In 1967, artist Sol LeWitt wrote that in “Conceptual art the idea or concept is the most important aspect of the work.” He was giving a name to an art movement that had emerged in the 1960s in which artists were less focused on their medium being something traditionally “artistic” and instead engaged in using any object, movement, form, action or place to express an idea.
LeWitt’s work was featured alongside an assemblage of notes, drawings and outlines by other artists in “Working Drawings and Other Visible Things on Paper Not Necessarily Meant to Be Viewed as Art,” a groundbreaking show at New York City’s School of Visual Arts curated by Mel Bochner, another leading exponent of Conceptualism. Building on radical 20th-century statements, like Fountain (1917) by French artist Marcel Duchamp, Conceptual artists around Europe and North and South America were not interested in the commercial art scene and rather directly challenged its systems and values.
Stretching into the 1970s, this movement has also been called Post-Object art and Dematerialized art. Conceptual art reflected a larger era of social and political upheaval. Pieces associated with the style range from Roelof Louw’s Soul City (Pyramid of Oranges) (1967) — a work of installation art that sees fresh oranges stacked into a pyramid from which visitors are allowed to take one orange away — to On Kawara’s “Today” series, which saw the Japanese artist carefully painting a date in white acrylic on canvases consisting of a single color from 1966 to his death in 2014. Artists such as Ed Ruscha, who created the Twentysix Gasoline Stations book — a collection of photos of gas stations that is widely said to be the first modern artists’ book — made photography a major platform for Conceptual art, as did Bruce Nauman, who burned one of Ruscha's books and then photographed it for his own.
Conceptual art’s legacy of questioning artistic authorship, ownership and how to work with complex ideas of space and time had a significant influence on the decades of culture that followed, and it continues to inform art today.
The collection of Conceptual photography, paintings and sculptures on 1stDibs includes artworks by John Baldessari, Jenny Holzer, Lawrence Weiner, Joseph Kosuth and others.
1980 Ugo La Pietra Figurative Portrait Pink Laquered Aluminum
Located in Brescia, IT
Ugo La Pietra is an Italian artist, architect, designer and philosophy. Since 1960 he created the fundamental of European artistic tendancy as founder of various art groups such as Global Tool, Radical Design...
Metal
Niemand and Soldier Duo
Located in Denver, CO
"Niemand and Soldier Duo" is of a limited edition of 25 works, edition 17/25 and signed. The Duo will be shipped directly from the artist's studio in Slovakia to your location. Ship...
Polyurethane
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Iron Teapot
Located in Columbus, OH
"Iron Teapot" 8x4 inches, two pieces. This surrealist sculpture is a ceramic teapot glazed to look like iron, with a female nipple and areola for a lid. Lighter than it looks but difficult to open, it is both an erotic and hushed commentary on female bodies, desire and strength. Signed. Tara Joshi...
Ceramic
$4,650
H 55.91 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in
Patricia III by Nando Kallweit. Tall, elegant bronze sculpture of human figure.
Located in Coltishall, GB
Patricia III is a tall, elegant bronze sculpture of a human figure. Nando Kallweit is a German sculptor working in bronze and oak. Kallweit carves the original piece from a piece...
Bronze
$5,950
H 11 in W 6 in
20th Century Solid Bronze Nude Ballet Dancer 'Preparation' by Benson Landes
Located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
'Preparation' is a 20th Century Solid Bronze ballet Dancer by Benson Landes. For Benson Landes, sculpture was most definitely a passion. His oeuvre of cast bronzes is populated wit...
Bronze
$5,440Sale Price|20% Off
H 14 in W 9 in D 7 in
Cold Cast Bronze Bust Sculpture of Vincent Van Gogh by British Sculptor Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Cold Cast Bronze Bust Sculpture of Vincent Van Gogh by British Artist & Sculptor Anthony D Padgett BA MA PGDip, Born in 1969. Everyone has an idea o...
Cast Stone, Metal, Bronze
RECLINING NUDE (SCULPTURE)
By Bruno Luna
Located in Aventura, FL
Incised signature and numbered by the artist. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity included. Edition of 50. All reasonable offers will be considered.
Bronze
UNTITLED (NUDE)
Located in Aventura, FL
Bronze sculpture. Incised artist signature with date and edition. Size includes base. Additional images are available upon request. Certificate of Authenticity is included. Please ...
Bronze
$18,000
H 66 in W 47 in D 47 in
Tellina, Fiber Glass Sculpture by Elisabeth Cibot
Located in Pasadena, CA
Born in 1960 in a family of artists collecting the bronzes of the Italian Renaissance, the sculpture has always been part of the environment of Elisabeth Cibot. She finds it again wi...
Fiberglass
$17,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 66 in W 47 in D 47 in
Tellina, Fiber Glass Sculpture by Elisabeth Cibot
Located in Pasadena, CA
Born in 1960 in a family of artists collecting the bronzes of the Italian Renaissance, the sculpture has always been part of the environment of Elisabeth Cibot. She finds it again wi...
Fiberglass
$3,150
H 8 in W 12 in D 14 in
"Don't Cry!", Conceptual Bronze Sculpture, Limited Edition, 2010+
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a limited edition conceptual bronze sculpture made by San Diego artist, Maidy Morhous. Its dimensions are 12" x 8" x 14". A certificate of authenticity will follow its delive...
Bronze
$8,844
H 29.53 in W 7.88 in D 3.15 in
Nymph Bronze Sculpture Nude Girl Mythology Green Patina Hair Limited Edition
By Erwin Meijer
Located in Utrecht, NL
Nymph Bronze Sculpture Nude Girl Mythology Green Patina Hair In Stock - Plexiglass pedestal extra 10 cm Limited Edition The statues of Erwin Meijer are subtle with a recognizable, p...
Bronze
$7,500
H 30 in W 14 in D 8.75 in
Serie Olimpo Vulcano - Bronze Sculpture of Mythological God of Fire
Located in Chicago, IL
Serie Olimpo Vulcano bronze, 2/8 30h x 14w x 8.75d in 76.20h x 35.56w x 22.23d cm ed. 2 JCP072 Jesús Curiá's sculptures arouse something more than purely aesthetic pleasure. We can ...
Bronze
$9,500
H 28 in W 12 in D 12 in
Icaro III - Bronze Figure of Mythical Icarus Standing on Wings, Green Patina
Located in Chicago, IL
Icaro III bronze 28h x 12w x 12d in 71.12h x 30.48w x 30.48d cm ed. 1/8 JCP073 Jesús Curiá's sculptures arouse something more than purely aesthetic pleasure. We can analyze his wor...
Bronze
$18,000
H 66 in W 47 in D 47 in
Tellina, Fiber Glass Sculpture by Elisabeth Cibot
Located in Pasadena, CA
Born in 1960 in a family of artists collecting the bronzes of the Italian Renaissance, the sculpture has always been part of the environment of Elisabeth Cibot. She finds it again wi...
Fiberglass
Niemand and Soldier Duo
Located in Denver, CO
"Niemand and Soldier Duo" is of a limited edition of 25 works, edition 15/25. The Duo will be shipped directly from the artist's studio in Slovakia to your location. Shipping quotes...
Polyurethane
Niemand and Soldier Duo
Located in Denver, CO
"Niemand and Soldier Duo" is one of a limited edition of 25 works. The Duo will be cast and hand-finished especially for you and shipped directly from the artist's studio in Slovaki...
Polyurethane
"Expansion (Third Life)" Sculpture by Paige Bradley
By Paige Bradley
Located in Atlanta, GA
Item is in excellent condition and has only been displayed in a gallery setting. Sculpture softly changes colors. Remote control powered. Born in Carmel, California Paige Bradley k...
Bronze