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Contemporary 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: Michael Kenna
Huangshan Mountains, Study 21, Anhui, China
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date and numbered. Sepia toned gelatin silver print Michael Kenna's black and white photographs are powerful and alluring. His...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Golden Gate Bridge, Study 16, San Francisco, California, USA. 2009
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Terrace, Saint-Cloud, France
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, dated, print date and numbered. Sepia toned gelatin silver print. Michael Kenna's black and white photographs are powerful and alluring. His imager...
Category

1990s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Kussharo Lake, Study 11, Hokkaido, Japan
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Empire State Building, Study 2, New York, New York, USA
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, dated, print date and numbered. Sepia toned gelatin silver print. Michael Kenna's black and white photographs are powerful and alluring. His imager...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Moai, Study 49, Ahu Akivi, Easter Island. 2001
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Le Desert de Retz, Study 8, France.
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Dawn Light, Loreto Aprutino, Abruzzo, Italy
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Abruzzo, located in southern Italy, is known as the ‘green region of Europe’ because of the system of parks and nature reserves covering more than one-third of its territory. It has one of the highest biodiversity indexes in Europe, and one of the richest areas of flora in the world. In Abruzzo, Michael Kenna found a cultural identity that elsewhere, for the most part, has been lost to globalization and instant communication. Kenna photographed medieval ruins, ancient villages and a countryside rich in traditional cultivation. As curator Vincenzo de...
Category

2010s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Giza Pyramids, Study 3, Cairo, 2009
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Dawn Mist, Mont St. Michel, France
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential am...
Category

1990s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Moss Landing Power Station, Study 2, Moss Landing, California, USA, 1987
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Moon Set, Lake Campotosto, Abruzzo, Italy
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Abruzzo, located in southern Italy, is known as the ‘green region of Europe’ because of the system of parks and nature reserves covering more than one-third of its territory. It has ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Skyline, Rio de Janeiro
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date and numbered. Sepia toned gelatin silver print Michael Kenna's black and white photographs are powerful and alluring. His...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Winter Apple, Chateau de Haroue, Lorraine, France
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date and numbered. Sepia toned gelatin silver Michael Kenna's black and white photographs are powerful and alluring. His image...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Lijiang River, Study 8, Guilin, China
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date and numbered. Sepia toned gelatin silver print Michael Kenna's black and white photographs are powerful and alluring. His...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Moon Set, Lake Campotosto, Abruzzo, Italy
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential amon...
Category

2010s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

The Rouge, Study 100, Dearborn, Michigan, USA. 1995
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Edition 11 of 50 Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains hi...
Category

1990s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Windy Trees, Les Tuileries, Paris, France
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date, numbered, and artist stamp. Sepia and selenium toned gelatin silver print. Michael Kenna's black and white photographs a...
Category

1980s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Chikui Cape Trees, Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential am...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date, and numbered. Sepia toned gelatin silver print Michael Kenna's black and white photographs are powerful and alluring. Hi...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Trabocco Punta Aderci, Study 1, Vasto, Abruzzo, Italy
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Abruzzo, located in southern Italy, is known as the ‘green region of Europe’ because of the system of parks and nature reserves covering more than one-third of its territory. It has ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Above the Clouds, Campo Imperatore, Abruzzo, Italy
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Abruzzo, located in southern Italy, is known as the ‘green region of Europe’ because of the system of parks and nature reserves covering more than one-third of its territory. It has one of the highest biodiversity indexes in Europe, and one of the richest areas of flora in the world. In Abruzzo, Michael Kenna found a cultural identity that elsewhere, for the most part, has been lost to globalization and instant communication. Kenna photographed medieval ruins, ancient villages and a countryside rich in traditional cultivation. As curator Vincenzo de...
Category

2010s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Castle Donjon, Pescina, Abruzzo, Italy
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Abruzzo, located in southern Italy, is known as the ‘green region of Europe’ because of the system of parks and nature reserves covering more than one-third of its territory. It has ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Pietrantonj Vineyards, Vittorito, Abruzzo, Italy. 2016
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Abruzzo, located in southern Italy, is known as the ‘green region of Europe’ because of the system of parks and nature reserves covering more than one-third of its territory. It has ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Kussharo Lake Tree, Study 12, Kotan, Hokkaido, Japan
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Edition 5 of 45 Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains high...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Tea Estates, Study 1, Munnar, India
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Edition 18 of 45 Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains hig...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Empire State Building, Study 4, New York, New York, USA
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date, and numbered. Sepia toned gelatin silver print Michael Kenna's black and white photographs are powerful and alluring. Hi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Copse and Tree, Mita, Hokkaido, Japan. 2007
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential am...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Hillside Fence, Study 4, Teshikaga, Hokkaido, Japan. 2002
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential amon...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Skyline, Shanghai, Study 3, China
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date and numbered. Sepia toned gelatin silver print, 8 1/4 x 7 3/4 in. Printed 2011 Michael Kenna's black and white photographs ar...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Castello di Felina, Emilia Romagna, Italy. 2008
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Lake Tree, Beihai Park, Beijing, China. 2008
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Cantelmo Castle. Popoli, Abruzzo, Italy
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Abruzzo, located in southern Italy, is known as the ‘green region of Europe’ because of the system of parks and nature reserves covering more than one-third of its territory. It has one of the highest biodiversity indexes in Europe, and one of the richest areas of flora in the world. In Abruzzo, Michael Kenna found a cultural identity that elsewhere, for the most part, has been lost to globalization and instant communication. Kenna photographed medieval ruins, ancient villages and a countryside rich in traditional cultivation. As curator Vincenzo de...
Category

2010s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Montecito Garden, Study 14
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Edition 3 of 25 Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains high...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Rock Formations, Study 2, Yoichi, Hokkaido, Japan
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Edition 14 of 45 Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains hig...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

The Rouge, Study 109, Dearborn, Michigan, USA
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Edition 3 of 45 Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains high...
Category

1990s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Summer Dress, 1997
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Skyline, Dubai, Study 3, United Arab Emirates, 2009
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Yuanyang, Study 1, Yunnan, China. 2013
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Night Lights, Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Edition 11 of 45 Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains hig...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Punta Brava, Study 9, Ensenada, Mexico
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Edition 11 of 45 Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains hig...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Sadakichi's Docks, Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date and numbered by Michael Kenna Sepia toned gelatin silver print Michael Kenna's black and white photographs are powerful and a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Fort Mason, Pier 3, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California, USA
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date, numbered and artist stamp. Sepia toned gelatin silver print Michael Kenna's black and white photographs are powerful and all...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Erhai Lake, Study 3, Dali, Yunnan, China. 2013
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Ice Floe, Cape Hinode, Hokkaido, Japan. 2005
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential am...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Thirty One Snow Fences, Bihoro, Hokkaido, Japan
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential amon...
Category

2010s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Huangshan Mountains, Study 2, Anhui, China
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date, and numbered. Sepia toned gelatin silver print Michael Kenna's black and white photographs are powerful and alluring. Hi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Single Tree, Mita, Hokkaido, Japan. 2007
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential am...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Twin Towers, Study 2, New York, New York, USA
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Edition 2 of 45 Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains high...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

White Stupa, Beihai Park, Beijing, China
Located in Dallas, TX
Edition of 45 Signed, titled, negative date, print date, and numbered by Michael Kenna Sepia toned gelatin silver print, 7 3/4 x 7 3/4 in. Michael Kenna's black and white photograph...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Punta Brava, Study 7, Ensenada, Mexico
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Edition 2 of 45 Michael Kenna is a master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains high...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Afternoon Trees, Shexian, Anhui, China. 2008
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Si Ma Tai Great Wall, Beijing, China. 2007
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Huangshan Mountains, Study 27, Anhui, China. 2009
Located in Sante Fe, NM
** This print is a part of our exhibition, 'Micheal Kenna: A Retrospective', and if purchased will be delivered after the exhibition closes Sept 10th, 2016. Michael Kenna is mas...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Charles Bridge, Study 10, Prague, Czech Republic
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Morning Walk, Marly, France,
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Canal and Trees, Goro Ferrara, Veneto, Italy
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Thalys View, Brussels, Belgium. 2010
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Michael Kenna is master of contemporary photography. Known for clean compositions, long exposures and minimalist aesthetics, Kenna’s signature style remains highly influential among ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Contemporary photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Contemporary 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, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Stefanie Schneider, Tyler Shields, Kirsten Thys van den Audenaerde, and Richard Heeps. Frequently made by artists working with Pigment Print, and Archival 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 Contemporary photography, so small editions measuring 0.4 inches across are also available.

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