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.
Insightful Intent: Calm Dog Painting, Abstract Expressionist, Framed Gold
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: BLUE - Insightful Intent Painting Animal Dog Modern Gold Contemporary Striking Invest Bold Classic Joy Original One-of-a-kind This painting forms part of an artwork series c...
Gold
$4,726
Concerto cubiste — Contemporary Geometric Abstract Oil Painting, Sophie Dumont
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Concerto Cubiste Oil on canvas 65 x 81 cm (25.6 x 31.9 in) Framed dimensions: 72 x 88 cm (28.3 x 34.6 in) 2026 Black floating frame included. Wood frame on request ...
Oil
Gas Station Attendant (African American artist)
By Earl Hill
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Earl Hill (1927-1985). Gas Station Attendant, 1966. Oil on masonite panel, 10.5 x 13.5 inches, 15 x 18 inches framed. Signed and dated lower right. Inscribed...
Masonite, Oil
"umbrella girl series"Gold Edition No. 18, Abstract, 21st Century, Acrylic
By Roger König
Located in Dessau-Rosslau, Sachsen Anhalt
A refined composition set against a soft French rose background. The delicate hue has long been associated with beauty, grace and quiet luxury, creating a captivating contrast with t...
Clay, Acrylic
$1,271Sale Price|23% Off
Original Set of 2 Oil and Gold leaf-Golden Summer 2024-25-British Awarded Artist
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This special set paintings include two oil and gold-leaf on canvas paintings by Shizico Yi from 2024 to 2025; the set is curated to highlight her painting practice with Gold leaf vs ...
Gold Leaf
Large Vintage American Cubist Abstract Original New York School Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American cubist abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Unsigned. Measuring: 49 by 37 inches overall, and 48 by 36 painting alone. Excellent condition, ready to hang a...
Canvas, Oil
A Large, Dynamic Abstract Expressionist Painting by Lee R. Chesney
Located in Chicago, IL
This painting makes a bold statement! A large, dynamic and colorful Abstract Expressionist painting by notable Post-War artist, Lee R. Chesney (Am. 1920-2016). Executed in a palett...
Masonite, Oil
Solace Clouds Abstract Painting, Acrylic and Ink, Framed
By Lynn Sanders
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,...
Acrylic Polymer, Ink, Acrylic
Dominance, Contemporary Large Abstract Geometric Oil Paint, 34 x 34 in
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Accords Intérieurs Oil on canvas, 80 x 80 cm (31.5 x 31.5 in) Framed dimensions: approx. 87 x 87 cm (34.3 x 34.3 in) Floating frame available in black or natural wood. Sophie Dumont...
Canvas, Oil
$16,000
"Catching the Light" Colorful Mixed Media Abstract Painting, Textured Impasto
Located in Carmel, CA
Sveta Hessler (Russian, born 1973) "Catching the Light" 2026 Oil and mixed media on stretched canvas Signed and dated on verso. "Catching the Light" is a commanding work that reward...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Stretcher Bars
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
"Wild White Horses" Contemporary Outsider Urban Expressionism Painting Framed
By Purvis Young
Located in New York, NY
The painting is an expressive, abstract work by Purvis Young with a strong emphasis on dynamic brushwork and a limited color palette dominated by deep reds, off-whites, and subtle ac...
Found Objects, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Cardboard
#200, 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
Untitled CIX by Frédérique Domergue - Large abstract painting on metal leaves
Located in Paris, FR
Untitled CIX is a unique painting by French contemporary artist Frédérique Domergue. This painting is made with oxidized zinc and bronze leaves on honeycomb aluminium panel, patina f...
Metal, Bronze
$4,726
Contours of Community by Gaetan de Seguin - Figurative contemporary Painting
Located in DE
Contemporary figurative painting with lots of details and movement. Beautiful statement piece for any art collection. Combining a lot of different colors in any interiors and setting...
Canvas, Acrylic
Quiet Horizon, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Layered palette knife strokes form a rhythmic horizon where a soft, light-filled sky meets deep, shifting water. The textured surface suggests the quiet movemen...
Oil
$5,664
Accords interieurs, Contemporary Large Abstract Geometric Oil Paint, 34 x 34 in
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Accords Intérieurs Oil on canvas, 80 x 80 cm (31.5 x 31.5 in) Framed dimensions: approx. 87 x 87 cm (34.3 x 34.3 in) Floating frame available in black or natural wood. French contem...
Canvas, Oil
Slow Soft Summer: Floral, Abstract, Contemporary, Nature, Soft tones, Original
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Slow Soft Summer Floral, Abstract, Contemporary, Nature, Soft tones, Original, Authentic, Investment In this gentle, though lively acrylic painting, I connected to the joys ...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Glaze, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$3,200
Subtle Mark - Modern Original Impasto Thick Paint Textural Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Acrylic
Joan Cruspinera Red Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, 1996
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Joan Cruspinera Red Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, 1996. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated 1996. 61 × 50 cm (24 × 19.7 in.). Original oil on canvas by Catalan artist Joan Cruspinera...
Canvas, Oil
$378
Abstract Impressionist oil painting on cardboard "Blossoms of the almond tree"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary floral expressionist piece with a touch of impressionism was created by French artist Natalya Mougenot and belongs to her evocative series dedicated to the beauty o...
Oil, Cardboard
Axe Intérieur, Large Abstract Oil Painting, Signed, 2026, Textured
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Framed in black or light wood (collector's choice) Inner Axis (Axe intérieur) is a masterful work by contemporary French artist Sophie Dumont, exploring the delicate tension between ...
Oil
Forest Moons, Contemporary Abstract Painting
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Forest Moons is an abstract painting in layered greens, with a mix of soft circular shapes and more solid, angular forms. The composition suggests a natural setting, with lighter spo...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
Mediterranean Garden (Under the Mandarin Trees)
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work emerges at the intersection of a personal journey through Italy and the universal image of the garden as a space of harmony and inner order. The Mediterranean garden here i...
Canvas, Acrylic
Pearlescent Drapery. 3D textured
Located in Zofingen, AG
The artwork, created on 1 cm thick plywood, is a unique combination of textures and natural elements. The upper part of the painting is made from faux leather with a pearlescent tint...
Plywood, Mixed Media
$434Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract impressionist expressive flowers acrylic on paper "Floral Inspiration"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This vibrant artwork captures a bouquet of pink flowers displayed in a glass vase, enveloped by expressive, swirling brushstrokes. This artwork named " Floral Inspiration" belongs ...
Paper, Acrylic
The Other Side of Here. Large Abstract Painting, Blue and Earth Tones
Located in Oslo, NO
Tatiana said following about this artwork. "In this work, I explore the idea that a familiar place can suddenly feel different. The composition developed freely, through layers of c...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,300
Atmospheric Balance - Original abstract Abstract Painting, Soft Blue, pink
Located in Cumming, GA
Atmospheric Balance original painting captures a luminous, tranquil moment inspired by light, air, and natural equilibrium. Soft layers of pale blue, warm ivory, and subtle neutral t...
Canvas, Acrylic
la Femme Sur la Plage Abstract colourful painting of a nude on a beach, french
Located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Framed Size: 34" x 40" Claude Venard’s La Femme sur la Plage is a vibrant and expressive composition that distils the figure into a dynamic arrangement of colour, texture, and form...
Canvas, Oil
$306
Abstract impressionist floral acrylic painting on paper "Morning's rose bloom"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary expressive impressionist floral piece with a touch of abstract and art brut, Morning’s Rose Bloom, was created by French artist Natalya Mougenot in her Lyon studio ...
Paper, Acrylic
Falling Reef. From the series Polyculture
Located in Miami Beach, FL
These works explore our relationship with the incredible biodiversity of our planet Earth. Visual representations of flowing colours, smells, sounds and the feeling of our life sourc...
Canvas, Acrylic
The Quiet Bloom
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 97×97 cm (overall size with stretching 107×107 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled A serene, intimate composition where a slender white figure rests i...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,100
Universe is With You - Large Scale Abstract Textural Acrylic Painting on Canvas
By Vè Boisvert
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
Rêver Ensemble - Soft Green Abstract Floral Landscape Painting
By Vè Boisvert
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
Whispers of Willingness
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work echoes the theme of a quiet inner decision — that moment when a willingness to open up to the light is born from within. White blossoms appear as a language of softness tha...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,050Sale Price|20% Off
Mid Century French Geometric Abstract with Spires in Teal Purple and White
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid Century French Geometric Abstract with Spires in Teal Purple and White by Serge Guerin (b. 1916), French Acrylic and gouache on artists paper, unframed Size: 25.75 (height...
Ink, Gouache, Acrylic
Green Daze, Contemporary Abstract Painting, original painting
Located in Deddington, GB
Rebecca's work is inspired by a lifelong love of nature, colour, and pattern. Growing up in Kew, she was deeply influenced by the beauty of Kew Gardens and its rich abundance of bota...
Canvas, Acrylic
Guerrero Celeste, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 200 X 150 CM Signed FREE SHIPPING ROLLED UP About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 1973) graduated from Escuela Naci...
Canvas, Acrylic
You brought Sunshine and Summer: Original Floral Painting, Blue vase, Geese.
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: You brought Sunshine and Summer Original Floral Painting, Blue vase, Geese, Heron, Unique, One-of-a-kind. "You brought Sunshine and Summer" is a painting that portrays a dee...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Blush of Spring II - Impressionistic Painting on Linen Canvas, floral art
Located in Zofingen, AG
Blush of Spring II captures a quiet moment of early bloom. Delicate pink buds and soft white petals emerge along slender branches, floating gently across a pale green background. The...
Canvas, Linen, Acrylic
Hydrangea on Green, Oil Painting
By Judy Mackey
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A bouquet of white hydrangeas rests in a deep blue vase. Thick palette-knife strokes give the flowers a sculptural presence, while soft green tones in the backg...
Oil
Spring. Awakening
Located in Zofingen, AG
shipped in roll “Spring. Awakening” reflects the first quiet shift of the season — a moment when light, color, and space begin to open. Soft layers of pale tones, subtle pinks, and g...
Canvas, Acrylic
Joan Cruspinera Female Profile Oil Painting on Canvas, 1985
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Joan Cruspinera Female Profile Oil Painting on Canvas, 1985. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated 1985. Artwork: 55 × 46 cm (21.7 × 18.1 in.). Framed: 58 × 49 cm (22.8 × 19.3 in.). Origi...
Canvas, Oil
Among Chaos
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 120×97 cm (overall size with stretching 130×107 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled In this work, I explore the phenomenon of inner light — that unch...
Canvas, Acrylic
#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
$1,557
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
$3,400
Fruity Ramen Alchemy: ARRIVAL - Meditative Abstract Blue Tone Painting on Canvas
By Jason DeMeo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract minimalist artist Jason DeMeo presents a collection of artworks designed to engage viewers in a meditative experience, drawing them closer to the enduring ideals of truth, b...
Gold Leaf
Persian Morning II (Abstract expressionist mid-century Indiana artist painting)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Mary Ann Robertson (1923-1911). Persian Morning II, 1964. Oil and paper on canvas. 25 x 36 1/2 inches. overall frame size 37 1/2 x 26 inches. notes: Nashville, IN woman artist....
Oil, Handmade Paper
$7,400
Rearranging Form - Large Contemporary Silver Tone Abstract Acrylic Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Harrison Gilman's large original artworks begin with a layer of fast-paced gestural abstraction followed by organic shapes and geometric structures. Some of his paintings remain in t...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$18,000
Sonia Gechtoff - Portico, painting on masonite, Signed, Ex- Andre Zarre, Framed
Located in New York, NY
Sonia Gechtoff Untitled portico, from the estate of gallerist Andre Zarre, 1977 Acrylic and graphite on masonite Signed and dated '77 in graphite on the front Unique Provenance: Acqu...
Masonite, Acrylic, Graphite
$6,800
Breathtaking (Triptych) - Large Colorful Impasto Inspired Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$1,450Sale Price|50% Off
Whirl Wind (Abstract, Expressive, Fun, Colorful, Warm, 50% OFF - MUST GO NOW)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Katherine Bello Whirl Wind Mixed Media on Canvas 2025 Size: 24 x 48 inches (60.96 x 121.92cm) Signed and titled by hand COA provided *on stretcher frame, ready to hang. -----------...
Wood, Oil, Stretcher Bars
Redeemed Bull Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, Signed, 60x70 cm
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
Redeemed Bull is a painting on canvas depicting an animal head integrated into a landscape constructed with planes of color. The composition is organized through distinct areas that ...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Titulado "Airo XII" - Acrílico sobre tela - Firmado y enmarcado
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
La obra va firmada por el autor en la parte inferior En la parte trasera, va nuevamente firmado y titulado Se presenta enmarcada la pintura Buen estado de conservación el de la pi...
Acrylic
The Tale of a Rose
Located in Zofingen, AG
The Tale of a Rose This work is part of the Infinity Map series, dedicated to exploring the inner world and the search for personal points of reference. Beneath a star-filled sky, th...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Mémoire du Rivage Contemporary Coastal Abstract Painting by Sophie Dumont
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
French contemporary artist Sophie Dumont is known for her textured oil paintings exploring memory, landscape, and the passage of time through layered abstract compositions. Born in P...
Oil
$544Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled #537 by Murray Duncan – Original Contemporary Mixed Media on Paper
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #537 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
Melody
Located in Zofingen, AG
Melody This work is part of the Infinity Map series, dedicated to exploring the inner world and the search for personal points of reference. A young woman sits by an open window, lis...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Charcoal
Untitled 2 . From Ritmos abstractos (Abstract Rhythms) Series
Located in Miami Beach, FL
"Abstract Rhythms" 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, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$767Sale Price|33% Off
Powerful Vagina Oil Painting, Abstract Expressionism, 50x50 cm
By Nerea Caos
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Title: The Powerful Vagina Artist: Nerea Caos (Nerea Sánchez Castro) Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 50 x 50 cm (19.7 x 19.7 in) Format: Unframed Year: 2025 Signature: Signed on th...
Canvas, Oil
Shoreline by Gabriela Azar Schreiner.
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 spa...
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.