Contemporary Figurative Photography
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: Stefanie Schneider
Mindscreen 4 - Contemporary, 21st Century, Polaroid, Figurative, Color
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Mindscreen 4 - 1999
58x56cm,
Edition of 10.
Analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist, based on a Polaroid.
Signed on back with Certificate.
artist Inventory No. 245A.06.
Not mou...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Be Aware (The Girl behind the White Picket Fence) - Contemporary, Polaroid
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Be Aware (The Girl behind the White Picket Fence)
2013, 20x24cm, Edition 7/10.
Digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Certificate and Signature label.
Artist Inventory # 15705.15.
N...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Car Wash (Instantdreams) - Contemporary, Landscape, Cityscape, expired, Polaroid
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Car Wash (Stranger than Paradise) - 1999
50x50cm,
Edition of 10, plus 2 Artist Proofs.
Archival C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Certificate and signature label.
Artist inventory N...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Young Duke (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks)
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Young Duke (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks) - 2017
50x60cm,
Edition of 10.
Archival C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Artist inventory 22245.
Signature label and Certificate.
No...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Renée's Dream - The Boys (Days of Heaven) - Landscape, Horse, Boys
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Renée's Dream - The Boys (Days of Heaven). Part of the 29 Palms, CA project. - 2006,
20x20cm, Edition of 10, plus 2 Artist Proofs,
archival C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Signature ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Small Town Love - Contemporary, 21st Century, Polaroid, Portrait, Color
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
'Small Town Love' (Last Picture Show), 2006, 20x20cm, Edition 3/10.
Digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid, Certificate and Signature label, artist Inventory No 1029.15,
not mounted
...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
'Dreaming of the Lighthouse' based on an original Polaroid, 21st Century, Color
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Dreaming of the Lighthouse (29 Palms, CA), 1999,
20x24cm,
Edition of 10, plus 2 Artist Proofs.
Archival C-Print, based on the original Polaroid.
Certificate and Signature labe...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Color, Archival Pigment, Polaroid
Peanut and Jill (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks) - Polaroid
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Peanut and Jill (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks) - 2017
20x20cm, Edition of 10.
Digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Artist inventory 20053.
Signature label and Certificate....
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Penny Lane and Dreamgirl (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks) - Polaroid
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Penny Lane and Dreamgirl (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks) - 2019
20x24cm, Edition of 10.
Digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Artist inventory 19139.
Signature label and Cer...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Hemispheres Away (The Girl behind the White Picket Fence) - Polaroid, Color
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Hemispheres Away (The Girl behind the White Picket Fence) - 2013
75x93cm,
Edition 1/5,
analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist, based on a Polaroid.
Certificate and Signature l...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
A Memory - Strange Love
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
'A Memory' (Strange Love) - 2010,
20x24cm, Edition 1/10,
digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid,
signature label and certificate, artist Inventory No. 6131.01,
Not mounted.
“I nev...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Aimless (Wastelands), triptych, analog - Polaroid, 21st Century, Color
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Aimless - It all began quite simply I was very happy - (Wastelands), triptych - 2003
Edition 3/5 , 57 x 56 cm each, installed 57 x 180cm,
analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
White Plastic Bucket - Stay - with Ryan Gosling - from his Memory Sequence
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
White Plastic Bucket (Stay), from Ryan Gosling's memory sequence.
2006, 85x85cm, 4 pieces, each 39x38.5cm, Edition 2/5,
analog C-Prints, printed by the artist on Fuji Archive Crysta...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Metal
Jules and Jim (Renée's Dream) - Contemporary, 21st Century, Polaroid, Figurative
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Jules and Jim (Renée's Dream), - 2007, from the 29 Palms, CA series,
40x39cm, Edition 3/10,
Analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist, based on a Polaroid,
Certificate and signat...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Untitled (Suburbia) featuring Radha Mitchell, analog
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Untitled (Suburbia), 2004, Edition of 3/3, 50x60cm, analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist, based on a Polaroid, not mounted, signature label and Certificate, artist Inventory No...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
For Members only (Suburbia) - with Radha Mitchell - Contemporary, Polaroid
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
For Members only (Suburbia) - 2004
28x37cm,
Edition of 10,
digital C-Print based on a Polaroid.
Signature label with Certificate,
Not mounted.
Artist I...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Girl at Fence (Last Picture Show) - mounted, analog
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Girl at Fence (Last Picture Show) - 2005
58x56cm,
Edition 1/5,
Analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist.
Mounted on Aluminum with matte UV-Protection.
Artist inventory number:...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Flying Boy (Stay) - Contemporary, Figurative, Polaroid, Photograph, Film,
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Stefanie Schneider's work was used for Marc Forster's movie 'Stay'. Featuring Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts and Ryan Gosling. Naomi and Ryan were both portraying artists and Stefanie's ...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Be Aware (The Girl behind the White Picket Fence) - Contemporary, Polaroid
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Be Aware (The Girl behind the White Picket Fence) - 2013
125x150cm,
Edition of 5.
Analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist on Fuji Archive Crystal Paper, matte surface,
based o...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Boccia VI (Beachshoot ) with Radha Mitchell -Polaroid, Contemporary, Women
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Boccia VI (Beachshoot) - 2005
38x36cm, Edition of 10.
Digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Certificate and Signature label.
Artist Inventory # 1467.
Not mounted.
featuring Camill...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Ok Corral - part 2- (Stranger than Paradise)
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
OK Corral - part 2 - (Stranger than Paradise), - 1999,
20x20 cm, Edition 5/10,
digital C-Print based on a Polaroid,
Artist Inventory 318_2.18,
Not mounted.
Stefanie Schneider's scintillating situations take place in the American West. Situated on the verge of an elusive super-reality, her photographic sequences provide the ambience for loosely woven story lines and a cast of phantasmic characters.
Schneider works with the chemical mutations of expired Polaroid film stock. Chemical explosions of color spreading across the surfaces undermine the photograph's commitment to reality and induce her characters into trance-like dream scapes. Like flickering sequences of old road movies Schneider's images seem to evaporate before conclusions can be made - their ephemeral reality manifesting in subtle gestures and mysterious motives. Schneider's images refuse to succumb to reality, they keep alive the confusions of dream, desire, fact, and fiction.
Stefanie Schneider received her MFA in Communication Design at the Folkwang Schule Essen, Germany. Her work has been shown at the Museum for Photography, Braunschweig, Museum für Kommunikation, Berlin, the Institut für Neue Medien, Frankfurt, the Nassauischer Kunstverein, Wiesbaden, Kunstverein Bielefeld, Museum für Moderne Kunst Passau, Les Rencontres d'Arles, Foto -Triennale Esslingen.
“It was Stefanie Schneider, who inspired me to start the company THE IMPOSSIBLE PROJECT after seeing her work, which seems to achieve the possible from the impossible, creating the finest of art out of the most basic of mediums and materials. Indeed, after that one day, I was so impressed with her photography that I realized Polaroid film could not be allowed to disappear. Being at the precise moment in time where the world was about to lose Polaroid, I seized the moment and have put all my efforts and passion into saving Polaroid film. For that, I thank Stefanie Schneider almost exclusively, who played a bigger role than anyone in saving this American symbol of photography.” –Florian Kaps, March 8th 2010 (“Doc” Dr. Florian Kaps, founder of “The Impossible Project”)
Exhibitions Selected (selected)
2018
Participation Bombay Beach Biennale, Bombay Beach, USA (G) March
Available to All, Rough Play Projects - Site Specific, Joshou Tree, USA (G) curated by Deborah Martin...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Shadows (Cyndi Lauper) - 'Bring Ya to the Brink' record cover shoot
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Shadows (Cyndi Lauper)
from the 'Bring Ya to the Brink' Cyndi Lauper record Album) - 2009
20x20cm,
Edition of 5, plus 2 Artists Proofs,
Archival C-Print based on a Polaroid.
Cert...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
A sunny Morning - The Girl behind the White Picket Fence
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
A sunny Morning
(The Girl behind the White Picket Fence) - 2013
49x60cm,
Edition of 10 plus 2 Artist Proofs.
Archival C-Print, based on the Polaroid.
Certificate and Signature la...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Circle of Magic (29 Palms, CA) - Polaroid, Contemporary, Landscape, Magic
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Circle of Magic -
from the 29 Palms, CA series - 2009
57x70cm, Edition of 10, plus 2 Artist Proofs.
Archival C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Certificate and signature label.
Arti...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Jules and Jim - abstract, diptych- 2 Original Polaroids - Unique Pieces
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Jules and Jim (Renée's Dream) - 2005
2 Original Polaroids - Unique Pieces 1/1.
3 x 10.7 x 8.7 cm.
Signed on back.
Stefanie Schneider's scintillating situations take place in th...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Polaroid
Burning Motel Memories (Strange Love) - Polaroid, Contemporary
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Burning Motel Memories (Strange Love) - 2005
40x50cm,
Edition of 10.
Archival C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Signature label and certificate, artist Inventory No. 9926.
Not moun...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Lila's Studio (Stay) - Polaroid, 21st Century, Contemporary, Color
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Stefanie Schneider's work was used for Marc Forster's movie 'Stay'. Featuring Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts and Ryan Gosling. Naomi and Ryan were both portraying artists and Stefanie's ...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Penny Lane (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks)
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Penny Lane (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks) - 2017
50x60cm,
Edition of 10.
Archival C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Artist inventory 19141.
Signature...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Buried - Contemporary, Landscape, Figurative, expired, Polaroid, analog
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Buried (Stranger than Paradise) - 1999
Edition of 10,
58x56cm,
Analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist on Fuji Crystal Archive Paper,
based on a Polaroid. Artist inventory Numb...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Henry watching Athena Dance I (Stay) Edition 9/10 - analog, hand-print, polaroid
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Henry watching Athena Dance (Stay) - 2006
37x36cm, Edition of 9/10,
analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist, based on a Polaroid.
Certificate and Signature label,
artist Inven...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Everything put Together (Suburbia) - Contemporary, Polaroid, Analog, Portrait
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Everything put Together (Suburbia) - 2004,
50x50cm, Edition of 1/10,
digital C-Print based on a Polaroid.
Signature label with Certificate,
Not mounted.
The project "Suburbia" ...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Maiden Dance (Chicks and Chicks) - Polaroid, Contemporary, Color
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Maiden Dance (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks) - 2017
Edition of 10, 50x50cm,
Digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Artist inventory 20216.
Not mounted.
The 'Chicks and Chi...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
From a long forgotten Dream (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks)
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
From a long forgotten Dream (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks) - 2019
20x20cm, Edition of 10.
Digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Artist inventory 21582.
Signature label and ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
A Man and a Woman - abstract in bathroom (Sidewinder) - Polaroid, 21st Century
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
A Man and a Woman - abstract in bathroom (Sidewinder), triptych - 2005
Edition of 10, installed 20x70cm including gaps, 20x20cm each.
Digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Artist In...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
A Man and a Woman (Sidewinder) - Contemporary, Expired Polaroid, Photograph
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
A Man and a Woman (Sidewinder) - 2005
50x50cm, Edition of 10,
digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid,
Artist Inventory 3213.
Signature label and Cer...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
A Man and a Woman (Sidewinder) - Contemporary, Expired Polaroid, Photograph
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
A Man and a Woman (Sidewinder) - 2005
20x20cm, Edition of 10,
digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid,
Artist Inventory 3213.
Signature label and Cer...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Jules and Jim XI (Days of Heaven) - Landscape, Horse, Polaroid, 21st Century
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Jules and Jim XI (Days of Heaven)
Part of the 29 Palms, CA project.
Edition of 10, 50x50cm, 2009.
Digital C-Print, based on a Polaroid.
Signature label and certificate.
Artist i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
The Mystic - Circle of Magic (29 Palms, CA)- Polaroid, Figurative, Woman
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
The Mystic - Circle of Magic (29 Palms, CA), - 2009
Edition 3/5 , 37x47cm.
Analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist on Fuji Crystal Archive Paper, based on a Polaroid,
Artist i...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Metal
Renée's Dream - Jules and Jim X - 29 Palms, CA
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
'Jules and Jim X' (Renée's Dream) from the 29 Palms, CA series - 2007
20x20cm,
Edition 10/10.
Archival C-Print based on the Polaroid.
Certificate an...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid, Archival Paper
Womb #01 - Stay
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
A piece of art from the movie 'Stay' by Stefanie Schneider who worked as the senior artist director producing work for the artist character played by Ryan Gosling.
Stefanie created ...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Maiden Dance (Chicks and Chicks)
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
'Maiden Dance' (Chicks and Chicks and sometimes Cocks)
Edition 5/10, 20x20cm, 2017
Based on a Polaroid
not mounted, Artist inventory 20216.05
The 'Chicks and Chicks' series is part...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Accident II - with Ewan McGregor and Ryan Gosling, Polaroid, 21st Century, Color
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
A piece of art from the movie 'Stay' by Stefanie Schneider
Stefanie created the art for both main actors Naomi Watts and Ryan Gosling in the movie 'Stay' directed by Marc Forster. S...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
C Print, Color, Polaroid, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper
Badwater (Memories of Green) - 4 pieces
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Badwater (Memories of Green) - 4 pieces - 2003
Edition 10/10,
each 20x20cm, installed with gaps 45x45cm.
4 Archival C-Prints, matte surface, based on the 4 original Polaroids.
Ar...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid, Archival Paper
Buried - Contemporary, Landscape, Figurative, expired, Polaroid, analog
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Buried (Stranger than Paradise) - 1999
Edition of 10,
58x56cm,
Analog C-Print, hand-printed by the artist on Fuji Crystal Archive Paper, based on the Polaroid.
Artist inventory N...
Category
1990s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Wind Power (California Badlands) - Polaroid, Contemporary, Desert, Dream
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Wind Power (California Badlands) - 2021
24x34cm,
Edition of 10,
Archival C-Print, based on the Polaroid.
Certificate and Signature label.
Artist Inventory No. 4595.
Not mounte...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
Contemporary figurative photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Contemporary figurative photography 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 figurative photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of green, yellow, orange, blue and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Tyler Shields, Brian Finke, Stefanie Schneider, and David Drebin. Frequently made by artists working with Polaroid, and Paper 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 figurative photography, so small editions measuring 3.04 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative photography made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $110 and tops out at $40,000, while the average work sells for $701.