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.
Abstract Relief Painting in Vibrant White by José María de Aurora Contemporary
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
$1,086Sale Price|20% Off
French Abstract Expressionist Signed Oil Coastal Landscape Large Original
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Sky Composition by Gerard Guegueniat (French 1970's) signed oil painting on board, framed: 16.5 x 32.5 inches board: 15.5 x 31.5 inches provenance: private co...
Oil
The Assembled Whole. No 6
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting from the The Assembled Whole series is created on canvas using a collage technique with various textured materials. The composition features soft pink, gray, and black ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Consider It Done, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Hal Mayforth
Located in Yardley, PA
Bold abstract brush strokes combined with hard edged abstraction. Initial brushstrokes evident through subsequent layers, giving the finished picture surface energy. Passages of unsa...
Acrylic
$371Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary abstract floral painting inspired by Van Gogh "Among the irises"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Among the Irises” by French contemporary artist Natalya Mougenot is a vibrant, expressive floral painting that transforms a simple garden moment into an emotional landscape. With bo...
Canvas, Acrylic
Slider (Abstract painting)
By Karl Bielik
Located in London, GB
Slider (Abstract painting) Oil on 300gsm paper — Unframed. This work is exclusive to IdeelArt. Karl Bielik is a contemporary British artist known for his abstract paintings characte...
Paper, Oil
$645
Plants in Pottery Pots - Original Abstract Colorful Botanical Painting on Paper
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...
Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor, Color Pencil
A Quiet Place #2
By Lucy Moore
Located in Deddington, GB
A Quite Place #2 By Lucy Moore [2021] original Acrylic on canvas Image size: H:76 cm x W:61 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:76 cm x W:61 cm x D:1.5cm Sold Unframed Please note ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Micro Mini Token I, Acrylic and Gouache on Canvas Painting, 2018
Located in Jersey City, NJ
"Micro Mini Token I" (2018) by Catherine Hart Acrylic and gouache on canvas; abstract miniature painting, pastels and bold saturated palette Framing available COA included
Canvas, Acrylic, Gouache
Memory of blooming
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work appears as a fragment of a future archive, where not events are preserved, but states — tenderness, tension, and the fragility of life. The tulip petals unfold like layers ...
Canvas, Oil
$668
Original-Magic Bell in the Night-UK Awarded Artist-Botanical Abstract Expression
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
In her latest series, "The Weaver," Shizico explores forms, layers, and time onto canvases. Applying the format of diptychs and triptychs, she creates lyrical narratives, capturing t...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
$3,810Sale Price|20% Off
ENORMOUS FRENCH ABSTRACT OIL - MEMORIES OF SPAIN INSPIRED BY GUERNICA PICASSO
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist: Claude Lagouche (French 1943-2020), signed and dated 1986 Claude Lagouche was born January 2, 1943 in Naves, died January 16, 2020. He quickly gained recognition for his t...
Canvas, Oil, Paper
Pennypack Creek Philadelphia Impressionist Painting
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Harald Grote. Pennypack Creek I Oil on masonite, panel, 12 x 16 inches. Signed and dated lower right.
Masonite, Oil
$2,183Sale Price|20% Off
Large British Abstract Expressionist Painting Green Colors
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: Sally Bradshaw, British contemporary Title: abstract expressionist composition Medium: oil on board, framed Framed: 33 x 25 inches Board : 31 x 23 inches Provenan...
Oil
$5,230
Don't Let Yourself Go, contemporary, Joan Mitchell, Larry Poons, pink, purple
Located in Jönköping, SE
This painting began with an idea but as often happens in my work, the idea changed, deepened, and revealed itself through the painting process. “Don’t Let Yourself Go” developed slo...
Linen, Acrylic
$4,500
Mid-20th Century Abstract Oil Painting titled "Breton Harbor, Massachussets"
By Maurice EMPI
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
Breton Harbor by Maurice Empi is a striking mid-century harbor scene that captures the energy, rhythm, and atmosphere of a bustling coastal port through a bold expressionist lens. Pa...
Canvas, Oil
Golden Lace
Located in Zofingen, AG
picture with 3d effect, changes color depending on the lighting, the work is done in the style of antique wall fresco. This artwork merges the de...
Canvas, Varnish, Acrylic
$8,554
Palimpseste- Large Black Abstract Library Painting – Oil on Canvas –Contemporary
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 ...
Canvas, Oil
Energetic Essence. Abstract square painting in the wood gold frame
Located in Zofingen, AG
-The painting was created alongside my tropical series and does not depict a specific scene, but rather abstract forms and shades of nature. Contemplating these natural motifs always...
Canvas, Acrylic
$476
Relief Blue 29 - Large Blue Abstract Relief Pallet Knife Ocean Texture Painting
By SOOS TIBERIU
Located in Zofingen, AG
Elevate your space with this large original, gradient of blue, abstract painting! Made on stretched heavy canvas, the edges are painted for a polished look. The glossy varnish not on...
Varnish, Acrylic
#171, 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
Let the Light Shine Through: Floral, Abstract, Still-life, Painting, Bold
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Let the Light Shine Through Floral Abstract Still-life Painting Contemporary Expressionist Invest Abundance Flowers Vase In this piece, I captured abundance and an experienc...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$1,050Sale Price|40% Off
Haven - Green abstract floral painting
Located in Silverthorne, CO
"Haven" is a green floral abstract painting dedicated to peace in a struggling world. It is an imaginary abstract landscape made with lush greens and earth tones, with hints of crims...
Oil
$108Sale 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: 9.5 x 9.5 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we hav...
Oil
Assemblées, Abstract Impressionist Oil on Paper on Board, Signed, 1996
Located in Cotignac, FR
Abstract impressionist oil on paper on board by French artist Chantal Payet. Signed and dated April '96 to the reverse. An interesting and challenging Abstract Impressionist work in...
Paper, Oil, Board
$27,000
Tingari Abstract Geometric Painting, Acrylic on Cotton Canvas, 2010+
Located in Miami, FL
Ronnie Tjampitjinpa was born around 1943 at Tjiturrunya, about 100km west of the Kintore ranges in Western Australia. Following an extended drought in the 1950s, Ronnie's family move...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$4,500
Monumental Blue/White/Black Geometrical Abstract Late 20th Century Painting
Located in Beachwood, OH
James Massena March (American, 1953-2021) Untitled Acrylic on canvas 84 x 84 inches Provenance: From the Estate of James Massena March "My painti...
Acrylic
$1,394
Relief Blue 33 - Large Blue Abstract Relief Pallet Knife Ocean Texture Painting
By SOOS TIBERIU
Located in Zofingen, AG
This original abstract painting, "Relief Blue 33", evokes the serene beauty of the ocean. The blend of blues, from royal to turquoise, creates a captivating gradient reminiscent of t...
Varnish, Acrylic
$5,462
Ethereal Abstract Painting Floral Composition Coral, Peach and Blue Celia Lees
By Celia Lees
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...
Ink, Oil, Acrylic
$10,925
Untitled XXXIII by Ferle - Large abstract painting, red and blue, colourful
By Elvire Ferle
Located in Paris, FR
Untitled XXXIII is a unique oil on free-standing canvas painting by contemporary artist Ferle, dimensions are 200 cm × 140 cm (78.7 × 55.1 in). The artwork is signed, sold unframed a...
Canvas, Oil
$3,000Sale Price|25% Off
Waterfall (abstract expressionist landscape collage)
By Elsie Driggs
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Elsie B. (Gatch) Driggs (1898-1992) – Waterfall, 1960. Mixed media collage, signed lower right and on verso. Artwork measures 22 x 30 inches. Framed measurement: 31.5 x 40 inches. ...
Paper, Watercolor
Blue Raw Ultramarine Abstract Painting on Canvas Artist 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...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Pigment
Wilma Fiori Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting – Mid-Century Modern Art
By Wilma Fiori
Located in Denver, CO
Bold, structured, and visually dynamic, this original abstract expressionist oil painting by Wilma Fiori exemplifies mid-century modern geometric abstraction at its finest. Known for...
Oil
Capriccio #2 - painting, acrylic on panel
Located in Bloomfield, ON
In this expressive work by modernist Burton Kramer multi-coloured geometric shapes appear to dance rhythmically across the canvas. A capriccio is a short, lively, free-form piece of ...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
"Take Me to Pairs" Figure in Chanel Gown French Haute Couture Oil Painting
By Cindy Shaoul
Located in New York, NY
Exploring the purity of the feminine form and the drama of French haute couture, artist Cindy Shaoul creates a dialogue between the figurative and the abstract. Her spirited composit...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Composition No. 3
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Composition #3” from the series “Quiet Motion” The work conveys a state of inner balance and gentle flow. Transparent layers and subtle lines evoke a sense of movement that emerges ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$920Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Expressionist Bay Area Hills Landscape
By Honora Berg
Located in Soquel, CA
Abstract Expressionist painting of Bay Area Hills by Honora Berg Berkeley San Francisco Bay Area abstract expressionist landscape by Honora Berg (American, 1897-1985). A brilliant e...
Archival Paper, Gouache
$1,253Sale 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
Sodom and Gomorrah
By Emlen Etting
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Emlen Pope Etting (1905-1993). Sodom & Gomorrah, ca. 1955. Gouache, watercolor and ink on paper. Sheet measures 11 x 15 inches. Framed measurement, 17 x 21 inches. Titled a...
Ink, Watercolor, Gouache
Expression 1
Located in Zofingen, AG
An abstract composition is presented on the canvas, created using the fluid acrylic technique. The work is filled with a sense of movement and layered flow, where streams of paint fo...
Canvas, Acrylic
$7,200
Mirror
By Ky Anderson
Located in Dallas, TX
Oil & acrylic on paper
Acrylic, Paper, Oil
$4,500
A Primitive Pictograph (Abstract Painting in Metallic Gold & Splashed of Color)
By Bruce Murphy
Located in Hudson, NY
A Primitive Pictograph (Abstract Painting in Metallic Gold & Splashed of Color), 2021 by Bruce Murphy 38 x 38 inches, unframed, enamel paint on archival paper Signed, verso This ges...
Enamel
$920Sale Price|20% Off
"Danger" - Original Modernist Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Soquel, CA
"Danger" - Original Modernist Oil Painting on Canvas Striking modernist painting by Bay Area artist Jean Hyson (American, 1928-2023). Hard edge oil on canvas depicting a black square to the left of the canvas with a lit up cinema projector. A mans face can be seen appearing in the light coming from the projector. An orange square is seen parallel to the projector, with a yellow circle inside. The number "13" can be seen in the lower right of the orange square. Purple and light blue take up the background. Signed "Hyson" lower right in black square. Titled, signed and dated "Jean Hyson" "Danger 1966" verso. Presented in a purple wooden frame. Frame: 20 1/2"H x 24 1/2"W Image: 19 3/4"H x 24"W Born in Texas, Jean Hyson (American, 1928-2023) is best known for her modernist, sharp edge, paintings. Hyson attended the Art Student League in New York with George Grosz, Yaso Kumiyoshi and William Baziotes and Beaux Artes, Paris, France from 1954-59. She was an Artist in Residence and Instructor at the California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland from 1970-1974. Her work is held in the Oakland Art Museum, Oakland California, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, California and the California Container Corp. of America, Chicago, Illinois. Jean Hyson and her then-husband Jacques Fabert (who typically painted under the name “Jean Faber Himbert”) were an important force within the midcentury San Francisco art scene. Her work has been featured in countless Bay Area gallery and museum exhibitions—including SFMOMA, the de Young, and the Legion of Honor—and is in numerous public and private collections. In a fantastic in-depth interview with Hilda Pertha...
Canvas, Oil
$418Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary abstract vivid acrylic painting on paper "Expressive blooms"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Expressive Blooms," created by French artist Natalya Mougenot (learn more about the artist below) in 2025, is part of her ongoing series dedicated to Nature. In this vibrant contemp...
Paper, Acrylic
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Sidera (Differentiation) -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract Expression, Love
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Sidera reflects that kind of radiant intimacy, the soul's longing to chart constellations in another person, to navigate the galaxies of their experiences, and to leave behind light,...
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
Dreaming In The Garden
Located in Brecon, Powys
There’s something restorative in being outside in the fresh air. It enables one to recharge and relax. Even if one has no outside space of ones own to dream in art makes it possible. Francesca Owen...
Canvas, Oil
"Textures" (2025) by Dan McCaw, Abstracted, Figural Oil Painting
By Dan McCaw 1
Located in Denver, CO
Dan McCaw's (US based) "Textures" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts an abstracted figure in a moody interior setting. Artist Statement: Born: 1942 A solid founda...
Oil, Board
Portrait of a Young Woman
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Sylvia Bernstein (1918-1990). Portrait of a Young Woman, ca. 1960. Gouache on paper, image measures 9.5 inch h.., 10 inches w. ; 17 x 17 inches framed measurement. Signed lower right. Excellent condition. Born : New York City Education : National Academy of Design Exhibits (group) Juried Shows at : Allied Artists; Audubon Artists; National Society of Painters in Casein; Hudson River Museum; Butler Institute of American Art; Portland Summer Art Festival; Columbia Painting Biennial; Columbia Museum; Riverside Museum; Brick Store Museum; First National Exhibition of American Art, Chautauqua, New York; New York City Center; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; Philadelphia Watercolor Annual; Brooklyn Museum International Watercolor Exhibition; Art-USA; J & M Ringling Museum; 9th Annual American Watercolor Traveling Show; Whitney Museum of American Art; Parrish Museum; American Academy of Arts and Letters; Wadsworth Atheneum. Solo Exhibits 1956 Ruth White Gallery; 1959 Ruth White Gallery; 1959 Silvermine Guild of Artists; 1960 Ruth White Gallery. Awards : National Association of Women Artists, 1954, 1957; New York City Center 1956; 1957 Honorable Mention National Arts Club, Allied Artists, Jane C. Stanley Memorial Award, Grumbacher Award in Watercolor at New England Painting...
Gouache
$539Sale Price|20% Off
1970'S French Geometric Abstract Painting Bold Modern Colours
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"Abstract Design" signed by Arlette Martin (French, b.1924) dated 76' gouache/watercolour painting on card, unframed painting: 19 x 20 inches Stunning original painting by the pop...
Gouache
$6,666
Contemporary Art, Gold and Black Painting, Abstract Paintings-Abundance 904
Located in Delaware , OH
Contemporary Art, Gold and Black Painting, Abstract Paintings-Abundance 904 A B O U T T H I S P I E C E : “Abundance 904” is a piece of letter art inspired by graffiti by Addison Jo...
Gold
Untitled AP-123 — Mixed Media Work on Paper by Murray Duncan
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled AP-123 is an expressive mixed-media work on archival cold-press watercolor paper, measuring 18 × 24 inches. In this composition, Toronto artist Murray Duncan builds a dynami...
Paint, Paper, Ink, Pencil
Impermanence Series n7 and n6, Diptych. From the Impermanence series
Located in Miami Beach, FL
In the Kingdom of Transience, everything is temporary, subject to constant change. Everything is unstable and volatile like the wind. The precariousness of our existence reminds us t...
Canvas, Ink, Pigment
$1,440Sale Price|20% Off
"Saeculum Obscurum" (abstract, stone, dye, natural, brown, antique linen)
Located in Paris, IDF
SAECULUM OBSCURUM 2024 Paris, France This painting seeks to evoke the layers of time and excess, capturing the hollow aftermath of decayed grandeur associated with the 10th-century ...
Linen, Dye
$3,900
Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, Red, Yellow, Pink, White, Black "In Stock"
By Amit Kalla
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Amit Kalla - Untitled - 86 x 120 inches (unframed size) Acrylic on canvas ** Free Shipment ...... will be delivered in rolled form. Style : Kalla’s work can be represented by his co...
Canvas, Acrylic
Blue Bay II, Abstract Painting
By Janet Dyer
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This abstract coastal painting depicts an Irish bay surrounded by trees and rolling hills. The water reflects soft clouds, and the scene's muted tones create a ...
Acrylic
#49, 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
#241, 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
$2,868Sale Price|20% Off
Retrato, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 150 x 150 cm Signed FREE SHIPPING ROLLED UP About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 1973) graduated from Escuela Naci...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,470
Margaret Neame - Framed Early 20th Century Oil, Brown Cob on a Coastal Cliff Top
Located in Corsham, GB
Stunning early 20th century oil painting by Margaret Neame. Brown Cob on a Coastal Cliff Top. Presented in a large gilt frame and slip with floral mouldings to the inner window and a...
Oil
"Blue abstract ".Original oil painting .Abstract expressionist works
Located in Oslo, NO
This abstract artwork is a stunning interplay of textures and colors, capturing the viewer's imagination with its dynamic composition. Dominated by deep blues and earthy golds, the p...
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.