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.
Niemand and Soldier Duo
By Viktor Frešo
Located in Denver, CO
"Niemand and Soldier Duo" is of a limited edition of 25 works, edition 20/25 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
$2,717
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
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
$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
$1,350
H 11.5 in W 4.75 in D 2.5 in
Young Goatherder Bronze Sculpture by Oscar Gladenbeck, circa 1900
Located in Rochester, NY
Bronze statue of young goatherder by Oscar Gladenbeck. circa 1900. Signed "Oscar Gladenbeck Friedrichshagen". period sculpted artist sculpture collectio...
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
$1,518
H 11.82 in W 2.96 in D 2.96 in
Amanda by Nando Kallweit. Elegant figurative sculpture of a female.
Located in Coltishall, GB
Amandas unique silhouette makes her an admirable centerpiece, capable of commanding attention in any setting. Her minimalist design highlights smooth contours and sinuous lines that ...
Bronze
$1,518
H 11.82 in W 2.96 in D 2.96 in
Trisha by Nando Kallweit. Elegant figurative sculpture of a female.
Located in Coltishall, GB
Trishas unique silhouette makes her an admirable centerpiece, capable of commanding attention in any setting. Her minimalist design highlights smooth contours and sinuous lines that ...
Bronze
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 6 in W 12.5 in
Contemporary Reclining Bronze Nude Figurative Sculpture 'Spirit', brown, desktop
By Carl Payne
Located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
'Spirit' by Carl Payne. Edition of 25. A small desktop bronze sculpture of a reclining nude figure captures the timeless beauty of the human form in a moment of repose. The sculptor...
Bronze
$2,126
H 8.67 in W 5.12 in D 1.97 in
Small Runner "Start" II by Yann Guillon - Figurative bronze sculpture, athlete
By Yann Guillon
Located in Paris, FR
Small Runner "Start" II is a bronze sculpture by contemporary artist Yann Guillon, dimensions are 22 × 13 × 5 cm (8.7 × 5.1 × 2 in). Height of the sculpture with the metal base: 42 c...
Bronze
$23,921Sale 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
$3,521
H 41.34 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in
George by Nando Kallweit. Elegant bronze sculpture of a nude male human figure.
Located in Coltishall, GB
George is an elegant figurative bronze sculpture by Nando Kallweit. This striking sculpture features a slender, elongated nude female figure, exuding elegance and introspection. The...
Bronze
Pair of Baroque putti or triumphant angels in carved wood
Located in Valladolid, ES
Pair of Gorgeous Putti or triumphant angels, carved wood, 18th century. Traditionally associated with the Italian or French Baroque. With curly hair and expressive arms and legs, T...
Wood
$19,000
H 23 in W 15 in D 13 in
"Untitled" bronze sculpture of seated female figure by artist Felipe Castañeda
Located in Boca Raton, FL
"Untitled" bronze sculpture of a female nude by artist Felipe Castañeda. Inscribed F. Castañeda 1984 P/A on base.
Bronze
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
H 16 in W 2.25 in D 1 in
'Woman Standing', Modernist Sculpture, San Francisco Bay Area, de Young Museum
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Inscribed on base, 'W.G.' for Wedo Georgetti (American, 1911-2005) and created circa 1950. Acquired directly from the artist and accompanied by certificate of authenticity. Born in ...
Wood
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