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.
$420
White and Blue Abstract Nautical Cyanotype of Crashing Waters, Coastal Lifestyle
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is an exclusive handprinted limited edition cyanotype. "Abstract Crashing Water" is an original cyanotype that detailed portraits the eruptions and shapes of salty water in move...
Watercolor, Lithograph, Paper
The Unyielding Bloom
Located in Zofingen, AG
From Series I: The Pillars of Survival — Faith, Hope, Love There is a kind of strength that doesn't roar. It simply refuses to disappear.This is what "The Unyielding Bloom" holds — t...
Canvas, Oil, Spray Paint
Early Morning
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work is part of the Inner Landscapes series, in which the landscape becomes part of a memory, a lived state, or emotions that cannot be expressed in words and can only be felt. ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Large Figural Abstract Late 1960s Painting, Mexican American Artist
By Miguel Conde
Located in Beachwood, OH
Miguel Condé (Mexican/American, b. 1939) Untitled, 1968 Oil on canvas Signed and dated verso 59.5 x 49.5 inches Paint loss throughout - please reach out for a thorough condition rep...
Oil
$3,438
A deux voix, Geometric Abstract Painting “Syntaxe”, Oil on Canvas, Sophie Dumont
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
À Deux Voix is a contemporary geometric abstract painting by French artist Sophie Dumont. Two large curved forms respond to one another across the composition, creating a visual dial...
Oil
$4,470
Les lopins, Green Landscape, Expressionism, Textured, Fields, Oil on canvas
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Choose the color of the frame: black or wood Framed dimensions: 72 x 88 cm (28.3 x 34.6 in) unframed: 65 x 81 cm (25.6 x 32 in) Signed by the artist and a certificate is delivred. Re...
Oil
$1,975
Wild Skies 4 - Abstract Gold Leaf and Acrylic Landscape Painting on Wood Panel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Adele Webster’s contemporary landscape paintings explore atmosphere, light, and the emotional presence of open space. Working with layered acrylic washes on wood panel, Webster creat...
Gold Leaf
Tropical Lagoon Painting Island Seascape Boat Coastal Landscape Art
Located in Zofingen, AG
*Tropical Lagoon Painting Island Seascape Boat Coastal Landscape Art** This original tropical seascape painting captures the peaceful atmosphere of a hidden island lagoon with cryst...
Canvas, Oil
Untitled Abstract Composition signed Joe Stefanelli
Located in New York, NY
This Untitled Abstract Composition in Oil on Canvas signed Joe Stefanelli is a gem of Mid-Century American Abstraction. This painting brilliantly exemplifies the approach and movemen...
Paint
$1,833
Held in Burgundy - Contemporary floral colorful large painting dark red
Located in Zofingen, AG
Burgundy earned its name from a wine region, and something of that heritage lingers in the color — the weight of grapes ready for harvest, the patience required before anything can b...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
Swiss Abstract Contemporary Art by Pierre-Alain Michel - Untitled
Located in Paris, IDF
Acrylic on canvas Pierre-Alain Michel is a Swiss painter born in 1959 who lives & works in Delémont in Switzerland. In 1989 he was enrolled at the School of Fine Arts in Basel a...
Canvas, Acrylic
Abstract Painting, Oil on Canvas, German Artist, Elaborately Framed
Located in Eltville am Rhein, DE
Friedrich Schiemann Recklinghausen 1918 – 1991 Düsseldorf Composition, 1982 Oil on canvas Signed and dated lower right Dimensions: 29 x 48 cm Frame: 56 x 77 cm Schiemann was a gr...
Oil
Still Life with Bottles / - The figuration of the objects -
By Ev Grüger
Located in Berlin, DE
Ev Grüger (1928 Altenburg - 2017 Hofheim), Still Life with Bottles, 1956. Oil on canvas in gallery stretcher, 80 cm x 60 cm (image size), signed “Grü[ger]” lower left and dated “[19]...
Oil
$1,280Sale Price|70% Off
Peace flags n°30 by Gilbert Pauli - Oil on canvas 75x99
Located in Geneva, CH
Born in 1944 in the canton of Fribourg, Gilbert Pauli currently lives in Geneva, where he devotes himself to painting and sculpture, a passion he developed from his childhood. His fa...
Oil
Whispers in Blue - Abstract Figurative Landscape Textured Impasto Oil 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
$871Sale Price|20% Off
Hyperrealistic Floral Still Life: The Heart Has Its Reasons
Located in DE
This is a beautiful oil painting of an array of flowers in a vase in front of a dark background. Reminding us of old master paintings, this is a brand new painting full elegance and ...
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
Subtle balance
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work continues an exploration of silence as an inner space — a state where perception slows down and the boundaries between forms become soft and unstable. It is built on a bala...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$2,350
Mid-20th Century Oil on Board Abstract Impressionist Maritime Scene, René Genis
By René Genis
Located in Berlin, MD
Step into the bustling energy of a portside moment with René Genis’ “Les Grues” (The Cranes)”, a captivating oil-on-mat-board painting that transforms the in...
Oil, Illustration Board
$3,800Sale Price|20% Off
Antique American Monumental Op Art Framed Abstract Color Field Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Incredibly well painted mid century abstract color field oil painting. Great color and composition. Framed. Early and large work! Unsigned.
Canvas, Oil
$515
"Garden glow" Contemporary expressionist floral still life acrylic painting
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Garden Glow” is an original contemporary floral painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, created in expressive acrylic on heavyweight professional acid-free paper, measuring 29.7...
Paper, Acrylic
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
$2,170
Sakura Blush : Pastel Colors Impasto Textured Abstract Painting - 100x100cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
Dip into a world of delicate colors and rich textures with "Sakura Blush". This original abstract painting is a celebration of spring renewal, capturing the ethereal beauty of a saku...
Oil, Acrylic
Mid Century Modernist American Industrial Landscape Oil Painting - Expressionist
Located in Baltimore, MD
Although unsigned, this colorful painting is a wonderful example of mid century style. It portrays what is likely a rural farming scene that features different buildings and forms th...
Oil
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
$7,000
Triptych Sunset - Large Original Impasto Thick Paint Textural 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 i...
Canvas, Acrylic
"Girl in the Rain - Gold Edition #6", Abstract, Painting, 21st Century
By Roger König
Located in Dessau-Rosslau, Sachsen Anhalt
Gold Edition - with real gold leaf, 23,75 carat Art measures 11.81 x 11.81 inches Frame measures 22.83 x 22.83 x 2.36 inches Framed in a high-quality contemporary wooden moulding. ...
Clay, Acrylic
AWH 167 - Original Figurative Abstract Still Life Oil Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bernhard Zimmer has created a positive stir at major international art fairs (Art Basel, Kunst Köln, etc.). His lively and mysterious compositions pique the taste of the serious art ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
#206, 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
$5,501
Triptych “Symphony of nature” X-Large size . Semi-abstract interior painting
Located in Oslo, NO
This triptych showcases a dramatic seascape that captures the raw energy of turbulent waves crashing against rugged rocks. The swirling, frothy waters are depicted with dynamic brush...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,100
Suluk/Wanderings No 48 - gestural, abstract, acrylic and pigment on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This gestural, abstract, acrylic and pigment on canvas is by Montreal-based artist Shireen Kamran. Early in her career, Shireen Kamran’s enigmatic artwork was influenced by famed ab...
Acrylic, Pigment
$859
"Vase of light" Contemporary abstract expressionist still life floral painting
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
Acrylic painting on heavyweight professional acid-free paper, varnished for protection · 50 × 65 cm (19.7 × 25.6 in) “Vase of Light” is a vibrant contemporary floral painting by Fre...
Paper, Acrylic
$2,292Sale Price|20% Off
Natures Soft Touch
By Lloyd Tabing
Located in Jönköping, SE
Keeping with my passion of nature, this collection focusses on the movement and structure of nature. Primarily that from trees. I am fascinated by trees and their amazing beauty. Co...
Acrylic
$1,146
Liberty
By Oksana Reva
Located in Zofingen, AG
Liberty is an oil abstract painting and minimalist abstract landscape shaped by the quiet meeting of a sky-blue horizon and warm ochre earth tones, creating a subtle dialogue between...
Canvas, Oil
$1,950
Balance Too - Statement Minimalistic Abstract Conversation Gold Contrast Large
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Balance Too Statement Minimalistic Abstract Conversation Gold Contrast Large BALANCE TOO is part of the series Expressions Too, that connects to the earth, ocean and sky... ...
Oil, Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas
"Fragment of a Garden III" impasto painting, colorful flowers on linen canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
This original painting by Anastassia Skopp is part of a series exploring fragmented garden compositions and spatial movement. Executed in acrylic and...
Canvas, Linen, Spray Paint, Acrylic
Ky Anderson "Fallen Parts 23.10" 2024 Acrylic on paper
By Ky Anderson
Located in New York, NY
Artist Statement: My work falls somewhere between abstraction, formalism and narrative painting. I see the content and story when I look at my work, but shape and color are equally...
Paper, Acrylic
$859
"Fragment of a Garden II" impasto painting, colorful flowers on linen canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
This original painting by Anastassia Skopp is part of a series exploring fragmented floral compositions and spatial movement. Executed in acrylic and...
Canvas, Linen, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$1,600
Meteor Shower - Vibrant Colorful Original Expressionist Galaxy Action Painting
By Marc Raphael
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Marc Raphael’s "Meteor Shower" is a captivating display of action painting that explodes with color and kinetic energy. This original 24 x 60-inch acrylic painting combines elements ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
“Set Out”
By Iryna Rets
Located in Zofingen, AG
The works from this series were exhibited at ART KYIV Fair 2026 and later presented as part of the artist’s solo exhibition “Points of View” at MODI Art & Wine Gallery, Kyiv. “Set ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Ciudad Carmin II, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 150 x 200 cm Signed FREE SHIPPING ROLLED UP About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 1973) graduated from Escuela Nacio...
Canvas, Acrylic
Storage for a Timeworn Minimum (Set of 5)
Located in Dallas, TX
acrylic & pastel on paper
Acrylic, Paper, Pastel
Morning Magic, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Dorothy Gaziano layers orange and light blue with oil paint and cold wax. Using black to enhance details, she applies marks and scratches, adding contr...
Oil
$550
"Rosy alchemy" Contemporary abstract expressionist floral still life painting
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
Rosy Alchemy — Original Contemporary Floral Painting “Rosy Alchemy” is an original contemporary floral painting of roses by French artist Natalya Mougenot, created in an expressive ...
Paper, Acrylic
Bikini Catenary: panel painting w/ multi-colored arc lines on yellow & green
By Paula Cahill
Located in Bryn Mawr, PA
Paula Cahill's linear abstract compositions are often comprised of a single, luminous line that meanders, changes color, and seamlessly connects back to itself. This piece combines C...
Acrylic, Vinyl, Wood Panel
"Summer Studio" Wolf Kahn, Vermont Landscape, Abstract Impressionist, Pastels
By Wolf Kahn
Located in New York, NY
Wolf Kahn Summer Studio, 2012 Signed lower center Pastel on paper 9 x 11 1/2 inches An important member of the second generation New York School, Wolf ...
Paper, Pastel
A Quiet Conversation Abstract Diptych, Acrylic on Panel, 21st Century
Located in Santa Fe, NM
2 - 40 x 30" panels. Making a 60 x 40" sized diptych, but spacing can vary in between the paintings. My paintings begin with an idea or feeling. It could be a memory of a time and p...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
$974
"Rainy days" Colourful Umbrellas, Rain Boots, Expressive Figurative Painting
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
Colourful Umbrellas and Rain Boots – Expressive Figurative Acrylic Painting on Paper, Childhood Memories/ Nostalgic Art/ Home interior "Rainy Days": Acrylic painting on paper · 59....
Paper, Acrylic
$575
Advance to Palm Desert Drive - Abstract Monopoly Inspired Mixed Media Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kathleen Keifer’s original mixed-media artworks bring her New California Realism into playful dialogue with American pop culture. Known for her sunlit California imagery, Keifer reim...
Canvas, Resin, Mixed Media, 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
$630
"Quiet mind" Contemporary abstract expressionist woman's portrait painting
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Quiet Mind” is an original contemporary portrait of a woman by Natalya Mougenot, created with acrylic paints and acrylic pens on heavyweight professional acid-free paper. The work i...
Paper, Acrylic
No. 2, Hard-Edge Geometric Painting by Dale Laun 1969
Located in Long Island City, NY
Painting No. 2 by Dale Laun, American (1939–2018) Date: 1968-1969 Acrylic on Canvas, signed upper right on cardboard overlay Size: 44 x 46 in. (111.76 x 116.84 cm)
Canvas, Acrylic
$515
Contemporary Abstract Figurative Painting of woman's portrait "Silent core"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Silent Core” is a contemporary abstract figurative painting created by French artist Natalya Mougenot — a piece designed for fine art collectors seeking emotional depth, bold minima...
Canvas, Acrylic
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
$4,124Sale Price|20% Off
Mid 20th Century French Expressionist Abstract Portrait Very Thick Impasto Oil
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Portrait Expressionist work, painted with very thick impasto oil paint. unsigned but clearly by a very good hand. French School, mid 20th century oil on board, unframed 36...
Oil
$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
$636Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Mid Century Modern Abstract Expressionist Ethereal Organic Oil Painting
By Piry Rame
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage abstract expressionist etherial oil painting by Piry Rame (1921 - 2001). Oil on canvas, circa 1960. Signed on verso. Image size, 21L x 16H. Housed in a period frame.
Canvas, Oil
$7,500
Richard Huntington 1960s Geometric Abstraction Large Mid Century Modern NYC
Located in Buffalo, NY
A mid-century modern geometric abstract painting by American artist Richard Huntington. Richard Huntington (b. 1936) is an American painter, printmaker, and writer, is Critic Emerit...
Oil, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$1,980
Love Conquers All - Extra Large Abstract Painting, Bold Colors, New, Maximalism
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Love Conquers All - Omnia Vincit Amor Extra Large Abstract Investment Bold Color Large rendition in the Unchained Expressions series. It attempts to map the road to freedom...
Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Spray Paint, Color Pencil
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.