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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
Square in square 2
Square in square 2

Square in square 2

Located in Zofingen, AG

An abstract work created in a fluid acrylic technique, built on a contrast of depth and light. Around a central sand-gold rectangle, a dynamic flow of blue-turquoise, graphite, and w...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Celadon Daydream - Framed Sculptural Abstract 3D Minimalist Landscape Painting
Celadon Daydream - Framed Sculptural Abstract 3D Minimalist Landscape Painting

Celadon Daydream - Framed Sculptural Abstract 3D Minimalist Landscape Painting

By Paul Kirley

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Abstract artist Paul Kirley crafts visual journeys that seamlessly intertwine individuals with their surroundings, evoking the ethereal nature of dreams. Blurring the boundaries betw...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Mixed Media, Acrylic

sbc 227 (Abstract painting)
sbc 227 (Abstract painting)

sbc 227 (Abstract painting)

By Susan Cantrick

Located in London, GB

sbc 227 (Abstract painting) Acrylic on linen — Unframed Susan Cantrick's abstract paintings explore the pre-verbal realm of thought through structured visual responses. Her process ...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Linen, Acrylic

Liberty: Portrait Painting Renewal Flowers Striking Bold Exclusive Blue Red Life
Liberty: Portrait Painting Renewal Flowers Striking Bold Exclusive Blue Red Life

Liberty: Portrait Painting Renewal Flowers Striking Bold Exclusive Blue Red Life

By Karnish Art

Located in Pretoria, Gauteng

Title: Liberty Portrait Painting Liberty Flowers Abstract Artwork Striking Bold Original Blue Red Life This abstract contemporary artwork takes one to a place of freedom and the fe...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Oil, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars

Rosie Shorrock, Strawberry Time, Bright Art, Abstract Painting, Pink Painting
Rosie Shorrock, Strawberry Time, Bright Art, Abstract Painting, Pink Painting

Rosie Shorrock, Strawberry Time, Bright Art, Abstract Painting, Pink Painting

Located in Deddington, GB

Strawberry Time [2022] original Acrylic on panel Image size: H:18 cm x W:24 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:18 x 24 cm x W:24 cm x D:3cm Sold Unframed Please note that insitu images are purely an indication of how a piece may look Pinks and greens evoke the heat of Summer...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

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 paper/ card unframed: 12.75 x 10 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we ha...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Exploded City

Exploded City

Located in Dallas, TX

oil on canvas signed on the back

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Red Strike - Abstract Expressionist Composition in Acrylic on Paper
Red Strike - Abstract Expressionist Composition in Acrylic on Paper

Red Strike - Abstract Expressionist Composition in Acrylic on Paper

Located in Soquel, CA

Red Strike - Abstract Expressionist Composition in Acrylic on Paper A bold abstract painting by California-based artist, Ricardo de Silva (American/Brazil, 20th C). This piece is a ...

Category

1980s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Kumo 10 (Abstract Painting)
Kumo 10 (Abstract Painting)

Kumo 10 (Abstract Painting)

By Janise Yntema

Located in London, GB

Image size is 19.5 x 19.5 cm matted to 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm (19.7 x 19.7 in) Janise Yntema’s practice is rooted in the mastery of wax-based media, ranging from traditional heated encau...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Resin, Paper, Wax, Pigment

Kumo 8 (Abstract Painting)
Kumo 8 (Abstract Painting)

Kumo 8 (Abstract Painting)

By Janise Yntema

Located in London, GB

Image size is 19.5 x 19.5 cm matted to 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm (19.7 x 19.7 in) Janise Yntema’s practice is rooted in the mastery of wax-based media, ranging from traditional heated encau...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Resin, Paper, Wax, Pigment

Original Diptych-Sunset Song-British Awarded Artist-Plein Air evening oil
Original Diptych-Sunset Song-British Awarded Artist-Plein Air evening oil

Original Diptych-Sunset Song-British Awarded Artist-Plein Air evening oil

Located in London, GB

Sunset Song Series was created entirely en plein air, painted directly under the dimming light of late-summer and autumn sunsets and moonlight, with no artificial light to guide her...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel

Kumo 1 (Abstract Painting)
Kumo 1 (Abstract Painting)

Kumo 1 (Abstract Painting)

By Janise Yntema

Located in London, GB

Image size is 19.5 x 19.5 cm matted to 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm (19.7 x 19.7 in) Janise Yntema’s practice is rooted in the mastery of wax-based media, ranging from traditional heated encau...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Resin, Paper, Wax, Pigment

I Walked Ten Miles In The Wrong Direction - Original Abstract Textured Painting
I Walked Ten Miles In The Wrong Direction - Original Abstract Textured Painting

I Walked Ten Miles In The Wrong Direction - Original Abstract Textured 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, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic

Breaking Waves, Abstract Oil Painting
Breaking Waves, Abstract Oil Painting

Breaking Waves, Abstract Oil Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Bold strokes of blue, black, and white capture the energy of ocean waves crashing against a rocky shoreline. Touches of yellow on the crest suggest sunlight bre...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Purple Haze, Abstract Oil Painting
Purple Haze, Abstract Oil Painting

Purple Haze, Abstract Oil Painting

By Janet Hamilton

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Artist Janet Hamilton portrays a contemporary abstract painting with a captivating visual impression. The composition boasts a textured surface created throug...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Woman

Portrait of a Woman

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Neo-Expressionist painting depicts a young woman in luminous light. Encaustic on canvas, 14 x 17 inches. Unsigned. Minor paint loss along edge.

Category

Early 2000s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Encaustic

Screen tbd5  (abstract grid wood painting contemporary neutrals natural motifs)
Screen tbd5  (abstract grid wood painting contemporary neutrals natural motifs)

Screen tbd5 (abstract grid wood painting contemporary neutrals natural motifs)

By Melisa Taylor Metzger

Located in Quebec, Quebec

In Melisa’s optical and pulsating compositions, the natural world acts as blue-print while she explores the notion of the sublime through blur and precision. The artist develops an a...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Spray Paint, Wood Panel

In Fresh Air, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
In Fresh Air, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

In Fresh Air, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Nestor Toro

Located in Yardley, PA

Bright and BOLD color palette acrylic abstract color field. yellows, blue, green, aqua, earthy tones. Bold and Beautiful statement piece! This original one of a kind abstract pai...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Tim Nordin "VIII.1 Study" Signed Acrylic on Canvas Panel, Frameless Presentation
Tim Nordin "VIII.1 Study" Signed Acrylic on Canvas Panel, Frameless Presentation

Tim Nordin "VIII.1 Study" Signed Acrylic on Canvas Panel, Frameless Presentation

By Tim Nordin

Located in Miami, FL

"VIII.1 Study" BY TIM NORDIN (B. 1945) Acrylic on Canvas over Panel ⚜ Signed ⚜ Frameless Display A VIBRANT STUDY OF COLOR, TRANSPARENCY & STRUCTURE A rare and original acrylic on canvas over panel, Tim Nordin’s "VIII.1 Study" (1976) is a striking example from his renowned Transparent Sumi Brush Mark series. This work is defined by layered organic strokes of deep blues, vibrant greens, and subtle earth tones, forming a rhythmic interplay of color and light. Nordin’s distinctive brushwork creates a composition that shifts dynamically depending on light and perspective, a hallmark of his innovative approach. His technique results in an immersive, pulsating visual field—where each mark remains distinct yet seamlessly integrates into the whole. This meticulous layering and structured spontaneity connect his work to Abstract Expressionism, Op Art, and Color Field painting. This highly collectible piece was exhibited in Nordin’s 1982 Palm Springs Desert Museum exhibition and remains an essential work for collectors seeking dynamic gestural abstraction and structured color play. WHY COLLECT THIS WORK? ✓ Highly Collectible – A rare hand-signed original by Tim Nordin ✓ Exhibited Work – Featured in Nordin’s 1982 Palm Springs Desert Museum exhibition ✓ Optical Depth & Color Play – A dynamic surface with layered transparency & gestural brushwork ✓ Historical Provenance – From the Collection of Mr. & Mrs. Ricardo Sanchez, acquired directly from the artist ✓ Frameless Display – Ready to Hang – Presented in its original artist-preferred format ARTWORK DETAILS: ▸ Title: VIII.1 Study ▸ Artist: Tim Nordin (b. 1945) ▸ Medium: Acrylic on Canvas over Panel ▸ Year of Creation: 1976 ▸ Signature: Hand-signed, titled, and dated on verso ▸ Provenance: Collection of Mr. & Mrs. Ricardo Sanchez, acquired directly from the artist ▸ Country of Origin: United States ▸ Dimensions: — ◼︎ Image Size: 12 x 12.125 inches — ◻︎ Panel Size: 12 x 12.125 x 1.625 inches ▸ Condition: Excellent – Vibrant colors with well-preserved surface clarity ▸ Framing: Frameless Display (Artist’s Standard Presentation) – Ready to Hang INCLUDED DOCUMENTATION: ✓ Certificate of Authenticity ✓ Artist Biography Document ✓ Excerpts from the 1982 Palm Springs Desert Museum Exhibition Catalog THE ARTIST: Tim Nordin is an American abstract painter best known for his exploration of transparency, repetition, and structured mark-making. His work draws inspiration from a wide range of influences, including Mark Rothko, Sam Francis, Josef Albers, Kazimir Malevich, and the Optical Art movement pioneered by Victor Vasarely and Bridget Riley. While elements of his work reflect the gestural expressiveness of Abstract Expressionism, his approach to composition and structure aligns with Color Field painters such as Morris Louis and Helen Frankenthaler. Born in 1945, Nordin traveled extensively before settling in California, where he studied fine arts at Cerritos College and later earned his MFA at Claremont Graduate School, concentrating on printmaking and experimental painting techniques. Early in his career, he experimented with plexiglass, vinyl, and alternative surfaces, seeking ways to push the boundaries of traditional painting. By the 1970s and 1980s, Nordin became known for his Transparent Sumi Brush Mark series, in which he developed a meticulous method of layering individual brushstrokes to form structured, organic compositions. These works, featuring veils of fluid color and precise gestural marks, evoke the optical depth and rhythmic movement found in Bridget Riley’s Op Art...

Category

1970s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

"Habitual II" (flora, rich, cerebral, abstract, black & white, antique canvas)
"Habitual II" (flora, rich, cerebral, abstract, black & white, antique canvas)

"Habitual II" (flora, rich, cerebral, abstract, black & white, antique canvas)

By Nicholas Evans

Located in Paris, IDF

"Habitual II", 2023, Paris, France This rich and cerebral abstract painting uses a subtle but powerful color palette of brown, pink, and white oil paints and wood stain to create visual texture and depth. The artist selected a French, antique postal...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Oil

Phenomenon East of the River, Acrylic on Canvas Painting by Paul Jenkins
Phenomenon East of the River, Acrylic on Canvas Painting by Paul Jenkins

Phenomenon East of the River, Acrylic on Canvas Painting by Paul Jenkins

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% Phenomenon East of the River by Paul Jenkins (1923 - 2012) Acrylic on canvas 97.2 x 130.2 cm (38 ¹/₄ x 51 ¹/₄ inches) Signed lower right, Paul Jenkins Signed, titled and dated 1993 on the reverse Provenance Private collection, New York, acquired directly from the artist Artist's 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...

Category

1990s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Kaleidoscope (Abstract painting)
Kaleidoscope (Abstract painting)

Kaleidoscope (Abstract painting)

Located in London, GB

Kaleidoscope (Abstract painting) Mixed media - acrylic gouache on cotton canvas - Unframed. Daniela Marin stands as a pioneering figure in the realm of South American abstract art, m...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Gouache

La Gournaise l   / Oil on Linen
La Gournaise l   / Oil on Linen

La Gournaise l / Oil on Linen

By Frédéric Choisel

Located in Burlingame, CA

La Gournaise l is a warm elegant golden cloud at sunset. Evocative, modern and unique. French American Frédéric Choisel, has had multiple solo and group exhibitions in New York, Par...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Ebb and Flow 3
Ebb and Flow 3

Ebb and Flow 3

By Amy Van Winkle

Located in Santa Fe, NM

Encaustic on panel. It's simple; I create art because it makes me happy. I try not to overthink the process of what I’m painting and let my intuition be my guide. I love laying do...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Encaustic

Good Company: Mixed Media Painting, Maximalism, Colorful, 76x101 cm
Good Company: Mixed Media Painting, Maximalism, Colorful, 76x101 cm

Good Company: Mixed Media Painting, Maximalism, Colorful, 76x101 cm

By Karnish Art

Located in Pretoria, Gauteng

Title: Good Company - Amicus Maximalism Colorful Authentic Original Contemporary Intense Striking Love Friendship One-of-a-kind Amīcus - The Latin word meaning to befriend. To be ...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Oil, Acrylic, Gesso, Stretcher Bars, Spray Paint

Layers of colors - Modern Abstract painting, Geometric, Original Oil on Canvas
Layers of colors - Modern Abstract painting, Geometric, Original Oil on Canvas

Layers of colors - Modern Abstract painting, Geometric, Original Oil on Canvas

By SOPHIE DUMONT

Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR

Sophie Dumont — Layers of Color Oil on canvas – 23.62 x 23.62 in (60 x 60 cm) Framed: 26.37 x 26.37 in (67 x 67 cm) – Choice of black or natural wood floater frame Year: 2025 – Signe...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Looking West 4

Looking West 4

Located in Crested Butte, CO

Looking West 4 is part of the “Path to Eminence” series by Meghan Wilbar. During the pandemic, the uncertainty and isolation led Wilbar on a new series ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Africa - abstract painting
Africa - abstract painting

Africa - abstract painting

Located in New York, NY

This abstract piece captures as an African vibe to it, with soft shades of brown and gold. "I am an interior designer and painter, bridging worlds – connecting lines and colors, pre...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

White Lotus Lithograph
White Lotus Lithograph

White Lotus Lithograph

By Hoi Lebadang

Located in Soquel, CA

White Lotus Lithograph A limited edition lithograph by listed artist Hoi Lebadang, (Vietnamese/French, 1922 – 2015). This print displays an ethereal lotus flower to center, known to ...

Category

1970s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Lithograph

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.