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: Joanne Mattera
Tutto Three, Cobalt Blue, Burgundy Red, Mint Green, Teal Stripes Mixed Media
Located in Kent, CT
Mint green and burgundy red stripes are bright and colorful against a luminous cobalt blue background. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s paintings can be described...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Panel
Silk Road 481, Mint Green, Sky Blue Square Color Field Encaustic Painting
Located in Kent, CT
Vibrant mint green and sky blue encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting accented with subtle gold and red details on birch panel. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Tutto Nine, Coral Orange, Dark Red, Yellow, Pink Striped Mixed Media Painting
Located in Kent, CT
A bright multicolored painting with lime green, periwinkle, golden orange, yellow and burgundy red stripes against a luminous coral background. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Jo...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Silk Road 260, Pale Mint Blue, Lavender Encaustic Painting
Located in Kent, CT
Bright pale lavender encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel with pale mint blue in the background and light purple along the edges. Signed and titled on verso.
Joanne...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 414, Bright Turquoise Blue, Teal Color Field Square Encaustic
Located in Kent, CT
A bright, vibrant teal blue encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with bright blue edges. Signed and titled on the verso.
Joanne Mattera’s paintings can be ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Tutto Eight, Light Teal Blue, Lime Green, Golden Yellow Orange Stripes
Located in Kent, CT
A bright multicolored painting with lime green, periwinkle, golden orange, yellow and burgundy red stripes against a luminous light aqua blue background. Signed, dated and titled on ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Silk Road 409, Cobalt Blue, Purple, Teal Square Color Field Encaustic Painting
Located in Kent, CT
A deep, bright cobalt blue encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting with light purple and vibrant teal accents on birch panel. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s paintings can be described as lush minimalism, the work is chromatically rich and compositionally reductive. Each painting in the ongoing Silk Road series is a small color field achieved by layers of translucent wax paint applied at right angles. The series, began in 2005, was inspired by the iridescent hues of slubbed silk, hence the title, but very quickly evolved into a more expansive exploration of color. In plying the richness of the encaustic paint against the austerity of a very subtle grid the artist sets in motion a dynamic in which color and texture jostle for primacy. A decade and almost 300 paintings later, the artist is still enthralled with this exploration.
Mattera is the foremost expert in the field of encaustic painting and is the founder and former director of the International Encaustic Conference. Her artwork is in the collections of The New Britain Museum of Contemporary Art, US Embassies (Slovenia and Poland), US State Department, Bank of America, and Norwegian Cruise Lines, to name a few as well as numerous private collections. Mattera writes a contemporary art blog, she is a frequent guest speaker and curator and is a member of American Abstract Artists (NYC). The artist lives and works in MA and in NYC.
Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The word comes originally from the Greek word “enkaustikis” meaning to “burn in” and the process dates back to the 5th century. The liquid or paste is applied to a surface —usually prepared wood. Metal tools...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 479, Square Color Field Painting, Iridescent Pink, Peach, Bright Red
Located in Kent, CT
A square, vibrant iridescent pink and bright red encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting accented with coral, peach and orange details on birch panel. Signed, dated and titled on vers...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Tutto One, Striped Mixed Media Painting, Orange, Mint Green, Purple, Yellow
Located in Kent, CT
A multicolored painting with bright yellow, aqua, burgundy and light violet stripes against a vivid orange background.
Joanne Mattera’s paintings can be described as lush minimalis...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Panel
Silk Road 408, Lavender Purple, Bright Blue Edge Square Encaustic Painting
Located in Kent, CT
Vibrant purple and lavender encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with bright teal blue along the edge. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s paintings can be described as lush minimalism, the work is chromatically rich and compositionally reductive. Each painting in the ongoing Silk Road series is a small color field achieved by layers of translucent wax paint applied at right angles. The series, began in 2005, was inspired by the iridescent hues of slubbed silk, hence the title, but very quickly evolved into a more expansive exploration of color. In plying the richness of the encaustic paint against the austerity of a very subtle grid the artist sets in motion a dynamic in which color and texture jostle for primacy. A decade and almost 300 paintings later, the artist is still enthralled with this exploration.
Mattera is the foremost expert in the field of encaustic painting and is the founder and former director of the International Encaustic Conference. Her artwork is in the collections of The New Britain Museum of Contemporary Art, US Embassies (Slovenia and Poland), US State Department, Bank of America, and Norwegian Cruise Lines, to name a few as well as numerous private collections. Mattera writes a contemporary art blog, she is a frequent guest speaker and curator and is a member of American Abstract Artists (NYC). The artist lives and works in MA and in NYC.
Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The word comes originally from the Greek word “enkaustikis” meaning to “burn in” and the process dates back to the 5th century. The liquid or paste is applied to a surface—usually prepared wood. Metal tools...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 221, Peach, Orange, Pink, Lilac Square Color Field Encaustic Painting
Located in Kent, CT
This is a square, vibrant peach, pink and pale orange encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel with soft periwinkle and pale lilac highlights and light purple edges. Sig...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 274, Aqua, Light Green, Blue, Yellow Color Field Square Painting
Located in Kent, CT
Light aqua and green encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel with a bright yellow edge. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s paintings are can be descri...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 273, Pale Blue, Light Yellow Square Color Field Encaustic Painting
Located in Kent, CT
Light blue and pale golden yellow encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with light orange highlights and pale peach edges. Signed, dated and titled on verso....
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 412, Bright Orange, Peach, Encaustic Wax Color Field Painting
Located in Kent, CT
This is a deep, bright orange encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel with coral pink along the edge. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera is the foremost expert in the field of encaustic painting and is the founder and former director of the International Encaustic Conference. Her artwork is in the collections of The New Britain Museum of Contemporary Art, US Embassies (Slovenia and Poland), US State Department, Bank of America, and Norwegian Cruise Lines, to name a few, as well as numerous private collections. Mattera writes a contemporary art blog, she is a frequent guest speaker and curator and is a member of American Abstract Artists (NYC). The artist lives and works in MA and in NYC.
Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The word comes originally from the Greek word “enkaustikis” meaning to “burn in” and the process dates back to the 5th century. The liquid or paste is applied to a surface —usually prepared wood. Metal tools...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 415, Metallic Silver, Bright Blue Square Encaustic Color Field
Located in Kent, CT
Vibrant metallic silver and bright teal blue encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with bright blue edges. Signed and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s pain...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Oil, Panel
Silk Road 386, Pale Violet, Teal Blue Square Encaustic Color Field Painting
Located in Kent, CT
Pale lavender, pinky purple encaustic (pigmented beeswax) square painting on birch panel with light lilac details in and light teal blue along the edges. Signed and titled on verso.
...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 358, Red, Light Blue, Pale Purple Lilac Encaustic Painting
Located in Kent, CT
Dark red encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with subtle lilac, gray and lavender details and a light purple edge. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joan...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 416, Light Blue, Purple, Lilac Color Field Encaustic Painting
Located in Kent, CT
Light periwinkle blue encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting with pale lilac purple accents on birch panel. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s paintings can be desc...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 259, Pale Lilac Purple Light Blue Square Color Field
Located in Kent, CT
A pale lavender purple encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel with soft, pale periwinkle blue in the background and light purple along the edges. Signed, dated and tit...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 356, Square Color Field Painting Bright Green, Peach Coral
Located in Kent, CT
A bright green encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel with yellow in the background and peach along the edges. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s pai...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 442, Square Color Field Painting, Cobalt Blue, Bright Electric Teal
Located in Kent, CT
A vibrant cobalt blue and bright turquoise encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with subtle orange and red details. Signed and titled on verso.
Joanne Matt...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 252, Square Wax Color Field Painting, Green, Yellow, Orange
Located in Kent, CT
A vibrant orange, yellow and light green encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with lime green edges. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s pa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 410, Square Color Field Painting, Light Lilac Purple, Blue, Coral
Located in Kent, CT
A light lilac purple encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting with pale teal blue accents and bright coral edges on birch panel. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s pa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 223, Color Field Square Painting, Light Powder Blue, Coral Red
Located in Kent, CT
A luminous pale blue encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with bright coral along the edge of the panel. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 241, Square Color Field Encaustic Painting in Teal Blue, Lime Green
Located in Kent, CT
This is a vibrant teal blue and light green encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel is accented with luminous lime green details along the edge. Signed, dated and title...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 413, Square Color Field Painting, Bright Yellow Golden Lemon
Located in Kent, CT
A yellow encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with light neon lemon yellow edges. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s paintings can be desc...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 247, Square Color Field Encaustic Painting, Turquoise Blue
Located in Kent, CT
A vibrant turquoise blue encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with a paler shade of blue along the edges. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 261, Aqua Green, Pale Yellow Encaustic Color Field Square Painting
Located in Kent, CT
Silk Road 261 is an aqua green and pale yellow encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel with an aqua edge. Signed, dated and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’s paintings...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 411, Square Encaustic Color Field Painting on Panel, Red and Orange
Located in Kent, CT
This is a vibrant red orange encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting with light reddish orange and faint yellow accents on birch panel. Signed, date...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 192, Bright Pink Encaustic Colorful Square Small Painting Color Grid
Located in Kent, CT
This is a vibrant pink encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with a darker shade of reddish pink along the edge. Signed and titled on verso.
Joanne Mattera’...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 441, Orange, Gold, Purple, Pink Square Color Field Encaustic Painting
Located in Kent, CT
This is a square, vibrant orange and purple encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel accented with bright pink and subtle gold details. Signed, dated and titled on verso...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
Silk Road 278, Bright Crimson Red Square Encaustic Color Field Painting
Located in Kent, CT
This is a vibrant, crimson red encaustic (pigmented beeswax) painting on birch panel with dark burgundy and light, golden orange accents. Signed, titled and dated on verso.
Joanne M...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Encaustic, Panel
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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