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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.

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Style: Abstract
Sonderlust -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, Pop Culture, Anxiety, People
Sonderlust -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, Pop Culture, Anxiety, People

Sonderlust -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, Pop Culture, Anxiety, People

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

All of us can change the past. We cannot take back what has happened, who we love, what we have done. Just like we cannot change our current situation. I think life is a funny thing,...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Ink, Acrylic

Mid-Century Abstract Expressionist Gouache on Paper, Signed, 41x55 cm
Mid-Century Abstract Expressionist Gouache on Paper, Signed, 41x55 cm

Mid-Century Abstract Expressionist Gouache on Paper, Signed, 41x55 cm

By Joseph Levin

Located in Cotignac, FR

Mid-century abstract expressionist geometric gouache on paper by Russian artist Joseph Levin. Signed to the bottom right and presented in a black passepartout. This artwork is a str...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Gouache

Forces of Nature 21 - Textural Abstract Thick Paint Layered Artwork on Canvas
Forces of Nature 21 - Textural Abstract Thick Paint Layered Artwork on Canvas

Forces of Nature 21 - Textural Abstract Thick Paint Layered Artwork on Canvas

By Len Klikunas

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Len Klikunas paints minimalist artworks to modify experienced reality through visual perception. The Blocks series is a mix of art and architecture, hovering between painting and scu...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Mixed Media

A Potted Succulent and a Rhizome - Original Vibrant Abstract Botanical Painting
A Potted Succulent and a Rhizome - Original Vibrant Abstract Botanical Painting

A Potted Succulent and a Rhizome - Original Vibrant Abstract Botanical Painting

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor, Color Pencil

P2

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-...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Palimpseste- Large Black Abstract Library Painting – Oil on Canvas –Contemporary
Palimpseste- Large Black Abstract Library Painting – Oil on Canvas –Contemporary

Palimpseste- Large Black Abstract Library Painting – Oil on Canvas –Contemporary

By SOPHIE DUMONT

Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR

Title: Palimpsest Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 100 x 100 cm 39.37 x 39.37 in (canvas only), 107 x 107 cm 42.12 x 42.12 in framed Year: 2025 Framing: Black wooden floater frame ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Wandering Backwards I Reach The End - Large Blue Figurative Abstract Original
Wandering Backwards I Reach The End - Large Blue Figurative Abstract Original

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Fabric

Untitled Mid Century Abstract Oil Painting New York Artist
Untitled Mid Century Abstract Oil Painting New York Artist

Untitled Mid Century Abstract Oil Painting New York Artist

By John Opper

Located in Beachwood, OH

John Opper (American, 1908 - 1994) Untitled, 1959 Oil on board Signed and dated lower right 14.75 in. h x 18 in. w. 20 in. h. x 24.5 in. w., as framed John Opper described the 1930s...

Category

1950s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Golden Day - Original Abstract Ocean Beach Still Life Landscape Acrylic Painting
Golden Day - Original Abstract Ocean Beach Still Life Landscape Acrylic Painting

Golden Day - Original Abstract Ocean Beach Still Life Landscape Acrylic Painting

By Kathleen Keifer

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 ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Hidden Portraits I
Hidden Portraits I

Hidden Portraits I

Located in London, GB

'Hidden Portraits I', acrylic on canvas mounted on board, Florentine School (circa 1980s-90s). This gallery has acquired a number of paintings through an intermediary of an ageing ar...

Category

1980s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Those who remember summer
Those who remember summer

Those who remember summer

Located in Zofingen, AG

This work unfolds as a layered botanical memory, where plants are no longer passive elements of nature but active witnesses of time. The composition feels both intimate and slightly ...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

ABSTRACT  Color Lines Artwork by Big Dimensions Contemporary Celia Lees
ABSTRACT  Color Lines Artwork by Big Dimensions Contemporary Celia Lees

ABSTRACT Color Lines Artwork by Big Dimensions Contemporary 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...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Ink, Oil, Acrylic

Jit Madness - Abstract Contemporary Organic Shape Mixed Media Artwork on Canvas
Jit Madness - Abstract Contemporary Organic Shape Mixed Media Artwork on Canvas

Jit Madness - Abstract Contemporary Organic Shape Mixed Media Artwork on Canvas

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Rue Bootay, a New York-born artist now rooted in the vibrant artistic landscape of Los Angeles, navigates the avant-garde realm of nonrepresentational surrealism with a style uniquel...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic

Florida Oil Painting African American Woman Art Annie Nobles Miller Indian River
Florida Oil Painting African American Woman Art Annie Nobles Miller Indian River

Florida Oil Painting African American Woman Art Annie Nobles Miller Indian River

Located in Surfside, FL

"Annie Nobles Miller" Abstract Florida landscape oil on board painting Hand signed lower left Inscribed on verso St. Lucie County. Measures: Board 24"H x 30"W; Framed - 32"H x 38"W. Annie Miller was a member of the Indian River School of Painting, which was not a formal school but was a group of mostly African-American Florida working class people who wanted to paint. Following is the explanation of that school and its participants. Indian River School is a name applied to Floridian artists in the 1950's and 1960's. They were heavily influenced by nature. Most of the artists in this movement were African American. Their work is characterized by quick strokes and eschews traditional methods of paintings. The main influence for the group was a man named A.E. Backus, a Bohemian white man who mentored the group of young black artists. The group used to congregate in his studio and learnt to paint from 'Beanie' (as he was called) as a way out of their lower class labour jobs. Their work was powerful, dramatic yet captured the serenity and beauty of the Florida Although the exact count of artists mentored by A.E. Backus remains unknown, experts estimate it to be around 20 individuals, many of whom he supported through college. Albert Ernest "Beanie" Backus (1906–1990) was famous for his vivid, naturalist Florida landscapes capturing a fast-vanishing Florida wild lands. Backus would come to be seen as the seminal Florida landscape painter, and others who followed would emulate him. Primarily of the Indian River and Everglades areas of Florida. Backus was a Native Floridian artist of great importance recreating scenes of Florida's sky, rivers, ocean, back country, unpredictable weather, clouds, and birds. Born in Fort Pierce, FL to a family of talented boat designers and builders. His "Uncle" Reg Goodwin helped Backus as a young painter go to the Parsons School of Fine Art in New York in 1924. He was referred to as “Florida’s painter laureate,” and the “Dean of Florida’s landscape painters.”In addition to his influence on the Florida Highwaymen painters (Alfred Hair...

Category

1960s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"Genesis: The Birth of Creation"
"Genesis: The Birth of Creation"

"Genesis: The Birth of Creation"

Located in Edinburgh, GB

This painting carries the energy of the number 10, a symbol of the completion of one cycle and the transition into a new stage. It represents the revelation of truth, breakthrough, r...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Råmark 5 - Original Minimalist Abstract Textured Painting on Canvas
Råmark 5 - Original Minimalist Abstract Textured Painting on Canvas

Råmark 5 - Original Minimalist Abstract Textured Painting on Canvas

Located in Manchester, GB

Henry Woolway, Råmark 5, 2025 Overlapping acrylic dyed canvas with frayed edges 64 x 94.5 cm (25.19 x 37.2 in) Artwork is hand-framed in a tray frame Henry Woolway’s wide-ranging b...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Subsurface

John VitaleSubsurface, 2025

$3,200Sale Price|20% Off

Subsurface

Located in New York, NY

John Vitale is a young abstract artist to watch with an expressive, intuitive voice. He works on many canvases at once, moving between them, adding brushstrokes in acrylic paint, hou...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

House Paint, Acrylic, Permanent Marker, Pencil

Basket Series, Dale Chihuly
Basket Series, Dale Chihuly

Basket Series, Dale Chihuly

By Dale Chihuly

Located in Fairfield, CT

Artist: Dale Chihuly (1941) Title: Basket Series Year: 2001 Medium: Acrylic on Arches Aquarelle Rag paper Size: 42 x 30 inches Inscription: Signed by the artist Notes: Hand painted b...

Category

Early 2000s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Yellow, Abstract Oil Painting
Yellow, Abstract Oil Painting

Yellow, Abstract Oil Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Multiple layers of color characterize this abstract piece. Shades of orange, yellow, and cream are applied dynamically, creating a vibrant composition. Bold bla...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Vintage American Abstract Expressionist Framed Modernist MCM Oil Painting
Vintage American Abstract Expressionist Framed Modernist MCM Oil Painting

Vintage American Abstract Expressionist Framed Modernist MCM Oil Painting

Located in Buffalo, NY

Vintage American modernist abstract oil painting. Oil on board. Framed. Measuring: 24 by 31 inches overall, and 18 by 26 painting alone. In excellent original condition. Nicely fram...

Category

1950s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Sweet Grass-original modern abstract floral oil painting - contemporary Art
Sweet Grass-original modern abstract floral oil painting - contemporary Art

Sweet Grass-original modern abstract floral oil painting - contemporary Art

By Antoinette Ferwerda

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 C...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Copper

Colored loop on turquoise background
Colored loop on turquoise background

Colored loop on turquoise background

Located in Zofingen, AG

This piece is created using the fluid acrylic technique, which produces elongated vertical streams of color that flow smoothly into one another. Against a light turquoise background,...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The Assembled Whole. 2
The Assembled Whole. 2

The Assembled Whole. 2

Located in Zofingen, AG

An abstract work from the series “The Assembled Whole.”, continuing the exploration of wholeness emerging from the connection of fragments. The composition is structured through the ...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Tranquil Tides in Daylight

Tranquil Tides in Daylight

Located in Santa Fe, NM

Lynn Sanders is an artist excited by beauty: architecture, foliage, landscapes, seascapes, interiors. She finds palettes and shapes in her environment and propels them into her work,...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic Polymer, Ink, Acrylic

Huge French Contemporary Modernist Abstract Oil Painting Ladies Chatting Garden
Huge French Contemporary Modernist Abstract Oil Painting Ladies Chatting Garden

Huge French Contemporary Modernist Abstract Oil Painting Ladies Chatting Garden

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

'Discussion' Abstract Composition signed by Jacqueline VERDET (French, 1931-2023) oil painting on canvas, unframed canvas: 39.5 x 39 inches condition: the work is in overall very sou...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Monochrome Ultramarine Blue Abstract Painting on Canvas by Gabriela Meunie
Monochrome Ultramarine Blue Abstract Painting on Canvas by Gabriela Meunie

Monochrome Ultramarine Blue Abstract Painting on Canvas by 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

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Pigment

ABSTRACT Mirko Baricchi Oil Gestural Landscapes Flora Earth Tones Mixed media
ABSTRACT Mirko Baricchi Oil Gestural Landscapes Flora Earth Tones Mixed media

ABSTRACT Mirko Baricchi Oil Gestural Landscapes Flora Earth Tones Mixed media

By Mirko Baricchi

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Mirko Baricchi (born 1970) is an accomplished Italian painter who currently lives and works between Vicenza and La Spezia, regions located in Veneto and Liguria, Italy, respectively....

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil

La Force Eternelle - Dreamy Abstract Floral Painting
La Force Eternelle - Dreamy Abstract Floral Painting

La Force Eternelle - Dreamy 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...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

May Morning Palm - Gray Foggy Abstract Palm Tree Still Life Acrylic Painting
May Morning Palm - Gray Foggy Abstract Palm Tree Still Life Acrylic Painting

May Morning Palm - Gray Foggy Abstract Palm Tree Still Life Acrylic Painting

By Kathleen Keifer

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 ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Transigent  (Abstract Contemporary Painting, Framed)
Transigent  (Abstract Contemporary Painting, Framed)

Transigent (Abstract Contemporary Painting, Framed)

By G. Campbell Lyman

Located in New Orleans, LA

(Comes professionally framed in a solid maple floater frame, ready to hang) Artist's Statement "This series of intensely colorful paintings was begun a couple of years back in reaction to the gray oppressive weight that had descended like a pall on the American scene. I wanted to make paintings about nothing but pure delight, in honor of the fact that beneath the fog of germs and political antagonism, we still eat, laugh, love and if we're wise, acknowledge how spectacularly fortunate we are -- at least for now, in this time and place, despite the problems. For me, the colors, forms and brushstrokes here feel exuberant without suggesting an unnerving chaos. I have purposely used unlikely color combinations that despite their dissonance seem to work together. I don't feel this is a time to be making brooding works that reflect the problems we are working our way through; we all know about this. On the contrary, I think it's a time for art...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Lacquer, Charcoal, House Paint, Oil, Acrylic

Vintage American School Modernist Abstract New York School Minimalist Painting
Vintage American School Modernist Abstract New York School Minimalist Painting

Vintage American School Modernist Abstract New York School Minimalist Painting

Located in Buffalo, NY

Step into the realm of American abstract art with a remarkable piece that embodies the essence of the New York School and Minimalist movements. This captivating artwork is a testament to the groundbreaking creativity that emerged from the New York art scene during the mid-20th century. Its minimalist approach and bold, abstract expression are a striking reflection of the era's intellectual and artistic exploration. The composition is a study in reductionism, where every stroke and form serves a purpose, creating a symphony of simplicity that is both thought-provoking and visually engaging. The artist's meticulous attention to detail and the careful selection of shapes and colors result in a work that exudes a sense of timeless sophistication. The painting's abstract nature invites interpretation, allowing each viewer to find their own meaning within its elegant lines and shapes. It is a work that beckons you to explore, contemplate, and appreciate the power of artistic minimalism—a movement that forever changed the landscape of contemporary art. Embrace the minimalist elegance of this Vintage American School painting...

Category

1990s 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.