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.
Shark Spin Painting
By Damien Hirst
Located in London, GB
Acrylic on paper. 2009 48.9 × 67.3 cm 94 x 94 cm (framed) A mesmerizing Damien Hirst Spin painting with explosions of vivid color amidst the timeless, mysterious form of a shark. Th...
Paper, Acrylic
$12,500
Departing, Large Figurative Expressionist Painting by George Marshal Cohen
By George Marshal Cohen
Located in Long Island City, NY
An oil painting by George Marshal Cohen from 1960. An abstract expressionist style painting with dark blue tones and bright yellow accents. Figurative representations of female legs ...
Canvas, Oil
Impressionist painting of nymphs inspired by Claude Monet "Dreams by the lilies"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Dreams by the Lilies” by French artist Natalya Mougenot is a poetic and contemporary interpretation of water lilies, painted in the spirit of Claude Monet yet guided by the artist’s...
Paper, Acrylic
$1,875Sale Price|25% Off
Elizabeth Freire "What is the world if not a flow of forms"?
Located in Washington, DC
Painting by Brazilian-born artist Elizabeth Freire. Work is acrylic on canvas. Signed on reverse and titled "What is the world if not a flo...
Canvas, Acrylic
Colorful painting on paper, Unique piece, Abstract Expressionist
Located in Carballo, ES
TUSET (1997, A Coruña, España) Mixed media painting on paper Ready to frame One-of-a-kind Signed on back Includes certificate of authenticity 2021 65 x 50 cm. It belongs to the ser...
Paper, Oil Crayon, Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pencil
Indian Beaded & Embroidered Shisa Mosaic Textile Wall Hanging 8 Feet Long
Located in Rochester, NY
Colorful Indian metallic thread abstract wall hanging or shisha . Enormous amount of hand work. Excellent quality. Shisheh or abhla bharat embroidery (Persian شيشه, abhala bharat; ...
Fabric
$1,016Sale Price|73% Off
Antediluvien by Hans Eckert - Oil on canvas 45x65 cm
By Hans Eckert
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on canvas Gold flush frame 47,5 x 67 x 2,5 cm
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
1972 Abstract "Natural Christmas" Alkyd Resin Painting Walter Darby Bannard
Located in Surfside, FL
Walter Darby Bannard (born September 23, 1934 in New Haven, CT) "Natural Christmas (1972)" Alkyd Resin Magna Medium Aquatec Gel on Canvas Painting Walter Darby Barnard is a Profess...
Mixed Media, Canvas, Resin, Alkyd
Abstract Geometric Composition with Biomorphic Object - Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Soquel, CA
Bold abstract composition by RH Barnard (American, 20th Century). The backdrop of this piece is composed of rectangular sections of brown, red, blue, and tan. In the center of the composition, there is a black object...
Canvas, Masonite, Acrylic
Abstract Barnstable Painting by Joseph Conrad-Ferm, Acrylic Mixed Media Canvas
Located in New York, NY
Barnstable by Joseph Conrad-Ferm, 2022 Acrylic paint, spray paint, marker, oil pastels, color pencil, and graphite on canvas W 58" x H 68.25" x D 1.5" "Barnstable county is a mass...
Oil Pastel, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Permanent Marker, Color Pencil, Graphite
Lin Xu Abstract Original Oil Painting "Sound Of Pine Trees III"
Located in New York, NY
Title: Sound Of Pine Trees III Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 20 x 12 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition. Note: ...
Canvas, Oil
Large Green Abstract Painting on Hemp Canvas "Deep Forest"
Located in Sofia, BG
Dimensions: Height: 39.38 in (100 cm) Width: 31.5 in (80 cm) Depth: 1.19 in (3 cm) Medium: Acrylic,Oil Movement & Style: Abstract Expressionist This large green abstract paintin...
Acrylic, Oil
#203, 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
$7,600
Pink Pleasure (Textile Inspired Abstract Wood Wall Sculpture in Pink and Yellow)
By Susan Stover
Located in Hudson, NY
Pink Pleasure (Textile Inspired Abstract Wood Wall Sculpture in Pink and Yellow), made by Susan Stover in 2024 wood, oil paint, varnish, waxed linen thread 54 x 72 inches Lightweight...
Thread, Wood, Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
#21, 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
Aleksandar Bezinovic Contemporary Geometric Abstraction Black and Ochre Large
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The piece is signed by the artist on the reverse and includes a Certificate of Authenticity officially stamped by the gallery. 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. Aleksandar...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Magenta abstraction on a gold background. Triptych
Located in Zofingen, AG
The triptych is created in fluid acrylic technique and consists of three vertical panels, each measuring 24 × 30 cm. Together they form a unified composition connected by a continuou...
Canvas, Acrylic
$11,200
Golden Hour (Light Pink, Grey, and Yellow Abstract Expressionist Painting)
Located in Hudson, NY
Golden Hour (Brightly Colored Square Abstract Expressionist Painting in Light Pink, Grey, and Yellow) by Ragellah Rourke made in 2024 oil on panel 60 x 60 inches, unframed The sides ...
Oil, Wood Panel
$4,800Sale Price|20% Off
Pink Lavender Modern Abstract Landscape Painting on Canvas by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
‘Pink Lavender’ Modern Abstract Landscape Painting on Canvas from leading British Artist. Margaret Francis received her Degree in Fine Art from Winchester Art...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Watercolor, Mixed Media
Transformation No. 8
Located in Bozeman, MT
Enthralled with the lore and spirituality of American Indian cultures, his work often depicts these traditional subjects in nontraditional ways. Hawkins captures the raw sense of ele...
Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
Color of unloved #1 & #2 diptych-abstract art in red, yellow, black, white
Original-Sunset Song-British Awarded Artist-Impressionism-Plein Air evening oil
Located in London, GB
Sunset Song Series stands as one of the most iconic works featured in the upcoming Summer Exhibition UK, 2025—a rare and luminous collection of latest artworks we’re thrilled to pres...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
$20,000
"Melody" - Large Modern Bright and Colorful Abstract in Pinks, Blues, and Black
By Kobi Raz
Located in Carmel, CA
Kobi Raz (Israeli, born 1959) "Melody" 2025 Oil paint, canvas, stretcher bars The artist signed the bottom left of the painting. “Melody” is a lyrical abstract composition alive wit...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
$13,500
“Flag of victory" abstract painting, western painting, mixed media painting
Located in Delaware , OH
Artist Statement “Flag of Victory” – Mixed Media on Canvas (48x60) This piece is a celebration of triumph—an abstract expression of spiritual and emotional victory. Using a blend of...
Canvas, Archival Ink, Acrylic
$1,272Sale Price|20% Off
Large French 20th Century Abstract Expression Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition by Marie Deloume (French born 1942) signed oil painting on paper stuck on canvas, unframed canvas size: 20 x 24 inches condition: overall very good...
Canvas, Paper, Oil
Campagne de Grasse
By Roger Mühl
Located in Austin, TX
Waterline Fine Art, Austin, TX is pleased to present the following work: Oil on canvas. Signed lower right, titled and inventoried verso. 43.25 x 47.25 in. 44.75 x 48.5 in. (framed...
Canvas, Oil
$2,868
Contemporary Minimalist Green Abstract Painting on Canvas by Tete Alurralde 2025
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
Red II, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas by Gustavo Schmidt
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Gustavo Schmidt Title: Red II Year: 2016 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed and titled verso Size: 54 x 44 inches
Canvas, Oil
$1,635Sale Price|24% Off
Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, Signed 1988, Large Modern Vintage Art
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Abstract oil painting on canvas signed on the back and dated 1988. A very attractive modern vintage abstract that is easy on the eye and yet significant to its surroundings. Here, ...
Oil
$9,600Sale Price|23% Off
The balance of wisdom and power (original horse textured painting)
Located in Maricopa, AZ
A stunning original mixed media painting by Svetlana Shalygina. A unique combination of imagery and texture with this large scale original work of art. Custom digital renderings show...
Mixed Media
Dancing In The Palace Gardens.. Contemporary Oil Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Leading British Expressionist Paul Wadsworth captures the magic of India in his paintings. These unique pieces are created from real life scenes and experiences laid down onto the ca...
Oil
$1,912
Minimalist Geometric Abstract Painting in Earth Tones by Carolin Kreutzer
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
At our 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 Auth...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Abstract Contemporary Painting in Black and Acid Yellow, Textural Mixed Media
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, Oil, Pigment
$544Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled #SP-209, Mixed Media on Paper by Murray Duncan - Abstract Geometric
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #SP-#209 by Murray Duncan Mixed media on paper Size: 32" x 40” Unframed, signed A bold mixed-media work with dynamic lines and textures. This captivating piece by Murray ...
Acrylic, Oil Crayon, Paper
$1,605Sale 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
$896
"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
$2,144
Original Triptych-Jardin d'Hiver and La vie Rose-British Awarded Artist-Impasto
Located in London, GB
Jardin d'Hiver Series is Shizico Yi's latest works for GSY Studio Gallery Summer Exhibition 2025, this set including 3 paintings. This series created in her winter studio while longi...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,721Sale Price|20% Off
Zen Blossoms - colorful original square roses textured asian painting on canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Observe a tree, a flower, a plant. Let your awareness rest upon it. How still they are, how deeply rooted in Being. Allow nature to teach you stillness." – Eckhart Tolle Let your g...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
L'hymne du Roi David (King David's Dream)
By Marc Chagall
Located in Boca Raton, FL
L'hymne du Roi David (King David's Dream) Oil on wood by Marc Chagall c late 70's Comes with Numbered and Verified Certificate of Authenticity from Comite C...
Oil
Original Diptych-Sunset Song-British Awarded Artist-Plein Air evening oil
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
Antique American Abstract Expressionist Framed Original Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American abstract oil painting. Oil on board. Framed. In excellent original condition. Handsomely framed in a giltwood molding. Excellent condition, ready to hang and en...
Oil, Board
#261 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
$800
"Take Me With You" (contemporary, black, flora, floral painting, antique linen)
Located in Paris, IDF
TAKE ME WITH YOU 2024 Paris, France Canvas composition is divided in half, with the upper potion focused on a floral bouquet, and the bottom half left unfinished other than a subtl...
Linen, Oil, Acrylic
Abstract Expressionist "Forms Divide" Like Franz Kline
Located in Miami, FL
It's 1951. Who was doing painting like this? Franz Kline, Arshile Gorky, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, Adolph Gottlieb, Clyfford Still, Robert Motherwell, Lee Kra...
Masonite, Acrylic
"Unadorned" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Dan McCaw's (US based) "Unadorned" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts an abstracted figure of gray and white standing within a black interior where two orange and gre...
Oil, Panel
Blue Bouquet - contemporary, gestural abstract, acrylic on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
A celebration of beautiful blues—this abstract painting by master colorist Milly Ristvedt continues to explore form and color. The background is a soft wash of blue and generous brus...
Canvas, Acrylic
Soft Abyss - abstract painting, made in grey-blue, brown, beige color
By Mila Akopova
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
Interior design paintings. The work was done with alcohol ink in grey-blue, brown, beige color on Yupo paper. The work is 11 by 14 inches in size, framed (gold or black) with a glass...
Paper, Ink
EXPLOSION
Located in Zofingen, AG
That moment when everything inside refuses to stay quiet. Color, feeling, energy — breaking out like a flash. It’s not destruction. It’s becoming. That’s how Midnight Swim begins. ...
Canvas, Oil
$20,079
Untitled XL by Ferle - Large abstract painting, blue and black, dark tones
By Elvire Ferle
Located in Paris, FR
Untitled XL is a unique oil on free-standing canvas painting by contemporary artist Ferle, dimensions are 280 × 200 cm (110.2 × 78.7 in). The artwork is signed, sold unframed and com...
Canvas, Oil
Signed Antique Painting: 'Still Life of Fruit and Flowers'
Located in St. Albans, GB
Mary Armour 1902 – 2000 Signed. Oil Paint on Board. Picture size: 24 x 24 inch (61 x 61 cm) Mary Nicol Neill Armour, née Steel, (27 March 1902 – 5 July 2000) was a Scottish landsc...
Board, Oil
$537
Contemporary abstract floral painting purple flowers paper "Trinity of petals"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Blooming in Purple” is a contemporary abstract floral painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, created as part of her ongoing series dedicated to floral compositions. The work ca...
Paper, Acrylic
$30,400Sale Price|20% Off
"Upper Street" Manierre Dawson, Cubism, Abstract Pastels, Cityscape
By Manierre Dawson
Located in New York, NY
Manierre Dawson Upper Street, 1912 Oil on board 10 x 15 inches Provenance: The artist Estate of the artist Private Collection (gift of Lillian Dawson, widow of the artist) Hollis Ta...
Oil, Board
1970s Abstract Expressionist Belgian Gouache on Paper.
Located in Cotignac, FR
1970s abstract expressionist gouache on paper by Belgian artist André Pierard painted in Provence in the south of France. A highly colourful and energetic abstract painting. The st...
Paper, Gouache
Abstract 2434
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this artwork, I harnessed the raw energy of nature's very own clash of calm and chaos. Swirls of soothing blues and shocking whites mirror the tranquility and turmoil fou...
Acrylic
Marsh Potentil - Original Framed Floral Artwork on Antique Botanical Book Page
By Lee Herring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lee Herring focuses his contemporary paintings on vibrant, textured, and abstract landscapes that convey fleeting moments. Herring's energetic artworks are inspired by everyday momen...
Paper, Mixed Media
$1,549
Contemporary original still life painting vase bouquet "Chromatic dialogue"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Chromatic Dialogue” is a vibrant contemporary floral still life painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, known for her expressive brushwork, luminous color palette, and emotional...
Paper, Acrylic
Whirligig: framed abstract landscape painting w/ collage of river rocks in water
Located in Bryn Mawr, PA
This is a signed, original acrylic landscape painting on paper with collage elements depicting river rocks beneath running water. The vibrant, abstract composition features greens, y...
Acrylic, Archival Paper
$17,500
S. F. L. Large Abstract Expressionist Mid Century Oil Painting, Cleveland School
Located in Beachwood, OH
Richard Andres (American, 1927–2013) S. F. L., 1955 oil on canvas signed lower right, signed and titled verso 42 x 70 inches Richard Andres was born in Buffalo, New York in 1927. A ...
Oil
Blue Fish in the Sky: Large Abstract Expressionist Painting, 78x158 cm
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Blue Fish in the Sky Large and strikingly beautiful abstract expressionistic artwork. This piece will create a beautiful focal point in any collectors establishment or home....
Oil, Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas
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.