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.
$636Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Mid Century Modern Abstract Expressionist Ethereal Organic Oil Painting
By Piry Rame
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage abstract expressionist etherial oil painting by Piry Rame (1921 - 2001). Oil on canvas, circa 1960. Signed on verso. Image size, 21L x 16H. Housed in a period frame.
Canvas, Oil
"Alphabet 2"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
“Alphabet 2” is a visual embodiment of the foundations hidden within language and symbols, conveying energy and meaning. This painting explores how each letter, as a building block, ...
Oil, Acrylic
$12,500
Departing, Large Figurative Expressionist Painting by George Marshal Cohen
By George Marshal Cohen
Located in Long Island City, NY
An oil painting by George Marshal Cohen from 1960. An abstract expressionist style painting with dark blue tones and bright yellow accents. Figurative representations of female legs ...
Canvas, Oil
Red Abstract OiI Compostion by Lee Reynolds
By Lee Reynolds
Located in Pasadena, CA
Modern Abstract Year: 1960-1970 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed lower right Size: Abstract oil on canvas by Lee Reynolds was a popular artist in the 1960s known for oversized, color...
Oil
Everything On The Kitchen Counter
Located in Dallas, TX
acrylic on canvas
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,250
Coral Gems, Bauhaus Arches & Curves, Squared Pixel, Geometric Red, Blue Diptych
Located in Barcelona, ES
This vibrant painting of Bauhaus reminiscences celebrates the bold colors, geometric forms, and architectural elegance of the Bauhaus movement. This captivating artwork combines dyna...
Paper, Acrylic
"Waiting" by Dan McCaw, Abstracted, Figural Oil Painting
By Dan McCaw 1
Located in Denver, CO
Dan McCaw's (US based) "Waiting" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts an abstracted figure in an interior setting. Artist Statement: Born: 1942 A solid foundation o...
Oil, Board
Untitled 7.1.25
By Bryan Ricci
Located in West Hollywood, CA
In Untitled 7.1.25, Bryan Ricci presents a richly layered abstraction that moves between structure and release, color and gesture. Dense clusters of thick, block-like marks float acr...
Linen, Emulsion, Pigment, Polymer
Scarlet Field, Abstract Painting
By Terri Bell
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This geometric abstract pulses with energy, combining layered tints and shades of red in a rhythmic arrangement of circles and squares. The linear pattern creat...
Acrylic
Geometric Abstraction
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
A unique, beautifully composed, large-scale geometric abstraction encaustic, with fresh colors, on fibrous buff, wove paper; the image extending ...
Encaustic
$1,859Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 23105, Impasto Acrylic Painting, 120x100cm, Ready to Hang
Located in Zofingen, AG
Dive into a world of vibrant artistry with "Abstract 23105," an abstract painting that is an explosion of bright and bold colors. This masterpiece is crafted with a rich impasto tech...
Acrylic
Abstract Oil Painting by Mirko Baricchi – Minimal Contemporary 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
Leopard resting on a tree
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting depicts a leopard resting on the branches of a tree in its natural environment. The composition is horizontal, with the animal’s elongated body following the curves of t...
Canvas, Acrylic
$304Sale Price|20% Off
My wave - abstract painting, made in ultramarine blue color
By Mila Akopova
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
Interior design paintings. The work was done with alcohol ink in ultramarine blue color on Yupo paper. The work is 11 by 14 inches in size, framed (gold or black) with a styrene face...
Paper, Ink
ABSTRACT Painting Private Language Argument Texture by Artist On Hansen 2023
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...
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
$2,040Sale Price|20% Off
Fleeting Moments, Acrylic Abstract Painting, 36x36 Inches
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
“Fleeting Moments” is a 36x36 acrylic painting that forces me - and the viewer - to reflect on how life is made up of fleeting moments. The movement in this painting is as fluid as e...
Canvas, Acrylic
Breaking Through - human figurative abstract expression painting modern art
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Oil
POWDER
By Oksana Reva
Located in Zofingen, AG
“This work seems to capture the delicate thread one soul leaves upon another, barely perceptible yet enduring through time.”
Canvas, Oil
Not All That Dark, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Vibrant colors spread across one half of this abstract composition, while a thin layer of black dominates the other. Depending on the viewer's perspective, the ...
Acrylic
$44,700
Reforming the Future, Vicky Barranguet, Contemporary Abstract Painting, 2020
Located in Miami, FL
Reforming the Future, Vicky Barranguet, Contemporary Abstract Painting, 2020 Acrylic on canvas 64 x 100 inches Unstretched Vicky Barranguet found her own voice and colorful expressi...
Acrylic
$1,640Sale Price|20% Off
Large Colourful Abstract Figurative Market Scene Oil Painting 2000
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist: Signed (illegible), attributed to Dominican Republic School Medium: Oil on canvas Date: 2000 Size: 37 x 27 inches Signature: Signed and dated Provenance: Private modern art c...
Oil
$1,913
A Perfect Moment-original figurative landscape acrylic painting-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Acrylic
Aleksandar Bezinovic Contemporary Geometric Abstraction Black and Ochre Large
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The piece is signed by the artist on the reverse and includes a Certificate of Authenticity officially stamped by the gallery. 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 Authenticity, guaranteeing its originality and provenance. We offer secure worldwide delivery to any address you specify, ensuring that your purchase arrives in pristine condition. If you require additional shipping options or a bespoke quote from our trusted network of carriers, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team is here to help you find the best solutions for a smooth and secure delivery experience. Aleksandar...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Figure with Orange and Blue - Original Signed Abstract Expressionist Work
By Felix Ruvolo
Located in Soquel, CA
Figure with Orange and Blue - Original Signed Abstract Expressionist Work Dynamic figural abstract piece by Felix Ruvolo (American, 1912-1992). In the center of the composition is a...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache, Ink
$10,000
Raymond Parker - Ray Parker - For Carl, signed Abstract Expressionist painting
Located in New York, NY
This is a poignant acrylic on paper painting from the early 1970s by renowned New York Abstract Expressionist Ray Parker. Inscribed "For Carl" [gallerist Carl Solway], hand signed an...
Acrylic
A floral tribute to my school - abstract vs figurative painting
Located in New York, NY
This painting will be shipped rolled in a tube and is not stretched! This expressive mixed-media composition unfolds like a visual diary, where flowers, leaves, handwritten notes, a...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,000Sale Price|20% Off
"Présence" Collection - N°4 by Gilbert Pauli - Acrylic on Jute - 110x150 cm
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...
Acrylic, Jute
$2,421Sale Price|20% Off
Le secret du bonheur
Located in Winterswijk, NL
Das Gemälde “Le secret du bonheur” behandelt die Philosophie von Glück und vermittelt dabei tiefgründige Gefühle durch unterschiedliche Farbkompositionen. Dieses Werk stammt aus der ...
Acrylic
$1,397
"Garden of Light" impressionistic painting, colorful flowers on linen canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Look at the flowers. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.” — Osho Garden of Light is a contemporary floral painting inspired by the energy of nature. Slender branches m...
Canvas, Linen, Spray Paint, Acrylic
3-part painting construction by Black African American artist, w/ found objects
Located in Bryn Mawr, PA
This is an 3-part painting / construction (assemblage) created from acrylic paint, wood, glass, and found objects. It includes several historic photograph of figures as well as many scenes from Black African American cultural history. Each piece measures 23" x 7.75" x 2.5", and they can be hung close together or far apart, depending on the buyer's preference. All pieces are wired with the appropriate hanging hardware and are ready to install, no additional framing needed. PROVENANCE: Exhibited in "Portals + Revelations: Richard J. Watson," the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Oct 2021 - Mar 2022. "Most of my works are supported by memories of the past and suggested realities. Issues of social politics, ancestral references, and astral projections are presented with fragmented elements of 'real life' collaged and collapsed, as dreams are prone to do. If connections are made, all the better. I feel that life should remind us of our dreams." - Richard J. Watson Richard J. Watson is an icon in the Philadelphia art world. Much of his work relates to his experiences as a Black African American man. He is a graduate of Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1968), has taught at his alma mater, and has served in the Exhibitions Department at the African American Museum in Philadelphia since the 1980s. He has been exhibiting his work for decades, and has an extensive bibliography. His work is held in the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art; the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; the Uniworld Corporation; Sony; the Federal Reserve Bank; the City of Philadelphia; Sprint; the Church of the Advocate; the poet Dr. Sonia Sanchez; and the Woodmere Museum...
Found Objects, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Glass, Wood
Triptych: Hesperides 003, Hesperides 004 and Hesperides 001. Abstract Paintings
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The central concept of Larios painting series KHLORIS is based on the idea of the garden as a metaphorical space. Larios seeks to find a certain romantic beauty in the details of n...
Canvas, Lacquer, Pastel, Automotive Paint, Acrylic
$14,671
Rose Madone Large Abstract Diptych with Bold Black Gestural Forms on Raw Canvas
By Rose Madone
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Onirisme organique (Diptych), 146 × 114 cm each panel, Acrylic on raw canvas. Total size of the two panels: 146 × 228 cm. At Escat Gallery, we are committed to maintaining the highe...
Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Pigment
Blue Red & Green Abstract Expressionist Painting by British Contemporary Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Blue, Red & Green Abstract Expressionist Painting, entitled 'Tropical City #1', an extremely rare early work from leading British Contemporary Artist...
Gesso, Canvas, Cotton, Paint, Varnish, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, ...
Whispered Horizons, original painting, contemporary
Located in Deddington, GB
'Whispered Horizons' is a painting about the light that permeates the valleys and hills of the Isle of Skye. The mysterious valleys and mountains take on an otherness which resonates...
Oil, Panel
'Abstraction in Coral, Aqua and Gold', 1970's American School Abstract Oil
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
American School, unsigned and painted circa 1975. A vivid and upbeat oil abstract comprising discrete areas of golden-yellow, coral and aqua-turquoise composed to evoke a sunlit lan...
Canvas, Chalk, Pastel, Acrylic
$1,000
Mid-Century Modern American Oil Painting Abstract Female artist black and white
Located in Buffalo, NY
Anita Johnson Untitled (Monochrome Construct), c. 1960s Oil on illustration board Framed dimensions: 21 in. H × 16 in. W Presented in a contemporary black frame In this striking bla...
Oil, Illustration Board
$1,164
Ligne de passage, Abstract Seaside, Contemporary, Oil on canvas, French, framed
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Unframed dimensions: 35 × 27 cm (13.8 × 10.6 in) Framed dimensions: 42 × 34 cm (16.5 × 13.4 in) Choose the black or light wood frame Certificate of authenticity provided In Lignes d...
Oil
La Tocada de Jazz, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 140 x 170 cm Signed FREE SHIPPING ROLLED UP About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 1973) graduated from Escuela Naci...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,187Sale Price|20% Off
Large Contemporary Abstract Painting Venice Canal with Gondolas
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: Italian School, contemporary Title: abstract view of Venice, very unique and design inspired. Medium: oil on canvas, unframed Painting: 20 x 25.5 inches Provenan...
Oil
"Mabel I - Sleeping Beauty"
By Jack Roth
Located in Astoria, NY
Jack Roth (American, 1927-2004), "Mabel I - Sleeping Beauty", Acrylic on Canvas, 1976, titled, signed and dated "Roth 76" verso with "Jack Roth Estate" stamps, marked "JR 26-76", and...
Canvas, Acrylic
Leopard on the tree
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting depicts a leopard resting on a wide tree branch against a backdrop of lush greenery and a bright blue sky. The composition is horizontal, with the animal’s body stretche...
Canvas, Acrylic
#71, 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
#167, 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
Wisdom of the ages. Original abstract forest painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
The wisdom and silence of the forest fills us and brings us back to ourselves. The closer we are to nature, the closer we are to ourselves. I convey my feeling of unity with nature...
Canvas, Oil
Phenomena High Born by Paul Jenkins - Abstract painting
By Paul Jenkins
Located in London, GB
*PLEASE NOTE UK BUYERS WILL ONLY PAY 5% VAT ON THIS PURCHASE. Once an order is placed we will arrange the VAT of 20% to be reduced to 5% Phenomena High Born by Paul Jenkins (1923-2012) Acrylic on canvas 91.44 x 50.8 cm (36 x 20 inches) Signed lower left Jenkins Signed, dated and titled on the reverse Executed in 1964 which makes this a very early work and so more valuable Biography Born at Kansas City in Missouri (USA), the multi-media artist, poet and playwright Paul Jenkins studied at the Kansas City Art Institute and the Art Students League in New York City. After his discharge from military service at the end of February 1946, he briefly studied playwriting with dramatist George McCalmon at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. Thereafter, Jenkins spent four years studying with Japanese American artist Yasuo Kuniyoshi in New York City. His first solo exhibitions were held at Studio Paul Facchetti in Paris in 1954 and the Martha Graham Gallery in New York City in 1956. Over the past thirty years, numerous retrospectives have been curated across the globe and Jenkins’ work can found in national collections from Europe and the United States to Israel, Australia and Japan. The diversity of his work springs from Jenkins’ wealth of eclectic influences. Some of his earliest works included what he called "interior landscapes" influenced by ancient natural forms like the caves he visited in the Ozark Mountains in his native-Missouri. Frequent student visits to the Frick Collection in New York fostered a love of the great masters: Bellini, Holbein, Vermeer, Rembrandt, de la Tour, Turner and Goya. In compliment, lingering student visits to the renowned Eastern collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City evoked powerful sympathy for a monumental Chinese fresco...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,376
Seasons, Abstract Lanscape, oil, Contemporary, multicolor, french art, modern
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Choose the color of the frame: black or wood Unframed dimensions: 60 x 60 cm (approx. 23.6 x 23.6 in) Framed dimensions: 74 x 74 cm (approx. 29.1 x 29.1 in) About the artist Sophie...
Oil
Pink Fantasy. Abstraction.
Located in Zofingen, AG
The work is created in the fluid art technique using acrylic on canvas. The composition is built on the soft, flowing interweaving of pink, coral, and milky white tones, creating a s...
Canvas, Acrylic
#176 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
$27,341
'Crimson Storm' Abstract Expressionist Painting, Signed Canvas, 36 x 36 inches
Located in Preston, GB
Black Yellow & Red Abstract Expressionist Painting by Leading Contemporary British Artist, Angela Wakefield Art measures 36 x 36 inches Dramatic abstract painting entitled ‘Cri...
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Fruity Ramen: Yang II - White on White Graffiti Textural Painting on Canvas
By Jason DeMeo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract minimalist artist Jason DeMeo creates artworks that work to serve as a meditation for the viewer, drawing them toward the timeless concepts of truth, beauty, and goodness. H...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$1,795
The Sea is Calling My Soul - Original Luminous Blue Textural Abstract 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
Aura IV /// Abstract Geometric Contemporary Painting Circles Pattern Striped Art
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Jack Graves III (American, 1988-) Title: "Aura IV" Series: Aura *Signed by Graves lower left. It is also signed, dated, and titled on verso Year: 2022 Medium: Original Acryli...
Canvas, Paint, Acrylic
Untitled 01 - Contemporary, Abstract Painting, White, Monochrome, Organic
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
Untitled 01, 2017 Mixed media: white oil painting, adhesive on canvas (Signed on reverse) 46.85 H x 39.37 W in. 119 H x 100 W cm Zsolt Berszán treats the first layer of the drawing ...
Canvas, Adhesive, Oil
$20,000
'Untitled' Original Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media On Canvas by Steven
Located in Carmel, CA
Steven is now one of the top emerging artists in the U.S. His works are groundbreaking, bold, and imbued with unflinching disregard for painting conventions. ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Guardians of Absoluteness: Large Abstract Acrylic Canvas Painting
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: The Guardians of Absoluteness Landscape Abstract Bold Modern Colorful Exclusive Investment Unique Painting Showstopper Striking Extra large artwork This work portrays the Ab...
Oil, Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas, Spray Paint, Pencil
Line Breed - Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 1969, Signed, Large
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This large contemporary abstract painting by Milly Ristvedt is one of her colourful ribbons series. In the late 1960s, abstract artist Milly Ristvedt had fallen in love with using r...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
Zig Zag 16-3-1 - Original Colorful Oil Painting Patterned Stripes with Texture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
In Petra Rös-Nickel’s oil paintings playful, free forms along with compositional constructions develop into textures, referencing popular European design of the fifties and sixties, ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$1,746
"Flight" Vertical abstract large oil painting .Abstract expressionist works
Located in Oslo, NO
In creating this piece, I delved into the interplay of acrylic, oil, and ink to sculpt depth and movement. The swirling colors and patterns evoke an otherworldly seascape, rich with ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Willem De Kooning Abstract on Newspaper
Located in Dallas, TX
Willem de Kooning (Dutch, 1904 - 1997) Abstract oil on Newspaper (NY Times, Friday Jan. 26, 1973). Pencil signed lower left. Provenance: - Private Collector, East Hampton New York;...
Oil, Newsprint
Cecil Touchon Painting on Panel Titled: PDP806ct16 30 x 48
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Painting on Panel signed verso Cecil Touchon Born 1956 Austin, Texas is a contemporary American collage artist, painter, published poet and theorist living in Pagosa Springs, Colora...
Acrylic, Archival Paper
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.