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
Textile, Canvas, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Carbon Pencil, Oil Pastel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Wood, Oil
1990s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Pink peonies rest gracefully in a round vase, their interwining stems create a sense of structure within the organic display. Two fallen buds rest just below, e...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Glass, Oil, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Vinyl
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Linen, Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Latex, Spray Paint, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Metal
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Paint, Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Linen, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
Artist Comments
A serene view stretches beyond, revealing Pope Island in Lubec, Maine. A house rests by the water under a bright sky. This is the seventh piece artist Jay Jen...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Mary Pratt paints women parading with parasols, each unique in their own way. "Geishas intrigue me, and I never tire of capturing their beauty," says Mary. The intricate patterns of their kimonos stand...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Wood Panel, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Resin, Oil, Panel, Ballpoint Pen
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Paper, Acrylic
1970s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Masonite, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Found Objects, Watercolor, Gouache, Tea
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Latex, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Artist Comments
This still life celebrates the simple beauty of homegrown produce. With warm tones and detailed brushwork, artist Steve Boggs captures the essence of his summer...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Linen, Oil
Artist Comments
The shimmering sea peeks through a beach house and offers a glimpse of its tranquil beauty. The floor, wall, and ceiling lead to the water, creating a seamles...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Textile, Paint, Mixed Media, Fabric, Canvas, Thread, Found Objects, Oil,...
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Gold Leaf
Contemporary paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
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