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
4,846
6,659
6,585
6,878
7,170
14,460
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
6
19
5,643
36,085
1
9
14
46
124
424
784
788
845
772
1
41,755
38,154
23,191
8,654
4,729
3,539
3,235
2,581
1,229
1,172
937
933
442
280
17,854
13,807
9,641
2,636
1,767
1,258
587
489
459
417
370
335
256
252
209
205
185
177
172
147
134
116
110
37,207
22,073
21,991
17,058
16,102
690
560
360
294
274
7,455
5,753
22,522
15,026
Style: Abstract
Fire Escapes
Fire Escapes

Fire Escapes

Located in Greenville, DE

Edward L. Loper Jr. was a self-taught artist, while being strongly influenced by his father's later work. 34 1/2" x 45 1/2" Framed. Signed lower left.

Category

Early 2000s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Black Rabbit. 2023
Black Rabbit. 2023

Black Rabbit. 2023

Located in Zofingen, AG

The painting depicts a stylized silhouette of a rabbit sitting on its hind legs. The work is created with acrylic on canvas and has a strong decorative and graphic character. The bac...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Colour Television, c.1940 painting
Colour Television, c.1940 painting

Colour Television, c.1940 painting

Located in London, GB

Colour Television Gouache 51 x 31 cm Provenance: The family of A. E. Halliwell. Little is known about the artist other than the fact that he studied under the celebrated artist A...

Category

1940s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gouache

ABSTRACT Contemporary Artwork White Brown Earth Minimal Texture On Hansen
ABSTRACT Contemporary Artwork White Brown Earth Minimal Texture On Hansen

ABSTRACT Contemporary Artwork White Brown Earth Minimal Texture On Hansen

By On Hansen

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

Canvas, Ink, Acrylic, Handmade Paper

Leader and Followers
Leader and Followers

Leader and Followers

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

"Leader and Followers" is a visually striking piece of art that immediately captures the viewer's attention. The artwork, which was created using a combination of oil colors, features a central figure standing tall and confident, representing the "Leader." Surrounding this central figure are several smaller figures, representing the "Followers." Azeez's "Leader and Followers" is a profound allegory that explores the complex dynamics between leaders and their followers in society. The central figure, portrayed as powerful and charismatic, serves as a representation of leadership. This character appears larger than life, evoking a sense of authority and control. The surrounding smaller figures represent the followers, who, in contrast, appear diminutive and fragmented. Their faces are obscured, and their bodies are twisted and contorted, symbolizing the idea that followers may often lose their individuality and autonomy in their pursuit of leadership. Azeez seems to suggest that leaders can exert a significant influence over their followers, shaping their thoughts, behaviors, and even identities. "Leader and Followers" challenges viewers to reconsider their assumptions about leadership and followership. It raises questions about the responsibilities of leaders, the agency of followers, and the potential for both positive and negative outcomes when these roles intersect. Azeez's work invites us to reflect on the role of leadership in shaping society. It prompts us to ask whether leaders should be held accountable for the actions and choices of their followers. It also encourages us to consider the ethical implications of the power that leaders wield over their followers. Abiodun Nafiu...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Lin Xu Abstract Original Oil Painting "Sound Of Pine Trees III"
Lin Xu Abstract Original Oil Painting "Sound Of Pine Trees III"

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: ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Underwater Dream Original Abstract Acrylic Painting by Serg Graff  COA, Framed
Underwater Dream Original Abstract Acrylic Painting by Serg Graff  COA, Framed

Underwater Dream Original Abstract Acrylic Painting by Serg Graff COA, Framed

Located in Palm Coast, FL

This is a one-of-a-kind original acrylic painting on canvas in a vibrant abstract style by contemporary artist Serg Graff, titled "Underwater Dream." The composition bursts with swir...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

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

Sidera (Differentiation) -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract Expression, Love
Sidera (Differentiation) -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract Expression, Love

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,...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Ink, Acrylic

Abstract Expressionist Painting American Late 1960's Mid Century Black White
Abstract Expressionist Painting American Late 1960's Mid Century Black White

Abstract Expressionist Painting American Late 1960's Mid Century Black White

Located in Buffalo, NY

Mid Century Modern, American Abstract Expressionist Painting on artist board. This lively action painting has wonderful interjections of color within the predominantly black and whi...

Category

1960s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Acrylic

Large French 20th Century Abstract Expression Oil Painting on Canvas
Large French 20th Century Abstract Expression Oil Painting on Canvas

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...

Category

Late 20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paper, Oil

Untitled 13-41
Untitled 13-41

Untitled 13-41

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

Paper, Acrylic

Lilac turquoise with gold abstraction
Lilac turquoise with gold abstraction

Lilac turquoise with gold abstraction

Located in Zofingen, AG

This is an abstract painting created using the fluid acrylic technique (fluid art), featuring expressive movement and a rich interplay of color. The composition is built on the free...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Harmony of Stillness
Harmony of Stillness

Harmony of Stillness

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

Las Mascaras VII. From Las Mascaras (The masks) Series
Las Mascaras VII. From Las Mascaras (The masks) Series

Las Mascaras VII. From Las Mascaras (The masks) Series

Located in Miami Beach, FL

This series draws inspiration from Hatillo’s Fiesta de los Santos Inocentes, translating the festival’s vibrant movement and collective energy into a refined abstract vocabulary. Thr...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic

Huge French 20th Century Abstract Expression Painting 1980's Blur of Colors
Huge French 20th Century Abstract Expression Painting 1980's Blur of Colors

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...

Category

Late 20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paper, Oil

How Soon Is Now
How Soon Is Now

How Soon Is Now

Located in Jönköping, SE

This painting is part of a series titled The Essence of Nature. The series is recognized by bold brushstrokes and markmaking, multiple layers and depth, plus the use of complementar...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Paint, Charcoal, Oil Pastel

French Expressionist Abstract Original Painting Artists Studio Provenance
French Expressionist Abstract Original Painting Artists Studio Provenance

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...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Dreaming In The Garden
Dreaming In The Garden

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...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Turn - Large Colorful Abstract Geometric Painting
Turn - Large Colorful Abstract Geometric Painting

Turn - Large Colorful Abstract Geometric Painting

By Petra Rös-Nickel

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Petra Rös-Nickel’s original paintings merge playful forms, bright colors, and architectural compositions in oil and mixed media on canvas. Her contemporary artworks contain rich textures and patterns, referencing popular European textile designs of the fifties and sixties. Rös-Nickel’s work translates the geometric and organic elements of an era that hoisted the flags of modernism and which, due to a trend to return to a rather retro style, has become topical once more. This 43-inch high by 63-inch wide contemporary oil painting is ready to hang. This artwork is double wired and may be installed vertically or horizontally. The sides of this artwork are painted and it does not require framing. Free local Los Angeles area delivery. Affordable U.S. and global shipping are available. A certificate of authenticity issued by the art gallery is included. Petra was born 1963 in Wathlingen near Celle, Germany, and breaks completely new ground with her abstract forms of painting and expression. After studying fashion design at the professional school for clothing in Bremen, 1980, Petra Rös-Nickel changed her field of study to architecture in Eckernförde, 1982. She now lives in Hamburg, Germany. Preferring the creative aspects of the studies to the technical ones, the artist developed the basics of her painting, never denying the roots of applied design and soon ending in a refreshing, distinctive style. Petra Rös-Nickel experiments with form, along with the use of a technique that draws attention to the processes used in creating a painting. Essential is the color space presented in multiple layers that offers the beholder access to more profound color planes. These details, scratchings, and rubbings lead to various elements of tension, such as “patchwork” or harmonious-contemplative forms (“windows”) and “oscillating lines”. Rös-Nickel's modernist paintings develop an energetic impact on the space they‘re displayed in, conveying her joy of life and self-confidence. Her abstract geometric textured artworks have been exhibited and collected worldwide, including Germany, Belgium, USA, Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Notable collectors include Chris Rock...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

The Fort Protected  - Large Oversized Contemporary Abstract Blue Painting
The Fort Protected  - Large Oversized Contemporary Abstract Blue Painting

The Fort Protected - Large Oversized Contemporary Abstract Blue Painting

By Sarah Svetlana

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Sarah Svetlana's original abstract artworks offer a captivating glimpse into the intricacies of the human experience, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of sources and influenc...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Varnish, Pastel, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic

'Maine Coastal Landscape, ' by P. Krewer, Watercolor Painting on Paper
'Maine Coastal Landscape, ' by P. Krewer, Watercolor Painting on Paper

'Maine Coastal Landscape, ' by P. Krewer, Watercolor Painting on Paper

Located in Oklahoma City, OK

This framed 26.5" x 16.25" watercolor painting by artist P. Krewer depicts a rocky coastal landscape in Maine. In the foreground are several rock clusters on the coastal edge in mult...

Category

1950s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Metaphor of Thought- Large Abstract Library, Contemporary, French art 50x50 in
Metaphor of Thought- Large Abstract Library, Contemporary, French art 50x50 in

Metaphor of Thought- Large Abstract Library, Contemporary, French art 50x50 in

By SOPHIE DUMONT

Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR

Sophie Dumont – Metaphor of Thought (métaphore de la pensée) Unframed: 120 × 120 cm (47.2 × 47.2 in) Framed (natural wood floating frame): 127 × 127 cm (50 × 50 in) Natural wood or ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Wilma Fiori Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting – Mid-Century Modern Art
Wilma Fiori Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting – Mid-Century Modern Art

Wilma Fiori Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting – Mid-Century Modern Art

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...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

City Feet - Abstract Energetic Expressionist Spontaneous Contemporary Painting
City Feet - Abstract Energetic Expressionist Spontaneous Contemporary Painting

City Feet - Abstract Energetic Expressionist Spontaneous Contemporary Painting

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, Mixed Media

My Inner Child Garden - Large Soft Abstract Floral Painting
My Inner Child Garden - Large Soft Abstract Floral Painting

My Inner Child Garden - Large Soft 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

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.