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
By Viktor Frešo
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
Wall sculpture, hand-carved cow, eucalyptus and chainsaw, natural wood
Located in Carballo, ES
Hand-carved eucalyptus wood sculpture by the artist Álvaro de la Vega (1954, Lugo, Spain) in 20006. It is part of a series of sculptures of bodies and animals made with chisel and ha...
Stainless Steel
$2,718
Wall sculpture, hand-carved lion, eucalyptus and chainsaw, natural wood
Located in Carballo, ES
Hand-carved eucalyptus wood sculpture by the artist Álvaro de la Vega (1954, Lugo, Spain) in 20006. It is part of a series of sculptures of bodies and animals made with chisel and ha...
Stainless Steel
wall sculpture, hand-carved human bust, raw eucalyptus wood with steel
Located in Carballo, ES
Hand-carved eucalyptus wood sculpture by the artist Álvaro de la Vega (1954, Lugo, Spain) in 20006. It is part of a series of sculptures of bodies and animals made with chisel and ha...
Stainless Steel
$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
$215
H 15 in W 8.5 in D 6 in
Woman Stainless Steel Sculpture, Figurative, Late 20th Century, 15x8.5
Located in Chesterfield, MI
“Woman” is a Stainless Steel Sculpture by the artist Marian Owczarski. It measures approximately 15 x 8.5 x 6 inches. The date of creation is unknown,...
Stainless Steel
$1,500
H 15.25 in W 5 in D 5 in
Winged David (Bronze), ex. Daniel Glaser Estate (New Orleans)
By Michelangelo
Located in New Orleans, LA
A tabletop-sized solid bronze casting of Michelangelo's "Winged David", on a solid marble base. You can see his giant-killer sling "slung" over his shoulder. Fine detail. This came out of a collection of neoclassical grand tour souvenirs, owned by collector Daniel Glaser of New Orleans, Louisiana (from his estate). Back in the day, wealthy travelers in Europe often purchased sculptures and other mementos of the sites they visited. We have several other pieces from this collection in addition to this, including "Discobolus" and a fine gladiator with lance. Proudly presented by Guy Lyman Fine Art...
Bronze
$9,985
H 16.54 in W 7.88 in
Gallulus Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Male Figure Green Patina Marble Stone
Located in Utrecht, NL
Gallulus Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Male Figure Green Patina Marble Stone Wim van der Kant (1949, Kampen) is a selftaught artist. Next to his busy profess...
Marble, Bronze
$8,500
H 21 in W 13 in
1961 Coty Award Plaque Kenneth Hairdresser Jacqueline Onassis Bronze Fashion
Located in New York, NY
1961 Coty Award Plaque Kenneth Hairdresser Jacqueline Onassis Bronze Fashion Bronze on wood. The wood plaque measures 12 3/4" by 20 3/4 inches. The bronze plaque itself is 13 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches and the the bronze inscription, which reads "COTY, American Fashion Critics Special Award 1961 to KENNETH of LILY DACHE...
Bronze
$17,092
H 17.72 in W 7.88 in
Crepis Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Male Figure Marble Stone
Located in Utrecht, NL
Crepis Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Male Figure Marble Stone Wim van der Kant (1949, Kampen) is a selftaught artist. Next to his busy profession as a teacher at...
Marble, Bronze
$7,799
H 13.78 in W 11.42 in D 8.67 in
Inner Energy by Yann Guillon - Bronze sculpture, Male Nude
By Yann Guillon
Located in Paris, FR
Inner Energy is a bronze sculpture by contemporary artist Yann Guillon, dimensions are 35 × 29 × 22 cm. The sculpture is signed and numbered, it is part of a limited edition of 8 ed...
Bronze
$3,214
H 15.36 in W 6.7 in D 4.73 in
Classical-Style Greek Marble Sculpture Torso Of A Woman Italian Early 20th
Located in Roma, IT
A classical-style Greek sculpture depicting the torso of a woman in marble, wearing a draped dress with detailed folds in the fabric. The dress features a gathered neckline, short pu...
Marble
$9,569
H 16.15 in W 15.75 in
Ausum Bronze Contemporary Sculpture Marble Stone Nude Boy Male Figure
Located in Utrecht, NL
Ausum Bronze Contemporary Sculpture Marble Stone Nude Boy Male Figure Wim van der Kant (1949, Kampen) is a selftaught artist. Next to his busy profession as a teacher at a high scho...
Marble, Bronze
$23,931Sale Price|22% Off
H 22.84 in W 13 in D 10.24 in
Modern Pop Art Dita Mel Ramos Stainless Steel Nude Sculpture
By Mel Ramos
Located in Zug, CH
MEL RAMOS (1935-2018) Dita 2017 Cast and polished stainless steel 58 x 33 x 26 cm 22.83 x 12.99 x 10.24 inches Number 29 of 60, Edition of 60 + 6 A.P. Cast signature and number on b...
Stainless Steel
African Carved Wood Male Sculpture
Located in San Francisco, CA
This African carved wood figure represents a male ancestor or spirit spouse statue. Standing at an impressive 26.5 inches tall, figures of this size and posture typically serve as fo...
Wood
$10,035
H 14.57 in W 7.88 in
Sorbe Small Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Drinking Male Figure Marble Stone
Located in Utrecht, NL
Sorbe Small Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Drinking Male Figure Marble Stone Wim van der Kant (1949, Kampen) is a selftaught artist. Next to his busy profession as a teacher at a high sc...
Marble, Bronze
$7,322
H 13 in W 11.82 in
David Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Male Figure Marble Stone
Located in Utrecht, NL
David Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Male Figure Marble Stone Wim van der Kant (1949, Kampen) is a selftaught artist. Next to his busy profession as a teacher at ...
Marble, Bronze
Niemand and Soldier Duo
By Viktor Frešo
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
By Viktor Frešo
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