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Contemporary Paintings

CONTEMPORARY STYLE

Used to refer to a time rather than an aesthetic, Contemporary art generally describes pieces created after 1970 or being made by living artists anywhere in the world. This immediacy means it encompasses art responding to the present moment through diverse subjects, media and themes. Contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, performance, digital art, video and more frequently includes work that is attempting to reshape current ideas about what art can be, from Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s use of candy to memorialize a lover he lost to AIDS-related complications to Jenny Holzer’s ongoing “Truisms,” a Conceptual series that sees provocative messages printed on billboards, T-shirts, benches and other public places that exist outside of formal exhibitions and the conventional “white cube” of galleries.

Contemporary art has been pushing the boundaries of creative expression for years. Its disruption of the traditional concepts of art are often aiming to engage viewers in complex questions about identity, society and culture. In the latter part of the 20th century, contemporary movements included Land art, in which artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer create large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations and other works in soil and bodies of water; Sound art, with artists such as Christian Marclay and Susan Philipsz centering art on sonic experiences; and New Media art, in which mass media and digital culture inform the work of artists such as Nam June Paik and Rafaël Rozendaal.

The first decades of the 21st century have seen the growth of Contemporary African art, the revival of figurative painting, the emergence of street art and the rise of NFTs, unique digital artworks that are powered by blockchain technology.

Major Contemporary artists practicing now include Ai Weiwei, Cecily Brown, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker.

Find a collection of Contemporary prints, photography, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Contemporary
Artist: Jenny Day
"Nocturne" -- Painting on Canvas by Jenny Day
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a BA in Environmental Studies from the U...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Precarious Mimicry
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a BA in Environmental Studies from the U...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Ink, Canvas, Acrylic, Color Pencil

"Jungle Glitch" -- Painting on Canvas, by Jenny Day
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a BA in Environmental Studies from the U...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Ink, Canvas, Color Pencil

"Free fall into tiny stars" -- Painting on Canvas, by Jenny Day
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a BA in Environmental Studies from the U...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Ink, Canvas, Acrylic, Color Pencil

I Remember You When The Moon Is Asleep
Located in Denver, CO
Jenny Day (b.1981) is a painter and sculptor who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Vinyl, Pen, Color Pencil

Don't Judge Bella
Located in Denver, CO
Jenny Day (b.1981) is a painter and sculptor who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Vinyl, Pen, Color Pencil

Mapping the Edges
Located in Denver, CO
Jenny Day (b.1981) is a painter and sculptor who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Ink, Acrylic, Vinyl, Pen, Color Pencil

Piecing it back together
Located in New Orleans, LA
Retreating from the stress and chaos of the last year, I created another landscape; populated by an army of friendly creatures. Here the burdens of coronavirus, climate change, and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Not as straight forward as you think
Located in New Orleans, LA
Retreating from the stress and chaos of the last year, I created another landscape; populated by an army of friendly creatures. Here the burdens of coronavirus, climate change, and political division are dismissed by hot pink kittens that arc gracefully through meter showers and owls that bury into beds of daffodils. In this place worry is edged out by the fantastic and mystical snails trail neon candy canes through the scorched earth. The apocalyptic is supplanted by the surreal and the allegorical. Anxiety followed me. The escapist reflects and distorts its shadow world, the real, a funhouse mirror...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Fire Escape
Located in New Orleans, LA
Retreating from the stress and chaos of the last year, I created another landscape; populated by an army of friendly creatures. Here the burdens of coronavirus, climate change, and political division are dismissed by hot pink kittens...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Color Pencil, Canvas

A sudden embrace
Located in New Orleans, LA
Retreating from the stress and chaos of the last year, I created another landscape; populated by an army of friendly creatures. Here the burdens of coronavirus, climate change, and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Awe
Located in New Orleans, LA
Retreating from the stress and chaos of the last year, I created another landscape; populated by an army of friendly creatures. Here the burdens of coronavirus, climate change, and political division are dismissed by hot pink kittens...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Color Pencil

A kiss, a snarl
Located in New Orleans, LA
Retreating from the stress and chaos of the last year, I created another landscape; populated by an army of friendly creatures. Here the burdens of coronavirus, climate change, and political division are dismissed by hot pink kittens...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Color Pencil, Acrylic, Canvas

Maybe the horrendous can be okay?
Located in New Orleans, LA
Retreating from the stress and chaos of the last year, I created another landscape; populated by an army of friendly creatures. Here the burdens of coronavirus, climate change, and political division are dismissed by hot pink kittens that arc gracefully through meter showers and owls that bury into beds of daffodils. In this place worry is edged out by the fantastic and mystical snails trail neon candy canes through the scorched earth. The apocalyptic is supplanted by the surreal and the allegorical. Anxiety followed me. The escapist reflects and distorts its shadow world, the real, a funhouse mirror...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Maximum Saturation
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Alaska Fa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Enamel

How long is forever
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Alaska Fa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Happy Cows, Equine Ghosts
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Alaska Fa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Fake Snow, Real Salt
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Alaska Fa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Enamel

The Multiplication of Desert
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Alaska Fa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Enamel

63rd utopian attempt
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of California Santa Cruz. Her exhibition record most recently includes the Phoenix Art Museum, Blue Star Art Museum, in San Antonio, TX, Arte Laguna in Venice, Italy, Czong Institute for Contemporary Art in Korea, and Elmhurst Museum in Chicago, IL. Day's work has been supported by an Elizabeth Greenshields Grant in 2018, Contemporary Forum Artist Grant from the Phoenix Art Museum in 2017, a Barron Purchase Award in 2016 and through participation at the Ucross Foundation, the Jentel Foundation, Playa Foundation For The Arts, Kimmel Harding Nelson Art Center, and the Armory Art Center. Jenny Day is an exhibiting artist at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery. STATEMENT I walked in the Mohave desert. Listened to the bees as they hummed and sucked from yellow creosote flowers. I watched the desert blur by as I drove eighty-miles per hour on I-40. I couldn’t hear the bees. The Mohave backdropped a science-fiction film I watched from my couch...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Miscalibration: relentless cervine optimism
Located in New Orleans, LA
materials: acrylic ink, spray paint, airbrush, flashe, collage, colored pencil, paint pen, glitter on canvas --- JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earne...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Glitter, Ink, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Toppling Pile of Hope
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY (b.1981) is a painter based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Ala...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

One small complaint may hide a great one
Located in New Orleans, LA
materials: acrylic, flashe, spray paint, glitter, paint pen, collage on canvas --- JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Glitter, Spray Paint, Acrylic

Normal Probability
Located in New Orleans, LA
materials: acrylic, glitter, colored pencil, paint pen, collage on canvas --- JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing fr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Glitter, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Startup Prometheus, horse horse unicorn
Located in New Orleans, LA
materials: acrylic, ink, spray paint, airbrush, flashe, collage, color pencil, paint pen, glitter on canvas --- JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Glitter, Ink, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Maybe a Little Threat
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY (b.1981) is a painter based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Ala...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Glitter, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pencil

100
Located in New Orleans, LA
Medium: acrylic, flashe, collage, pencil, paint pen, crayon and glitter on canvas. Our gallery is pleased to announce the first solo exhibition of Tucson-based artist Jenny Day, ent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Crayon, Glitter, Acrylic, Pencil

Numinous graffiti
Located in New Orleans, LA
materials: acrylic, ink, flashe, spray paint, glitter, paint pen, collage on canvas --- JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Glitter, Ink, Spray Paint, Acrylic

Miscalibration: sacred profane
Located in New Orleans, LA
materials: acrylic, ink, spray paint, airbrush, flashe, collage, colored pencil, paint pen, glitter on canvas --- JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earn...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Color Pencil, Canvas, Paint, Glitter, Ink, Spray Paint

Trees Press Play
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY (b.1981) is a painter based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Ala...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Glitter, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Nice Try Harvey
Located in New Orleans, LA
"Lone Star, True But Whatever There was I time when I ached for the world. Before cell phones, before social media, I felt the urgency of environmental damage, of social injustice. Nothing seems to have gotten better. I'm not numb to it, but in some way I've become flip, a resigned humor like a layer of scar tissue between my concerns and the abrasion all around. Still, I was surprised how playful these paintings became. Disasters intertwine: Urns, much like the one that held my twin sister's ashes, a familial disaster, come to the forefront, variations of childhood memory. Images from photos I took in Port Aransas...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Paint, Glitter, Ink, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Dead End Nostalgia
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY (b.1981) is a painter based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Ala...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Glitter, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Pencil

Two Plagues / One House
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Enamel

Foundational Void
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY (b.1981) is a painter based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Ala...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Glitter, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Color Pencil

1:50 / 3:05
Located in New Orleans, LA
Medium: acrylic, flashe, collage, pencil, paint pen, glitter and crayon on canvas. Our gallery is pleased to announce the first solo exhibition of Tucson-based artist Jenny Day, ent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Crayon, Glitter, Acrylic

House in the Ravine and
Located in New Orleans, LA
Medium: acrylic, flashe, collage, pencil, paint pen, crayon, collage, glitter on canvas Our gallery is pleased to announce the first solo exhibition of Tucson-based artist Jenny Day...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Crayon, Glitter, Acrylic, Pencil

End
Located in New Orleans, LA
Medium: acrylic, flashe, collage, pencil, paint pen, crayon and glitter on canvas Our gallery is pleased to announce the first solo exhibition of Tucson-based artist Jenny Day, enti...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Crayon, Glitter, Acrylic, Pencil

Miscalibration: pink abundance
Located in New Orleans, LA
materials: acrylic, spray paint, airbrush, flashe, colored pencil, paint pen, glitter on canvas --- JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in P...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Glitter, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Color Pencil

A Slow Descent
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Ink, Oil, Acrylic, Pen, Color Pencil, Graphite

Earthquake Failure
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Enamel

Deeper Still (Skid Steer)
Located in New Orleans, LA
medium: acrylic, paint pen, ink, pencil, enamel, and collage on canvas Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fra...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

P4011
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Acrylic, Color Pencil

America Fuck Yeah
Located in New Orleans, LA
JENNY DAY (b.1981) is a painter based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Arizona, a BFA in Painting from the University of Ala...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Glitter, Mixed Media, Oil, Spray Paint, Acrylic

Down the Apoxee
Located in New Orleans, LA
medium: acrylic, enamel, ink, pencil, and collage on canvas Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented spa...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Nearly Somewhere 018
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Spray Paint, Color Pencil

Nearly Somewhere 015
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Color Pencil

A funny kind of valentine
Located in New Orleans, LA
A funny kind of valentine Acrylic, pencil, flashe on canvas 12” x 12” 2019 BIO JENNY DAY is a painter who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She earned an MFA in Painting and Drawi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Acrylic, Pencil

Sugar Rupture
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Enamel

Toxic
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Pencil, Canvas, Mixed Media, Wax, Acrylic

Dust Storm Halo
Located in New Orleans, LA
medium: acrylic, paint pen, ink, pencil, enamel, and collage on canvas Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fra...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Enamel

The Absence of Limestone
Located in New Orleans, LA
medium: acrylic, paint pen, ink, pencil, enamel, and collage on canvas Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fra...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Amperage
Located in New Orleans, LA
medium: acrylic, paint pen, ink, pencil, enamel, and collage on canvas Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fra...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Splinters, Lumens
Located in New Orleans, LA
2017 Acrylic, enamel, pencil, paint pen and collage on panel 20” x 48” Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fra...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Enamel

Make it Greener
Located in New Orleans, LA
medium: acrylic, enamel, ink, pencil, and collage on canvas Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented spa...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Enamel

Everything Sinks Eventually
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The Wind Brought the Night
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Enamel

Designated Lurking Area
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Enamel

Nearly Somewhere 016
Located in New Orleans, LA
Jenny Day is a painter who divides her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She paints a fragmented space, examining human demand and the effects of environmental d...
Category

2010s Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Ink, Wax, Acrylic, Color Pencil

Contemporary paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Contemporary Paintings>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, red, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Hunt Slonem, Steven Miller, Howard Tangye, and Irena Orlov. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Fabric and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Contemporary paintings, so small editions measuring 0.75 inches across are also available.

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