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.
Magnetic radiation 14 (Medium) (Abstract photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Magnetic radiation 14 (Medium) (Abstract photography) Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5 In his Magnetic Radiation series, Janiak reveals the hidden world of magnetism by photographing...
C Print
EMDL-6 (Abstract Photography)
By Bill Kane
Located in London, GB
EMDL-6 (Abstract Photography) Pigment on canvas - Unframed. Edition of 3. The Emanations series is an attempt to express the spiritual potential of the most essential aspect of ph...
Canvas, Pigment
Passing Through 2 (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
Passing Through 2 (Abstract photography) Silver Gelatin Print - Unframed. Tenesh Webber is a Canadian artist who works in abstract black and white photography. She lives and works ...
Silver Gelatin
Gravity - Bulle d'air 04 (Abstract Photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Gravity - Bulle d'air 04 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5. In his Gravity Bulles d'air series, Janiak creates visual representations of the idea that form can...
C Print
Untitled 215 (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
Untitled 215 (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
Trace # 201901 (Abstract photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Trace # 201901 (Abstract photography) Chromogenic Print face-mounted 3mm matt plexiglas - Unframed. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hanging system + keyhole option. Available on ...
Plexiglass, C Print
$6,796Sale Price|13% Off
EM-78 Vajra 3 (Abstract new media)
By Bill Kane
Located in London, GB
EM-78 Vajra 3 (Abstract new media) Pigment on canvas - Unframed. Edition of 3. The Emanations series is an attempt to express the spiritual potential of the most essential aspect ...
Canvas, Pigment
$6,472Sale Price|20% Off
Magnetic radiation 99 (Large) (Abstract photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Magnetic radiation 99 (Large) (Abstract photography) Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5. In his Magnetic Radiation series, Janiak reveals the hidden world of magnetism by photographing...
C Print
$6,796Sale Price|13% Off
EM-3 Vajrayogini (Abstract Photography)
By Bill Kane
Located in London, GB
EM-3 Vajrayogini (Abstract Photography) Pigment on canvas - Unframed. Edition of 3. The Emanations series is an attempt to express the spiritual potential of the most essential aspect of photography: light. Each work in the series began its evolution as a scanned image of a Buddhist thangka—a spiritual painting of a Buddhist deity—which was then blurred and stretched until all that remained was a distilled image of color and form. These reduced images were then printed onto canvases, resulting in what Kane refers to as elemental “representations of the light bodies of the Buddhas.” Bill Kane...
Canvas, Pigment
Untitled 156 (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
Untitled 156 (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
Intersect # 201503 (Abstract photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Intersect # 201503 (Abstract photography) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 4.5mm Plexiglas - Unframed. Available on request 5-6 week turnaround. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hangi...
Plexiglass, C Print
EM-117 Asanga 6 (Abstract Painting)
By Bill Kane
Located in London, GB
EM-117 Asanga 6 (Abstract Painting) Pigment on canvas - Unframed. Edition of 3. The Emanations series is an attempt to express the spiritual potential of the most essential aspect...
Canvas, Pigment
Fall (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
Fall (Abstract photography) Black and white photogram - Unframed Tenesh Webber is a Canadian artist who works in abstract black and white photography. She lives and works in the N...
Paper, Photogram
Magnetic radiation 14 (Large) (Abstract photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Magnetic radiation 14 (Large) (Abstract photography) Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5. In his Magnetic Radiation series, Janiak reveals the hidden world of magnetism by photographing...
C Print
EM2020-20 (Abstract new media)
By Bill Kane
Located in London, GB
EM2020-20 (Abstract new media) Pigment on watercolor paper - Unframed. Edition of 10. The Emanations series is an attempt to express the spiritual potential of the most essential ...
Paper, Pigment
Magnetic radiation 14 (Large) (Abstract photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Magnetic radiation 14 (Large) (Abstract photography) Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5. In his Magnetic Radiation series, Janiak reveals the hidden world of magnetism by photographing...
C Print
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
Morphogenetic field - Dandelion (Pissenlit) (Abstract Photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Morphogenetic field - Dandelion (Pissenlit) (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5. In his Morphogenetic fields series, Janiak examines the visible manifestation of ...
C Print
Untitled 134 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
Untitled 134 (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
Intersect # 202101 (Abstract photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 4.5mm Plexiglas - Unframed. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hanging system + keyhole option. Available on request 5-6 week turnaround. Edition: 1/3. ...
Plexiglass, C Print
Division (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
Division (Abstract photography) Silver Gelatin Print - Unframed. Tenesh Webber is a Canadian artist who works in abstract black and white photography. She lives and works in the Ne...
Silver Gelatin
Flight 2 (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
Flight 2 (Abstract photography) Silver Gelatin Print - Unframed. Tenesh Webber is a Canadian artist who works in abstract black and white photography. She lives and works in the Ne...
Silver Gelatin
Radius (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
Radius (Abstract photography) Silver Gelatin Print - Unframed. Tenesh Webber is a Canadian artist who works in abstract black and white photography. She lives and works in the New ...
Silver Gelatin
End Point (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
End Point (Abstract photography) Silver Gelatin Print - Unframed. Tenesh Webber is a Canadian artist who works in abstract black and white photography. She lives and works in the N...
Silver Gelatin
Passing Through 2 (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
Passing Through 2 (Abstract photography) Silver Gelatin Print - Unframed. Tenesh Webber is a Canadian artist who works in abstract black and white photography. She lives and works ...
Silver Gelatin
Riff 3 (Abstract Photography)
Located in London, GB
Riff 3 (Abstract Photography) C print - Unframed. English abstract artist Richard Caldicott works across the disciplines of painting, photography and sculpture. His work extends a ...
C Print
Bleed # 202041 (Abstract Photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Bleed # 202041 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas - Unframed. Available on request - 4 week turnaround. Backed with extruded polystyrene, co...
Plexiglass, C Print
EM-57 White Tara (Abstract new media)
By Bill Kane
Located in London, GB
EM-57 White Tara (Abstract new media) Pigment on canvas - Unframed. Edition of 3. The Emanations series is an attempt to express the spiritual potential of the most essential aspect of photography: light. Each work in the series began its evolution as a scanned image of a Buddhist thangka—a spiritual painting of a Buddhist deity—which was then blurred and stretched until all that remained was a distilled image of color and form. These reduced images were then printed onto canvases, resulting in what Kane refers to as elemental “representations of the light bodies of the Buddhas.” Bill Kane...
Canvas, Pigment
![Untitled [Abstract Shapes] Framed Gelatin Silver Print](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/gyorgy-kepes-photography-untitled-abstract-shapes-for-sale/a_28452/1759326570456/122014_1_master.jpg?width=240)
![Untitled [Abstract Shapes] Framed Gelatin Silver Print](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/gyorgy-kepes-photography-untitled-abstract-shapes-for-sale-picture-2/a_28452/a_170087021759326803372/122014_2_master.jpg?width=240)
Untitled [Abstract Shapes] Framed Gelatin Silver Print
By György Kepes
Located in Astoria, NY
Gyorgy Kepes (Hungarian-born/American, 1906-2001), Untitled [abstract shapes], Gelatin Silver Print, 1941, likely printed later, apparently unsigned, silvered wood frame. Image: 8"...
Silver Gelatin
Intersect # 202101 (Abstract photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Intersect # 202101 (Abstract photography) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 4.5mm Plexiglas - Unframed. Available on request 5-6 week turnaround. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hangi...
Plexiglass, C Print
Chance/Fall (11), 2010 (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
Chance/Fall (11), 2010 (Abstract photography) C print - Unframed As the title suggests, Chance/Fall emanates from Caldicott’s improvised method. This abstract composition with o...
C Print
Bleed # 202041 (Abstract Photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Bleed # 202041 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas - Unframed. Available on request - 4 week turnaround. Backed with extruded polystyrene, co...
Plexiglass, C Print
Magnetic radiation 99 (Medium) (Abstract photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5. In his Magnetic Radiation series, Janiak reveals the hidden world of magnetism by photographing ferrofluids. A ferrofluid is a liquid substance magne...
C Print
NY # 40.78N_73.96W (Abstract photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Plexiglas - Unframed. Artwork made with 2 elements ( 80 x 250 cm/31.5 x 98.4" each). Available on request 5-6 week turnaround. Backed with Dibond ...
Plexiglass, C Print
$2,585Sale Price|35% Off
Futuristic Abstract Figure, Unique Luminogram Print, Black and white, Signed
Located in London, GB
"Little Evil" 2017 - Unique Silver Gelatin Luminogram print A mesmerising blend of shadow and light, creating a mysterious, abstract figure. Surreal shapes and muted tones invite con...
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, Photogram, Silver G...
$1,019Sale Price|20% Off
Birdsong, Black & White Abstract Luminogram, (small unique framed silver print)
Located in London, GB
“As someone who has tentatively been diagnosed with a certain type of synaesthesia recently the connection between sounds, experiences and shapes seems to make much more sense. This...
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, Photogram, Silver G...
$2,157Sale Price|20% Off
The Self Representation of Light, Black + White Abstract Unique Luminogram Print
Located in London, GB
"I feel strongly that the luminograms represent a form of moulded light. You use your process to direct and mould the light and the paper receives it in its own magical way and trans...
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Black and White, Photogram, Silver G...
Magnetic radiation 99 (Large) (Abstract photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5. In his Magnetic Radiation series, Janiak reveals the hidden world of magnetism by photographing ferrofluids. A ferrofluid is a liquid substance magne...
C Print
Magnetic radiation 14 (Medium) (Abstract photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5 In his Magnetic Radiation series, Janiak reveals the hidden world of magnetism by photographing ferrofluids. A ferrofluid is a liquid substance magnet...
C Print
EM-84 Protector 2 (Abstract new media)
By Bill Kane
Located in London, GB
Pigment on canvas - Unframed. Edition of 3. The Emanations series is an attempt to express the spiritual potential of the most essential aspect of photography: light. Each work in ...
Canvas, Pigment
Chance/Fall (11), 2010 (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
C print - Unframed As the title suggests, Chance/Fall emanates from Caldicott’s improvised method. This abstract composition with overlapping and drifting layers of shimmering co...
C Print
Résonance - water drop 84 (Large)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic print - Unframed. Edition 4/5. In his Résonance series, Janiak explores the role of sound in creation. Taking inspiration from sacred texts from multiple spiritual tr...
C Print
Trace # 201901 (Abstract photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic Print face-mounted 3mm matt plexiglas - Unframed. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hanging system + keyhole option. Available on request - 4 week turnaround Edition o...
Plexiglass, C Print
EM2020-20 (Abstract new media)
By Bill Kane
Located in London, GB
Pigment on watercolor paper - Unframed. Edition of 10. The Emanations series is an attempt to express the spiritual potential of the most essential aspect of photography: light. Ea...
Paper, Pigment
Dissolve #201901 (Abstract photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 4.5mm Matt Plexiglas - Unframed Backed with Dibond and C-channel hanging system + keyhole option. Edition: 1/3 + AP Paul Snell combines traditional ...
Plexiglass, C Print
Manhattan White Dog among Autumn Leaves , Minimalism
Located in Miami, FL
Color Photographer Mitchell Funk depicts New York City somewhere between the ideal and the real. In an Upper East Side park, he shoots a lone white dog standing at the intersection ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Loops 1 (Abstract photography)
Located in London, GB
Loops 1 (Abstract photography) Black and white photogram. Unframed. Tenesh Webber is a Canadian artist who works in abstract black and white photography. She lives and works in the...
Black and White, Photogram
Bleed # 202053 (Abstract photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas - Unframed. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hanging system + keyhole option. Available on request 5-6 week turnaround. Edition: 3...
Plexiglass, C Print
Bleed # 202052 (Abstract photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Chromogenic Print Face-mounted 3mm Matte Plexiglas - Unframed. Backed with Dibond and C-channel hanging system + keyhole option. Available on request 5-6 week turnaround. Edition: 3...
Plexiglass, C Print
EM-54 Palden Lhamo 2 (Abstract new media)
By Bill Kane
Located in London, GB
Pigment on canvas - Unframed. Edition of 3. The Emanations series is an attempt to express the spiritual potential of the most essential aspect of photography: light. Each work in ...
Canvas, Pigment
$8,495
EMDL-9
By Bill Kane
Located in London, GB
Pigment on canvas - Unframed. Edition of 3. The Emanations series is an attempt to express the spiritual potential of the most essential aspect of photography: light. Each work in ...
Canvas, Pigment
Remedy (Winter)
By Wendy Small
Located in New York, NY
48"x40" photogram Wendy Small’s “Remedy” photograms are made by collecting leaves, weeds, or flowers from a specific place (indicated in the title) and placing those leaves directly ...
Photogram
Remedy Weekend (Pink) metallic paper
By Wendy Small
Located in New York, NY
40"x32" photogram, metallic paper Wendy Small’s “Remedy” photograms are made by collecting leaves, weeds, or flowers from a specific place (indicated in the title) and placing those ...
Photogram
EM-36 Padmasambhara 2
By Bill Kane
Located in London, GB
Pigment on canvas - Unframed. Edition of 3. The Emanations series is an attempt to express the spiritual potential of the most essential aspect of photography: light. Each work in ...
Canvas, Pigment
Untitled 136 (Abstract painting)
Located in London, GB
Untitled 136 (Abstract painting) C print - Unframed. Richard Caldicott is most well known for this earlier work series which used Tupperware containers as the subject for his photog...
C Print
Bleed # 202009
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 (5...
Plexiglass, C Print
Bleed # 202012
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 (5...
Plexiglass, C Print
Bleed # 202022
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 (5...
Plexiglass, C Print
$6,500
New York City Street Starbursts over Mid-Town Manhattan -Abstract Photography
Located in Miami, FL
Streetlights on Manhattans' Sixth Avenure transform into a starburst of kaleidoscope color through an act of creativity from Photographer Mitchell Funk. The emanating light is a m...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Bleed # 202025
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 (5...
Plexiglass, C Print