Skip to main content

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.

to
4,849
6,660
6,592
6,878
7,156
14,409
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
6
19
5,644
36,027
1
11
14
46
123
425
782
790
845
772
1
41,698
38,221
23,192
8,638
4,725
3,536
3,240
2,574
1,230
1,170
937
933
442
280
17,810
13,800
9,635
2,631
1,765
1,256
585
488
457
416
371
335
256
251
209
205
183
177
172
146
134
116
110
37,149
22,010
21,928
17,064
16,103
690
560
360
294
274
7,457
5,758
22,525
14,972
Style: Abstract
Clarification #2 (abstract, black and white, geometric acrylic painting)
Clarification #2 (abstract, black and white, geometric acrylic painting)

Clarification #2 (abstract, black and white, geometric acrylic painting)

Located in New York, NY

Acrylic on canvas Ted Dixon is a Black painter working primarily in abstraction. He writes: "How do we learn to see what we cannot yet see? What are the things that influence our ab...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

White Tree by Gilbert Pauli - Oil on canvas 41x33 cm
White Tree by Gilbert Pauli - Oil on canvas 41x33 cm

White Tree by Gilbert Pauli - Oil on canvas 41x33 cm

By Gilbert Pauli

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...

Category

1990s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

ABSTRACT Artwork Grey Dark by Artist Tycjan Knut 2023
ABSTRACT Artwork Grey Dark by Artist Tycjan Knut 2023

ABSTRACT Artwork Grey Dark by Artist Tycjan Knut 2023

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Colt Seager (b. 1993) is an American painter and sculptor based near Chicago, IL. Drawing inspiration from the inherent holiness and tranquility of the natural world, Seager’s work is deeply rooted in a process-based approach that reflects his reverence for the environment. The textures, layers, and expressive mark-making techniques he employs are a direct and visceral response to the landscapes of the Midwest. Through his art, he explores the dynamic interplay between process, form, and space, creating intuitive compositions that balance formal and organic elements seamlessly. Seager’s approach to art is both methodical and spontaneous, allowing his works to evolve naturally over time. He emphasizes the importance of construction and deconstruction in his creative process, believing that the true essence of his art comes to life through this duality. His works are an invitation to viewers to enter a contemplative space, where abstraction and form blend harmoniously. Seager states, "I see my work as it evolves naturally—it develops through construction but comes alive through its deconstruction. My goal is to offer an invitation into the thin place through abstraction, contemplation, exploration of form, and the rhythm of making marks—allowing one mark to carry into another—and in so doing, allow for a holy space where the divine transcends closer to earth." Through this philosophy, Seager aims to create artworks that resonate on a deeper, almost spiritual level, encouraging viewers to find their own connections to the divine and the natural world. His pieces are not just visual experiences but meditative journeys that invite introspection and a deeper appreciation of the beauty that surrounds us. Tycjan Knut...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Cotton Canvas

Untitled 41_24 (Abstract Painting)
Untitled 41_24 (Abstract Painting)

Untitled 41_24 (Abstract Painting)

Located in London, GB

This artwork will be shipped rolled in a dent-resistant tube. This method is especially safe for large works, and provides lower shipping costs as well. Rolled works can be easily s...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

"Abstract 1" - Abstract Expressionist Acrylic Framed Painting 2024
"Abstract 1" - Abstract Expressionist Acrylic Framed Painting 2024

"Abstract 1" - Abstract Expressionist Acrylic Framed Painting 2024

Located in Zofingen, AG

This is a small colourful abstract painting. The painting is framed in a black wooden frame, ready to hang. (size framed: 34x34x3,5 cm) Please feel free to ask any questions if need...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Sweet Dreams 21
Sweet Dreams 21

Sweet Dreams 21

By Wioletta Gancarz

Located in Deddington, GB

Sweet Dreams 21 [2021] original Acrylic Paint on Canvas Image size: H:80 cm x W:80 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:80 cm x W:80 cm x D:4cm Sold Unframed Please note that insitu ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Magenta abstraction on a gold background. Triptych
Magenta abstraction on a gold background. Triptych

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...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Untitled

Untitled

By Bridget Riley

Located in London, GB

1969 Gouache and pencil on paper 38 x 66 cm 15 x 26 inches signed lower left Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for her rigorou...

Category

1960s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Pencil

'Abstract Landscape', by Katherine Westphal, Oil on Board
'Abstract Landscape', by Katherine Westphal, Oil on Board

'Abstract Landscape', by Katherine Westphal, Oil on Board

Located in Oklahoma City, OK

Katherine Westphal's oil on board painting titled 'Abstract Landscape' embodies the stylistic qualities of abstract painting. Using a diverse color palette of orange, red, yellow, bl...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Oil

American Vivid Abstract Expressionist Art Oil Painting Norman Carton, WPA Artist
American Vivid Abstract Expressionist Art Oil Painting Norman Carton, WPA Artist

American Vivid Abstract Expressionist Art Oil Painting Norman Carton, WPA Artist

By Norman Carton

Located in Surfside, FL

Norman Carton (1908 – 1980) was an American artist and educator known for abstract expressionist art. He was born in the Ukraine region of Imperial Russia and moved to the United States in 1922 where he spent most of his adult life. A classically trained portrait and landscape artist, Carton also worked as a drafter, newspaper illustrator, muralist, theater set designer, photographer, and fabric designer and spent most of his mature life as an art educator. Carton showed in and continues to be shown in many solo and group exhibitions. His work is included in numerous museums and private collections throughout the world. Norman Carton was born in the Dnieper Ukraine territory of the Russian Empire in 1908. Escaping the turbulence of civil war massacres, he settled in Philadelphia in 1922 after years of constant flight. While attending the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art, Carton worked as a newspaper artist for the Philadelphia Record from 1928 to 1930 in the company of other illustrator/artists who had founded the Ashcan School, the beginnings of modern American art. From 1930 to 1935, he studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts under Henry McCarter, who was a pupil of Toulouse-Lautrec, Puvis de Chavanne, and Thomas Eakins. Arthur Carles, especially with his sense of color, and the architect John Harbison also provided tutelage and inspiration. Following his time at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Carton studied at the Barnes Foundation from 1935 to 1936 where he was influenced by an intellectual climate led by visiting lecturers John Dewey and Bertrand Russell as well as daily access to Albert C. Barnes and his art collection. Carton was awarded the Cresson Traveling Scholarship in 1934 which allowed him to travel through Europe and study in Paris. There he expanded his artistic horizons with influences stemming from Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Chaim Soutine, and Wassily Kandinsky. While at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Carton was also awarded the Toppan Prize for figure painting as well as the Thouron Composition Prize. He received numerous commissions as a portrait artist, social realist, sculptor, and theatrical stage designer as well as academic scholarships. During this time, Carton worked as a scenery designer at Sparks Scenic Studios, a drafter at the Philadelphia Enameling Works, and a fine art lithographer. From 1939 to 1942, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project employed Carton as a muralist and easel artist. He collaborated with architect George Howe...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Untitled Abstraction
Untitled Abstraction

Untitled Abstraction

By Rolph Scarlett

Located in Summit, NJ

Gouache on paper by Rolph Scarlett c. 1950s. The piece is signed "Scarlett" on the front in two places. The piece is in perfect condition. Unframed it measures 10.75 x 13.5.

Category

1950s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gouache

"Gather Yourself"
"Gather Yourself"

"Gather Yourself"

Located in Zofingen, AG

“Gather Yourself” Series “From Simple to…” This work is about inner composure and focus that emerge from simplicity and silence. About the ability to stay in contact with oneself, to...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

The Night Will Share Its Secrets, Abstract Oil Painting
The Night Will Share Its Secrets, Abstract Oil Painting

The Night Will Share Its Secrets, Abstract Oil Painting

By Agata Kijanka

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
One of artist Agata Kijanka's earliest memories is watching - mesmerized and enchanted - as mysterious peaks and valleys of a moonlit landscape passed by as ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Runyon Canyon View - Colorful Abstract Jewel Tone Landscape on Canvas
Runyon Canyon View - Colorful Abstract Jewel Tone Landscape on Canvas

Runyon Canyon View - Colorful Abstract Jewel Tone Landscape on Canvas

By Maria C. Bernhardsson

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Maria C Bernhardsson's original artworks are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Born in Sweden, Bernhardsson travels the world photographing and sketching houses ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Ariel, Original Contemporary Abstract Painting
Ariel, Original Contemporary Abstract Painting

Ariel, Original Contemporary Abstract Painting

Located in Boston, MA

Ariel 36.0 x 48.0 x 2.0, 2.0 lbs Mixed Media Hand signed by artist Artist's Commentary: "I wanted to create something that produced the same sense of awe I have when I see the beau...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Vintage Mid-Century Modernist Cityscape Oil Painting - Geometric Neighbourhood
Vintage Mid-Century Modernist Cityscape Oil Painting - Geometric Neighbourhood

Vintage Mid-Century Modernist Cityscape Oil Painting - Geometric Neighbourhood

Located in Bristol, GB

GEOMETRIC NEIGHBOURHOOD Size: 40 x 72.5 cm (including frame) Oil on Canvas A playful and brilliantly executed mid-century composition of a neighbourhood, painted in oil onto canvas ...

Category

1960s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Abstract Expressionist Composition in Acrylic and Pastel on Paper
Abstract Expressionist Composition in Acrylic and Pastel on Paper

Abstract Expressionist Composition in Acrylic and Pastel on Paper

Located in Soquel, CA

Abstract Expressionist Composition in Acrylic on Paper A bold abstract composition by California-based artist, Ricardo de Silva (American/Brazil, 20th C). A bold black character tak...

Category

1980s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic, Pastel

Turchese Perla I
Turchese Perla I

Turchese Perla I

By Kim Fonder

Located in Tulsa, OK

Kim Fonder Turchese Perla I Mixed media over panel in matte nickel and white washed wood float frame 14.00 X 14.00 in $800.00

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Summer - Pixelated Colorful Arcylic Painting
Summer - Pixelated Colorful Arcylic Painting

Summer - Pixelated Colorful Arcylic Painting

Located in Boston, MA

Summer 20.0 x 20.0 x 1.5, 3.0 lbs Acrylic on canvas Hand signed by artist Artist's Commentary: "Size (h w d): 20 x 20 x 1.5 in Medium: Acrylic on canvas Creation Date: 2023 Coll...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

20th Century French blue abstract still life
20th Century French blue abstract still life

20th Century French blue abstract still life

By Maurice Potier

Located in Petworth, West Sussex

Maurice Potier (French, 1926 – 2002) Vase bleu et fruits (Blue vase and fruits) Oil on canvas Signed ‘M Potier’ (lower right) 27.1/2 x 23.5/8 in. (70 x 60 cm.)

Category

20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Field Study — Group of Four Mixed Media Works on Paper by Murray Duncan
Field Study — Group of Four Mixed Media Works on Paper by Murray Duncan

Field Study — Group of Four Mixed Media Works on Paper by Murray Duncan

Located in Toronto, Ontario

Field Study is a group of four mixed-media works on archival cold-press watercolor paper by Toronto artist Murray Duncan, each measuring 18 × 24 inches. Part of his ongoing Untitled ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paint, Paper, Ink, Pencil

154 Squares V.4 - Modern Colorful Abstract Geometric Squares Acrylic Painting
154 Squares V.4 - Modern Colorful Abstract Geometric Squares Acrylic Painting

154 Squares V.4 - Modern Colorful Abstract Geometric Squares Acrylic Painting

By Brandon Neher

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Brandon Neher is a California artist whose original paintings embody a profound exploration of space, structure, and balance, infused with a touch of modern minimalism. Drawing inspi...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Wood, Mixed Media, Acrylic

Untitled 13-42
Untitled 13-42

Untitled 13-42

Located in Crested Butte, CO

Original abstract Acrylic Painting on Canvas, affixed to Windsor Newton paper. The moods and whims of nature influence the work of Sarah Van Beckum. ...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paper, Acrylic

City I - Abstract Contemporary Aerial View Original Painting
City I - Abstract Contemporary Aerial View Original Painting

City I - Abstract Contemporary Aerial View Original Painting

By Bettina Mauel

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Bettina Mauel expresses vitality and sensuality in her abstract and figurative paintings. “I paint what I experience,” she articulates. “This includes landscapes, dancers and peopl...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Thoughts Fade Away, Abstract Painting
Thoughts Fade Away, Abstract Painting

Thoughts Fade Away, Abstract Painting

By Alicia Dunn

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A soothing blend of muted colors evokes the mood, movement, and the endless ebb and flow of the serene waters. Layers of blue, gray, and brown blend together, s...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

By the Beach II, Abstract Painting
By the Beach II, Abstract Painting

By the Beach II, Abstract Painting

By Jenn Williamson

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Jenn painted this piece using Golden Open Acrylics, which take longer to dry and therefore allow for more blending time. Jenn uses this technique to give the painting a dreamy and hopeful essence. "I am more passionate than ever about painting peaceful, reflective art...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Word Of Mouth, minimalism, contemporary, structure, cubism
Word Of Mouth, minimalism, contemporary, structure, cubism

Word Of Mouth, minimalism, contemporary, structure, cubism

Located in Jönköping, SE

I was inspired to begin this series during the winter when I was on a hike and discovered the movement of the branches that often go unnoticed during other times of the year when the...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Purple Rain, Abstract Impressionist Oil Painting on Canvas, 36x36

Purple Rain, Abstract Impressionist Oil Painting on Canvas, 36x36

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

Springtime’s budding inspiration! Purple Rain captures wildflower fields seen on one of my many roadtrips. Embrace the enchanting hues of purple on canvas to bring a touch of eleganc...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Lyrical Geometry, Abstract Painting
Lyrical Geometry, Abstract Painting

Lyrical Geometry, Abstract Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Artist Terri Bell presents a lively grid punctuated with organic shapes and linear patterns. The work serves as a metaphor for the ever-changing complexities ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Blossoms for Autumn #1, Original Painting, Abstract art
Blossoms for Autumn #1, Original Painting, Abstract art

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...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, Signed 1988, Large Modern Vintage Art
Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, Signed 1988, Large Modern Vintage Art

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, ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

What We Need - large, bright, colourful, geometric abstract acrylic on canvas
What We Need - large, bright, colourful, geometric abstract acrylic on canvas

What We Need - large, bright, colourful, geometric abstract acrylic on canvas

By Milly Ristvedt

Located in Bloomfield, ON

Abstract artist Milly Ristvedt uses colour as a language to express her thoughts and emotions. When the master colourist created this painting, she was reminded of tumultuous world events including concerns around climate change. The title refers to those thoughts. Clean, vertical ‘bands’ in bright orange, yellow, lime green, and black appear to express hope. A single, narrow horizontal...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Campagne de Grasse
Campagne de Grasse

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...

Category

1980s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Large Abstract Cubist Style Multicoloured Original Oil Painting Signed
Large Abstract Cubist Style Multicoloured Original Oil Painting Signed

Large Abstract Cubist Style Multicoloured Original Oil Painting Signed

By Beatrice Werlie

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Abstract Art, Picasso Style, Multicoloured, Original Oil Painting, Signed By French artist Beatrice Werlie, early 21st Century Signed by the artist Oil painting on canvas, unframed ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Studio Archive No.87 Earth Pigments on Raw Studio Weave Cotton
Studio Archive No.87 Earth Pigments on Raw Studio Weave Cotton

Studio Archive No.87 Earth Pigments on Raw Studio Weave Cotton

By Rebecca Wing Sze Lam

Located in STRETTON, AU

Studio Archive No. 87 is a seminal work that explores the visceral connection between human form and raw materiality. What makes this piece unique is the intentional dialogue between...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel, Archival Ink, Acrylic

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.