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.
$3,700
Mnemonic Rhythm (Bright, Multicolored Textile Inspired Abstract Wall Sculpture)
By Susan Stover
Located in Hudson, NY
Mnemonic Rhythm (Bright, Multicolored Textile Inspired Abstract Wall Sculpture), made by Susan Stover in 2025 wood, oil paint, varnish, waxed linen thread 30 x 30 inches Lightweight,...
Thread, Wood, Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
Colored Abstract, Books, Oil on canvas, Expressionism, Geometric
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
In this work (Inner Arrangement), Sophie Dumont continues her exploration of the stylized library as a mental and architectural space rather than a literal representation. The compos...
Oil
Vintage American Modernist Framed Abstract Painting in Antique Italian Frame
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist painting. Gouache on board. Signed. Framed. Measuring: 20 by 15 inches overall. Handsomely framed in an antique Italian frame. Excellent condition, read...
Oil, Gouache, Board
Mémoire Obscure - Large Abstract Oil Painting, Signed, 2026, French
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Artist Presentation Sophie Dumont is a French contemporary painter whose work explores abstraction through memory, architecture, and the silent presence of objects. Working primaril...
Canvas, Oil
"The Denizens of Delight - Fun with Matisse", Abstract, Mixed Media Painting
By Peter Knapp
Located in Franklin, MA
Peter Knapp’s “The Denizens of Delight – Fun with Matisse” is a 27.375 x 38.25 x 1 inch mixed media abstract painting on panel in blue, purple, orange, and green acrylic, ink, and co...
Archival Ink, Acrylic, Panel, Color Pencil
Autumn impressions
Located in Zofingen, AG
Autumn impressions. In this piece, I poured my passion for vibrant color and movement into every brushstroke. The rich reds and purples evoke the fiery heart of autumn, while the su...
Canvas, Oil
$1,293Sale Price|35% 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
$2,052Sale Price|20% Off
Huge French Contemporary Modernist Abstract Oil Painting Multi Colors
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition signed by Jacqueline VERDET (French, 1931-2023) oil painting on canvas, unframed canvas: 45 x 35 inches condition: the work is in overall very sound and good con...
Canvas, Oil
Just Like Blue Sapphire 01 - Mellow Abstract Painting
By Usha Shukla
Located in Boston, MA
Just Like Blue Sapphire 01 16.0 × 20.0 × 1.5, 2.0 lbs Oil Paint Hand signed by the artist Artist's Commentary: "Over the years I’ve become a keen observer of wave patterns. On th...
Oil
$20,000
"Rhapsody in Red" Large-Scale Acrylic, Oil Pastels, Pencils Abstract 72"x60"
Located in New York, NY
"Rhapsody in Red", 2025, 72" H x 60" W. Large-scale abstract painting in hues of a warm, desaturated crimson consisting of acrylic, pencils, and oil pastels on canvas by Argentine-bo...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Carbon Pencil, Color Pencil
The Hush of Winter, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A quiet, enveloping atmosphere emerges. The abstract scene evokes the stillness of winter days when hushed sound and landscape rest within a veil of calm. Subtl...
Oil
Abstract Composition
Located in Columbia, MO
Original oil painting by Pennerton West, signed lower recto. Pennerton West (American, 1913 - 1965) was a painter, printmaker, and designer, descended from the historical American p...
Canvas, Oil
$479Sale Price|20% Off
Double Blue Painting, Abstract Acrylic on Paper, Framed, 21st Century
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The painting is acrylic on cartoon, according to my opinion evoking a good illusion of depth and imagination. Delivered in an easy frame - recommendation -leave it as it is and put t...
Paper, Acrylic
$4,700
Fruity Ramen Alchemy: THE ANSWER IS WITHIN - Large Meditative Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract minimalist artist Jason DeMeo presents a collection of artworks designed to engage viewers in a meditative experience, drawing them closer to the enduring ideals of truth, b...
Gold Leaf
$2,310
Awakening Dreams - Abstract Luminous Earth Tone Textural Floral Acrylic Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from an immersive and impressionistic interpretation of nature, Canadian artist Vé Boisvert paints textural original artworks that capture the fleeting effects of...
Canvas, Acrylic
Birchwood Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, 2000s, Signed
By Gareth Edwards
Located in Brecon, Powys
Oil paint and marble dust. Signed inscribed and dated to verso Gareth Edwards is a contemporary landscape painter. He is a graduate of Goldsmiths Coll...
Marble
Forever Hope - Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, Framed, 1980s
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This modern abstract is a Harold Feist 'spoke' painting. Early in his career, Canadian artist Harold Feist was mentored by the famed New York Art critic, Clement Greenberg and the f...
Canvas, Acrylic
Vintage American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Framed MCM Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist abstract oil painting. Oil on board. Signed. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Measuring: 15 by 19 inches overall. Handsomely framed in...
Oil
$1,605Sale Price|20% Off
Details about LARGE 1970'S FRENCH MODERNIST SIGNED OIL - BRIGHT & COLORFUL INT
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French School, signed lower left, circa 1970's Title: The Interior. Medium: oil painting, on canvas, framed. Size: frame: 25 x 41inches painting: 23.5 x...
Canvas, Oil
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
$14,380
Constructed Memory-Abstract oil painting, stylized bookshelf with warm tones
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Sophie Dumont (b. 1964, Paris) French contemporary painter Sophie Dumont has developed a distinctive body of work over the past two decades, exploring the intersection of memory, str...
Oil
$5,440Sale Price|20% Off
Lighthearted, 2024, by Murray Duncan, Mix Media on Canvas, Geometric Abstract
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Lighthearted By Murray Duncan Lighthearted is a large-scale abstract composition defined by gestural movement, architectural line-work, and a warm, luminous ground. Working in layer...
Glaze, Oil Crayon, Acrylic, Pencil
Test Color - Colorful Impasto Textural Thick Paint Framed 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, Glitter, Board
Large Vintage American Modernist Framed Abstract Expressionist Signed Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large vintage American modernist oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Handsomely framed. Excellent condition, ready to hang and ...
Oil, Canvas
Abstract 2569
Located in Zofingen, AG
This artwork captivates with its abstract representation of a serene landscape, dominated by green and pink hues. The piece is a vivid explosion of color and texture, invoking the es...
Oil, Acrylic
$2,756
Monochrome Ultramarine Blue Abstract Painting on Canvas by Gabriela Meunie
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
At Escat Gallery we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork in our collection comes with a Certificate of Au...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Pigment
$7,171
Flowers abstract sky Blooming Ether Abstract Painting, Acrylic Oil on Canvas
Located in London, London
All custom charges are included in the final price agreed. Red flowers, blue sky, space, stars, passion, pink, crimson, blossom, love. Abstract RED flowers expressionist extra larg...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Love (Peonies)
Located in Zofingen, AG
Two delicate peonies on a deep navy-blue background. It feels as if these two flowers have merged into one — this is love! The painting is created with acrylic on canvas: layered br...
Canvas, Acrylic
Still Life 10 - Original Abstract Still Life Oil Pastel on Colored Paper, Signed
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, Paper, Oil
$7,800
Delta (Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting on Canvas in Teal, Aqua Blue & Green)
By Jenny Nelson
Located in Hudson, NY
Square, abstract expressionist oil painting on canvas in aqua, teal, blue, and green against pale grey with accents of yellow, peach, and mauve 'Delta' by Jenny Nelson Oil on linen, ...
Canvas, Oil
Ventrilocuo, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas / Framed Black wood 50 x 75 cm Signed About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 1973) graduated from Escuela Nacional d...
Canvas, Acrylic
Forgotten melody 150x200cm, Extra Large Abstract Violet Painting Interior Design
Located in Zofingen, AG
This extra-large artwork is made with acrylic on canvas. UV protection varnish. Inspired by the Very Peri color and abstract elements with fantasy lettering. The artwork and the com...
Canvas, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
Abstract expressionist woman's portrait acrylic on paper "Serenity of the woman"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressionist woman’s portrait "Serenity of the Woman" was created by French artist Natalya Mougenot as part of her ongoing series dedicated to Women. Thro...
Paper, Acrylic
#232, 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
$1,200Sale Price|40% Off
Street After Rain (Santiago de Chile) Dominican Artist
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Alberto Ulloa Burgos (1 January 1950 – 1 October 2011). Street After Rain (Santiago de Chile), 1970. Oil on masonite panel measuring 20 x 24 inches; 26 x 30 inches framed. Signed and dated lower right. Original frame with export label stamp. Alberto Ulloa Burgos was a painter, sculptor, and poet from Altamira, Dominican Republic. He was a student of the distinguished Latin American painter Jaime Colson...
Masonite, Oil
Abstract Geometric Painting by Dave Braden
Located in San Francisco, CA
No two shapes are alike. Yet they work together as a harmonious whole. Painter David Braden has described his vision overall in abstract terms. Inspired by individuality, he especial...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,900
Absorbed in Brilliance (Gerhard Richter Style Abstract Painting in Blue & Teal)
By Bruce Murphy
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract expressionist painting in the style of Gerhard Richter in a blue, teal, and green palette with accents of peach, yellow, and pink "Absorbed in Brilliance", made by Bruce Mur...
Enamel
$8,820
Palimpseste- Large Black Abstract Library Painting – Oil on Canvas –Contemporary
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Title: Palimpsest Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 100 x 100 cm 39.37 x 39.37 in (canvas only), 107 x 107 cm 42.12 x 42.12 in framed Year: 2025 Framing: Black wooden floater frame ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,318
Contemporary Abstract Figurative Mixed Media Drawing Pink Neutral Danny Avidan
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Danny Avidan’s paintings explore the tension between form and formlessness, using it as a way to reflect on the body and the creative process. His expressive gestures continuously at...
Charcoal, Oil, Pencil, Pigment, Handmade Paper
$150Sale Price|31% Off
"Ocean Waves #09" Mixed Media Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Ana Hefco's (US based) "Ocean Waves #09" is an original, hand made mixed media painting that depicts an abstracted color field of blue, teal and beige, that is reminiscent of an aerial/satellite image of a coastal beach where the waves crash on shore. Artist Bio and Statement: Born and raised in Bucharest Romania, I am a self-taught dreamer and artist. To dream is my path and to paint is my dream. Lack of control is not my strong suit, but in the painting process things are different. The resin (also known as liquid glass) has a mind of its own and I learn to mindfully let go every time I paint. I allow those liquid color induced emotions I feel to drive me and take lead of my hands and at the end of the process, it’s just music and bliss. My inspiration is always nature's force, balance, perfection in purpose and beauty. It can be a place I travelled or sailed to or just a feeling floating on our boat docked in a Turkish marina or just on anchor nearby a Greek taverna on a remote tiny island in the Mediterranean or Aegean Sea. It can be this artist as a little girl reading...
Resin, Wood, Mixed Media
Abstract Oil Painting by Mirko Baricchi – Minimal Contemporary Composition
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Mirko Baricchi (born 1970) is an accomplished Italian painter who currently lives and works between Vicenza and La Spezia, regions located in Veneto and Liguria, Italy, respectively....
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Christina Gschwantner Vivid Gestures – Contemporary Abstract Painting Bright New
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Contemporary abstract painting with vivid gestures and bright colors. Bold strokes of red, yellow, violet, and white emerge with energy against a muted ground, creating a powerful ba...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Oil
Pink Fantasy. Abstraction.
Located in Zofingen, AG
The work is created in the fluid art technique using acrylic on canvas. The composition is built on the soft, flowing interweaving of pink, coral, and milky white tones, creating a s...
Canvas, Acrylic
$85,000
'Exterminator II', Large Beat Generation Diptych, Naked Lunch, Ginsberg
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, right-hand canvas, "William S. Burroughs" (American, 1914-1997), dated "1993" and titled "Exterminator II'. Signed on lower left, left-hand canvas, "Steven Lowe" ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Ruz Golden Black Big Dejame - original abstract acrylic canvas painting
By Rafael Ruz
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Dejame - original abstract acrylic canvas painting. framed , Rafael (Barcelona 1956) While contemplating the painting of Ruz, we are inclined to talk about real ‘psychodrama’, in t...
Canvas, 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
Abstract Oil Painting by Mirko Baricchi – Contemporary Color Field Composition
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Mirko Baricchi (born 1970) is an accomplished Italian painter who currently lives and works between Vicenza and La Spezia, regions located in Veneto and Liguria, Italy, respectively....
Cotton Canvas, Oil
$3,954
Contemporary Minimalist Yellow Earth Abstract Painting Canvas Tete Alurralde
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
At Escat Gallery we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork in our collection comes with a Certificate of Au...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Pigment
#260, 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
$1,188Sale Price|20% Off
Textural Seascape Mixed-Media Wall Sculpture in Modeling Clay and Acrylic Blue
By Vera Vizzi
Located in FISTERRA, ES
Mixed-media wall sculpture in modeling clay and acrylic on wood, a textural seascape in intense blue tones where layered bas-relief waves open a perceptual passage across a circular ...
Enamel
avp_1628 - Original Abstract Red Tone Contemporary Acrylic Painting on Paper
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 coll...
Paper, Acrylic
Hushed Moment 1
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 2288
Located in Zofingen, AG
There’s something ethereal, almost magical, about contemporary paintings. The incredible Expressionism bleeds through the canvas, transforming any room into an entirely new experienc...
Acrylic
$299
Contemporary impressionist expressive oil painting on paper "Just oranges"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
French artist Natalya Mougenot presents a new series of small oil paintings inspired by the quiet beauty of everyday life. "Just Oranges" is one of the pieces from this collection—a ...
Oil, Paper
"Evidence " ( contemporary semi& abstract nature landscape)
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
In this semi-abstract expressive artwork named "Evidence" I experience the world of nature through various colors such as purple, green, blue, red. While painting, I sought to capt...
Acrylic, Paper
#239, 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
$3,475
Seasons, Abstract Lanscape, oil, Contemporary, multicolor, french art, modern
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Choose the color of the frame: black or wood Unframed dimensions: 60 x 60 cm (approx. 23.6 x 23.6 in) Framed dimensions: 74 x 74 cm (approx. 29.1 x 29.1 in) About the artist Sophie...
Oil
"Wavelet" Fine Art Mirror
Located in Westport, CT
This abstract fine art mirror by Alina B is made with dichroic film on mirror, and is framed in a champagne-toned frame. The film on the mirror allows for it, and the space it reflec...
Mirror, Film
$11,500
Golden Moments - Large Original Abstract Expressionism Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The paintings of Bruce Rubenstein seamlessly marry sophistication with affordability. His original art merges the creative attitudes of the two distinct art hot spots of New York and...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$9,107
Geometrie de la pensee- Large Abstract Library – Oil on canvas, Contemporary art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Oil on canvas – 39.37 × 39.37 in (100 × 100 cm) Framed: approx. 42.13 × 42.13 in (107 × 107 cm) Frame options: natural wood or black Year: 2025 – Signed front Certificate of authenti...
Canvas, Oil
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.