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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.

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Style: Abstract
Consider It Done, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Consider It Done, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Consider It Done, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Hal Mayforth

Located in Yardley, PA

Bold abstract brush strokes combined with hard edged abstraction. Initial brushstrokes evident through subsequent layers, giving the finished picture surface energy. Passages of unsa...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Abstract Mixed Media Dual Horizon, Textured Monochrome Diptych by Pau Escat
Abstract Mixed Media Dual Horizon, Textured Monochrome Diptych by Pau Escat

Abstract Mixed Media Dual Horizon, Textured Monochrome Diptych by Pau Escat

By Pau Escat

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Dimensions: Height: 104 cm Width: 176 cm (overall, including a 10 cm separation between the two panels) Depth: 5 cm Note: This work is a diptych composed of two individual panels, e...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pigment

Partners  -  Abstract Colorful Figurative Painting
Partners  -  Abstract Colorful Figurative Painting

Partners - Abstract Colorful Figurative Painting

By Valerie Etitinwo

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Valerie Etitinwo's unique approach to abstract figurative painting celebrates the unconventional beauty found in imperfection and awkwardness. The Nigerian-Swiss artist uses bold col...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic

Midnight Electric - Blue Lifeguard Stand on Beach Oceansacpe Original Painting
Midnight Electric - Blue Lifeguard Stand on Beach Oceansacpe Original Painting

Midnight Electric - Blue Lifeguard Stand on Beach Oceansacpe Original Painting

By Kathleen Keifer

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Kathleen Keifer's original artworks represent one of the most significant expressions of New California Realism. Keifer brings a fresh perspective to her colorful scenes of everyday ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

ABSTRACT Landscape Painting by Gold Contemporary Spanish Artist Pau Escat 2023
ABSTRACT Landscape Painting by Gold Contemporary Spanish Artist Pau Escat 2023

ABSTRACT Landscape Painting by Gold Contemporary Spanish Artist Pau Escat 2023

By Pau Escat

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

Colt Seager (b. 1993) is an American painter and sculptor based near Chicago, IL. Drawing inspiration from the inherent holiness and tranquility of the natural world, Seager’s work i...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Ink, Acrylic, Pigment

Geometric Abstraction
Geometric Abstraction

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 ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Encaustic

"Seedling 25.5" 2025 acrylic on watercolor paper
"Seedling 25.5" 2025 acrylic on watercolor paper

"Seedling 25.5" 2025 acrylic on watercolor paper

By Ky Anderson

Located in New York, NY

Ky Anderson Seedling 25.5, 2025 acrylic on watercolor paper 30 x 22 in. (and489) Artist Statement: My work falls somewhere between abstraction, formalism and narrative painting. I...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

NEXA #2, Mixed media Abstract painting on Canvas
NEXA #2, Mixed media Abstract painting on Canvas

NEXA #2, Mixed media Abstract painting on Canvas

By Alec Franco

Located in Miami Beach, FL

DNA is genetic information, hidden and encrypted in body fluids. Veiled data that we load, that we do not know and that someone knows how to decipher. Such specifications characteriz...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Pastel, Acrylic, Mixed Media

Fruity Ramen: Ghosted
Fruity Ramen: Ghosted

Fruity Ramen: Ghosted

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. His original paintings accentuate the ultimate appreciation of medium and form, inspired by everlasting principles of simplicity, balance, symmetry, order, and harmony. DeMeo created this one-of-a-kind 42-inch square painting using acrylic paint and gold leaf on a recycled fiber blanket which creates unique textures throughout the artwork. It is signed on the front and the back. It is stretched, wired, and ready to hang. Framing is not required. Free local Los Angeles delivery. Affordable U.S. and global shipping available. A certificate of authenticity issued by the art gallery is included. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, DeMeo is now based in Central Florida. Through his work, he seeks to express universal themes by bringing his eclectic personal experiences, philosophies, and emotions to the forefront. He has a deep belief in the power of art to bring transformation to both spaces and people. DeMeo’s artworks, packed with positive affirmations, have been collected across the United States. DeMeo focuses on exploring a concept that he has coined Synthesism™. It stems from the definition of the word synthesis: “the combining of often diverse elements into a coherent whole.” This theme of blending, combining, and remixing in many disciplines, especially music, architecture, and even culture leading to the growth of community is captured in his work. Modernism constructs, Post-modernism deconstructs, and Synthesism combines. Each of DeMeo’s artworks includes elements of precision and organic creation. The sharp lines offer a balancing contrast to details of drips, splashes, or scrapings that bring life to his work. DeMeo carefully layers each color while keeping attention to the relationships between them and the weight of each brushstroke. Every artwork offers intrinsic details and textures at a closer glance. Current movement influences include Abstract Expressionism, Bauhaus, Conceptualism, Gestalt, Human Centered Design, Wabi-Sabi, Black Mountain College. Current artistic influences include Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, Robert Rauschenberg, Franz Kline, Cy Twombly, Pierre Soulages, Tomie Ohtake, Clyfford Still, Morris Louis, Terrence Conran...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Leader and Followers
Leader and Followers

Leader and Followers

By Abiodun Nafiu Azeez

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

"Leader and Followers" is a visually striking piece of art that immediately captures the viewer's attention. The artwork, which was created using a combination of oil colors, features a central figure standing tall and confident, representing the "Leader." Surrounding this central figure are several smaller figures, representing the "Followers." Azeez's "Leader and Followers" is a profound allegory that explores the complex dynamics between leaders and their followers in society. The central figure, portrayed as powerful and charismatic, serves as a representation of leadership. This character appears larger than life, evoking a sense of authority and control. The surrounding smaller figures represent the followers, who, in contrast, appear diminutive and fragmented. Their faces are obscured, and their bodies are twisted and contorted, symbolizing the idea that followers may often lose their individuality and autonomy in their pursuit of leadership. Azeez seems to suggest that leaders can exert a significant influence over their followers, shaping their thoughts, behaviors, and even identities. "Leader and Followers" challenges viewers to reconsider their assumptions about leadership and followership. It raises questions about the responsibilities of leaders, the agency of followers, and the potential for both positive and negative outcomes when these roles intersect. Azeez's work invites us to reflect on the role of leadership in shaping society. It prompts us to ask whether leaders should be held accountable for the actions and choices of their followers. It also encourages us to consider the ethical implications of the power that leaders wield over their followers. Abiodun Nafiu...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Brave, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Brave, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Brave, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

By Ivana Olbricht

Located in Yardley, PA

An original bold and colorful palette knife abstract painting with thick layers of colors from the collection – Balance. We are all different but the same at the same time. Silv...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Bird at Jardin Majorelle Landscape Abstract Painting of flowers, plants, water
Bird at Jardin Majorelle Landscape Abstract Painting of flowers, plants, water

Bird at Jardin Majorelle Landscape Abstract Painting of flowers, plants, water

By Alan Halliday

Located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire

Framed size: 38" x 50.5" n this lush watercolour, British artist Alan Halliday brings to life the tranquil beauty of Jardin Majorelle, a famed garden in Marrakech once owned by Yves...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Handmade Paper

Peach and Blue - Thick Textured Raised Impasto Colorful Layers Original Painting
Peach and Blue - Thick Textured Raised Impasto Colorful Layers Original Painting

Peach and Blue - Thick Textured Raised Impasto Colorful Layers Original Painting

By Shiri Phillips

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...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Glitter, Mixed Media, Acrylic

Impasto Abstract Seascape Landscape Miniature Study Contemporary British Artist
Impasto Abstract Seascape Landscape Miniature Study Contemporary British Artist

Impasto Abstract Seascape Landscape Miniature Study Contemporary British Artist

By Angela Wakefield

Located in Preston, GB

Impasto Abstract Seascape Landscape Miniature Study by Contemporary British Artist Angela Wakefield Art measures 5 x 5 inches Frame measures 11 x 11 inches Framed in a high qualit...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paint, Acrylic, Board

Ocean Motion created Underwater
Ocean Motion created Underwater

Ocean Motion created Underwater

By Olga Nikitina

Located in Zofingen, AG

Underwater painting is a new fast growing direction in contemporary art. Original Art Ocean Motion was crated underwater at the depth of 14,6 meters, underwater painting session 50...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Oil

"Close Call"

"Close Call"

By Max Hammond

Located in Scottsdale, AZ

From the time he was four years old Max Hammond was destined to paint, as he began on the walls of his home, a budding muralist. As he ran along the edges of the salt marshes of the ...

Category

2010s 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

"Breezeblocks" Abstract Geometric Painting
"Breezeblocks" Abstract Geometric Painting

"Breezeblocks" Abstract Geometric Painting

By Kelly Rossetti

Located in Westport, CT

This large abstract statement painting by Kelly Rossetti is made with acrylic paint and raw canvas pieces assembled on gallery wrapped canvas. It features a light pink and deep blue ...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Christina Gschwantner New Vivid Gestures Contemporary Abstract Painting Bright
Christina Gschwantner New Vivid Gestures Contemporary Abstract Painting Bright

Christina Gschwantner New Vivid Gestures Contemporary Abstract Painting Bright

By Christina Gschwantner

Located in Barcelona, Barcelona

The work reflects the artist’s mastery of gesture and emotion, where each mark becomes a visual language. A striking piece that brings movement, depth, and intensity to any collectio...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

“Spectre” (Contemporary, Cerebral, Figurative, Black Canvas Painting with Type)
“Spectre” (Contemporary, Cerebral, Figurative, Black Canvas Painting with Type)

“Spectre” (Contemporary, Cerebral, Figurative, Black Canvas Painting with Type)

By Nicholas Evans

Located in Paris, IDF

SPECTRE 2018 A ghostly figure with a gold halo has the words “Amissa” to his right, and “Anima Mea” to his left – hand-painted vertically in gold type. In Latin, “Amissa Anima Mea”...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Yellow and black 2 abstraction.
Yellow and black 2 abstraction.

Yellow and black 2 abstraction.

By Svetlana Saratova

Located in Zofingen, AG

The work is created using the fluid acrylic technique and is built on the contrast of deep black, rich green, and bright yellow-gold accents. The composition evokes a powerful natura...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Sky Holes  -  Colorful Wood Sculpture Organic Blue Red Abstract Wall Artwork
Sky Holes  -  Colorful Wood Sculpture Organic Blue Red Abstract Wall Artwork

Sky Holes - Colorful Wood Sculpture Organic Blue Red Abstract Wall Artwork

By Rebecca Klundt

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This original geometric abstract wall sculpture by Rebecca Klundt is a 16-inch square mixed media artwork, constructed from reclaimed wood and finished with acrylic paint. Featurin...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Wood, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Wood Panel

Untitled_2021 - painting, acrylic on canvas
Untitled_2021 - painting, acrylic on canvas

Untitled_2021 - painting, acrylic on canvas

By Paul Fournier

Located in Bloomfield, ON

"This contemporary abstract painting by Paul Fournier captures the tropical colours of the Caribbean. For more than six decades, the brilliant, colourful artwork of Paul Fournier ha...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Monmouth County Hunt Race Meet NJ Landscape
Monmouth County Hunt Race Meet NJ Landscape

Monmouth County Hunt Race Meet NJ Landscape

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Claus Hoie (1911-2007). Monmouth Hunt Race Meet 2, 1967. Watercolor on paper. Measuring 15 x 19 inches; 24 x 28 inched framed. Signed and titled lower left. Original label on verso. Hoie was born in Stavanger, Norway, November 3, 1911. He lived for a few years in Oslo before emigrating to the United States at the age of thirteen, when he settled in Brooklyn, NY. He spent time at sea (two years), a heritage from his grandfather and father who were both ship’s captains. During World War II, Hoie served four years in the Army as a Sergeant in a special Norwegian-American battalion of the mountain infantry (99th Infantry Battalion), whose mission was to assist in the liberation of Norway. His Battalion also landed on Normandy Beach five days after D-Day. ​ After the war, he studied art at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Claus also attended Pratt Institute, and at the Art Students League in New York. Hoie worked as an independent artist creating primarily watercolor works and graphics However, also was a commercial artist. In the 1950s he met the young artist and fashion designer, Helen Hunt Bencker and in 1957 they wed. Helen Hoie...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Blue spill, abstraction 2
Blue spill, abstraction 2

Blue spill, abstraction 2

By Svetlana Saratova

Located in Zofingen, AG

An abstract composition is presented on canvas, created using the fluid acrylic technique. The work, measuring 30 × 30 cm, has an intimate and concentrated character, making the move...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

New Mexico Landscape, Large Abstract Landscape Oil Painting by Suzanne Martyl

New Mexico Landscape, Large Abstract Landscape Oil Painting by Suzanne Martyl

Located in Long Island City, NY

Suzanne Schweig Langsdorf Martyl was active/lived in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas. Suzanne Martyl is known for abstract western landscape, magazine cover illustration, murals, botanics. Illustrator of the Doomsday Clock. Martyl exhibited infrequently but five one-man shows in Saint Louis since 1936 kept her in the public. She was also represented in many of the National exhibitions. In 1940 she was awarded the first prize in the Midwestern Show at the Kansas City Art Institute and won the hundred dollar purchase prize at the Y.M.H.A., Saint Louis. The following year she was awarded first prize in the annual exhibition of Missouri artists at the Saint Louis City...

Category

1970s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Poppies. Oil on cardboard. 35x25 cm. Unsigned
Poppies. Oil on cardboard. 35x25 cm. Unsigned

Poppies. Oil on cardboard. 35x25 cm. Unsigned

Located in Riga, LV

Aleksandr Rodin (1922-2001) Painter Born in a family of farmers. Wife Rasma Lace - art scholar. Studied at the Stalingrad School of Art, Saratov Art School, graduated from the Depar...

Category

1980s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Path
Path

Path

By Katherine Bello

Located in Kansas City, MO

Katherine Bello Title: Path Medium: oil and graphite on canvas Year: 2021 Size: 30" x 20" x 1.5" Signed, dated and inscribed by hand COA provided (issued by representing gallery) Katherine Bello's aim as an artist is to capture a sense of place, a moment of time, or a feeling - to evoke a sense of wonder. Bello loves paint and paint brushes; bold, gestural mark-making and the interplay of color. She is influenced by light and landscape, poetry, history and science. Formerly educated in Chemical Engineering and Interior Design, Bello is drawn to the process of creating Something out of Nothing. Abstract, sbstract art...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Graphite

The Assembled Whole. No.8
The Assembled Whole. No.8

The Assembled Whole. No.8

By Svetlana Saratova

Located in Zofingen, AG

The painting presents an abstract composition built on contrasts of form, texture, and color. The palette is restrained, consisting of black and warm beige, milky tones, creating a s...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

"Lus Osculi" (Abstract Black & White, Graphic Painting, Roman-inspired, Neutral)
"Lus Osculi" (Abstract Black & White, Graphic Painting, Roman-inspired, Neutral)

"Lus Osculi" (Abstract Black & White, Graphic Painting, Roman-inspired, Neutral)

By Nicholas Evans

Located in Paris, IDF

Drawing inspiration from the ancient Roman term "Los Osculi," translating to "right to kiss," the artist delves into a compelling exploration of the past's intriguing customs. In ancient Rome, women were prohibited from drinking as it was believed to lead to adultery and even possess abortifacient properties. Consequently, the husband and male family members of an "honest" woman possessed the right to kiss her on the mouth to ensure her sobriety. The allure of fleeting kisses, whispers of scent, and the sensuality of suspicion captivated the artist's imagination. On an antique French canvas...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, India Ink, Acrylic

Vivid Blue Green Yellow colors 60 X 60` Return to The Meadow

Vivid Blue Green Yellow colors 60 X 60` Return to The Meadow

By Neltje

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Return to the Meadow-Vivid colors 60 X 60 Acrylic on canvas Neltje was born in New York City and raised in style on Long Island and a South Carolina plantation. At the age of 32, as a single mother of two, she moved from Park Avenue to a ranch in Wyoming in the shadows of the Big Horn Mountains. Since then she has become one of the West’s preeminent artists. Like the openness of the West, Neltje likes to do things on a big scale and many of her works are ten to twelve feet wide. She considers herself “an abstract expressionist painter.” Her works are in a wide range of museums and private collections including The Smithsonian Institution, the Yellowstone Art...

Category

2010s Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, 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.