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.
Gravity - Liquid 04 (Abstract Photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Gravity - Liquid 04 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5. In his Gravity, Liquid series, Janiak creates visual representations of the idea that form cannot exist w...
C Print
Bleed # 202031
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
Barnett
Located in New York, NY
Lambda digital-c print on Ilford Ilfoflex Archival Super Gloss. Signed, dated, titled, and numbered 1/8 on verso. Artist Andrew George is based in Los Angeles. He recently premiere...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Lambda
Space Field, Digital Iris Print Muse X Large Photograph on Heavy Paper
Located in Surfside, FL
These are from the 1990s printed at Muse X and never framed. they are unsigned and unnumbered but from a very small edition. they are quite beautiful. Victor Raphael was born in Los ...
Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
Conversation - charcoal and watercolor abstract expression, Editon 2 of 15
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
"Conversation" is an abstract expressionist piece that embodies the tension between spontaneity and structure. Sweeping gestures and delicate washes intertwine in a layered dialogue ...
Film, Photographic Film, Charcoal, Watercolor, Giclée
Family
Located in New York, NY
Lambda digital c print on Ilford Ilfoflex Archival Super Gloss, 2003. Signed, dated, titled, and numbered 1/1 on verso. This is a unique print. Artist Andrew George is based in Los ...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Lambda
$3,800
Singularity 01 and It All Moves 01, Diptych. Abstract color photographs
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The artists computer-generated paintings merge craftsmanship and technology, creating an eclectic and unique style. Through her art, she aims to illuminate the world. Tcherassi's wo...
Archival Pigment
Gravity - Liquid 02 (Large)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
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...
C Print
Gravity - Liquid 05 (Abstract Photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Gravity - Liquid 05 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5. In his Gravity Liquid series, Janiak creates visual representations of the idea that form cannot exist wi...
C Print
Gravity - Liquid 01 (Abstract Photography)
By Seb Janiak
Located in London, GB
Gravity - Liquid 01 (Abstract Photography) Chromogenic print. Edition 1/5. In his Gravity, Liquid series, Janiak creates visual representations of the idea that form cannot exist w...
C Print
$1,097Sale Price|25% Off
After Brassaï, Black and White, 1930s, Photographic Heliogravure Print, Framed
By Brassaï
Located in Barcelona, ES
Embark on a journey through the nocturnal streets of "Paris de Nuit" with this exclusive rare heliogravure test print by Brassai. Prior to the publication of his iconic book, this ...
Paper
$2,500
The Horse and Apples and The Deer Doe Fawn. Limited edition color photograph
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The exploration of the concept of play as an artistic impulse presents playful, almost "baroque-written"photographs that are the result of a repeated (recycled) notion of play. Start...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
$5,300
Eugene 4- Floral landscape white dominant contemporary abstract color photo
Located in New York, NY
Belgian photographer Isabelle Menin creates portraits of flowers that are not only gorgeous in form and color, but also uniquely expressive. Fresh blossoms and withering blooms melt ...
Photographic Paper
$532
June - abstract black and white butterfly photography, limited edition 2 of 20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
From June and Oris collection Printed on archival Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta paper. Signed both front and back with Certificate of Authenticity. Limited edition of 20. Photograph ...
Giclée
The Donkeys. Limited edition color photograph
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The exploration of the concept of play as an artistic impulse presents playful, almost "baroque-written"photographs that are the result of a repeated (recycled) notion of play. Start...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Aporia II - abstract black and white figurative fine art photography, E.d.20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
Aporia II is a black and white fine art photograph exploring uncertainty, inner conflict and the space between knowing and not knowing. The title comes from the Greek term for a stat...
Photographic Film
Aporia - abstract black and white figurative fine art photography, E.d.20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
Aporia is a black and white fine art photograph exploring uncertainty, inner conflict and the space between knowing and not knowing. The title comes from the Greek term for a state o...
Photographic Film
Abstract City
Located in Miami, FL
Signed and dated on lower right, numbered on verso, 4/15 Printed later, other size available, unframed, printed later, Printed on Hahnemühle Fine Art paper Photo-Abstract impressio...
Photographic Paper, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
$3,800
CoCreate 02 and 03, From the We Are One Series. Abstract color photograph
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The artists computer-generated paintings merge craftsmanship and technology, creating an eclectic and unique style. Through her art, she aims to illuminate the world. Tcherassi's wo...
Archival Pigment
Abstract photograph, Susan Wides, The Bubble (Rockefeller #3)
By Susan Wides
Located in White Plains, NY
C-print of an abstracted Rockefeller Center at night in New York City by contemporary photographer Susan Wides, in yellow, black and green. NY photographer, Susan Wides, is best kno...
C Print
Chrysler Building Spire New York Art Deco Skyscraper
Located in Miami, FL
Since 1969 Mitchell Funk has been photographing the Chrysler Building in dramatic and novel ways. This recent image incorporates the Chrysler Building's pointy neighbor, the supertall skyscraper One Vanderbilt. Its modern spire harmonizes with the 1930 soaring Art Deco icon. Notice how Funk incorporates accents of yellow that offsets the twilight blue. The entire image is accented by a cozy moon that consummates the composition. Signed and dated on the lower right, numbered on verso, 3/15 other size available, unframed, Printed Printed on Hahnemühle Fine Art paper. Mitchell Funk is a pioneer of " Color Photography" In 1970 he participated in one the first " Color Photography" show...
Archival Pigment
#244, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket of realism to...
Pigment
New York Street Abstract
Located in Miami, FL
New York Street Abstract . This is actually a straight shot. Taken from a high angle looking down, the photographer uses reflective neon street light...
Photographic Paper
$252Sale Price|20% Off
Signed Abstract Photography Print, Limited Edition of 5, 21st Century
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Abstract photography, signed by the author, limited 5.
Color
$1,000
Orizzontale, Abstract Digital Pigment Print, Signed, 2010+, 20x15 in
Located in New York, NY
Paper size is 30 x 25 inches, image size is 20 x 15 inches Signed, dated and numbered Pigment print on Kodak Metallic paper, there is a 5 inch border around the image which enhances...
Digital Pigment
Set of 4 photographs II from it's all about the game
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The exploration of the concept of play as an artistic impulse presents playful, almost "baroque-written" photographs that are the result of a repeated (recycled) notion of play. Star...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
A Fairy and Rabbits, The King and the Dragon and A Dinosaur Lake
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The exploration of the concept of play as an artistic impulse presents playful, almost "baroque-written" photographs that are the result of a repeated (recycled) notion of play. Star...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Stage of Life, 2025. Cyanotype photograph
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The photos from the series Let Me Tell You a Story show, each one individually, certain themes through strongly narrative visual units. Each photograph is dedicated to a specific rep...
Archival Paper
My greece. Cyanotype photograph
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The photos from the series Let Me Tell You a Story show, each one individually, certain themes through strongly narrative visual units. Each photograph is dedicated to a specific rep...
Archival Paper
$409
Contemporary abstract expressionist woman's portrait "She who sees tomorrow"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressionist woman’s portrait was created by French artist Natalya Mougenot and forms part of her ongoing Women series—a deeply personal body of work dedi...
Paper, Acrylic
Lenka. Cyanotype photograph
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The photos from the series Let Me Tell You a Story show, each one individually, certain themes through strongly narrative visual units. Each photograph is dedicated to a specific rep...
Archival Paper
$2,341
Contemporary large figurative painting of women on paper "Bound in grace"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Bound in Grace” is a contemporary figurative–abstract painting by French artist Natalya Mougenot, part of her ongoing series dedicated to women, solidarity, emotional connection, an...
Paper, Acrylic
$4,500
"Modernismo M3" Photograph 24" x 24" in Limited Edition of 24 by Giuliano Bekor
Located in Culver City, CA
"Modernismo M3" Photograph 24" x 24" in Limited Edition of 24 by Giuliano Bekor Title of artwork: M3 Year: 2012 Printed on a high-quality museum-grade archival photo paper. Not fram...
Archival Pigment
Blooms in Red - abstract analog colour photography, limited edition of 20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
This analogue colour photograph was created using a traditional film process, allowing the material qualities of colour and grain to remain present and tactile. The composition is pr...
Photographic Paper
#106 Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
#266 Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
#142, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
#167, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket of realism to...
Pigment
#129, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket of realism to...
Pigment
Peacock Displaying Blue and Green Plumage
Located in Miami, FL
Sometimes the simplest images are the most complex. Peacock Displaying Blue and Green Plumage is more than a bird portrait. It's a portrait of a bird as a living work of abstract ar...
Inkjet
Paper cut - analogue black and white abstract photography. Ltd. 10
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
'Paper cut' London, United Kingdom 2021 Limited edition of 10. Printed on fine art heavy-weight paper. The photograph comes signed, and stamped with COA.
Giclée
Abstract Dancers White 2 - Limited Edition Color Archival Pigment Print
By Giles Revell
Located in Brighton, GB
Abstract Dancers White 2 by Giles Revell is a Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print in this size of 50cm x 50cm in a limited edition of 15 ...
Photographic Paper, Color, Pigment, Archival Pigment
$5,100
Hemisphere I - large format photograph of abstract liquid cloudscape in water
Located in San Francisco, CA
mesmerizing color compositions of liquid cloudscape painting in water, hypnotizing abstract liquidscapes from Christian Stoll‘s body of works titled 'Hemisphere' Hemisphere I by Christian Stoll 58 x 58 inches (147 x 147cm) signed edition of 7 48 x 48 inches (122 x 122cm) signed edition of 7 40 x 40 inches (102 x 102cm) signed edition of 25 archival fine art pigment print signed + numbered by artist on certificate label „frameless“ glass face mounting available on request _________________________ Christian Stoll has experimented with the photography medium since 1991. His predominant interest is the still-life on a monumental scale. As his subject matter, Stoll shoots static objects, forms...
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment, Giclée
$1,463
After Brassaï, Black and White, 1930s, Photographic Heliogravure Print, Framed
By Brassaï
Located in Barcelona, ES
Embark on a journey through the nocturnal streets of "Paris de Nuit" with this exclusive rare heliogravure test print by Brassai. Prior to the publication of his iconic book, this ...
Paper
#146, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
Purple Sunrise, Space Age Giclée Print, Limited Edition, Pink Tones Diptych 2024
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cyd Fontaine (Lausanne, 1992) is a contemporary artist renowned for her captivating use of dreamy atmospheric gradients, which has helped her carve a distinctive niche in the world o...
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Photographic Paper, C Print, Digital, G...
Broken
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Broken 2019 Archival Pigment Print Image 36.83 x 27.94 cm Framed 60.33 x 51.44cm Edition 2/10 Plus 2 AP Pamela Takiff is a New York based abstract photographer. As an artist, and hu...
Archival Pigment
Psychedelic Forrest
Located in Miami, FL
Mitchell Funk. He was Color when Color wasn't Cool. Conceptualized and executed in 1971, when color photography was not recognized as fine art, this group of abstract, negative colo...
Photographic Paper
#169, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism, Pigment print
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size Signed on front More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old...
Pigment
Miami Downtown, Black and White Architectural Landscape Photography
By Luca Artioli
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The 'Miami Skin Series' it’s not a traditional collection of photos about the architecture of Miami and Miami Beach. It’s rather a quick journey between its own skin from the Art Dec...
Black and White, Archival Pigment
$12,000
Multilayer 301 - layered abstract collage of unique torn original photographs
Located in San Francisco, CA
Multilayer 301 unique abstract photo paper collage (1 of 1), signed 39" x 31.5" / 100cm x 80cm About the artist Felix Schramm was born in Hamburg, Germa...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Giclée, Paper, Archival Paper, In...
Black and White Photography, Limited Edition Figurative Photograph
By Alain Pino
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Black and White Photography, Limited Edition Figurative Photograph Alain Pino’s new works continue his exploration on the intersection between identity and industrial design. In a h...
Archival Ink, Photographic Paper, Inkjet
30x30 in. Aerial Photography of Earth, Land, Sea - large photography
By MAE Curates
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a new series of photography of land art depicting Earth and its land forms taken from the air. This series of aerial photography captures Earth's beauty taken in remote lands...
C Print
The Color of Water #2
Located in Los Angeles, CA
THE COLOR OF WATER Lake Michigan blue sits at the pastel confluence of green, grey and cyan on the nearby shoreline. In truth, the color of the lake is as transitory as Chicago weath...
Archival Paper
Red Boat - Still life colour photography, limited edition of 5
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
'Red boat' Printed on archival paper with museum-grade precision, this limited edition work balances mystery and simplicity. A photograph is carefully placed in a secure cardboard ...
Archival Paper
#213, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
#49, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket of realism to...
Pigment
#145, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
Rustika - analog abstract photograph, limited edition of 20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
Rustika is an abstract analogue photographic work rooted in the close study of natural textures and organic line. Created with a film camera and developed through the negative proces...
Photographic Film, Giclée
$14,000
Multilayer 270 - unique abstract collage of layered torn sculpture photographs
Located in San Francisco, CA
Multilayer 270 unique abstract photo paper collage (1 of 1) signed 39" x 31.5" / 100cm x 80cm About the artist Felix Schramm was born in Hamburg, German...
Photographic Paper, Giclée, Silver Gelatin, Archival Paper, Inkjet