Contemporary Paintings
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.
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1970s Contemporary Paintings
Tempera, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas, Ink, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A solitary patron in a bar abandons his untouched drink and heads to a phone booth, carrying crucial papers in hand. The cigarette he leaves behind continues ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Acrylic Polymer, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Wood, Paper, Charcoal, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Textile, Linen, Yarn
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Ink, Mixed Media, Gouache, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A variety of glass vases hold vibrant spring flower arrangements. The mix of colors creates a lively scene and contrasts against the soft, neutral background....
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Meringue cookies stack together, each one delectable and delightful. Their crisp exterior and rich tones come to life against the soft, yellow background. Thi...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
In this black and white portrait, artist Mark Cudd captures the quiet intensity of a suited man, his gaze fixed directly on the viewer. Referenced from a vintag...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Wood Panel, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil Crayon, Acrylic, Rag Paper
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Paper, Acrylic Polymer
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Charcoal, Paper
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Paper, Pigment
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Varnish, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Acrylic, Laid Paper
Contemporary paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
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