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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.

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Style: Abstract
Vintage Abstract Figurative Vision
Vintage Abstract Figurative Vision

Vintage Abstract Figurative Vision

Located in Soquel, CA

Wonderfully evocative abstract expressionist oil painting of a face with figure reflecting in the eye by an unknown California artist (American, 20th Century). Unsigned. Unframed. Im...

Category

1980s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Matteo Bultrini  Green and Blue  abstract mixed media acrylic painting
Matteo Bultrini  Green and Blue  abstract mixed media acrylic painting

Matteo Bultrini Green and Blue abstract mixed media acrylic painting

By Matteo Bultrini

Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL

Green and blue- abstract mixed media acrylic painting Original work by Italian artist Matteo Bultrini Abstract large format work on wood. Made with the technique of collage and comb...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Wood, Mixed Media

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

Black fish on a gold background.
Black fish on a gold background.

Black fish on a gold background.

Located in Zofingen, AG

The work is executed in stencil technique using black paint on a gold acrylic background. The metallic gold surface creates a soft shimmer and enhances the contrast with the graphic ...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Untitled (1995). Gouache on paper by Sol Lewitt
Untitled (1995). Gouache on paper by Sol Lewitt

Untitled (1995). Gouache on paper by Sol Lewitt

By Sol LeWitt

Located in Hong Kong, HK

Sol LeWitt (1928-2007) Untitled Gouache on Paper 28.5 x 37.5 cm (11 1/4 x 14 3/4 in) Executed in 1995 Signed and dated 95 lower right Provenance Marco Noire Contemporary Art Turin...

Category

1990s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Guardians of Humanity and Joy: Abstract Canvas Painting, Maximalism, 91x121 cm
Guardians of Humanity and Joy: Abstract Canvas Painting, Maximalism, 91x121 cm

Guardians of Humanity and Joy: Abstract Canvas Painting, Maximalism, 91x121 cm

By Karnish Art

Located in Pretoria, Gauteng

Title: The Guardians of Humanity and Joy Colorful Blue Centre Piece Abstract Invest Painting Striking Joy This work is part of a series. It is part of her story... It portrays tru...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Spray Paint, Acrylic, Gesso, Wood, Stretcher Bars

Montreat Series: Untitled  - acrylic on canvas
Montreat Series: Untitled  - acrylic on canvas

Montreat Series: Untitled - acrylic on canvas

By Stephanie Visser

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Stephanie Visser, a native of southwestern Michigan, was educated at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids Michigan. She continued her education in fine arts and painting...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Lotta Latte
Lotta Latte

Lotta Latte

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

Pipe Dreams: African American collage painting w/ photographs figures, objects
Pipe Dreams: African American collage painting w/ photographs figures, objects

Pipe Dreams: African American collage painting w/ photographs figures, objects

By Richard J. Watson

Located in Bryn Mawr, PA

This is an abstract collage / painting created from acrylic and found objects. It is framed in a wide, dark wooden frame with gold accents. It includes several manipulated historic photograph of figures in many guises, arranged as if on stage. It is signed and dated by the artist lower left. 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...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Found Objects, Acrylic, Mixed Media

PHENOMENA GRID THREE
PHENOMENA GRID THREE

PHENOMENA GRID THREE

By Paul Jenkins

Located in Aventura, FL

Original watercolor on paper. Hand signed on front; signed, titled and dated on verso by the artist. Additional images are available upon request. Certificate of Authenticity is inc...

Category

1970s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

av_1014-15 (Diptych) - Large Oversized Colorful Contemporary Abstract Painting
av_1014-15 (Diptych) - Large Oversized Colorful Contemporary Abstract Painting

av_1014-15 (Diptych) - Large Oversized Colorful Contemporary Abstract Painting

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 collaborates with chance to evoke the energy of the moment. Projections of paint, splashes of pure material, and streams of color are whiplash expressions of the temporary in his modern artworks. Voinea captures and freezes, in an instant, an imaginary and expressive burst of color that electrifies a space. This one-of-a-kind diptych measures a combined 35 inches high and 102 inches wide. It is comprised of two 35-inch tall by 51-inch wide canvases. It is a striking, seemingly fluid, abstract composition painted with acrylic paint on canvas by Alex Voinea. This artwork is signed and titled on the back. It does not require framing. This original painting is double-wired and may be installed vertically or horizontally (or as two separate paintings). Free local Los Angeles area delivery. Affordable Continental U.S. and worldwide shipping are available. Provenance: Artplex Gallery. A certificate of authenticity issued by the art gallery is included with this original work. Alex Voinea was born in Romania in 1973. Leaving Romania after the revolution in 1989, he moved to Italy. Voinea's saturated abstract paintings are a rush of adrenaline and inspire liveliness in the spaces they are displayed. Although active, his work also finds balance and harmony. The challenge of each surface inspires Voinea and his studio is an incubator of color and energy. "I am interested in the physics of materials and the purity of pigments in their various states, and how they respond to the different circumstances and situations that I create. With my work, I try to convey the feeling of being immersed in a universe where color is the protagonist." Voinea now lives in Barcelona. His abstract paintings have been shown in varying international art hot spots, including Brussels, Paris, London, Milan, Amsterdam, New York, and Los Angeles. Artplex Gallery has been representing and exhibiting Voinea's original artworks in Los Angeles since 2019, presenting his impressive works to an international collector base around the globe. The gallery has been a 1stdibs partner since 2014 with consistently excellent reviews from clients worldwide. The gallery exhibits a well-curated selection of original artworks beyond the ordinary from established and emerging international artists with diverse backgrounds at high standards. Artplex Gallery is known to provide accurate descriptions, images, reliable services, communication, and delivery. The gallery's commitment to customer satisfaction means that clients can invest in art with confidence, knowing they have a reputable and established art gallery backing their acquisition. Artplex Gallery prioritizes our clients' peace of mind by ensuring a seamless and worry-free art-buying experience. REPRESENTATION Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles, USA SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2024 Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, USA 2018 Alex Voinea, MM Gallery, Brussels, Belgium 2010 Galería Dharmakaya, Barcelona, Spain 2011 “Abstractos de Sitges”, Galería A037, Sitges, Spain 2011 Biennale a Confronto, Galería San Vidal, Venecia, Italy 2009 “Animales”, Galería A037, Sitges, Spain GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2021-23 Artplex Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2019 Winter Collective, MM Gallery, Brussels 2018 “Carrement Abstrait”, MM Gallery, Brussels Summer Collective, MM Gallery, Brussels Collective, Maze Gallery, London, UK 2017 “Abstraction Group Show”, MM Gallery, Brussels, Belgium “VInt” ARTistes”, Fundación Pinnae, Vilafranca de Pendes, Spain 2016 Recicl’arte 2016, Drap-art y SAGA, Edificio Miramar, Sitges, Spain “Art al Vidre”, Fundación Pinnae, Vilafranca de Pendes, Spain “Naturalezas”, Museo Gustavo de Maeztu, Navarra...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

Looking Through Grandma's Window - Original Abstract Floral Painting on Canvas
Looking Through Grandma's Window - Original Abstract Floral Painting on Canvas

Looking Through Grandma's Window - Original Abstract Floral Painting on Canvas

By Amber Goldhammer

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles artist Amber Goldhammer paints dramatic abstract compositions in acrylic on canvas featuring energetic brushstrokes. Goldhammer uses her contemporary paintings to express...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Latex, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic

Nature’s Flow. Abstract square painting in the wood gold frame
Nature’s Flow. Abstract square painting in the wood gold frame

Nature’s Flow. 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...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Cobalt Confetti, Abstract Painting
Cobalt Confetti, Abstract Painting

Cobalt Confetti, Abstract Painting

By Lisa Carney

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Shades of blue, turquoise, and green suggest a garden scene. Drip and spatter techniques create the impression of blooming flowers and thriving plants. This flo...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Orange and Blue, Abstract Seascape Diptych, Unique Monotype, Paper, Fish Shape
Orange and Blue, Abstract Seascape Diptych, Unique Monotype, Paper, Fish Shape

Orange and Blue, Abstract Seascape Diptych, Unique Monotype, Paper, Fish Shape

Located in Barcelona, ES

This series by Enric Servera explores the relationship of humans to salt and seawater. The intention of these works is to submerge us into the sea, a salty treasure that surrounds us...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor, Monoprint

1960's French Huge Abstract Painting Layers Blue Abstract Textural Composition
1960's French Huge Abstract Painting Layers Blue Abstract Textural Composition

1960's French Huge Abstract Painting Layers Blue Abstract Textural Composition

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Abstract Expressionist Composition by Gilbert Pelissier (French born 1924) signed oil painting on canvas, unframed inscribed verso dated 68' canvas size: 35 x 46 inches condition: ov...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Let the Light Shine Through: Floral, Abstract, Still-life, Painting, Bold
Let the Light Shine Through: Floral, Abstract, Still-life, Painting, Bold

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars

Steel Blue - Original Cool Tone Textured Abstract Mixed Media Artwork Framed
Steel Blue - Original Cool Tone Textured Abstract Mixed Media Artwork Framed

Steel Blue - Original Cool Tone Textured Abstract Mixed Media Artwork Framed

By Frederic Paul

Located in Los Angeles, CA

The delicate and poetic artworks of painter Frederic Paul reference his Asian roots in expressive and elaborate compositions. Inspired by the bold colors, spices, flora, and landscap...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Rice Paper

Ruz INDULGENCIA acrylic canvas painting
Ruz INDULGENCIA acrylic canvas painting

Ruz INDULGENCIA acrylic canvas painting

By Rafael Ruz

Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL

. Ruz. acrylic canvas painting Original artwork by Spanish artist Rafael Ruz. Acrylic on canvas in perfect condition. While contemplating the painting of Ruz, we are inclined to tal...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Quiet Grace
Quiet Grace

Quiet Grace

Located in Zofingen, AG

Quiet Grace from the series Reflections Quiet Grace unfolds as a hymn to feminine tenderness and inner strength. The gentle gesture near the face becomes a symbol of self-care, grati...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Colorful painting on paper, Unique piece, Abstract Expressionist
Colorful painting on paper, Unique piece, Abstract Expressionist

Colorful painting on paper, Unique piece, Abstract Expressionist

Located in Carballo, ES

TUSET (1997, A Coruña, España) Mixed media painting on paper Ready to frame One-of-a-kind Signed on back Includes certificate of authenticity 2021 65 x 50 cm. It belongs to the ser...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil Crayon, Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pencil

Abstract with Red Forms, Large Painting by Dan Teis
Abstract with Red Forms, Large Painting by Dan Teis

Abstract with Red Forms, Large Painting by Dan Teis

By Dan Teis

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Dan Teis Title: Abstract with Red Forms Year: 1980 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, Signed l.r. Size: 54 x 60 in. (137.16 x 152.4 cm) Frame Size: 55.5 x 61.75 inches

Category

1980s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Untitled
Untitled

Erez YardeniUntitled, 2018

$4,431Sale Price|20% Off

Untitled

By Erez Yardeni

Located in London, GB

'Untitled' abstract composition, mixed media on soft board, Japanese ink, oil, pencil and gouache by Erez Yardeni (2018). Beautifully balanced, stunningly...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Ink, Oil, Gouache, Board, Pencil

Blue Red & Green Abstract Expressionist Painting by British Contemporary Artist
Blue Red & Green Abstract Expressionist Painting by British Contemporary Artist

Blue Red & Green Abstract Expressionist Painting by British Contemporary Artist

By Angela Wakefield

Located in Preston, GB

Blue, Red & Green Abstract Expressionist Painting, entitled 'Tropical City #1', an extremely rare early work from leading British Contemporary Artist...

Category

1990s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Acrylic, Oil, Mixed Media, Cotton Canvas, Varnish, Paint, Cotton,...

Best Laid Plan (Mixed Media Collage on Board in Bright Colors)
Best Laid Plan (Mixed Media Collage on Board in Bright Colors)

Best Laid Plan (Mixed Media Collage on Board in Bright Colors)

By Donise English

Located in Hudson, NY

Best Laid Plan (Mixed Media Collage on Board in Bright Colors), made by Hudson Valley based artist, Donise English, in 2025 mixed media collage on board, framed Image size: 20.50 x 2...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Wood, Paper, Acrylic, Gouache, Pencil, Color Pencil

Black & Orange Abstract Expressionist Painting by Leading British Urban Artist
Black & Orange Abstract Expressionist Painting by Leading British Urban Artist

Black & Orange Abstract Expressionist Painting by Leading British Urban Artist

By Angela Wakefield

Located in Preston, GB

Black & Orange Abstract Expressionist Painting by Leading British Urban Artist, Angela Wakefield (b.1978) - entitled "Abstract Nocturne", Alternate Version Art measures 24 x 24 inc...

Category

1990s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Cotton, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Open Blue, Abstract Oil Painting, Signed
Open Blue, Abstract Oil Painting, Signed

Open Blue, Abstract Oil Painting, Signed

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Open Blue, Abstract Oil Painting, Signed By British Schooled artist, 21st Century Signed indistinctly on the back top corner Oil painting on canvas, unframed Canvas size: 23 x 19.5 inches Undeniably stylish abstract oil painting, using a rich palette of blue hues. I see the objects portrayed in the painting as fish in the deepest, darkest part of the sea. But as all abstract...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Unapologetically Pink 4, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Unapologetically Pink 4, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Unapologetically Pink 4, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Laura Spring

Located in Yardley, PA

Large acrylic painting in bright pink. Painted in acrylics on stretched canvas with 0.7" thickness on the sides. The sides are painted white. The size of the painting is 48"x36". It ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

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.