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.
Open Spaces, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft whites and cool blues create a tranquil, expansive space. Accents of orange and fine linework bring contrast and gentle energy. Minimalist abstract forms i...
Acrylic
$476
Mid Century French Abstract Expressionist Black Ink Gestural Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid Century French Abstract Expressionist Black Ink Gestural Painting Medium: Black ink/ gouache painting on paper, unframed French, circa 1950's Size: 25.75 inches x 19.75 (h...
Paper, Ink, Gouache
Original-Rosarian, 2026 (After Van Gogh)-Awarded Artist-Impasto oil on paper
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
Rosarian, 2026 (After Van Gogh) is Shizico Yi's latest work, inspired by the lost seventh painting from Vincent van Gogh's celebrated Sunflowers series, often referred to as Six Sunf...
Gesso, Oil, Acrylic, Archival Paper
I Let Myself Bloom
Located in Zofingen, AG
shipped rolled in a tube. I Let Myself Bloom from the series Inner Landscapes This work is part of the Inner Landscapes series, where landscape becomes a reflection of an inner stat...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,250
Floral Fantasy: Nature Abstract Bold Statement Colorful Invest Striking Delight
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Floral Fantasy Nature, Abstract, Bold, Statement, Colorful, Invest, Striking, Delight, Modern, Landscape. In this work, I've poured my heart into a vivid garden of dreams, u...
Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Stretcher Bars
$1,492Sale Price|25% Off
Hydrangea - Soft abstract floral painting in gray and pink
Located in Silverthorne, CO
"Hydrangea" is a beautiful soft abstract floral painting and a lyrical ode to spring. It is made with ample paint and texture, in a beautiful palette of chromatic grays, violet, rose...
Oil
$1,907Sale Price|20% Off
ABSTRACT 2565
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured vibrant emotion into layers of soft pastels, letting acrylics dance freely across the canvas. The swirling pinks, yellows, and blues express an uplifting ener...
Oil, Acrylic
On the Bright Side, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Various shades of blue, with touches of purple and cream, create a soothing backdrop. A bold orange form adds contrast and visual interest without disrupting th...
Acrylic
Metal squares. 3D textured.
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting is made up of individual squares on canvas, creating a unique and intriguing geometric composition. Each square, crafted using clay, represents an individual element, im...
Clay, Canvas, Acrylic
$4,551
Borderline Love, nature, contemporary, expressionism, Larry Poons, Joan Mitchell
By Lloyd Tabing
Located in Jönköping, SE
Borderline Love is a layered abstract in muted greens and soft purples, punctuated by sudden bursts of orange. The textured surface and vigorous brushwork suggest organic movement, w...
Acrylic
Quiet Beauty in Nature, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This abstract painting invites quiet reflection, evoking the stillness of a misty landscape mirrored in calm waters. A gentle palette of greens and blues wash...
Oil
$200Sale Price|50% Off
#38 After the Rains
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Douglas M. Olsen (b. 1960). #38, After the Rains, 1980. Watercolor on rag paper, 22 x 22 inches. Signed lower margin and on verso.
Watercolor, Rag Paper
premieres lueurs, Abstract Lanscape, oil, Expressionism, Contemporary art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Size unframed: 50 x 50 cm (15.75 x 15.75 in) Size framed 57 x 57 cm or 22.44 x 22.44 in. Choose the color of frame black or wood. A certificate comes the painting the painting is re...
Oil
$758
Contemporary abstract Impressionist floral painting " The Language of Roses"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary vivid expressionist floral painting, “The Language of Roses”, was created by French artist Natalya Mougenot and belongs to her ongoing series of still life composit...
Paper, Acrylic
Small abstract expressive nature painting wood frame "Vibrant essence of spring"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressive nature painting, created by French artist Natalya Mougenot, bursts with color and emotion. Titled "The Vibrant Essence of Spring", it captures ...
Canvas, Acrylic
#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
"Forevermore 1" Abstract Oil Painting, Vibrant Color Field
Located in Denver, CO
Dorothy Fagan’s "Forevermore 1" is a 2023 oil on canvas measuring 48 x 36 inches unframed, with a framed size of 49.50 x 37.50 x 2 inches. The artwork is professionally framed and re...
Canvas, Oil
$373
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
Geraldine Stuheit “Sideboards and Sails” 1986 Geometric Abstract Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
A striking 1986 geometric abstract oil painting by American artist Geraldine Grace Garrison Stuheit, Sideboards and Sails exemplifies the sophisticated architectural abstraction and ...
Oil
$107Sale Price|20% Off
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: 10.75 x 8.5 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we h...
Oil
”She Who Dances With Shadows”
By Iryna Rets
Located in Zofingen, AG
This artwork was featured in the artist’s solo exhibition “Points of View” at MODI Art & Wine Gallery, Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2026. ”She Who Dances With Shadows” A work from the “Follow...
Acrylic, Mixed Media, Cardboard
$3,275
Stronger Together - Underwater Figurative Ocean Outdoor Swimmer Oil Panting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Artist Michelle Fillmore discovered her passion for oil painting while pursuing her studies at the University of Las Vegas, where she earned a BA in Painting and Drawing in 2015. Kno...
Canvas, Oil
Abstract 2, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Layers of colors and gestures define this abstract piece. Soft green, orange, and blue contrast with touches of black. Expressive scratches and marks bring text...
Oil
$107Sale Price|20% Off
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: 19.5 x 13 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we hav...
Oil
$326
Impressionist seascape nature painting paper "Dreaming of the south of France"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary seaside landscape, infused with the spirit of Impressionism and a hint of Expressionism, is part of my ongoing series celebrating the essence of summer. Titled "Dre...
Paper, Oil
$1,400
Echoes of What We Keep. Oversized abstract painting, brown, ochre, expressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
This abstract painting explores the quiet traces left by the people and moments that shape us. Soft layers of blues, sand tones and muted violets overlap like sedimented memories, cr...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,980
Love Conquers All - Extra Large Abstract Painting, Bold Colors, New, Maximalism
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Love Conquers All - Omnia Vincit Amor Extra Large Abstract Investment Bold Color Large rendition in the Unchained Expressions series. It attempts to map the road to freedom...
Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Spray Paint, Color Pencil
Lotus 28: Photo Realist Still Life Painting of Green Lotus Plants on Grey
Located in Hudson, NY
Photo-realist still life painting of lush green lotus plants on a soft grey sky background "Lotus Number Twenty-Eight", painted by Frank DePietro in 201...
Canvas, Oil
Ancient Wisdom - Large Abstract Textural Layered Expressionist Painting
By Marc Raphael
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles artist Marc Raphael's abstract expressionism paintings are influenced by New York's abstract expressionist movement. After encountering Jackson Pollock’s work for the fir...
Canvas, Acrylic
Vibrant Abstract with Bold Colours French 20th Century Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition signed by Gilbert Pelissier (French born 1924) Dated 98' and Inscribed verso oil painting on board, unframed board size: 11.25 x 19.5 inches condit...
Oil
"Flor de membrillo"
By Elina Bilous
Located in Edinburgh, GB
My vision of quince blossoming is not about the details. It's about the feeling. About how the first warm rays paint the treetops in golden-green hues, and the air around turns pink ...
Canvas, Oil
$163Sale Price|20% Off
French Impressionist Oil Painting Bright and Colourful Pansies
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Maggy Clarysse (1931-2011) Oil on board, unframed 8.75 x 10.75 inches Signed Initials ...
Oil
$1,165
Sunset VW Van - Colorful California Beach Still Life Acrylic Painting on Canvas
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 ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$4,200
Turnabout: Abstract Geometric 3D Wooden Wall Sculpture in Green, Grey & Beige
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract geometric three-dimensional wood wall sculpture in bright pastel hues of sage green, light grey, and beige "Turnabout", hand-carved wooden wall sculpture by Hudson Valley ar...
Wood, Dye, Acrylic, Wood Panel
$825
Rainy Apartment 2 - Abstract Figurative Cubist Colorful Mixed Media Artwork
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...
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$1,035
Original-Moon Lit Dahlias-British Awarded Artist-Gold Leaf on oil canvas Board
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
Moonlit Dahlia is a large gold-leaf painting created by Shizico Yi in early autumn, when dahlias reach their fullest bloom and the first turning leaves colour the garden. Painted on ...
Gold Leaf
$408
Small abstract expressive nature painting wood frame "Spring on the horizon"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressive nature painting, created by French artist Natalya Mougenot, bursts with color and emotion. "Spring on the Horizon" captures the fresh energy of ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Painting on Panel Titled: PDP698 44 x 66
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
Life - Large Oversized Bold Colorful Abstract Expressive Modern Original Artwork
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...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Latex, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$2,100
In the Hydrangea Thickets. Textured floral, Japandi, Wabi-Sabi, Shabby Chic
Located in Oslo, NO
In this work, the artist immerses the viewer in a living, breathing environment—a space where color becomes a state, and texture a tangible memory of summer. Intertwined stems, leave...
Canvas, Acrylic
Large Figural Abstract Late 1960s Painting, Mexican American Artist
By Miguel Conde
Located in Beachwood, OH
Miguel Condé (Mexican/American, b. 1939) Untitled, 1968 Oil on canvas Signed and dated verso 59.5 x 49.5 inches Paint loss throughout - please reach out for a thorough condition rep...
Oil
Reconstruction, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Several shades of blue sweep across a lightly textured background. Bits of orange highlight the focal point, adding warmth to the composition. Sections of gray ...
Acrylic
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
Big Sur Views - Abstract Landscape Ocean Blue Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
With a contemporary perspective on landscape painting and inspired by paintings created by old masters, German artist Katharina Husslein paints in a representational manner to captur...
Canvas, Oil
$1,634Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 2561
Located in Zofingen, AG
This piece is a celebration of contrasts—the intense dance between light and shadow, order and chaos. Using acrylic, I layered textured strokes and splashes of gold to evoke emotion ...
Oil, Acrylic
$937Sale Price|20% Off
Original-To make a Garden-British Awarded Artist-oil and gold leaf on canvas
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
[To make a garden ] is a part of her "Landscape Memory" Series. Shizico explores forms, layers, and time onto canvases. In this outstanding painting, Shizico applied layers of mater...
Gold Leaf
$980Sale Price|20% Off
Hidden Portraits I, Abstract Acrylic on Canvas, Framed, Circa 1980s
Located in London, GB
'Hidden Portraits I', acrylic on canvas mounted on board, Florentine School (circa 1980s-90s). This gallery has acquired a number of paintings through an intermediary of an ageing ar...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,600
Wallpaper 2: Abstract Green Encaustic Painting of Yellow Flower Petals on Panel
By Allyson Levy
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract painting with green encaustic and light yellow flower petals on wood panel "Wallpaper 2" made by Allyson Levy in 2020 encaustic and flower petals on wood panel, 24 x 24 x 2 ...
Organic Material, Mixed Media, Encaustic, Wood Panel, Pigment
2107 and 2105, Diptych. Abstract paintings
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The process of creating a painting leaves behind a series of elements that become the starting point for a new piece. A mark, a line, color and shape become elements of a new paintin...
Canvas, Acrylic
Bombay Cat Fashion Portrait Painting Elegant Black Feline Modern Wall Art
Located in Zofingen, AG
**Bombay Cat Fashion Portrait Painting – Elegant Black Feline Modern Wall Art** This original black cat portrait painting is part of the *Maison Collection* — a contemporary series ...
Paper, Acrylic
"Hear"
By Iryna Rets
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work is about a state of openness and attentiveness to oneself and to the world. About the ability to listen — to stay in contact with one’s own feelings and with what is happen...
Acrylic
$160Sale Price|20% Off
Original Modern Contemporary painting on canvas, Abstract, Fantasy style, Framed
Located in Palm Coast, FL
Up for sale Original Abstract Acrylic Painting on canvas in a fantasy abstract style. A unique technique, very colorful. An unusual combination of colors, a flow from sharp to soft s...
Acrylic
$321Sale Price|20% Off
20th Century French Expressionist Wacky Figures In Blue and Green Abstract
By Akos Biro
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Wacky Abstract by Akos Biro (Hungarian 1911-2002) pastel painting on card, unframed painting: 8.5 x 7 inches provenance: the artists estate, France condition: good and fai...
Pastel
R. Poch 88 portrait original acrylic painting. framed
By Ramon Poch
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
original acrylic painting Born in Badalona (Barcelona). Photographer and advertising film director. Founding partner of the advertising production company La Cosa de las Peliculas: ...
Acrylic
$1,852Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 2559
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured my emotions through textured acrylic strokes, blending soft pastels with bold contrasts. It captures the delicate balance between chaos and calm, inviting a c...
Oil, Acrylic
Source of Renewal
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work captures a moment of absolute tranquility-a private paradise bathed in light and hidden behind a dense veil of emerald greenery. Horses gathered at the water's edge in the ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Wonderful colorful cactus project - abstract vs figurative painting
Located in New York, NY
This painting will be shipped rolled in a tube and is not stretched! A playful fusion of botanical imagery and urban expression, "Wonderful Colorful Cactus Project" transforms the r...
Canvas, Acrylic
Julia Martins Miranda Large Abstract Oil Painting Warm Ochre Terracotta Tones
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
This work is presented in a scroll-like (parchment-style) format, with the painting executed on a flexible support and suspended using metal rods at the top and bottom, allowing the ...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Light', c. 2000 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Paper, Watercolor
A Beautiful Story - Original Impasto Textural Thick Paint 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
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.