Beginning in the early 20th century, abstract art became a leading style of modernism. Rather than portray the world in a way that represented reality, as had been the dominating style of Western art in the previous centuries, abstract paintings, prints and sculptures are marked by a shift to geometric forms, gestural shapes and experimentation with color to express ideas, subject matter and scenes.
Although abstract art flourished in the early 1900s, propelled by movements like Fauvism and Cubism, it was rooted in the 19th century. In the 1840s, J.M.W. Turner emphasized light and motion for atmospheric paintings in which concrete details were blurred, and Paul Cézanne challenged traditional expectations of perspective in the 1890s.
Some of the earliest abstract artists — Wassily Kandinsky and Hilma af Klint — expanded on these breakthroughs while using vivid colors and forms to channel spiritual concepts. Painter Piet Mondrian, a Dutch pioneer of the art movement, explored geometric abstraction partly owing to his belief in Theosophy, which is grounded in a search for higher spiritual truths and embraces philosophers of the Renaissance period and medieval mystics. Black Square, a daringly simple 1913 work by Russian artist Kazimir Malevich, was a watershed statement on creating art that was free “from the dead weight of the real world,” as he later wrote.
Surrealism in the 1920s, led by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Meret Oppenheim and others, saw painters creating abstract pieces in order to connect to the subconscious. When Abstract Expressionism emerged in New York during the mid-20th century, it similarly centered on the process of creation, in which Helen Frankenthaler’s expressive “soak-stain” technique, Jackson Pollock’s drips of paint, and Mark Rothko’s planes of color were a radical new type of abstraction.
Conceptual art, Pop art, Hard-Edge painting and many other movements offered fresh approaches to abstraction that continued into the 21st century, with major contemporary artists now exploring it, including Anish Kapoor, Mark Bradford, El Anatsui and Julie Mehretu.
Find original abstract paintings, sculptures, prints and other art on 1stDibs.
Close Up Flower Sabattier Photograph
By Pat Truax
Located in Houston, TX
Black and white close up photograph of a flower. This photograph showcases the Sabbttier process or the results of solarization. The photograph is not framed. Artist Biography: Pat ...
Photographic Paper
Retina #7, 2022, digitally made abstract print, edition of 3, signed
By Gary Cruz
Located in New York, NY
Retina #7, an edition of 3, is part of the artist's "At The Center of Seeing" Series. In the image, the golden center blossoms outward in six luminous points, like petals or rays ...
Archival Pigment
Bleed # 202351 (Abstract painting)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Bleed # 202351 (Abstract painting) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas — Unframed. Backed with extruded polystyrene, concrete, acrylic, enamel and pigments (8 cm / 3...
Plexiglass, C Print
Bleed # 202388 (Abstract painting)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas — Unframed. Available on request - 4 week turnaround. Backed with extruded polystyrene, concrete, acrylic, enamel, and pigments (8 ...
Plexiglass, C Print
Bleed # 202318 (Abstract painting)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas — Unframed. Available on request - 4 week turnaround. Backed with extruded polystyrene, concrete, acrylic, enamel, and pigments (8 ...
Plexiglass, C Print
Bleed # 202393 (Abstract Photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Bleed # 202393 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas - Unframed. Edition: 1/3. Available with 4-5 week turnaround. Snell creates small productio...
Plexiglass, C Print
Untitled #2 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
Untitled #2 (Abstract Photography) C print - Unframed. "Edition of 5 + 2AP, next 3/5 Richard Caldicott is most well known for this earlier work series which used Tupperware containe...
C Print
Untitled #58 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
Untitled #58 (Abstract Photography) C print - Unframed. "Edition of 5 + 2AP, next 1/5 Richard Caldicott is most well known for this earlier work series which used Tupperware contain...
C Print
Combination Orange (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
Combination Orange (Abstract Photography) C print - Unframed. "Edition of 5 + 2AP, next 1/5 Richard Caldicott is most well known for this earlier work series which used Tupperware c...
C Print
Untitled #2 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
Untitled #2 (Abstract Photography) C print - Unframed. "Edition of 5 + 2AP, next 3/5 Richard Caldicott is most well known for this earlier work series which used Tupperware containe...
C Print
Bleed # 202390 (Abstract Photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Bleed # 202390 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas - Unframed. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hanging system + keyhole option. Edition: 1/3...
Plexiglass, C Print
Bleed # 202332 (Abstract Photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Bleed # 202332 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas - Unframed. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hanging system + keyhole option. Edition: 1/3...
Plexiglass, C Print
Bleed # 202332 (Abstract Photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Bleed # 202332 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas - Unframed. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hanging system + keyhole option. Edition 1/3...
Plexiglass, C Print
No. 48329 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
No. 48329 (Abstract Photography) Photography / Archival pigment print — Unframed. Artwork exclusive to IdeelArt. Available on request - 2 weeks turnaround. Print can be mounted to ...
Ink, Archival Pigment
No. 48354 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
No. 48354 (Abstract Photography) Photography / Archival pigment print — Unframed. Artwork exclusive to IdeelArt. Available on request - 2 weeks turnaround. Print can be mounted to ...
Ink, Archival Pigment
No. 48325 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
No. 48325 (Abstract Photography) Photography / Archival pigment print — Unframed. Artwork exclusive to IdeelArt. Available on request - 2 weeks turnaround. Print can be mounted to ...
Ink, Archival Pigment
No. 48355 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
No. 48355 (Abstract Photography) Photography / Archival pigment print — Unframed. Artwork exclusive to IdeelArt. Available on request - 2 weeks turnaround. Print can be mounted to ...
Ink, Archival Pigment
No. 48316 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
No. 48316 (Abstract Photography) Photography / Archival pigment print — Unframed. Artwork exclusive to IdeelArt. Available on request - 2 weeks turnaround. Print can be mounted to ...
Ink, Archival Pigment
No. 42416 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
No. 42416 (Abstract Photography) Photography / Archival pigment print — Unframed. Artwork exclusive to IdeelArt. Available on request - 2 weeks turnaround. Print can be mounted to ...
Ink, Archival Pigment
Untitled 136 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
Untitled 136 (Abstract Photography) C print - Unframed. Richard Caldicott is most well known for this earlier work series which used Tupperware containers as the subject for his pho...
C Print
Fashionable woman's Green Stripes Echo Stripes of the Street
Located in Miami, FL
A Dress Designer and a Street Engineers' graphic style collide in this caught Manhattan moment. In New York City art is everywhere. You can wear it and walk on it at the same time...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Bleed # 202305 (Abstract Photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Bleed # 202305 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas - Unframed. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hanging system + keyhole option. Available on...
Plexiglass, C Print
Bleed # 202305 (Abstract Photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Bleed # 202305 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas - Unframed. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hanging system + keyhole option. Available on...
Plexiglass, C Print
Chrysler Building And Empire State Building, Pink Skyline
Located in Miami, FL
New York City skyline from Roosevelt Island in pink and mauve colors. Signed dated and numbered 2/15 lower right recto, other sizes available, unfram...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Inkjet, Pigment
Colorful Words #1, #2 + #3 - Triptych - Glitch Art - Printed on Acrylic
By Oz Van Rosen
Located in New York, NY
Triptych. Archival Print on Acrylic. Abstract. Glitch Art. Vibrant Colors. Beautifully mounted, sits an inch off the wall. Individually each piece i...
Archival Pigment
Cosmosis Collage 2B CK6A422 (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Cosmosis Collage 2B CK6A422 (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround time 2-3 weeks, print...
Paper, C Print
Soft Geometry # 13f (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Soft Geometry # 13f (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround...
Paper, C Print
Sonoptic Parallels # 16 (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Sonoptic Parallels # 16 (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround time 2-3 weeks, printed o...
Paper, C Print
Soft Geometry # 13f (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Soft Geometry # 13f (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround time 2-3 weeks, printed on d...
Paper, C Print
Soft Geometry # 13D (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Soft Geometry # 13D (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround...
Paper, C Print
Soft Geometry # 8B (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Soft Geometry # 8B (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround time 2-3 weeks, printed on de...
Paper, C Print
Soft Geometry # 11C (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Soft Geometry # 11C (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround time 2-3 weeks, printed on demand...
Paper, C Print
Soft Geometry # 11B (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Soft Geometry # 11B (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround...
Paper, C Print
Soft Geometry # 8C (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Soft Geometry # 8C (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround t...
Paper, C Print
Soft Geometry # 13c (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Soft Geometry # 13c (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround...
Paper, C Print
$12,057
Cosmosis Collages 4A579E– Composition 84 - Red and grey (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Cosmosis Collages 4A579E – Composition no 84 - Red and grey (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap ...
Paper, C Print
Cosmosis Collage 427.4A7 – Composition no 2C4 Blue (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Cosmosis Collage 427.4A7 – Composition no 2C4 Blue (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaroun...
Paper, C Print
Cosmosis Collage 2B CK6A422 (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Cosmosis Collage 2B CK6A422 (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround time 2-3 weeks, print...
Paper, C Print
Cosmosis Collage 4A5.1 – Composition no 210.4 Blue (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Cosmosis Collage 4A5.1 – Composition no 210.4 Blue (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaroun...
Paper, C Print
$12,057
Comosis Collage 4A52.1.4 – Composition no 7E2 Yellow (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Comosis Collage 4A52.1.4 – Composition no 7E2 Yellow (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaro...
Paper, C Print
Cosmosis Collage 4A53.1.2 – Composition no 7C2 Blue (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Cosmosis Collage 4A53.1.2 – Composition no 7C2 Blue (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnarou...
Paper, C Print
Color Kinesthesia 2A9, Purple - pink (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Color Kinesthesia 2A9, Purple - pink (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround time 2-3 wee...
Paper, C Print
Universals Foldouts 07022012 Red (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Universals Foldouts 07022012 Red (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap. Turnaround time 2-3 weeks,...
Paper, C Print
Color Kinesthesia 4A52, Turquoise (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Color Kinesthesia 4A52, Turquoise (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap Turnaround time 2-3 weeks,...
Paper, C Print
Universals Foldouts 07022012 Grey (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Universals Foldouts 07022012 Grey (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap. Turnaround time 2-3 weeks...
Paper, C Print
Universals Foldouts 07022012 Pink (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Universals Foldouts 07022012 Pink (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap. Turnaround time 2-3 weeks...
Paper, C Print
Universals Foldouts 07022012 Blue (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Universals Foldouts 07022012 Blue (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 6 + 2Ap. Turnaround time 2-3 weeks...
Paper, C Print
Color Kinesthesia 5B39 Yellow (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Color Kinesthesia 5B39 Yellow (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 3 + 2Ap Turnaround time 2-3 weeks, pri...
Paper, C Print
Color Kinesthesia 6A4221 Pink (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Color Kinesthesia 6A4221 Pink (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 3 + 2Ap Turnaround time 2-3 weeks, pri...
Paper, C Print
Color Kinesthesia 5B27 Vert (Abstract Photography)
By Anne Senstad
Located in London, GB
Color Kinesthesia 5B27 Vert (Abstract Photography) Photographic C Prints, printed on Canson Platinè fiber Rag 310g - Unframed "Edition of 3 + 2Ap Turnaround time 2-3 weeks, print...
Paper, C Print
Color Kinesthesia 6A423
By Anne Senstad
Located in New York, NY
Color Kinesthesia 6A425 2012 Digital photographic c print from scanned original color film negatives. 60 x 50 inches Edition of 3 Anne Katrine Senstad’s photographic art, since the ...
C Print
Remedy (June School) Positive (framed)
By Wendy Small
Located in New York, NY
40"x32" photogram, created in four unique 20"x 16"prints positioned together to make a symmetrical pattern. The black and white imagery of wildflowers and leaves incorporate delicat...
Photogram, Photographic Paper
No. 42545 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
No. 42545 (Abstract Photography) Archival ink print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag - Unframed. Artwork is exclusive to IdeelArt. Image size: 80 x 60 cm/31.4 x 23.6 inches Available on requ...
Ink, Archival Pigment
No. 42499 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
No. 42499 (Abstract Photography) Archival ink print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag - Unframed. Artwork is exclusive to IdeelArt. Image size: 80 x 60 cm/31.4 x 23.6 inches Available on request - 2 weeks turnaround. Print can be mounted to 4mm Dibond, price on request. Larger sizes are available on request. The photographic artworks of Sebastiaan Knot...
Ink, Archival Pigment
No. 49480 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
No. 49480 (Abstract Photography) Archival ink print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag - Unframed. Artwork is exclusive to IdeelArt. Image size: 80 x 60 cm/31.4 x 23.6 inches Available on requ...
Ink, Archival Pigment
No.38633 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
No.38633 (Abstract Photography) Archival ink print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag - Unframed. Artwork is exclusive to IdeelArt. Image size: 140x105 cm/ 55.1x41.3 inches Available on reques...
Ink, Archival Pigment
Lumina # 202211 (Abstract Photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Lumina # 202211 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 4.5mm Matte Plexiglas Box - Unframed. Edition: 2/3 Available in 4-5 weeks turnaround. Backed with Dibond and C-...
Plexiglass, C Print
"Track Lines" Large Scale Contemporary Minimalist Landscape Photograph
Located in New York, NY
Horizontal stripes of white and brick red are masterfully composed to capture an elemental pattern within a track field. The textured green and beige ground activate the overall fie...
Archival Pigment
Gravity - Liquid 19 (Abstract Photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Gravity - Liquid 19 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5. In his Gravity Liquid series, Janiak creates visual representations of the idea that form cannot exist without an environment. There are the visible forms we see in the world, and then there are the conditions that allow those forms to exist. As a catalyst for his exploration of this topic, Janiak chose gravity, one of the most ubiquitous and easily observable forces, and the one that allows so many forms in the physical universe to exist. The photographs in these series show two types of matter—liquids and gasses—being manipulated by gravity. Form is frozen by the photographic process, but the process is ever changing depending on the shifting conditions of their environment. Seb Janiak is a photographic artist whose work explores conditions in which opposites can co-exist, revealing the visual characteristics of the hidden forces...
C Print
Untitled 153 (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
Untitled 153 (Abstract photography) C print - Unframed. Richard Caldicott is most well known for this earlier work series which used Tupperware containers as the subject for his ph...
C Print