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.
$4,500
"Where Are We Going, From Here?", Abstract Expressionist, Figures, Oil Painting
By Sorin Bica
Located in Franklin, MA
Sorin Bica's "Where Are We Going, From Here?" is a 36 x 36 x 2 inch abstract expressionist oil painting on canvas. Two seated, elongated blue-toned figures with warm red, orange, and...
Canvas, Oil
$7,890
Jits Do Amalfi - Large Scale Colorful Abstract Modern Mixed Media Art on Canvas
By Rue Bootay
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rue Bootay, a New York-born artist now rooted in the vibrant artistic landscape of Los Angeles, navigates the avant-garde realm of nonrepresentational surrealism with a style uniquel...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$1,500
Bloomtime: Original floral painting on Canvas, Vintage Floral Still Life, Signed
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Bloom-time in pot of blues This artwork is an invitation to connect to abundance and rejuvenation. Working layer upon layer, I honored the delicate blossoms, offsetting the...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$4,241
Teresa Vicens, Contemporary Minimalist Figurative Painting with Female Nude
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Contemporary figurative painting featuring a group of female nude figures in a minimalist composition. Created by Spanish artist Teresa Vicens, this large-scale work explores themes ...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$880Sale Price|70% Off
Flags of peace #28 by Gilbert Pauli - Oil on canvas 70x90 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...
Oil
$3,301Sale Price|40% Off
Red Bloom Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 21st Century, Signed
Located in London, London
beige, pink, orange, white, red, ochre Artist: Katarina Joys Title: Red bloom Technique: acrylic on canvas Painted in London, UK, Dimensions: 100x150x2cm Hand-signed. One-of-a-...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Memory Wall #10 : Maximalist Abstract Color Field Painting in Red
Located in Hudson, NY
Large, brightly saturated red color field abstract geometric painting in various shades of bright green, blue, purple and deep red. "Memory Wall #10" made by Hudson Valley artist, Vi...
Plaster, Wax, Acrylic, Panel, Pigment
$15,000
"Porcelain and Flowers" French Vase with Colorful Flowers Oil Painting on Linen
By Eric Alfaro
Located in New York, NY
An impressionistic depiction of a Saint-Cloud factory porcelain vase ca. 1695–1710 with a burst of flowers exploding with color and bold marks. Alfaro bridges the Baroque cultural mo...
Linen, Oil
$3,438Sale Price|50% Off
Red Bloom Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Modern Abstract Floral Art
Located in London, London
Floral vintage tapestry abstract decor Red flowers still-life. Artist: Katarina Joys Title: Red bloom Technique: acrylic on canvas Painted in London, UK, in 2025 Dimensions: 95x85...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, 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
$1,450Sale Price|50% Off
Whirl Wind (Abstract, Expressive, Fun, Colorful, Warm, 50% OFF - MUST GO NOW)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Katherine Bello Whirl Wind Mixed Media on Canvas 2025 Size: 24 x 48 inches (60.96 x 121.92cm) Signed and titled by hand COA provided *on stretcher frame, ready to hang. -----------...
Wood, Oil, Stretcher Bars
$400
Flower in Bowl - Abstract Cool Tone Botanical Mixed Media Painting on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Krisanne Souter weaves together elements of nature and ancient feminine archetypes, such as the Mother and the Mystic. Botanical themes, playful elements, and unexpected surprises ar...
Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor, Color Pencil
$16,000
"Catching the Light" Colorful Mixed Media Abstract Painting, Textured Impasto
Located in Carmel, CA
Sveta Hessler (Russian, born 1973) "Catching the Light" 2026 Oil and mixed media on stretched canvas Signed and dated on verso. "Catching the Light" is a commanding work that reward...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Stretcher Bars
Spiritual Connection - Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Abstract, 24in x 36in
By Mario Angel
Located in Mississauga, CA
"Spiritual Connection" is a compelling abstract modernist painting that offers a powerful display of mid-century expressionism infused with surrealist, figurative elements. The artwo...
Canvas, Acrylic
Between Light and Bloom - Diptych Contemporary floral colorful large painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
Some works adapt to a space. Others take ownership of it. This diptych doesn’t try to harmonize. It defines the atmosphere. Across two expansive panels, movement cuts diagonally th...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$1,950
Calm and Quiet 5, Encaustic Painting on Panel, Abstract, Framed, 21st Century
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...
Encaustic
Abstract 5, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Patches of cream, turquoise, and grey fill this abstract painting. Blue and orange accents, along with black lines, create contrast. Scratches and marks bring...
Oil
$2,200
Blue Fish of Cities and Dreams- Red House: Abstract Painting, Large Canvas Art
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Blue Fish of Cities and Dreams - The Red House Blue Fish of Cities and Dreams – The Red House explores the intersection between urban life and the dreamlike landscapes of the...
Oil, Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas
$2,200
Absolute Wealth - Large Contemporary Abstract Maximalism Painting, Ready to Hang
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Absolute Wealth Large Painting Absolute Wealth - Contemporary Abstract Colorful Maximalism Bold Invest Another soulful artwork by Karnish. Symbols and forms unfold in this m...
Gesso, Canvas, Acrylic, Wood, Charcoal, Spray Paint, Color Pencil, Stret...
Impermanence Series n6. From the Impermanence series
Located in Miami Beach, FL
In the Kingdom of Transience, everything is temporary, subject to constant change. Everything is unstable and volatile like the wind. The precariousness of our existence reminds us t...
Ink, Canvas, Pigment
$15,000
"Pond With Lotus Flowers" Monet's Water Garden in Giverny Painting on Canvas
By Eric Alfaro
Located in New York, NY
From Monet's sanctuary in Giverny, we are transported effortlessly through bold brushwork and impasto paint. Alfaro diligently layers the canvas with acrylic paint creating a truly b...
Canvas, Acrylic
One-Of-A-Kind Abstract Painting on Canvas by Serg Graff " Modern Vision", COA
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This unique large acrylic painting on canvas is a vibrant and energetic abstract work filled with overlapping splashes, drips, and swirls of bold, bright colors such as pink, yellow,...
Oil
$1,890Sale Price|30% Off
grey pastel abstract coastal water impressionist painting original artwork
Located in COOMERA, QLD
"Long Summer Evening" Translating the beauty of Australian coastal shorelines into soft pastel colours, I love! This piece speaks to the soul's longing for peace and the ever-presen...
Canvas, Acrylic
$5,200
Demetra's Sickle - gestural abstract, acrylic on canvas
By Angela Letizia Renzi & Richard Tosczak
Located in Bloomfield, ON
At once lyrical and colourful, this large acrylic painting by Canadian visual artist Richard Tosczak was inspired by Ancient Greek mythology. Rendered in vivid sea blues, turquoise, ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Where it is quiet, No.6
Located in Zofingen, AG
There are moments when the world no longer asks for explanations. When nothing needs to be named in order to be felt. Silence is not the absence of sound — it emerges where inner ten...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$481Sale 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: 11.75 x 11.75 inches condition: very good and impressive provenance: all the paintings we have for sale by this artist have come from the artists studio and are all featured in the artists Catalogue Raisonne. Jacques, Paul, Firmin Coulais is a French painter born on March 22 , 1955 in Fenioux ( Deux-Sèvres ) and died at the age of 56, the June 25 , 2011 in Niort (Deux-Sèvres). Born into a farming family, he was the seventh of eight children. Suddenly becoming a quadriplegic at the age of six following poliomyelitis, he overcame this handicap by building with determination an independent life centered on artistic practice and an intense social life. For more than thirty years his house and his workshop have been the center of attraction for many artists, art lovers or simply friends of Niort and all of France. Coulais began to paint with his mouth, as an autodidact. In 1978, he made the acquaintance of a plastic art teacher who advised him and engaged him on the path of watercolour. The freedom granted to him by this technique as well as the flexibility of its application fascinate him. This meeting and the friendship shared with his teacher, lead him and very quickly direct his work from figurative to abstraction in a way that he explores and that he will then find in the works of Kandinsky and Paul Klee. Admitted to the School of Fine Arts in Angoulême, he studied there from 1981 to 1984 and obtained the National Superior Diploma in Plastic Expression at the age of 31. A few years later, Jacques Coulais exhibited at the Museum of Niort and since then, his career has been punctuated by his participation in numerous exhibitions organized very regularly in various French cities as well as abroad. In the 1990s, the AAPBP, Association of Mouth and Foot Painting...
Gouache
Abstract 4, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Layers of blue and cream with touches of orange and black create an energetic composition. The blending of colors evokes a strong sense of movement, while the...
Oil
$1,088
White Nights. Abstract expressionist, grey, Japandi, Wabi-Sabi, Shabby Chic
Located in Oslo, NO
The viewer sees a work in which the abstract language of painting acquires poetic power. The work is made using the mixed media technique: the translucency of the epoxy resin, superi...
Canvas, Epoxy Resin, Acrylic
$1,680Sale Price|20% Off
The Alchemy of Letting Go. Modern colorful abstract painting 100x100 cm
By Anna Selina
Located in Zofingen, AG
This vibrant abstract piece, titled "Alchemy of Letting Go," features energetic, sweeping brushstrokes in bold, vivid colors. The dynamic composition embodies a process of transforma...
Oil
Identity Crisis, Brightly Colored Abstract Painting, Original Artwork
Located in Chicago, IL
In Identity Crisis, Mary Strasevicius builds an intensely layered surface from countless strokes, splatters, loops, fragments, and flickering passages of color. No single form domina...
Canvas, Acrylic
Children fishing in a Creek (PA Impressionist landscape painting)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Roy Nuse (1885-1975) Children Fishing by a Creek, 1923 Oil on panel measuring 12 x 16 inches. Overall measurement with frame 17.5 x 21.5 inches. Signed and dated with monogram low...
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: 8.5 x 5.75inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we hav...
Oil
In a Hurry
Located in Zofingen, AG
"In a Hurry From the series “Infinity Map” We all journey through our own inner world. Along the way, we encounter images that cannot be explained literally. They may evoke fear, hop...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$2,250
Spring is in the Air - Abstract Expressionist Green Landscape Painting on Canvas
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, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$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
Golden Country: Abstract Impressionist Landscape
Located in Atlanta, GA
Georgia based artist Niyati Jiwani creates works that aim to fuse abstraction and themes of nature utilizing color, gesture, and light. Born in India, Niyati grew up with a flair an...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$100Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Painting on Canvas by Serg Graff "Funny Octopuses", COA
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This is a unique original acrylic painting on canvas in a lively fantasy abstract style by Serg Graff, titled “Funny Octopuses.” The painting bursts with color and movement, depicti...
Acrylic
White folds 9. 3D abstraction
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting, created on canvas with clay, depicts soft, flowing folds that create the impression of draped fabric. The entire piece is rendered in a pure white color, giving it eleg...
Clay, Canvas, Acrylic
The Way Home - Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Abstract, 36in x 36in
By Mario Angel
Located in Mississauga, CA
"The Way Home" is a compelling cubist-inspired surrealist painting that offers an intricate display of mid-century modern narrative style mixed with dreamlike, allegorical imagery. T...
Canvas, Acrylic
Abstract 2508
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I delved into the raw emotions of rebirth and transformation. The blend of cool blues and spirited pink streaks across a tumultuous yet harmonious canvas symb...
Acrylic
$378Sale Price|20% Off
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
Untitled 2 . From Ritmos abstractos (Abstract Rhythms) Series
Located in Miami Beach, FL
"Abstract Rhythms" invites us to explore the visual universe of the artist Juan Carlos Amador, who, through his unique perspective, translates the pulsations of space and the invisi...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$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 board unframed: 7.75 x 7.75 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we have fo...
Oil
Violet Bloom - Impasto, Spray Paint Painting on Linen Canvas, floral art, roses
Located in Zofingen, AG
Built with the same palette-knife layering technique across Anastassia Skopp's floral series, Violet Bloom translates scent into colour rather than form. Anastassia Skopp wanted to c...
Canvas, Linen, Acrylic
$1,285
Priceless 1 - Textured Impasto Acrylic Colorful Abstract Painting on Canvas
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, Glitter
$1,784Sale Price|20% Off
1987 French Abstract Expressionist Composition Oil Painting Andre Copin
By Andre Copin
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist: André Copin (French, 1911–1998) Medium: Oil on canvas Date: Circa 1987 Size: 39.4 x 31.9 x 1.2 inches Signature: Signed lower corner Condition: Good condition Description A ...
Oil
$5,604Sale Price|30% Off
Harmony Floral Abstract Painting in Acrylic on Canvas, 21st Century
Located in London, London
All custom charges are included in the final price agreed. Floral abstract contemporary decor, blue flowers, still-life. Artist: Katarina Joys: Title: "Harmony" Full size ca...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$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 thick board unframed: 8 x 8 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we have fo...
Oil
$544Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled #537 by Murray Duncan – Original Contemporary Mixed Media on Paper
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #537 by Murray Duncan – Contemporary Mixed Media on Paper Size: 32" x 40" Unframed, signed on the back A striking exploration of form and movement, Untitled #527 by Murray ...
Oil Crayon, Acrylic, Pencil
Quiet Horizon, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Layered palette knife strokes form a rhythmic horizon where a soft, light-filled sky meets deep, shifting water. The textured surface suggests the quiet movemen...
Oil
Abstract Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Light', C. 1995 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
Welcome drink
Located in Zofingen, AG
The “11 PM” series is an artistic exploration of human vulnerability and privacy through the lens of light voyeurism. What do we do when we’re left alone in the dark? While one perso...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic
Abstract 2558
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured my emotions into a dance of textures and soft hues. The creamy creams, gentle pinks, and calming blues blend with unexpected bursts of black to evoke a serene...
Oil, Acrylic
Large Vintage American Modernist Cubist Portrait Original MCM Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist oil painting. Oil on canvas. Unsigned. Measuring: 34 by 22 inches overall. Excellent condition, ready to hang and enjoy.
Oil, Canvas
$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
Júlia Martins Miranda – Contemporary Tropical Bird Painting, Oil on Canvas 2026
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
Pearlescent Drapery. 3D textured
Located in Zofingen, AG
The artwork, created on 1 cm thick plywood, is a unique combination of textures and natural elements. The upper part of the painting is made from faux leather with a pearlescent tint...
Plywood, Mixed Media
$1,815
No Answer - Modern Original Impasto Thick Paint Textural 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
A Moment Together by Gaetan de Seguin Figurative contemporary Painting
Located in DE
Contemporary figurative painting with lots of details and movement. Beautiful statement piece for any art collection. Combining a lot of different colors in any interiors and settin...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,300Sale Price|35% Off
Hermosa Way - Large Abstract Blue Original Painting on Canvas
By Clara Berta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clara Berta’s acrylic and mixed-media paintings blend texture and color to create harmony, mystery, and depth on the painted surface. Her paintings transform spaces into Zen environm...
Canvas, Mixed Media, 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.