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: Sax Berlin
La Grande Parisienne. Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
When this beautiful piece was created Berlin had been staging a one man renaissance of the early 20th Century School of Paris. For 8 years in this wing of study he used the shapes of...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Marble
The Musician. Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Detailed in this painting are themes dear to Sax Berlin’s heart; music, poetry, and culture, both ancient and modern. There’s a subtle aura of myth and mysticism surrounding this pie...
Category
1990s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
When the Camellia Falls Into the Darkness of the Well
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A tour de force from Sax Berlin with this piece. It’s a glowing, almost three dimensional painting full of warmth with stunning use of red tonal colours. His figure is enigmatic and ...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
Mother With Child: Contemporary Figurative Oil painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Few artists have mastered the use of pigments in the way that Sax Berlin has and his delicate touch with them imbues this painting with warmth and love. The dark inked lines surround...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Ink, Oil, Egg Tempera
Choreographer. Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
In this Harlequin series work Berlin has The choreographer absent mindedly slipping on a ballet slipper. The hand is hardly discernible on the canvas as it is in his mind. His gaze a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Fire Bird." Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
In front of the swirling maelstrom Fire Bird sits dispassionately awaiting transformation into his next character. Berlin brings hints of the phoenix legend to bear in this piece an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Blue Cigarette, Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Blue Cigarette - something of a departure in style for Berlin. This elegant, sophisticated lady is an interpretation on canvas of how he would create her in stained glass.
30" x 24"
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Mystery of Majesty, Contemporary Mixed Media Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Something so special it's hardly ever seen - creative silver and gold leafing. The face passed through seven stages before it was complete and crushed marble is used to adorn her fac...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Marble, Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Angel Of Peace: Contemporary Mixed Media Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
In these testing times it's become easy to turn inwards rather than looking outwards into the world. In a painting that is archetypical of Sax Berlin Angel of Peace is a reflection ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Marble, Gold Leaf
Clothed In Light, Abraham and Sarah
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
This majestic double portrait "Abraham and Sarah" is part of a series of paintings by breaking British artist, Sax Berlin. Inspired by the Bible and also by a commission to paint “Is...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
"Guardian Angel, Sista". Contemporary Painting. New York City
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Guardian Angel Sista was created by Berlin as part of his Neo-expressionism series. He uses sgraffito to evoke the feel of the New York subway and it frames the iconic Guardian Angel...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Silver, Gold Leaf
Peace Will Come, Oil and silver leaf on canvas.
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
From the shimmering Silver Leaf series - Peace Will Come. In turbulent times this piece creates a notion of universal pathos. Berlin has the power to imbue his paintings with deep se...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Silver Leaf
Longing, Contemporary Mixed Media Painting With Silver & Gold Leaf
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
From Sax Berlin's Silver Series this is a piece that portrays heart rending pathos. In this piece Sax has created beauty, emotion & tranquillity. A deeply moving, touching work.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
The Impulse Is Divine: Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
This title encapsulates the whole ethos of Sax Berlin; the impulse to create courses through him in vibrant immediacy resulting in paintings that are timeless. In this work his creat...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
"The Guitarist." Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A piece of classical beauty painted in Sax Berlin's New York Studio in 1999. She's a study in muted tones, delicately rendered. Gentle, soft and mystical, The Guitarist is an enigmat...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Fools Of Clear Light. Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Complex and encompassing this is from Sax Berlin's Fools series created in the 1990's. This series is perhaps the most intricate of Sax's oeuvre; it's almost impossible to find all t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
"To Whom The Gods Love Destiny Comes Late" Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Just when you think an artist has reached the zenith of creativity and beauty a piece arrives that is simply breathtaking. It truly is Sax Berlin's destiny to create these stunning w...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Copper, Gold Leaf
Golden Buddha: Oil and Gold Leaf on Canvas
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A work of True quality by this master artist Sax BERLIN. Quote from Sax
"….gaze into the face…with this piece the Buddha reveals himself to himself."
Sax Berlin is creating the Gre...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
The Great Uncovering of the Face of God, Oil on canvas painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
The Great Uncovering Of God. A major work from Berlin and companion to his Certainty Of Eternity.
Metaphysics and alchemy come together in this piece depicting emerging Bodhisattvas...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
ZiZi de Montparnasse: Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting by Sax Berlin
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
An enigmatic portrait in oils from Berlin, stylised and elongated this person is a mysterious figure. ZiZi was a writer and poet who was a friend of the artist. It is certainly a re...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"No King" (Dedicated To George Washington) Contemporary Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Berlin wanted to pay tribute to the great American President George Washington. This piece reflects the colourful glory of Washington refusing to become King of his country and estab...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil Crayon, Oil
Musical Emanations Contemporary figurative oil & goldleaf painting by Sax Berlin
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A glorious painting from Sax Berlin's studio. Richly clothed & adorned, the Muse sits in peaceful meditation, her guitar held to her breast. Muse of music, bringing joy & peace to t...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Harlequin's Golden Collar: Contemporary Figurative Mixed Media Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
The latest rendition of Sax Berlin's interpretation of Harlequin. A beautiful piece evocative of medieval wall art where Harlequin wears his traditional hat, often shown in the modern world to have belonged to jesters but is really an allusion to the diamond pattern associated with Harlequin. There may also be a hidden reference to Picasso here; in Guernica Picasso...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Pursuit of Peace. JFK. Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Sax Berlin is a master of many styles and this Van Goghesque portrait of JFK is both subtle and eye-catching. Shocking events are taking place in the world so it's fitting that Berli...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
Saphos Queen Of Lesbos. Contemporary Figurative Mixed MediaPainting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Lyric poet Sappho was born on the Greek island of Lesbos sometime in the 600's BC, although little is certain about her life and much of her poetry is lost to us her reputation, orig...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Silver Leaf
"Peace To America" Large Contemporary Oil, Gold & Silver Leaf Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Perhaps this stunning painting by Sax Berlin is more pertinent than when it was first conceptualised. Sax Berlin, top of his game. Sax lived and painted in America for many years in ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Silver, Gold Leaf
The Poet: Contemporary Mixed Media Figurative Oil Painting. Gold and Silver Leaf
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A beautiful representation of an ancient Grecian lyric poet, only Sax Berlin knows which one! This is a quite spectacular piece; it's richly created and could, one believes, be a wor...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Mary And The Grain Of Mustard Seed, Oil and Gold and Silver Leaf Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
An almost gospel theme from Sax Berlin; harking to the parable of the mustard seed that we find in the gospel of Luke. Sax has combined this powerful imagery with the equally powerfu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Tathagata: Contemporary Mixed Media Buddha Painting by Sax Berlin
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Tathagata - a Pali or Sanscrit word used primarily by Siddartha Gautama Buddha to refer to himself. However it also the term for one who has reached enlightenment through Buddhist pr...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
The Apostles Of The Archipelago Beyond Atlantis. Contemporary Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
The Apostles Of The Archipelago Beyond Atlantis. A masterful offering from Sax Berlin, beautiful women gazing out over the mythical landscape that was (we assume) the lost city state...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Saffron Effulgence". Contemporary Buddha oil painting with gold leaf
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Sax Berlin has an affinity with Buddhism and his stunning representations of Buddha are a product of his knowledge and his empathy for the subject. Saffron Effulgence is a rich yet t...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
"Classical Harlequin". Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Classical Harlequin - in this Harlequin painting Berlin shows his character barefaced and out of costume. The Harlequin is quiet and reflective in the foreground, however in the back...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
The Golden Mind : Life's Celebration. Contemporary Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
We are excited to bring this incredible painting to public attention. Berlin is renowned for his use of colour, pigments and texture but this piece is truly exceptional. Sumptuous in...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Marble, Copper, Gold Leaf
The Guitarist: Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Maestro Sax Berlin took more years to complete his Guitarist than Picasso his and this painting is a juxtaposed image of the old, blind beggar. The Berlin Guitarist is vibrant in cre...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
New York City Jazz Club by Sax Berlin
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Ode to master bassman and composer Lincoln Schleifer from the New York music scene. Sax's look into his head with the musicians seeing, breathing and enveloped by the music.
Yet ag...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Ink, Gouache
Pierrot Enchanted. Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
From Sax Berlin's 1991 Pierrot series.
Hand ground pigments on canvas. signed
Category
1990s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Womens' Wisdom. Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Sax Berlin has such mastery over his craft. This piece is exceptional, there's beautiful imagery, sumptuous colour, and the Wise Women. Berlin has mixed beauty, strength and mythos i...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Several Shades Of Dust: Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Described by some as a masterpiece this is a deeply personal painting brought forth from the imagination of Sax Berlin. Many years in the creating, Berlin wanted this image to emerge...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
White Faced Harlequin, Contemporary Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Fully costumed Harlequin sits before the hot swirling background looking reflective after his performance. With his ceruse coated face he is the archetypal image of our perception of...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
Preparing For The Muse (Mark Rylance). Contemporary Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Portrait of actor Mark Rylance preparing for one of his earlier roles
Gouache on Italian Slate in a contemporary Black frame.
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Slate
Sisters of Mercy. Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Sisters of Mercy - obviously women of great strength of character as painted by Master Artist Sax Berlin in 2006. These divine women have the unique gift of consecrated life and brin...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
One Pearl Of Great Price. Contemporary Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
One Pearl Of Great Price is part of the "When We Were Harlekings" collection. A pearl, unlike other gems, emerges as a perfect object and represents the true self. Through diligent s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Harlequin On Fire. Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Harlequin On Fire from the studio of Sax Berlin. Vivid colour reflects the face of Harlequin; he gazes back as the fire rages; will he plunge into the inferno...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Silver Leaf
"In The Light Of Eternity". Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
In The Light Of Eternity - nobody can portray the strength of woman in the same way as Sax Berlin, his paintings of women from the classical epoch of Ancient Greece are unsurpassed. ...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"White Gold Lilies for the Dove of Peace" Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A masterwork from a master artist,White Gold Lilies for the Dove of Peace is an immaculate piece, pure colours balanced with earthy hues imbue the work with shades of sumptuous richness seldom found outside the great collections. Nuance and symbolism combine within the elements of this painting to create an artistic journey through antiquity; Japanese wood block design, the language of flowers, even the colours themselves combine so masterfully to complete the piece.
In this large ground breaking painting Berlin has used bright vermillion & turquoise powered tones, volcanic glass and rock garnered from the slopes of Mount Vesuvius create texture and the use of the finest hand ground pigments and pure white gold leaf escalate this seminal piece to a higher plane.
This magnificent painting offers the pinnacle of modern fine art...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Pieta: Contemporary figurative oil painting by Sax Berlin
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Inspired by the Shroud of Turin this stunning piece incorporates a singular technique on each section. A masterful and unique amalgamation of materials...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Pierrot and the Harlequin. Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A subtle piece from Sax Berlin created in the 1990's; this painting unites 2 iconic figures, Pierrot and Harlequin. Whilst being totally differen...
Category
20th Century Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"From The Inner Heart To The Dove Of Peace." Contemporary Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Berlin's series of remarkable images of mythically, spiritual women is now augmented by this latest work. The Inner Heart to the Dove of Peace is an intense piece, a paean of hope. H...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Marble, Copper, Gold Leaf
Beauty And Wisdom. Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Beauty and Wisdom - Berlin has captured the essence of woman in this painting. It is a deeply spirtual piece and evokes the journey through life to eventual harmony with self. The ac...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
The Buddha Of Peace. Contemporary Figurative Mixed Media Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
This work was inspired by Berlin's many visits to the Peace Pagoda during his sojourn to Nepal over the Winter. Sax prepares his canvasses and waits for the right conjunction of crea...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Blue Harlequin. Contemporary Mixed Media Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
There's no mistaking this character, Arlecchino the medieval Comedie Del'Arte actor. In this thoughtful piece from Master Artist Sax Berlin we can see an interpretation of the Harleq...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Adonis The Beautiful. Contemporary Mixed Media Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Adonis The Beautiful. Oil and silver leaf on canvas. The effect of the silver leaf is mesmerizing, constantly changing with the light. The additional images show the painting at a sl...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Silver
"Toaist Landscape, Mountains and Mist" Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Balsam, ground marble and hand ground pigments give this work great depth. This piece from Sax Berlin works on different levels; the beautiful, subtle palette & the contemplative dra...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Marble
Pierrot Illuminated. Contemporary Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A 1991 work from the Pierrot series. 40 x 24 inches hand ground pigment on canvas
Category
1990s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
Sappho's Cliff. Contemporary Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Is it possible to paint an abstract Classical picture? If so then this superb piece must surely be it. In the portrait of her head Sappho almost appears as a negative image, much like the Turin Shroud...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Petrushka", Hand Ground Pigments on Canvas
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A stock character of Russian marionette theatre since the 18th Century, set in St. Petersburg this is a burlesque tale of unrequited love. Charlatan...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Silver Leaf
Fire Birds: Contemporary figurative oil painting by Sax Berlin
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A powerful image of Harlequins; they sit in security knowing that behind the turbulence of the world surges all around them. This latest form of the Harlequin from Berlin is vibrant ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
Reflection of a Fire Bird, Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting by Sax Berlin
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
From the Fire Bird series of 2015. Reflections of a Fire Bird emanates the reflection of orange light from his mirror. Orange is a power colour, signifying creativity but also healin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
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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