and high quality painting with anti UV protection and velvet...
Acrylic
$1,566Sale Price|20% Off
Huge French 20th Century Abstract Expression Painting 1980's Blur of Colors
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition by Marie Deloume (French born 1942) oil painting on paper stuck on canvas, unframed canvas size: 40 x 29 inches Signed verso condition: overall ver...
Canvas, Paper, Oil
$106Sale 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 paper/ card unframed: 12.75 x 10 inches condition: excellent prov...
Oil
$4,822
The Arches of Time, Large Abstract Geometric, Contemporary, Modern oil on canvas
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
In The Arches of Time, French contemporary painter Sophie Dumont explores the idea of architectural memory through a refined geometric language shaped by layered oil paint and subtle...
Oil
$3,750Sale Price|25% Off
Bailando en Azul, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 150x200cm Signed FREE SHIPPING ROLLED UP About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 1973) graduated from Escuela Naciona...
Canvas, Acrylic
$6,500
Memory Wall 6: Maximalist Abstract Painting in Red, Peach, Pink, Teal, Green
Located in Hudson, NY
Large, brightly colored abstract geometric painting in various shades of red, pink, and peach with accents of mint green, teal, blue, yellow, white and black. "Memory Wall #6" made ...
Plaster, Wax, Acrylic, Panel, Pigment
$716Sale Price|20% Off
American Large Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Signed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage modernist abstract painting. Oil on canvas. Image size, 36L x 36H. Signed verso, "Larry Glickman".
Canvas, Oil
Original Abstract Painting Serg Graff "Kikoriki" Surreal Fantasy, Pop Art, COA
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
“Kikoriki” is an original 2026 painting by contemporary artist Serg Graff, bursting with color, humor, movement, and an extraordinary collection of imaginary characters. The composi...
Acrylic
$1,450
Reflection: Painting Large Contemporary Striking Bold Invest Blue Abstract Alive
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Reflection Painting Large Contemporary Striking Bold Invest Blue Abstract Alive This work portrays Reflection... Going inward to find solitude in stillness and peace. Past...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Pastel, Acrylic, Pencil, Stretcher Bars, Spray Paint
$3,782
Walking On Air. An original abstract artwork by Diane, Painting by Diane Whalley
Located in Deddington, GB
Walking On Air is an original expressionistic abstract with several layers of paint and some mark making in charcoal and oil pastel with show through of underlying colours. After the...
Canvas
The Memory of Unknown Things 7(iii), Contemporary, Abstract
Located in Deddington, GB
The Memory of Unknown Things is a series of paintings exploring the experience of knowing something but not being able to retrieve it immediately from memory. Through the painting pr...
Canvas, Oil
$4,400Sale Price|20% Off
Antique American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Period New York Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Very impressive and amazing mid 1900s abstract expressionist oil painting. Oil on canvas. No signature found. Framed.
Canvas, Oil
Replicas, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 100 x 80 cm Signed and dated on the back About the artist Alejandro Legorreta (Mexico, 1987) I studied Hispanic Literature a...
Canvas, Acrylic
$4,800
Orchard (Abstract Painting on Canvas in Earth-Tones of Blue & Green, Framed)
By James O'Shea
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract painting on canvas in an bright, earthy blue and green palette "Orchard", made in 2010 oil on board 33.5 x 32 inches 35 x 33 x 2 inches with a natural maple floater frame S...
Oil, Wood Panel
City of Angels - Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Abstract, 48in x 60in
By Mario Angel
Located in Mississauga, CA
This striking acrylic on canvas by Mario Angel, titled "City of Angels," offers a compelling journey into figurative abstraction, where the artist masterfully weaves together themes ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Biology-Inspired Abstract Expressionist Composition in Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Soquel, CA
Biology-Inspired Abstract Expressionist Composition in Acrylic on Canvas Textured abstract composition by California artist Charles "Dave" Francis (American, 1951-2018). Blended col...
Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Nympheas De Mon Coeur - Soft Abstract Floral Landscape Painting
By Vè Boisvert
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
Untitled (2)
Located in Columbia, MO
Signed and dated '52 recto. John von Wicht (German-American, 1888 - 1970) was a painter and printmaker whose abstract works evolved from European modernism to dynamic, expressionisti...
Paper, Oil
$1,020Sale Price|20% Off
Antique American Modernist Shaped Geometric Abstract Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Nicely painted American school abstract geometric painting. Oil on canvas. Framed.
Canvas, Oil
Blue VR779
By Kseniya Rai
Located in Zofingen, AG
Presented at Bakerhouse Gallery, Graz, Austria, this work was exhibited alongside another painting from the same series, which became a finalist in the ScanArt Prize competition. Phi...
Canvas, Oil
Denis Ymeri, Large Contemporary Expressionism Abstract Painting Mixed Media
By Denis Ymeri
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Denis Ymeri (b. 1990, Tirana, Albania) is a Barcelona-based visual artist whose practice spans painting and sculpture. His work explores the relationship between matter, memory, spac...
Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Graphite
$10,000
Dante's Summer - Vibrant Red Orange Atmospheric Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas
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
$1,600
Abundance: Large Original Painting, Abstract Expressionism, Figures, Landscape
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Abundance - Garden of Delight Nature Figurative Colorful Invest Exclusive Free "Absolutely thrilled with the original, authentic and free style of Karnish's work! It transp...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Golden Palms #4 - Tall Skinny Modern Textural Abstract Original Trees Painting
By Zabel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guided by her passion for life and her spirit, French Canadian painter Zabel creates vibrant artworks filled with romance and immersive textures. With a belief that art is all about ...
Gold Leaf
Untitled (PPR443) - Original Colorful Surrealist Abstract Mixed Media Artwork
By Max Manning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Max Manning is a Houston-based painter whose practice he describes as “algorithmic abstraction”, studio-built systems that he deliberately disrupts to create compositions where loose...
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache
$2,809Sale Price|20% Off
Large Expressionist Abstract Oil Painting on Board, Late 20th Century
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Expressionist Composition by Armand Rottenberg (French 1903-2000) oil painting on board, framed Provenance: the artists estate Framed 37 x 28 inches Stunning original Cubist painti...
Oil
Anja Decker, Abstract Informal Painting on Paper, Munich, Late 1950s
By Anja Decker
Located in Firenze, IT
Artist: Anja Decker (German, 1908-1995) Period: Late 1950s Painting size: 29.5 x 21 cm With frame: 63 x 53 cm. Condition: Good vintage condition. This work was exhibited in 2024 a...
Tempera, Felt Pen
$6,400Sale Price|20% Off
El Gozo de la Tribu, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 204x340cm Signed FREE SHIPPING ROLLED UP About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 19...
Canvas, Acrylic
$4,400Sale Price|20% Off
De Ventanas, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Mixed media on canvas 180x180cm Signed About the artist Multidisciplinary Mexican artist living in Mexico City. He uses paint and sound as the ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
About Time (Abstract, Expressionist, Blue, Beige, Grey, Atmospheric, ~20% OFF)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Katherine Bello About Time Acrylic and oil stick on canvas 2023 Size: 52x42x1.5in Signed, dated and titled by hand COA provided Ref.: 924802-1874 *on stretcher frame - ready to hang...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Glimmer
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Glimmer” captures a moment of transition, where tension slowly dissolves into light. The work explores a subtle boundary between heaviness and ease, where silence becomes a space fo...
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil
Orange Clouds
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 97×97 cm (overall size with stretching 107×107 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled “Orange Clouds” is an expressive rural landscape that explores the ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Abstract 2631 - Original Acrylic Abstract Painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
This abstract composition pulses with raw energy. A symphony of warm peaches and gold clashes against deep, oceanic blues. The palette creates a striking visual tension. Each layer b...
Oil, Acrylic
Structure - Modern Abstract painting, Geometric, Original Oil on Canvas
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Structure Silencieuse is an original oil on canvas by French contemporary artist Sophie Dumont. Through a carefully balanced composition of interlocking geometric forms, the painting...
Oil
Flow of Freedom
Located in Zofingen, AG
Freedom is always about pure energy and inner strength, and since ancient times, the horse has been its most powerful archetype. In this work, the image of the horse becomes a condui...
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil Crayon
Large Antique American Abstract Expressionist Flower Still Life Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist abstract still life painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed verso. Measuring: 48 by 56 inches overall, and 46 by 54 painting alone. In excellent origina...
Canvas, Oil
Sides 1, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
The principle that organizes the universe is movement between opposite sides. “Everything flows, nothing remainsâ€
Acrylic
$1,680Sale Price|20% Off
Painting Animal Horse Abstract Nature Floral Unique Original Figurative Invest
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Infinite Peace Painting Animal Horse Abstract Nature Floral Unique Original Bold Delight Invest Mixed Media One-of-a-kind This strikingly beautiful artwork by Karnish, depi...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Homeward Bound - Acrylic Abstract Painting, Minimalist, 24x60 Inches
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary acrylic abstract painting is minimalist in form. For more than three decades, Claudia Jean McCabe has been exploring the dynamic potential of abstraction. The Cana...
Canvas, Acrylic
Ensign No. 3
Located in Columbia, MO
A native of Upstate New York, Matt Ballou was educated at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago (BFA 2001) and Indiana University ( MFA 2005) before coming to The University of ...
Plastic, Mixed Media, Permanent Marker
Minimalist Cubist Abstract, Signed Oil Painting by Female Artist Miriam Bromberg
Located in Long Island City, NY
Minimalist Cubist Abstract Miriam Bromberg Oil on Canvas, signed Size: 42 x 18 in. (106.68 x 45.72 cm) Frame Size: 47 x 22.5 inches
Oil
"umbrella girl series"Gold Edition No. 17, Abstract, 21st Century, Acrylic
By Roger König
Located in Dessau-Rosslau, Sachsen Anhalt
Rendered in an elegant slate-blue palette, this work embodies understated luxury and sophistication. The rich tonal variations create a sense of depth and tranquility, while the icon...
Clay, Acrylic
Mid-Summer Beach Garden, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
New series :: Painting :: Abstract :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: Signed: Yes :: Signature Location: l...
Acrylic
Ross Bleckner Abstract Oil Painting
Located in New York, NY
Ross Bleckner (American, b. 1949) Untitled, c. 20th century Oil on board 18 x 20 in. Ross Bleckner grew up in Hewlett, Long Island, New York; drawing all the time without being aware that other artists existed. He was the middle child between two sisters; his father manufactures electronic parts He attended New York University where Sol Lewitt, Chuck Close and others were his teachers. He graduated in 1972, then spent a year at the California Institute of Arts. His contacts in the next few years were very fortuitous; Sol Lewitt and Chuck Close, Carl Andre, David Salle, Julian Schnabel, etc. Bleckner is on the nervous side, beset by self-doubt, insomnia, and gloom. He is unpretentious, although he is bluntly handsome, with olive complexion, and a compact build. He is "10 percent that is superficial and 90 percent that has to do with the depths and that is threatened by living. He is a very complicated individual. He is a very, very morose, deeply feeling, hardworking artist- he takes a lot from within himself - but always, no matter how successful he is, he feels he is going to fall into those depths." 1 Bleckner first exhibited his work in New York in 1974. The following year he was given his first one-man show; he was included in the 1975 Whitney Biennial.. Since about 1985 has addressed many of his paintings to the subject of AIDS- both documenting it as a historical phenomenon and commemorating specific individuals who have died. Written and submitted by Jean Ershler Schatz, artist and researcher from Laguna Woods, California. Bio sourced from the Archives of askArt. Sources include: Ross Bleckner's Mood Indigo...
Oil, Board
$1,423Sale Price|20% Off
Blue Landscape – Original Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, 30 × 40 cm, 2022
Located in Agrigento, AG
Blue Landscape is an original oil painting by Italian contemporary artist Marilina Marchica, created in 2022. Built through delicate layers of deep blue and soft tonal variations, t...
Canvas, Oil
$1,020Sale Price|20% Off
Antique American School Mid Century Modern Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American school abstract expressionist painting. Oil on board. Signed. In excellent original condition. Nicely framed in a period wood molding. Excellent condition, read...
Canvas, Oil
Passion in Pink: Contemporary Abstract Landscape Painting
By Amy Dixon
Located in Atlanta, GA
Amy Dixon’s work has evolved over the past 35 years with true authenticity in developing her own voice on canvas. Her curious awareness is ever present and fueled by direct observati...
Canvas, Acrylic, Mixed Media
$9,645
Christina Gschwantner, Contemporary Minimalist Abstract Lines Painting
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The work reflects the artist’s mastery of gesture and emotion, where each mark becomes a visual language. A striking piece that brings movement, depth, and intensity to any collectio...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Absence Écrite, Large Textured Abstract Library, Contemporary Oil Painting
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Framing included: the collector may choose a natural wood or black floater frame. The painting is delivered ready to hang. Unframed dimensions: 80 × 80 × 2 cm (31.50 × 31.50 × 0.79 ...
Oil
Blossoms for Autumn #1, Original Painting, Abstract art
Located in Deddington, GB
I wanted to create this piece with one focus in mind - trying to get this colour palette to really sing on the canvas! So gold, prussian blue, olive green, yellow ochre and browns an...
Canvas, Acrylic
The Journey, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A soft palette of blue-grey, cream, and pale orange shapes this textured abstract painting. Black line work winds across the surface, guiding the viewer’s eye...
Oil
$52,000
Proposition (Set of Four) - large, colourful, abstract, acrylic on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Milly Ristvedt is making a bold proposition in this dramatic series of four large paintings designed to be displayed together. Each of the four canvases offers a stunning visual dial...
Canvas, Acrylic
Damien Hirst Spin Painting, Abstract Acrylic on Paper Framed
By Damien Hirst
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Damien Hirst Spin Painting, 2009 (Damien Hirst Circle): A mesmerizing Damien Hirst Spin painting with explosions of vivid color amidst the timeless...
Paper, Acrylic
A Bunch of Joy: Acrylic, Painting, Abstract, Expressionist, Ready to hang
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: A Bunch of Joy Floral Gem Joy Flowers Nature Colorful Investment Energy Mother Earth This small-scale artwork, will shine light and joy in the collector's space. A Bunch of...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Floral Still-life Acrylic Painting, Abstract Expressionism, Original
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: It's Beautiful Floral Still-life Colorful Delight Invest Flowers Bouquet Joy Energy Captivating This small-scale painting will energize the collectors space with abundance a...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
1960s Italian Signed Dated and Autenticated Painting
By Mino Maccari
Located in Roma, IT
1960s Italian Signed Dated and Autenticated Painting Mino Maccari work Three stylized figures Work by the Sienese artist Mino Maccari, signed at the bottom right Maccari 1969. Mixed ...
Paper, Watercolor
$4,320Sale Price|20% Off
"Out to Sea", Abstract, Expressionist, Red, Blue, White, Oil Painting
Located in Franklin, MA
Katherine Borkowski-Byrne’s “Out to Sea” is a colorful abstract oil painting, 36 x 60 x 1.5 inch, on canvas with very thick texture and spontaneous brushwork in saturated reds and bl...
Canvas, Oil
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.