A resurgence of interest in Expressionism, Pop art, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism and other movements gained steam among artists of the 1970s and ’80s, in part as a reaction to the austerity of the prevailing minimalism and Conceptual art of the era. A decadent, bold and brash art style called Neo-Expressionism saw painters returning to figural representation, creating highly textured works that were imbued with intensely personal narratives.
Neo-Expressionist paintings are sensuous in nature and highly subjective in meaning. Expressive brushwork, highly pigmented colors and layered forms and materials lent sculptural attributes to the work and were used to depict symbolic narratives from history, mythology and the artist’s personal experience.
Prominent figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat led the Neo-Expressionist movement in the United States with paintings and prints that were raw, emotional and often violent in nature. In Germany, Die Neuen Wilden (the “New Fauves”) was the name given to a group of postwar artists that included the likes of sculptor Georg Baselitz and Gerhard Richter, a painter and photographer who explored the possibilities of both abstraction and realism, sometimes in a single piece. The work of the New Fauves — labeled as such for its return to Fauvism’s textured brushwork and use of vibrant colors — shares commonalities with Neo-Expressionism, and Baselitz was a pioneer of the movement in Europe. In addition, Willem de Kooning’s pulsating action paintings and Julian Schnabel’s experimentation with the materiality of paintings also took shape during this period.
“I was trying to make paintings different from the paintings that I saw a lot of at the time, which were mostly minimal, and they were highbrow and alienating, and I wanted to make very direct paintings that most people would feel the emotion behind when they saw them,” said Basquiat.
Neo-Expressionism generated some polarizing opinions, with some celebrating the revival of personal subjectivity in art while others criticizing the movement for being too commercially driven and nostalgic. But most experts agree that Neo-Expressionism was a huge commercial success and culturally impactful, paving the way for the postmodern work of artists like Richter and Sigmar Polke.
Find original Neo-Expressionist paintings, prints, mixed-media works and other art on 1stDibs.
Liegender Akt auf rotem Polster
Located in Wien, 9
The artist's modesty was probably an obstacle to her career. Her magnificent, expressive works have few equals in Austria, but the time has come for her work to be honoured anew afte...
Canvas, Oil
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Hawaii Travel Signed
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Three Hawaiian Spirits in a Lava Tube" is an original fine art photography print by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed the piece in the lower right and editioned it in the lower...
Photographic Paper, Photographic Film
Hunt Slonem "Violet Spring" Purple and Green Flower
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Houston, TX
Hunt Slonem "Violet Spring" Purple and Green Flower A single violet gestured in purple, yellow and green on a matching background in a vintage frame Unframed: 10 x 8 inches Framed: ...
Oil, Panel
$2,600
H 30 in W 37.5 in
Zen Beauty - Contemporary black and white photography of Flower series - medium
By MAE Curates
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This photography is part of a series of zen like beauty of Flowers art photography. In 3 sizes. This piece: Print size: 30 x 37.5 in. Image dimensions are 22 x 30 in. Matted in 8 ply museum archival matt. Ed of 15, signed, editioned on a Certificate of Authenticity by by photographer. About this series: With great patience and respect, the photographer observes the life cycle of the flower, viewing the subject much like a portrait photographer views a person, choosing the particular instance which in his view represents the essence of the flower. We feel the piece evokes a certain poetic, quiet, Zen beauty. The photographer was a London Central Saint Martins graduate and lived in a short spell in a monastery in Japan, and now primarily lives in Japan. ----- The artist was born in the UK in 1971, and after leaving Central Saint Martin’s in London in 1992, determined to explore a deeper sense of meaning, and contemplate life, he journeyed to Japan where he lived in a Zen Buddhist monastery and lived and studied in a temple in the mountains of Yamanashi for months, during which he studied Zen Buddhism and joined the monks in their daily prayers and routines. Over time, the subject matter for this series is borne out of a respect of the inner life of living things, Nature, in this instance and a sense of “mono no aware” (the art of impermanence). His artist vision has drawn influences from his Western artistic culture, Japanese classical aesthetics, and the 1933 classical text, “In Praise of Shadows” by Japanese literary titan, Junichiro Tanizaki (1886–1965). Tanizaki, as translated by scholars, examines the singular standards of Japanese aesthetics and their stark contrast with the value systems of the industrialized West. He writes: “We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates… Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty.” “Shadows” presumably refers to the subtle interplay between light and darkness, not a stark dualism between black and white. Hence, the quiet beauty expressed in shadows of light and darkness as a living flower moves through the passage of life. The art of impermanence refers to a “pathos” (aware) of “things” (mono), deriving from their transience. The flower is a perfect metaphor for the expression of impermanence and beauty. Each flower has its own distinctive character and temperament, and is in constant dynamic motion. Through the passage of its life, it blossoms to its greatest peak, turning always towards the light until they eventually give up their petals. The artist documents this process through hundreds of images over time, essentially capturing the essence of the life of the subject. Both the visual aesthetic and process of his art calls to mind the transcient nature of things and reminds us to rejoice what we do have. In his gold series - Gold, in turn associated with the sacred, the divine, with supernatural powers and even immortality, has been recognized since ancient times in all the great civilizations as a noble material. Gold leaves have been used to decorate shrines, temples, statues, armor, jewelry since ancient times. At different times of the day, the light reflects off the gold differently as the day progresses, providing a visual context in which the celebration of life was captured. The artist has been recognized for his work for example, with a merit award at the Art Directors Club 87th Annual Awards N.Y. (2008). His work has been in group exhibitions as a runner up at the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of the Taylor Wessing London – Elle Commendation Portrait Awards, and at the Kiyosato Photo Art Museum in 1999. A successful photographer, the artist’s commercial clients include Adidas, Estee Lauder, Hugo Boss and shot celebrities for magazines / editorials featuring Sam Smith, Jeremy Renner, Gwyneth Paltrow, David Fincher, Zhang Ziyi...
Photographic Paper
$18,875
H 32.75 in W 25.5 in D 1.75 in
"Hawaiian Catelayas" Multicolor Flowers on Pink Background Oil Painting Framed
By Hunt Slonem
Located in New York, NY
A wonderful composition of one of Slonem's most iconic subjects, Catelayas flowers. This piece depicts gorgeous flowers in ascension placed in a wonderful intense pink colorful backg...
Oil, Wood Panel
$920
H 28 in W 40 in
Flowers for Melissa, Earth Tones Bouquet Diptych, Faux Naïf, on Paper, Yellow
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is a beautiful expressionist style painting by Juanjo Saez. Juanjo's pictorial work is an exploration of color, texture, and movement, creating vibrant compositions that capture...
Paper, Acrylic
SEA MOOD
By Daria Kusto
Located in CÓRDOBA, ES
Mixed media on paper by artist Daria Kusto Shipped well protected, rolled in a tube, unframed
Permanent Marker
$8,000
H 16 in W 14 in D 1.25 in
"Tulips on Silver" Pair of Red Tulips on Silver Background Oil Painting Framed
By Hunt Slonem
Located in New York, NY
A wonderful composition of one of Slonem's newest series, Tulips. This piece depicts 2 gestural red Tulips on a silver background with thick use of paint. It is housed in a wonderful...
Oil, Wood Panel, Mixed Media
$8,000
H 16 in W 14 in D 1.25 in
"Red Tulip - Belle Terre" Red Tulip on Gold Background Oil Painting Framed
By Hunt Slonem
Located in New York, NY
A wonderful composition of one of Slonem's newest series, Tulips. This piece depicts a gestural figure of a Red Tulip on a golden background with thick use of paint. It is housed in ...
Mixed Media, Oil, Wood Panel
$286Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.75 in W 11.82 in D 0.4 in
Bouquet by the Window, Neo-Expressionist Oil on Board, Framed, 2010+
Located in Oslo, NO
This captivating artwork showcases a textured bouquet of flowers in a vase, composed of rich and varied hues that immediately draw the viewer's eye. The painting employs an impressio...
Board, Oil
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 24 in D 1 in
"Love is the Souls of a Genius" Painting 30" x 24" inch by Vera Kochubey
Located in Culver City, CA
"Love is the Souls of a Genius" Painting 30" x 24" inch by Vera Kochubey Medium: Wall paint on canvas ATTENTION: please contact us if you want this painting to be shipped rolled to...
Canvas, Paint, Mixed Media
$10,500
H 17.5 in W 14.5 in D 1 in
"Daffodils" Colorful Flowers on Pink Background Oil Painting on Wood Framed
By Hunt Slonem
Located in New York, NY
A wonderful composition of one of Slonem's most iconic subjects, Daffodil flowers. This piece depicts 3 gorgeous flowers in ascension placed in a wonderful intense pink colorful back...
Oil, Wood Panel
$9,625
H 17 in W 15.25 in D 1.5 in
"Daisys" 3 White with Yellow Flowers on a Golden Background Oil Painting Framed
By Hunt Slonem
Located in New York, NY
A wonderful composition of one of Slonem's newest series, Daisy's. This piece depicts 3 gestural figures of big bold Daisy's on a golden background with thick use of paint. Inspired ...
Oil, Wood Panel, Mixed Media
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 30 in D 1 in
Dream - underwater photography, archival metallic paper contemporary mounted
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful woman floating in water wearing pink gown. "Sleep Me a Dream" is underwater photography created by Katheeen Wilke. C Print on Fuji Pe...
Plexiglass, Photographic Paper
San Marco
Located in Wien, 9
The artist's modesty was probably an obstacle to her career. Her magnificent, expressive works have few equals in Austria, but the time has come for her work to be honoured anew afte...
Canvas, Oil