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.
$2,306Sale Price|20% Off
Vistula River IV - Contemporary Atmospheric and Modern Riverscape Painting
Located in Hallein, AT
A few words of the artist about his art: When i painting landscapes, I usually choose simple geometric arrangements, contrasts of verticals and levels. I juxtapose the smooth surfac...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Duo, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Two horses lean on each other as they rest under a night sky. Three white birds soar overhead, heading in the same direction. The scene captures a peaceful mome...
Acrylic
"Temptation" (from the series "Inspired by Matisse")
Located in Zofingen, AG
Not the body, but the timeless whisper of desire. Within her delicate audacity breathes an ancient allure: a force that draws us closer, even as it forever eludes our grasp.
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,300
Landscape 07 - 21st Century Contemporary Impressionistic Landscape Painting
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Frank Dekkers Landscape 07 15 x 20 cm (framed, included in price 20 x 25 cm) oil on Panel About the artist: Frank Dekkers, an outdoor painter, but not a "square painter" as we know...
Oil, Wood Panel
Contemporary Mixed Media Canvas Painting, Signed, 21st Century
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Oluwafemi Akanmu is a Nigerian-born artist who creates beautiful and thought-provoking works of art. One of his most stunning pieces is titled "Vision...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$27,520Sale Price|20% Off
Manhattan Henge New York City Dramatic Sunset by British Urban Landscape Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Manhattan Henge New York City Dramatic Sunset by British Urban Landscape Artist, Angela Wakefield. Painted using strong blue, red and yellow primary colours, this striking original f...
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Tea and Cookies, Oil Painting
By Art Tatin
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A floral-patterned mug stands beside a gleaming metal teapot accompanied by a plate of buttery, sweet palmier cookies. The polished stainless steel reflects t...
Oil
Kill Your Darlings No.5 - contemporary, abstract, acrylic on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary abstract painting was inspired by nature. This rich composition by Sandra Goldie, a Canadian artist is somewhat reminiscent of the expressive, fluid work by the F...
Canvas, Acrylic
$165
Zinnia Bouquet in Glass Jar III - Colorful Watercolor Still Life Floral Painting
By Xiao Wen Xu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Xiao Wen Xu's artistic practice is deeply influenced by her profound appreciation for the natural world. This artwork is part of her "Zinnia Bouquet" series. Through a masterful blen...
Paper, Watercolor
Unapologetic Vogue - 21st Century Mixed Media with Oil, African Fabrics, Women
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Bakare Babatund...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
“Spiral movement”
Located in Zofingen, AG
Red fish move towards each other, forming a closed circle — a spiral — a space of eternal movement, interaction, equilibrium and balance. This is an image of cyclicality, reciprocity...
Canvas, Acrylic
HG66 - Playful Chaos Hidden Garden, 2023
By Damien Hirst
Located in Manchester, GB
Damien Hirst, HG66 - Playful Chaos Hidden Gardens, 2023 Oil on canvas presented in a white, hand-painted wooden frame 62.3 x 45 cm (24.5 x 17.7 in) Original artwork Hand-Signed by D...
Canvas, Oil
Farming the Sun, Original Painting
By John Jaster
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Sunflowers basking in the sunlight dominate the scene. At the top of the field, a red barn and a cluster of farm buildings rest beneath a blue summer sky, fra...
Acrylic
"My Horizon - Manhattan Nights" Abstract Color Field Contemporary Painting
By Cindy Shaoul
Located in New York, NY
An acrylic and gold leaf on canvas piece with bright use of color and texture. We are focused on the simplicity of beauty in the moment as Shaoul creates a translucent but very color...
Gold Leaf
Partridge Pocket Painting 242, original painting, still-life
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Partridge 242 (canvas size 5x5cm) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a n...
Canvas, Oil
Dance of Waves and Light
Located in Zofingen, AG
Series: Between light and silence This seascape captures a fleeting, luminous rhythm — where waves rise like breath and the sea reflects not just the sky, but a pulse of emotion. The...
Canvas, Acrylic
Beauty Within: Contemporary Oil and Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. Blac...
Oil, Canvas, Acrylic
$48,000Sale Price|20% Off
Migrate: Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, 2009
By Lloyd Martin
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Artist: Lloyd Martin Title: Migrate Medium: Oil on Canvas Size: 66 x 120 inches Year: 2009 American artist Lloyd Martin, known internationally for his rh...
Canvas, Oil
Stare 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
REFLECTIONS XI - Contemporary Atmospheric Lake Landscape
Located in Hallein, AT
A few words of the artist about his art: When i painting landscapes, I usually choose simple geometric arrangements, contrasts of verticals and levels. I juxtapose the smooth surfac...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$280Sale Price|20% Off
Life, I'm Tired - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract Painting, Colours
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique; this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,250
Style and Confidence - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Imagine We Make It Happen - Impasto Thick Paint Colorful Original Figurative Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Coulombe-Bégin's dynamic acrylic on canvas works seek to produce a metamorphic interpretation of the artist's inner identity. Her paintings make ample use of contrasting colors to create exuberance and energy in her images. Inspired by street art, Coulombe Bégin 's paintings range from the abstract to the surreal and employ a variety of techniques and materials. Her contemporary artworks draw inspiration from body image, the universally recognizable symbol of hearts, and the experience of humankind. She brings a sensitivity to her work that stems from her exploration of identity and the joy and happiness of existence. Coulombe-Bégin draws us into her internal world: exploring the soul and matter, conscience, and the modern universe. This original figurative pop art painting measures 36 inches tall by 72 inches wide. The thickly textured paint is applied with tactile brushwork. It is wired and ready to hang. The sides of this artwork are painted black and it does not require framing. Free local Los Angeles delivery. Affordable Continental U.S. and worldwide shipping are available. A certificate of authenticity issued by the art gallery is included. Coulombe-Bégin’s work portrays from colorful hearts to specific parts of the human body, especially large close-up portrayals of the mouth and eyes, which are depicted with great contrasts of color and chiaroscuro. These symbols are constructed with specific gestures and drippings in which Coulombe-Bégin expresses an abstract universe full of movement, symbolism, and eroticism. Born in Miami, Coulombe-Bégin grew up in Quebec City where she earned a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2006 from Laval University. Starting very young, her parents focused a great deal on both the arts and athletics which helped her develop her own mode of expression. “I am particularly interested in the fragmented corporal shell, which I emphasize through spontaneous movement and vivid colors.” stated Coulombe-Bégin. “My experience with painting has led me to see things differently, to self-discovery and to great astonishment." Coulombe-Bégin's works have been exhibited and collected worldwide, including Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, and Australia. REPRESENTATION Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2023 Inspire moi, Galerie Iris, Baie-St-Paul 2021 Le Corps à Coeur, Galerie Corno X Beauchamp, Montréal 2019 Rêve moi, Centre Boréart, Granby, QC Feel Moi, Galerie Iris, Baie-St-Paul, QC 2017 Wildest Dreams, La nuit des Galeries, Québec Salon d’habitation d’automne, Qébec 2016 Salon d’habitation d’automne, Québec 2015 Polyphonie, Palais Montcalm, Québec 2012 Le feu à la bouche, SSS, Québec, QC 2011 Le Moulin La Lorraine, Lac Etchemin, QC 2010 Lunetterie du faubourg, Quebec Les futures Déesses désirées, Le Cercle, Quebec, QC Trafic d'organes, Clocher penché, Quebec, QC Corps et Corporalités, Studio Party...
Canvas, Acrylic
Petra - Original Abstract Expressionism Figurative Portrait Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Erin Hammond is a contemporary abstract expressionist artist whose free-form paintings capture the essence of her inner, subjective realities. With a vibrant palette and dynamic mark...
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$1,786Sale Price|20% Off
The Billiard Player oil on canvas painting
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Title: The Billiard Player Artist: Anonymous Technique: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 39.4 x 31.9 in Period: c. 2000 Condition: Good Art Movement: Contemporary Figurativism, Neofiguratio...
Canvas, Oil
The River to the Ocean Goes - ethereal abstract landscape
Located in Silverthorne, CO
An ethereal abstract landscape painting, a meandering river of life wandering through a green world under a purple sky. I look at the river and see the eternity of things. And my ow...
Canvas, Oil
$493
Abstract expressive floral acrylic painting on paper "Summer flowers of joy""
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This abstract expressive artwork, "Summer Flowers of Joy," by French artist Natalya Mougenot, is part of her Floral series. Natalya enjoys working in a single, uninterrupted session ...
Paper, Acrylic
Landscape - Oil Paint - 1990s
Located in Roma, IT
Oil on canvas realized by an italian painter in 1990s and hand signed "De Silvestri". Very good condition.
Oil
$4,000
"Wrapped in Thoughts III", Encaustic Figurative Abstract, Neutral and Warm Tones
By Rinat Goren
Located in Carmel, CA
Rinat Goren (Israeli, American, born 1964) "Wrapped in Thoughts III" 2019 Encaustic paint on cradled wood panel The artist signed the bottom right corner of the painting. “Wrapped i...
Encaustic, Wood Panel, Stretcher Bars
Georgian Contemporary Art by Nino Tolomashvili - Untitled
Located in Paris, IDF
Mixed media on canvas, Nino Tolomashvili is a Georgian painter born in 2003 who lives and works in Tbilisi, Georgia. After completing her schooling, she pursued her studies at the T...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$3,500Sale Price|30% Off
Philosopher Original Oil Painting Canvas Surreal 30x38in Signed Paula Craioveanu
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Philosopher" . Original, unique painting. oil on canvas, 30x38in. Shipped rolled in a tube from Europe to the USA using DHL or FedEx, no custom or import fees in the US. Shipped rol...
Oil, Canvas
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
"Board Meeting" Oil Painting
Located in Boca Raton, FL
A gorgeous oil painting of surfers paddling out in the warm pink, late afternoon light waiting for the last waves of the day. It's a social piece about friends, the good things in li...
Oil
Sara MacCulloch "Beach from water" - Landscape Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in New York, NY
Sara MacCulloch Beach from water, 2022 oil on canvas 30 x 40 in. (macc093) This original oil painting on canvas by Sara MacCulloch depicts a serene and beautiful coastal beach inlet...
Canvas, Oil
Afrocentric Radiance Painting, Mixed Media on Canvas, 21st Century
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
In a vibrant celebration of African heritage and beauty, our protagonist, a stunning black African woman, graces the scene with her majestic presence. Crowned with a voluminous afro ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Fabric, Oil
De La Saint - Original Oil on Canvas Abstract Figurative Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mark Acetelli’s oil and mixed media paintings awaken the viewer’s sense of exploration and adventure; they demand a new discovery. His artworks exhibit a chemistry of complexity and ...
Canvas, Oil
$8,873
The Whispering of the River - 21st Century Contemporary Imaginary Landscapes
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Michiel Schrijver 'The Whispering of the River' 100 x 90 cm (framed: 104 x 94 cm (Wooden frame is included in price) acryl on canvas Dutch Painter Michiel Schrijver lives and works ...
Canvas, Acrylic
"Severance" Oil Painting 48" x 60" inch by Genevieve May
Located in Culver City, CA
"Severance" Oil Painting 48" x 60" inch by Genevieve May Medium: Oil and gold leaf on panel Severance: It will always be hard to say goodbye, no matter how many times we endure it...
Gold Leaf
Plant, "The Joy Series: A Journey to Inner Happiness" series
Located in Zofingen, AG
"The Joy Series: A Journey to Inner Happiness." In this series of artworks, I delve into the theme of happiness and joy in unusual times when it seems that the whole world is in a st...
Canvas, Acrylic, Cardboard
Soft Souls - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative, Expressionism, Africa Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"There is a language spoken only in the space between us— a calm that holds our truths without demanding words. In that quiet, we find understanding, we find safety, we find each oth...
Canvas, Acrylic
$5,800
Saudade No 21 - bold, expressive, red, white, blue, abstract acrylic on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
In Portuguese, the word ‘Saudade’ means ‘missing’ and conveys a nostalgic longing for an absent place or person. The emotion in this abstract painting by Montreal-based artist Shiree...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,325
Yellow Drip II - Vibrant Contemporary Abstract Figurative Sculptural Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nebraka-based Jamie Burmeister is a sculptural artist known for his original artworks incorporating original small bronze and aluminum figures, standing at just up to 4 inches tall. ...
Metal
$27,520Sale Price|20% Off
Golden Yellow Orange Sunset in New York, Contemporary Cityscape Painting Framed
Located in Preston, GB
Golden Yellow Orange Sunset in New York, Contemporary Cityscape Painting Framed by British Urban Landscape Artist Angela Wakefield. This original is part of the New York Series, a bo...
Linen, Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Shared Secret 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work appeared without a clear plan. Sometimes I simply begin painting objects that seem able to coexist within a single composition. I like the feeling that things somehow know ...
Canvas, Oil
I Remember Your Promise - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Mixed Media
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Princewill Aruo...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Wax, Pigment
"More Flowers", Urban Scene with Flower Van Oil and Mixed Media Painting
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"More Flowers" is a one-of-a-kind piece created by Eustace Mamba. This oil painting on canvas artwork measures 16”h x 20”w. It ships with a gallery-issued Certificate of Authenticit...
Paint, Oil, Other Medium, Canvas
TORRUB by Ramon Enrich - 59 In Wide Square Painting, Red Tones
By Ramon Enrich
Located in Paris, FR
TORRUB is a unique acrylic on canvas painting by contemporary artist Ramon Enrich, dimensions are 150 × 150 cm (59.1 × 59.1 in). Dimensions of the framed artwork are 154 cm x 154 cm ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Forever Guest: Figurative Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Signed
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting invites you into a quiet yet uncanny scene where logic dissolves into symbolism. Two androgynous figures, dressed in formal black jackets and loose contemporary trouser...
Lacquer, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$681
Whisper of the Soul , Myths Series original painting by Tetiana Pchelnykova
Located in Zofingen, AG
In "Whisper of the Soul," my newest addition to the "Myths" series, I have crafted an image that delves into the mystical world of self-discovery and introspection. This artwork can...
Canvas, Acrylic
Tales By Moonlight 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Landscapes, Modern City, Oil
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The harbor town hummed with a low, rhythmic energy as the sun dipped below the horizon. Shadows stretched long and ominous, swallowing the vibrant colors of the day. But as the last ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$280Sale Price|20% Off
Two is Perfect - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, Colouful
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique; this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by...
Canvas, Acrylic
"Nesting", Botanical Watercolor of Opossums in a Nest with Strawberries
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Nesting" is an original artwork by Christina Mrozik and is made of watercolor on paper, and measures 17.5"h × 17.5"w framed. It is signed en verso by the artist. ...
Paper, Watercolor
Transition
Located in San Francisco, CA
Alejandro Rubio Transition, 2024 Acrylic on canvas 60 x 60 inches This one-of-a-kind acrylic painting on canvas is stretched across wooden stretcher bars.
Canvas, Acrylic
$4,850
Beauty in Black 2 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women Fabric
By Bola Obatuyi
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Bol...
Fabric, Canvas, Oil
Light 2 April 21:09 - Modern Minimalistic Nature Landscape Painting
Located in Hallein, AT
Robert Motelski's paintings are exceptional visions of nature, visions of space which surrounds us. They tell about being, fate and passing. They depend on the season of year, the ti...
Canvas, Acrylic
Whisper - Large Scale Original Pastel Tone Oceanscape Sunset Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Charlotte Elizabeth has been working with paint professionally for over fifteen years. Elizabeth’s training in theatre design preceded a busy career as a Theatrical Scenic Artist in ...
Gold Leaf
$8,355
2023 II-3 by Christiane Maurer - Fibert Art, Geometric Patterns, Handwoven
Located in Paris, FR
2023 II – 3 is a unique textile (double weave, handwoven cotton stretched on frame) artwork by contemporary artist Christiane Maurer, dimensions are 100 × 90 cm (39.4 × 35.4 in). Th...
Textile, Cotton
Of Wonder
By Gwen Wong
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gwen Wong's work is both painterly and allegorical, caught somewhere in the middle between the representational painter and the narrator. "I am inspired by the idea of a childhood re...
Gold Leaf
Reds In Overdrive: Horse Grid / original large acrylic painting
By Kim Frohsin
Located in Burlingame, CA
'Reds in Overdrive' from Frohsin's Horse Grid series is vibrant and lively, in reds pinks and purples. The work features horses walking, galloping, jumping and standing. The painting...
Acrylic, Archival Ink, Mixed Media, Pigment
Atunbi (Rebirth) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women
By Oluwatimileyin Tega Adegbenjo
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Reborn, renewed, a soul reborn, A life renewed, a path to adorn. Memories of a past life remain, Haunting, yet freeing, like a chain. A new life, a new chance to grow, To learn, to ...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil, Acrylic
$2,500
Peaceful Synergy - 21st Century, Contemporary, Portrait, Africa Women, Blue
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Sam...
Canvas, Acrylic, Charcoal
The artist and activist is the subject of a new show at Washington, D.C.'s National Gallery of Art.
Manhattan's Acquavella Galleries is showing a group of the artist's monumental works that have never been seen together.
Koloman Moser smashed the conservative conventions of art and design in fin-de-siècle Vienna. On the 100th anniversary of his death, the Austrian designer is being celebrated for his radically modern creations.