A resurgence of interest in Expressionism, Pop art, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism and other movements gained steam among artists of the 1970s and ’80s, in part as a reaction to the austerity of the prevailing minimalism and Conceptual art of the era. A decadent, bold and brash art style called Neo-Expressionism saw painters returning to figural representation, creating highly textured works that were imbued with intensely personal narratives.
Neo-Expressionist paintings are sensuous in nature and highly subjective in meaning. Expressive brushwork, highly pigmented colors and layered forms and materials lent sculptural attributes to the work and were used to depict symbolic narratives from history, mythology and the artist’s personal experience.
Prominent figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat led the Neo-Expressionist movement in the United States with paintings and prints that were raw, emotional and often violent in nature. In Germany, Die Neuen Wilden (the “New Fauves”) was the name given to a group of postwar artists that included the likes of sculptor Georg Baselitz and Gerhard Richter, a painter and photographer who explored the possibilities of both abstraction and realism, sometimes in a single piece. The work of the New Fauves — labeled as such for its return to Fauvism’s textured brushwork and use of vibrant colors — shares commonalities with Neo-Expressionism, and Baselitz was a pioneer of the movement in Europe. In addition, Willem de Kooning’s pulsating action paintings and Julian Schnabel’s experimentation with the materiality of paintings also took shape during this period.
“I was trying to make paintings different from the paintings that I saw a lot of at the time, which were mostly minimal, and they were highbrow and alienating, and I wanted to make very direct paintings that most people would feel the emotion behind when they saw them,” said Basquiat.
Neo-Expressionism generated some polarizing opinions, with some celebrating the revival of personal subjectivity in art while others criticizing the movement for being too commercially driven and nostalgic. But most experts agree that Neo-Expressionism was a huge commercial success and culturally impactful, paving the way for the postmodern work of artists like Richter and Sigmar Polke.
Find original Neo-Expressionist paintings, prints, mixed-media works and other art on 1stDibs.
Inspiration: Neo-Expressionist Oil & Acrylic Painting, 30x24 in, 2022
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Inspiration offers a beautiful portrait, one is aware of the nods to previous portrayals of iconic faces yet this painting is totally unique. This piece is classic Neo-Expressionism,...
Oil, Acrylic
$6,250
Untitled
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
So many influences can be seen in this painting, however it is unmistakenly from Sax Berlin's hand. It's a classic work of the renaissance of Neo-Expressionism of which Berlin is at ...
Oil, Acrylic
"Giocoliere" by Enzio Wenk, 2020 - Mixed Media on Canvas, Neo-Expressionism
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Translated title: "Juggler". Mixed media on canvas.
Canvas, Mixed Media
$3,511
"Una figura con albero, toro e bambino" by Enzio Wenk, 2020 - Neo-Expressionism
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Translated title: " A figure with a tree, a bull and a child". Acrylic on canvas.
Canvas, Acrylic
$643
"Bosco colorato" by Enzio Wenk, 2017 -Acrylic on Canvas Panel, Neo-Expressionism
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Translated title: "Colored forest". It is a diptych. Acrylic on canvas panel. It features a vintage frame.
Canvas, Acrylic
The Renaissance of Neo Expressionisation of Klee: Contemporary Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A tour de force of a neo-expressionist painting. This work is symbolic and contemporary, offering a bold, almost tribal visual. Klee was a revolutionary artist who used many techniqu...
Oil, Acrylic
$4,330
"Bosco colorato" by Enzio Wenk, 2017-Diptych Acrylic on Canvas, NeoExpressionism
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Translated title: "Colored forest" Acrylic on canvas. This is a diptych.
Canvas, Acrylic
Untitled by Enzio Wenk, 2020 - Acrylic on Canvas, Neo-Expressionism
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Acrylic on canvas.
Canvas, Acrylic
"The God of Colour " Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Exhilarating flashes of neon colour swirl around the golden mouthed icon image. A painting of movement and meditation from the unique and unmistakable palette of master artist Sax B...
Oil, Acrylic
$10,534
"Canto pomeridiano" by Enzio Wenk, 2019 - Acrylic on Canvas, Neo-Expressionism
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Translated title: "Afternoon song" Acrylic paint on canvas.
Canvas, Acrylic
"Senza Narrazione - 2 " by Enzio Wenk, 2019 - Acrylic Enamel on Canvas
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Translated title: "Without narration - 2" Acrylic enamel on canvas.
Enamel
"Save The Elephants." Contemporary Mixed Media Neo Expressionist Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A charging bull elephant is an image we are all familiar with, but we are increasingly only able to see images and not the reality of the elephant. Berlin understands the headlong ch...
Gold Leaf
Street Angel. ( Subway Series ) Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
1980's NYC; dark and dangerous times. Gangs roamed the streets again, as they did in the 1800's, committing acts of egregious violence upon helpless citizens. But......... there was ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Untitled by Enzio Wenk, 2017 - Acrylic Paint on Masonite, Neo-Expressionism
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Acrylic paint on masonite. The frame was painted by the artist.
Masonite, Acrylic
Untitled by Enzio Wenk, 2017 - Acrylic Paint on Masonite, Neo-Expressionism
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Acrylic paint on masonite. The frame was painted by the artist.
Masonite, Acrylic
$2,575
"Coppia di innamorati di diversa etnia" by Enzio Wenk, 2016 - Acrylic on Canvas
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Translated title: "Couple of lovers of different ethnicities" Acrylic on canvas.
Canvas, Acrylic
Surrealist Minimalism. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
By inference minimalism is exactly that, and this stark skull painting is perfectly representative. This head invites the viewer in and has a real charm. Amazing how something so see...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Born In the Night. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
When Sax Berlin experiences the desire to lay something down he's unstoppable. This piece was created from an initial impulse of red. He laid down the base of reds and retired for so...
Canvas, Acrylic
$8,000
Sky Owl
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Wood, Oil
Animal Rights
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
When Muhammad Ali appears in your dreams there's bound to be a message! As a compassionate man Berlin feels strongly about many of the issues that affect our world. Animal Rights...
Gold Leaf
Mortality. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
What better time than now to introduce Sax Berlin's Mortality series. Since people started creating art works there have been representations of human (and animal) bones; skeletons and skulls. This is a departure for Berlin and he brings his masterly talent to the genre. The Mortality series offers pieces that are in the vein of Neo-Expressionism and Art Brut but they are stamped with Berlin's authority. Redolent of Picasso's work Black Skull and Jug (1946) or the work of Belgian Expressionist...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century Wild Man. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
With his Sharp Edge 21st Century Neo-Expressionist New York City Style series Berlin gifts us the fruits of complete abandonment in paint. He offers these works that map the evolutio...
Canvas, Acrylic
Guardian Sista. Acrylic Neo Expressionist Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
New York City has immersed Berlin in the whole vibe of the street culture that existed in the city at that time. Guardian Sista pays tribute to the women who were an integral part of...
Canvas, Acrylic
Wise Up We All From Africa, Neo-Expressionist Acrylic Painting, 2010-
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Painted in Sax Berlin's iconic Sharp Edge style, Wise Up displays motif's from Africa, see the display of flags at the bottom of the canvas for example, and instantly recognisable sy...
Canvas, Acrylic
$30,000
Siddahs
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Fairfield, CT
Hunt Slonem is an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker. He is best known for his Neo-Expressionist paintings of butterflies, bunnies, and his tropical birds, often based on a p...
Canvas, Oil
Modern Contemporary Abstract Spiritual Black Artist Tapestry Sunrise Bold Signed
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Spirit Sunrise" is an abstract acrylic painting on canvas by Reginald K. Gee. It includes a red orb at the top of the painting with beige, green, and yellow marks in front of a dark...
Canvas, Acrylic
Carmen in Blue
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Wood, Oil, Acrylic
$35,750
Amazons
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Canvas, Oil
Rhapsody
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Wood, Oil, Acrylic
$1,966Sale Price|20% Off
Portokali. Vibrant landscape, Contemporary Mountains Acrylic Painting
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary acrylic landscape painting by Polish artist Andrzej Borowski. Artist is fascinated with mediterranean views and how the landscape is changing during the day and with eve...
Canvas, Acrylic
$4,213Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled. Vibrant landscape, Contemporary Mountains Acrylic Painting
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary acrylic landscape painting by Polish artist Andrzej Borowski. Artist is fascinated with mediterranean views and how the landscape is changing during the day and with eve...
Canvas, Acrylic
Pretending to Be Awake
By Taher Jaoui
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Neo Expressionist Abstracted Figurative painting
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Heartland
By Ford Crull
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“It is terrifying to paint. When you start out, you are faced with this great unknown. And you think, am I ever going to paint again? Yet, as you work, it starts to formulate itsel...
Canvas, Oil Crayon, Oil
The New Order
By Ford Crull
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“It is terrifying to paint. When you start out, you are faced with this great unknown. And you think, am I ever going to paint again? Yet, as you work, it starts to formulate itsel...
Canvas, Oil
$8,000
Cybill
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Wood, Oil
$1,217Sale Price|20% Off
A Red Island- XXI Century, Contemporary Flora Acrylic Painting
Located in Warsaw, PL
ANDRZEJ BOROWSKI (born in 1969) He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts , at the Departments of Graphics and Painting in the atelier of professor Zbysław Maciejewski. In 1994 he was a...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,625Sale Price|35% Off
Green, 55x120cm, acrylic on canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Green, 55x120 cm
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,282Sale Price|25% Off
Sinks the sun as a flamingo, 100x80cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Sinks the sun as a flamingo, 100x80cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Canvas, Pastel, Acrylic
Road XIII, monochromatic landscape, black and white and grey
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Textural work by collaborative artists Asya Dodina and Slava Polishchuk is created with Japanese paper and acrylic paint on canvas. Image of moody winter landscape with road and tre...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Rice Paper
$2,100Sale Price|25% Off
Diptych “Interaction 2”, 100 x 160cm, acrylic on canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Diptych “Interaction”, 100x160 cm
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,430
"Bland Impressions of Easy Park (The Fall Collection), " Acrylic signed by Gee
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Bland Impressions of Easy Park (The Fall Collection" is an original acrylic painting on canvas by Reginald K. Gee. It is signed in the lower-left corner. This painting depicts two s...
Canvas, Acrylic
$702Sale Price|25% Off
“The Lovers”, 60x40cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
“The Lovers”, 60x40cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Canvas, Pastel, Acrylic
Pink Three Ascension
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Oil, Canvas
Duality, mysterious androgynous figure earth tone, yellow
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oil on Canvas
Canvas, Oil
$1,750
"Toda Raba #5, " Abstract Yellow & Black Acrylic on Canvas, signed Reginald Gee
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Toda Raba #5" is an original painting by Reginald K. Gee signed in the lower right hand corner. 20" x 24" Contemporary African American and Native American Hertiage Artist, Regina...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,990Sale Price|40% Off
"Selfie in Hell" Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, Signed, 21st Century
Located in Soquel, CA
"Selfie in Hell", a large-scale figurative abstract evoking the style of Basquiat, where many faces and figures are layered in the chaotic space that is Paulker's hell, by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b.1957). Signed "Michael Paulker...
Canvas, Oil
"Toda Raba #7, " Acrylic Abstract on Panel signed by Reginald K. Gee
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Toda Raba #7" is an original acrylic painting by Reginald K. Gee, signed in the lower right hand corner. The panel has a textured surface that brings out the expressionist movements...
Acrylic, Panel
$13,050
"Isaiah II--Quaspace for Cow, " Acrylic on Canvas Abstract by Reginald K. Gee
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Isaiah II--Quaspace For Cow" is an original acrylic painting on canvas by Reginald K. Gee. It depicts a cow in yellow, a graph, a landscape, and a bubble of text. The artist signed ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,750
"Toda Raba #2, " Black Abstract Acrylic on Canvas signed by Reginald K Gee
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Toda Raba #2" is an original acrylic painting on canvas by Reginald K. Gee, signed in the lower right hand corner. Cool colors pool themselves at the center, reminiscent of marble. ...
Canvas, Acrylic
"Icarus"- Colorful Mixed Media Neo Expressionist Painting
By Ford Crull
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“It is terrifying to paint. When you start out, you are faced with this great unknown. And you think, am I ever going to paint again? Yet, as you work, it starts to formulate itself....
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$1,023
'Herculaneum, Night Walk', Mixed media on paper c 2005, original signed work
Located in Frome, Somerset
'Herculaneum ' , Southern Italy Historical Roman site. Mixed media piece circa 2005 : Mixed media on woven paper currently sited at 42cm x 55cm Aluminium glazed frame 53 x 72cm A ...
Mixed Media
Kaleidoscope Silhouette
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$9,100
2 Coral
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Wood, Oil
$2,280Sale Price|20% Off
Never Alone: Neo-Expressionist Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Paper
By Scott K. Duff
Located in Soquel, CA
Dynamic abstract painting titled "Never Alone" by Scott K. Duff (American, b.1961). Signed "S.K. Duff" lower right corner. Presented in a rustic, black painted wood frame. SHIPPED WI...
Paper, Acrylic
La Danse des Dahlias, Neo-Expressionist Oil Painting on Canvas, Framed
Located in Miami, FL
Born 1949, Fréjus, France French artist Evelyne Ballestra studied painting in the South of France before moving to Switzerland where she met her mentor, Rolf Dürig, a master of the ...
Canvas, Oil
Water Lilly's Belle Terre
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Canvas, Oil
Muddy Company oil on monotype
By Tom Bennett
Located in Brooklyn, NY
provocative female figure Oil on paper Tom Bennett’s practice is rooted in the classical tradition where painting and drawing from life is highly regarded. Bennett’s work is heavily influenced by Francis Bacon, Frank Auberbauch and foremost his father, Harry Bennett, who was also an artist. Tom’s time living abroad in Spain and traveling through Eastern Europe and Africa provided the artistic freedom to explore many of the techniques and subject matter that continue to define his practice. Bennett was born and raised in Connecticut. His mediums include monotypes, oil on paper, canvas or styrene board. In a technique that Tom started over 4 years ago, several of his monotypes have been painted over with oil paint using a palette knife, brush, or his fingers to repurpose the underlying image. These works are a testament to Bennett’s ability to quickly and concisely compose an image with expressive brush strokes, foreshortened figures and expertly rendered light. Tom’s work has been featured in group and solo exhibitions worldwide. Bennett lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. He is currently represented by Tabla Rasa...
Paper, Oil
2 Yellow Tulips
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Wood, Oil
Queen of Hearts
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Wood, Oil, Acrylic
Orange Diamond Dust
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Wood, Oil, Acrylic