Abstract Photography
ABSTRACT STYLE
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.
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Style: Abstract
Untitled (Visual Candy)
By Peter Marks
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Untitled (Visual Candy)
Photo collage, c. 2008
Unsigned
Provenance: Estate of the Artist
Condition: Excellent
Image size: 8 1/8 x 5 7/8 inches
Support Sheet size: 17 x 14 inches
Pet...
Category
Early 2000s Abstract Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Red Boat - Still life colour photography, limited edition of 20
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 ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Photography
Materials
Archival Paper
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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Golden Flame. Landscape architectural color limited edition photograph
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The artist's photographs capture the transformation of everyday life into another reality. Images that explore what the future will be like. Industrial, eccentric and progressive, Ca...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color
Leonardo DiCaprio Flashes His Abs & Checks Out Girls in Central Park, 5/9/16
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Leonardo DiCaprio Flashes His Abs & Checks Out Girls in Central Park, 5/9/16" features hues of green, pink and yellow.
This photograph is an archival inkje...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Vintage Red Ferrari in Florence, Italy - Race Cars, Red Sports Cars
Located in Miami, FL
A cluster of vintage red Ferraris lounge on displayed in a square in Florence, Italy. Street Photographer Mitchell Funk was struck by the unexpected site and documented the scene em...
Category
1990s Abstract Photography
Materials
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
#235, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#163, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
Booget
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
JOHN CHAMBERLAIN
Booget
1991
Ektacolor Professional print taken with Wide Lux camera
Unsigned
AP 1/1, apart from an edition of 9
24” x 20"
Chamberlain began to explore photograph...
Category
1990s Abstract Photography
Materials
C Print
$20,000
Gaia 103 - Black and White Diptych Clouds and Skyscapes above Flowers and Nature
Located in Brighton, GB
Gaia 103 - Black and White Diptych Clouds and Skyscapes above Flowers and Nature by Jaume Llorens Bach
Gaia 103 is a 18cm x 24cm Black and Whi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Photography
Materials
Black and White, Digital, Photographic Paper
"Rothko on the Savannah: 14-3" (2014) Archival Abstracted Texture Photo Print
Located in Denver, CO
"Rothko on the Savannah: 14-3" Is a beautiful original edited photography print, done on archival photo canvas.
Daniel J. Kaufman (b. New York City, May 4th, 1949) Childhood in Grea...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Canvas
Agave - monochrome abstraction, from limited edition of 20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
Black and white fine art photograph capturing the sculptural elegance of an agave plant. The interplay of light and shadow emphasizes the organic geometry of the plant’s serrated edg...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Photography
Materials
Giclée
"Britney Spears - heading to the beach in Malibu 4/5/15" Abstract Photograph
Located in Atlanta, GA
Edition 1 of 1.
Archival print, sintra mount, polished acrylic.
Spencer Sloan is a mixed-media artist whose recent work, digitally manipulating paparazzi photographs into abstractio...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
#165, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
"Absent" Portraits of Hidden Wounds, Giclee Print, Abstract Photography, Limited
By Hatice Besun
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Absent / From the series of Portraits of Hidden Wounds / Photograph
Creator: Hatice Besun
Creation year: 2023
Dimension: 48 x 36
External Dimension( with white border) : Height: 48....
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Archival Pigment, Giclée
#46, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
Huang Shan C - Yellow Mountains (landscape black and white art) unframed print
By Peter Leung
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Like a poetic storyteller, Modern Art Etc promotes American photographer Peter Leung’s fine art photography captures the natural beauty and landscape in China. With immaculate composition that comes from planning and patience, waiting for the best natural light and objects to fall into place, the resulting images evokes the spirit of the place and its people. Pictorialism and art conjoin to produce something acutely poetic. One wonders when looking at his pictures – is this a photograph or a painting?
ABOUT THIS WORK
“Huangshan C”, China
The famous Huangshan, (literal translation "Yellow Mountains"), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a mountain range in southern Anhui province in eastern China. The materials comprise of ancient rocks...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print
#27, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#25, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#24, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#22, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#257, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#259, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#20, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#18, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#14, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#225, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#180, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#66, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#166, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#19, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#11, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#232, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#255, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
Faces2 - Part Of Un·I·Den·Ti·Fi·A·Ble Series, Abstract Photograph, 2015
Located in Boston, MA
Artist Commentary:
part of un·i·den·ti·fi·a·ble series – inspiration was to work with a portrait and distort the image until the face became invisible.
"removing identities until the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
#21, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
Strata # 202501 (Abstract Photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Unique.
Paul Snell is an Australian artist who blurs the boundaries between photography and painting, creating contemplative works that replace constant image saturation with moment...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Concrete
#204, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#146, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#141, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#138, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#144, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#143, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
Holding Light In Darkness #10
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 weather. The shade of blue is widely determined by the reflection of the sky above and the organic material and sediment carried below.
I recently learned that invasive mussel species have slowly transformed the lake from green to bluer over the past two decades. I often return to the water’s edge to document the color of a given day.
Susan Isaacson...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Archival Paper
Maze Me 01 and She Said 01, Diptych. Abstract Liminited Edition 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Melting Curves, Blue Tones Monotype Cyanotype on Paper, Unique Abstract Piece
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This unique monotype cyanotype, rendered in rich blue tones, invites the viewer into a dreamlike rhythm of interwoven shapes. Created using the cyanotype process, this one-of-a-kind ...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Paper, Watercolor, Lithograph, Monotype
#71, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#137, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#136, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#116, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
#106, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
Breathe # 202501 (Abstract Photography)
By Paul Snell
Located in London, GB
Edition: 1/3
Work can be hung with either the WallCleat system (support bar supplied) or the screw-eye system if it needs support from wire or above.
Paul Snell is an Australian ar...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Plexiglass, C Print
Healing 02 and Gaze Into The Lake 03, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
#95, 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...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Pigment
Everyone’s Photos Any License (654 of 1, 146, 034 Full Moons on Flickr), 2015
Located in Orange, CA
Everyone’s Photos Any License (654 of 1,146,034 Full Moons on Flickr, November 2015), 2015
Additional information:
Medium: Digital c-prints with attributions and image map
Dimension...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Photography
Materials
C Print
Holding Light In Darkness #6
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 weather. The shade of blue is widely determined by the reflection of the sky above and the organic material and sediment carried below.
I recently learned that invasive mussel species have slowly transformed the lake from green to bluer over the past two decades. I often return to the water’s edge to document the color of a given day.
Susan Isaacson...
Category
2010s Abstract Photography
Materials
Archival Paper
"Modernismo M37" Abstract Photography 48"x48" in Edition 3/12 by Giuliano Bekor
Located in Culver City, CA
"Modernismo M37" Abstract Photography 48"x48" in Edition 3/12 by Giuliano Bekor
Title of artwork: M37
Inspired by Piet Mondrian artwork
Year: 2012
Printed on a high-quality museum-g...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Photography
Materials
Archival Paper
Abstract photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Abstract 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 photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, red, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Mitchell Funk, Paul Snell, Michael Banks, and Seb Janiak. Frequently made by artists working with Paper, and Pigment Print and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Abstract photography, so small editions measuring 0.5 inches across are also available. Prices for 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 $50 and tops out at $36,000, while the average work sells for $3,359.