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.
$1,090
Festival of Joy - Abstract Expressionism Maximalis Delight Joy Texture Statement
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Festival of Joy Abstract Expressionism Colorful Delight Joy Movement Texture Statement Vibrant Festivitas Laetitiae - Festival of Joy This vibrant artwork, set on a deep cr...
Oil, Acrylic
#269, 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
Contemporary Miniature Natural Pigments Painting Cosmic Egg Minimalist orange
Located in Norfolk, GB
Rahul Kumar Untitled Natural Pigment on Paper 35.5cm x 26.5cm Rahul Kumar is from a family of traditional miniature painters working in Jaipur. The atelier where his family learnt t...
Paper, Watercolor
The Divine Goddess - Warm Soft Jewel Tone 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...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,034Sale Price|20% Off
Original Diptych-Spring Duet-British Awarded Artist-Abstract UK Contemporary
Located in London, GB
Spring Duet is part of Shizico Yi’s ongoing exploration of the diptych format—a project that began in 2024. Painted en plein air, every canvas captures both the landscape outside her studio and the intimate interior surrounding it. This duality unfolds across two paintings, creating a visual dialogue that shifts and harmonises like a musical duet. The work belongs to Shizico’s long-running Memory Landscape Series (est. 2015), in which she moves fluidly between mediums—installation, sculpture, painting—and across visual languages from impressionism and expressionism into abstraction. In this spring chapter, she turns to the gentle hues of the Northern European early spring: soft greens, creamy whites, pink-apricot light—tones that hold the tender, awakening atmosphere of the season. Each canvas functions like a musical note; together, the pair forms a coherent visual phrase. Their relationship is harmonious yet flexible, offering multiple ways of living with the work in your home. -Artist's Lifetime Warranty for the original artwork Details Diptych (set of 2 paintings) Medium: oil, acrylic, mixed media on canvas Size: • Each canvas: 50 × 39.5 cm • Total combined size: 50 × 79 × 1.5 cm (Unframed measurements) -Versatile Display: The diptych may be hung: • Side by side as a traditional diptych set • Separated across different walls to create visual punctuation and subtle connection between spaces This flexibility allows the work to adapt to a variety of homes and interior styles. -Guarantee End to end tracking Delivery Worldwide by Royal Mail Worldwide at lowest flat Rate £22. About the artist: Dr. Shizico Yi is a London-based artist working across installation, film, and painting. Her practice explores themes of loss, repetition, the everyday, and the significance of memory. Drawing on a background in design and film, she creates works that weave personal experience into wider social and human narratives. Yi holds a PhD in Fine Art from the University of East London (2017), an MFA, and a BA in Womenswear from the University of the Arts London. Her practice also includes plein air painting from spring to autumn and studio-based work in winter, allowing place and season to inform the energy, scale, and materiality of her pieces. Her work has been exhibited internationally in the UK, Korea, and Italy, and is held in private collections across the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and the UK. Notably, Shizico Yi secured the title of Winner of the Women Film Makers: Best Shorts Competition in 2013 in Los Angeles, USA. She also serves as a guest jury member at the 14th-16th Annual New York City Independent Film Festival from 2022 to 2024 and is a curator and founder of no barking aRt...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Treasure Trove: Colorful, Still-Life, Flowers in Orange Vase, Acrylic, 2010+
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Treasure Trove in Bloom Still-life Painting Floral Vase Colorful Flower Original Contemporary Investment One-of-a-kind Original Artwork You can buy yourself flowers! This ...
Stretcher Bars, Wood, Canvas, Acrylic
$411
Small abstract expressive nature painting wood frame "Spring on the horizon"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressive nature painting, created by French artist Natalya Mougenot, bursts with color and emotion. "Spring on the Horizon" captures the fresh energy of ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Solar Series #2: Bridge at Auver - Abstract Oil on Canvas, 2000s
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This colorful abstract painting was created by the Canadian artist David Sorensen. One of Canada’s finest contemporary artists, David Sorensen actually began his art career as a sc...
Canvas, Oil
$5,625Sale Price|25% Off
Sleep of the mind , 200x72 cm, oil on canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Sleep of the mind , 200x72 cm, oil on canvas
Canvas, Oil
$530
Hand-Painted Artist Proof-Summer Night-British Awarded Artist-One Off large size
Located in London, GB
This stunning Artist's Proof is an one-off, hand-painted by the artist Shizico , signed at front and on the back label too; the proof is 90% hand painted with original oil paint by S...
Gesso, Archival Ink, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Giclée
$7,100
av_965 Colorful Original Contemporary Abstract Painting on Natural Linen Canvas
By Alex Voinea
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The colorful abstract artworks of Romanian artist Alex Voinea are inspired by experiments with paint poured over vibrating surfaces, such as speakers at full volume. Alex Voinea coll...
Linen, Acrylic
$497Sale Price|20% Off
Original-Primary Blue-Sunlit Series-Gold Leaf-British Awarded Artist
Located in London, GB
Primary Colour Series- Blue is Shizico Yi's on going project, inspired by Japanese woodblock Print and the a nod to calligraphy tradition. The series is a continuation of her "Sunli...
Gold Leaf
$866Sale Price|20% Off
Original-Dahlias Field-Jardin d'Hiver-British Awarded Artist-Gold leaf + Impasto
Located in London, GB
Jardin d'Hiver Series is Shizico Yi's latest collection, created in her winter studio while longing for the summer left behind. Reflecting on the vibrant days spent painting en plein...
Gold Leaf
#234, 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
$612Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary abstract expressionist woman's portrait on paper "Her eternity"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Her Eternity” is a contemporary abstract portrait by French artist Natalya Mougenot, created as part of her ongoing series honoring women and their inner, timeless worlds. In this w...
Paper, Acrylic
$1,554
A Chance Encounter. Large abstract painting, violet, ochre, lilac, expressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
A spontaneous meeting of colors and forms — A Chance Encounter captures the fleeting moment when two movements cross and create something unexpected. Layers of ochre, violet, and ind...
Canvas, Acrylic
Ruz Golden Black Big Dejame - original abstract acrylic canvas painting
By Rafael Ruz
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Dejame - original abstract acrylic canvas painting. framed , Rafael (Barcelona 1956) While contemplating the painting of Ruz, we are inclined to talk about real ‘psychodrama’, in t...
Canvas, Acrylic
$638Sale Price|20% Off
Original-Rosarian-La Vie en Rose: Summer Bloom Serie-British Awarded Artist
Located in London, GB
Rosarian — La Vie en Rose is part of Shizico Yi’s ongoing Summer Bloom Series, a body of work in which she explores the magical qualities of roses and the complex challenge of painti...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Abstract Figures in Purple and Green - Original Mixed Media Piece
Located in Soquel, CA
Abstract Figures in Purple and Green - Original Mixed Media Piece Bright and colorful abstract by Jennie T. Rafton (American, b. 1925). Two figurative shapes stand in front of a blu...
Paper, Oil, Mixed Media
Hope: Extra Large, Floral, Landscape, Painting in Acrylic and Oil
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Hope - Floral landscape after the Storm Extra large floral showcase Investment Extra large Floral Showcase Investment Nature Landscape Joy Colorful Authentic Original One-of...
Oil, Acrylic
The Guardians of Energy: Large Abstract Painting, Oil and Acrylic on Canvas
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: The Guardians of Energy (Abundant Energy) Energy Painting Abstract Abundant Contemporary Maximalism Bold Unique Contrast Fresh Revival Renewal Texture The Guardians of Ener...
Gesso, Wood, Pastel, Oil, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Let's Climb The Mountains - Large Colorful Abstract Nature Landscape on Canvas
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 ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Ocean's Jewels, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A layer of emerald green rests atop a base of purple, pale blue, and white, creating a striking contrast of light and dark. Scratches and marks added while the ...
Oil
Mid Century French Geometric Abstract in Black White and Navy Signed SG
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid Century French Geometric Abstract in Black White and Navy Signed SG by Serge Guerin (b. 1916), French signed lower right “SG”, name stamped verso Acrylic and gouache on ar...
Ink, Acrylic, Gouache
Painting with linen, beeswax and natural pigments, yellow turmeric and brown
Located in Carballo, ES
The painting measures 77 x 39 cm and is an old linen sack filled with polyurethane foam. The pigments include beeswax, oxide vinegar, yellow turmeric, and natural graphite. The work...
Canvas, Wax, Graphite, Pigment
Untitled #527 by Murray Duncan – Original Contemporary Mixed Media on Paper
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #527 by Murray Duncan – Contemporary Mixed Media on Paper Size: 32" x 40" Unframed, signed on the back A striking exploration of form and movement, Untitled #527 by Murray ...
Oil Crayon, Acrylic, Pencil
Nympheas De Mon Coeur - Soft Abstract Floral Landscape 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...
Canvas, Acrylic
$529
Contemporary impressionist expressive floral painting paper "Roses in light"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This expressive and vibrant floral painting of roses, created by the contemporary French artist Natalya Mougenot, is a dynamic representation of nature’s energy. Born in Kazakhstan i...
Paper, Acrylic
Mystique 7, blue, earthy, green, white, calm, atmospheric
Located in Cumming, GA
This abstract landscape radiates a sense of calm and renewal through its layered, atmospheric composition. A soft wash of aqua blue drifts across the canvas, suggesting open sky or...
Canvas, Acrylic
Peony and Buttercup
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated by artist on verso
Foil
Lake Dream, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A tranquil lake stretches across the foreground, painted in deep teal, green, and blue tones that ripple with soft movement. Above the water, warm landforms ris...
Oil
Abstract 4, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Layers of blue and cream with touches of orange and black create an energetic composition. The blending of colors evokes a strong sense of movement, while the s...
Oil
Silence of the Animals, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, 95x80 cm
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
"The Silence of the Animals" is an original oil painting on canvas by Colombian artist Luis Xiua, known for blending figurative and abstract elements inspired by nature and pre-Hispa...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
#130, 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
$4,239
ABSTRACT textured Minimalist Handmade Paper Black Sand Tones by Alicia Gimeno
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, Handmade Paper, Acrylic
$8,596
Contemporary Minimal Abstract, Large-Scale Neutral Earth Tones Painting
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, Mixed Media, Pigment
Rêver Ensemble - Soft Green Abstract Floral Landscape 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...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,800
Serie Visiones Sin Motivo, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 160 x 120 cm 2025 About the Artist Pilar de Ariño was born in Mexico City in 1992. She studied Industrial Design at Universid...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Untitled 8. From Ritmos abstractos (Abstract Rhythms) Series
Located in Miami Beach, FL
"Ritmos Abstratos" invites us to explore the visual universe of the artist Juan Carlos Amador, who, through his unique perspective, translates the pulsations of space and the invisi...
Canvas, Oil
$1,790
Evening's Warmth by Gabriela Azar Schreiner. Contemporary abstract Painting
Located in Mentone, AU
This painting is unstretched and unframed. It will be carefully rolled and shipped in a tube. "Creating large-scale abstract paintings that evoke tranquility and presence in any spac...
Acrylic
$4,474Sale Price|24% Off
Floral composition
Located in London, London
Floral tapestry abstract decor Flowers still-life. Vintage red and pink flowers Artist: Katarina Joys Dimensions: 140x212cm full-size canvas Acrylic, oil on canvas, one-of-a-kin...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
ECHO
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting resonates with silence dissolved in shades of blue. Gentle layers of color, from the lightest to the deepest, unfold into an invisible vibration—an echo that seems to...
Canvas, Oil
Hidden Portraits I
Located in London, GB
'Hidden Portraits I', acrylic on canvas mounted on board, Florentine School (circa 1980s-90s). This gallery has acquired a number of paintings through an intermediary of an ageing ar...
Canvas, Acrylic
Small abstract expressive nature painting wood frame "Vibrant essence of spring"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressive nature painting, created by French artist Natalya Mougenot, bursts with color and emotion. Titled "The Vibrant Essence of Spring", it captures ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Helter Skelter - Large Contemporary Cubist Terracotta Orange Oil Painting Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles artist Harrison Gilman graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. In 2018 his artworks were exhibited at the We Rise Art Fair in Los Angeles alongside Shepard Fairey ...
Canvas, Oil
$4,121
Christina Gschwantner Love Dots Vivid Contemporary Abstract Painting
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, Acrylic
$12,000
Turning Point
Located in Burlingame, CA
Eleanor Rahim’s work explores the emotional and perceptual power of water through painting and drawing. Her images do not describe a specific place so much as a state of being, where...
Canvas, Acrylic
Cintra and Frenetic Diptych. Mixed media Abstract painting on Canvas
By Alec Franco
Located in Miami Beach, FL
" The work resists framing in concepts, it overflows the contours and borders of the rational. It is through the presence of color, combined with an abstraction at times with express...
Canvas, Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2303 - Original Figurative Neutral Abstract Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Swiss artist Edith Konrad paints figurative abstract compositions with mixed media on canvas. She layers her expression of her emotional response to the subjects with dynamic texture...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$3,885
Contemporary Minimalist Diptych Blue Abstract Painting Canvas by Tete Alurralde
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The artwork is conceived as a diptych. The total dimensions of the two pieces together are 80 × 180 cm, with each individual work measuring 80 × 90 cm. The overall dimensions are cal...
Acrylic, Cotton Canvas
$35,000
"Raked Off" Lynne Drexler, Abstract Expressionist, Patterns, Orange, Green
Located in New York, NY
Lynne Drexler Raked Off, 1989 Signed, titled and dated on the reverse Oil on canvas 36 x 31 inches Provenance The artist The Collection of Jerry Vis, Monhegan Island Meredith Ward F...
Canvas, Oil
Abstract Oil Painting by Mirko Baricchi – Contemporary Color Field Composition
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Mirko Baricchi (born 1970) is an accomplished Italian painter who currently lives and works between Vicenza and La Spezia, regions located in Veneto and Liguria, Italy, respectively....
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Untitled #542 by Murray Duncan - Contemporary Mixed Media on Paper
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #542 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 Dunc...
Paper, Glaze, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
Vintage American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Large Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Measuring: 24 by 36 inches overall. Excellent condition, ready to hang ...
Oil, Canvas
$2,708
Monochrome Ultramarine Blue 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
La Force Eternelle - Dreamy 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...
Canvas, Acrylic
Love (Peonies)
Located in Zofingen, AG
Two delicate peonies on a deep navy-blue background. It feels as if these two flowers have merged into one — this is love! The painting is created with acrylic on canvas: layered br...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,520Sale Price|20% Off
Life to the Full LA Blue 2 - Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sarah Johnson infuses passion, heart, and a lifetime of creative experience into each original painting. Her radial series exhibits both uninhibited freedom and methodical technique. Through colors, textures, and movement, Johnson’s acrylic paintings on canvas radiate joy with pleasing repetition and form. This 48-inch high by 30-inch wide one-of-a-kind painting is stretched, wired, and ready to hang. The sides of this original artwork are painted and it does not require framing. It is signed by the artist on the back. Free local Los Angeles area delivery. Affordable Continental U.S. and International shipping are available. A certificate of authenticity issued by the Los Angeles art gallery is included. Johnson says about her work: "I believe things that you bring into your home make a difference in the way you live and feel. My artwork is inspired by joy, purpose, and freedom. I hope my paintings are a source of inspiration for you and everyone who enters your home." Each series has a meaningful message, adding both truth and beauty to your walls. Johnson is based in Dallas, Texas, and has been a professional artist since 2012. Her abstract artworks are collected internationally. REPRESENTATION Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, California, USA EDUCATION 2010 The University of Texas at Austin EXHIBITIONS 2022 Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA 2022 The Collective, Dallas, TX 2022 Mecox Gardens, Houston, TX 2022 The Arbors, Round Top, TX 2022 The Walking Man, Whitefish, MT 2022 BayHill Design Studio, Austin, TX 2022 Septemberfest Art Fair, Midland TX - Honorable Mention 2021 Olive & Home, Tyler TX...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,061
Original-Impasto-Moonlit Dahlias-Jardin d'Hiver-British Awarded Artist-Gold leaf
Located in London, GB
Jardin d'Hiver Series is Shizico Yi's latest collection, created in her winter studio while longing for the summer left behind. Reflecting on the vibrant days spent painting en plein...
Gold Leaf
Orchidea in silver. 1
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting depicts an orchid crafted from paste, giving it volume and texture. The orchid is presented in pearlescent hues on canvas. The background canvas is coated with silver a...
Canvas, Acrylic
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.