Beginning in the early 20th century, abstract art became a leading style of modernism. Rather than portray the world in a way that represented reality, as had been the dominating style of Western art in the previous centuries, abstract paintings, prints and sculptures are marked by a shift to geometric forms, gestural shapes and experimentation with color to express ideas, subject matter and scenes.
Although abstract art flourished in the early 1900s, propelled by movements like Fauvism and Cubism, it was rooted in the 19th century. In the 1840s, J.M.W. Turner emphasized light and motion for atmospheric paintings in which concrete details were blurred, and Paul Cézanne challenged traditional expectations of perspective in the 1890s.
Some of the earliest abstract artists — Wassily Kandinsky and Hilma af Klint — expanded on these breakthroughs while using vivid colors and forms to channel spiritual concepts. Painter Piet Mondrian, a Dutch pioneer of the art movement, explored geometric abstraction partly owing to his belief in Theosophy, which is grounded in a search for higher spiritual truths and embraces philosophers of the Renaissance period and medieval mystics. Black Square, a daringly simple 1913 work by Russian artist Kazimir Malevich, was a watershed statement on creating art that was free “from the dead weight of the real world,” as he later wrote.
Surrealism in the 1920s, led by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Meret Oppenheim and others, saw painters creating abstract pieces in order to connect to the subconscious. When Abstract Expressionism emerged in New York during the mid-20th century, it similarly centered on the process of creation, in which Helen Frankenthaler’s expressive “soak-stain” technique, Jackson Pollock’s drips of paint, and Mark Rothko’s planes of color were a radical new type of abstraction.
Conceptual art, Pop art, Hard-Edge painting and many other movements offered fresh approaches to abstraction that continued into the 21st century, with major contemporary artists now exploring it, including Anish Kapoor, Mark Bradford, El Anatsui and Julie Mehretu.
Find original abstract paintings, sculptures, prints and other art on 1stDibs.
$18,500
Carib
By Zammy Migdal
Located in Miami, FL
Undulating on the wall in any pattern desired, this colorful installation of various shades of Caribbean blue is a multi element installation that can be arranged in any way you like...
Metal
"Cosmos I & II", Isobel Folb Sokolow, Abstract Steel Metal Wall Relief Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
"Cosmos I & II" by Isobel Folb Sokolow Welded steel, found & automotive metal, gold leaf Metal Wall Relief Sculpture, Abstract, Organic, A...
Gold Leaf, Steel
Fluorescent Orange Abstract Metal Sculpture, 21st Century
By Shayne Dark
Located in Montreal, Quebec
In 1914, a group of intrepid young men set forth into the northern wilderness with the ambition to document the uncharted territory of the Canadian collective unconscious. Their medium was that of sketchbooks and paint, and with these they rendered a vast and previously unknowable landscape into a tangible national identity. One could call their distinct style picturesque, as it cohered to many of the attributes prescribed by 18th century thinker William Gilpen – for capturing nature so as to make it both palatable and empowering for the viewer. During the romantic period in Europe, certain visual tropes emphasized the beauty of the natural landscape despite the rapid advancements of industrialism. As such, the picturesque, when applied properly, enabled the viewer to apprehend and revel in the vastness of change and opportunity with which they were presently confronted. It is at a similar juncture that we contemplate the works of contemporary sculptor and installation artist Shayne Dark, who’s large scale arborescent schemes present a striking encapsulation of both the magnitude as well as the limits of our natural resources. In an age where the re-assessment of our modes of production and consumption has become a main constituent of our identity, his work serves as a potent reminder of this position’s precarity. One piece resembling a cluster of branches, for example, balances in a tenuous fashion, relying on the equal distribution of weight among all its parts to stay upright. In another work, the boughs extend upwards from a base so small it threatens to tip over. As opposed to the romantic and idealized conceptions of a nature as realized in the compositions of the Group of Seven, Dark, by working in the industrial material of hot forged steel, acknowledges the imprint of the human hand on our surroundings. As art critic and theorist Rosalind Krauss...
Metal
$2,200
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, wood and metal, color "Planet - Tamarack"
Located in Milwaukee, WI
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, metal sculpture, colorful sculpture; "Planet - Tamarack" is from a series of tabletop sculptures which address the theme of Climate Change. A gr...
Metal
$2,200
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, wood and metal, colorful, "Planet - Apple"
Located in Milwaukee, WI
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, metal sculpture, colorful sculpture; "Planet - Apple" is from a series of tabletop sculptures which address the theme of Climate Change. A group...
Metal
$2,200
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, wood and metal, colorful "Planet - Willow"
Located in Milwaukee, WI
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, metal sculpture, colorful sculpture; "Planet - Willow" is from a series of tabletop sculptures which address the theme of Climate Change. A grou...
Metal
$2,200
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, wood and metal, colorful "Planet - Redbud"
Located in Milwaukee, WI
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, metal sculpture, colorful sculpture; "Planet - Redbud" is from a series of tabletop sculptures which address the theme of Climate Change. A grou...
Metal
Indian Contemporary Art by Sumit Mehndiratta - Metallic Waves 4
Located in Paris, IDF
Spray paint on upcycled plastic bottles 23 x 21 x 5 cm Set of eight pieces Sumit Mehndiratta is an Indian artist born in 1986 who lives & works in New Delhi, India. He has pursued ...
Plastic, Spray Paint
$2,200
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, wood and metal, colorful "Planet - Locust"
Located in Milwaukee, WI
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, metal sculpture, colorful sculpture; "Planet - Locust" is from a series of tabletop sculptures which address the theme of Climate Change. A grou...
Metal
Sphère, 2025, sculpture - Pascal Courcelles
Located in Porto, 13
“Sphère”, 2025 Mixed media on preformed structure, edition 1/1 Ø 45 cm / 17.7 in Unique piece – signed by the artist The artwork “Sphère” (2025) by Pascal Courcelles is a true paint...
Canvas, Oil
$2,200
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, wood and metal, colorful, "Planet - Oak"
Located in Milwaukee, WI
tabletop sculpture, indoor sculpture, metal sculpture, colorful sculpture; "Planet - Oak" is from a series of tabletop sculptures which address the theme of Climate Change. A group o...
Metal
$19,983
Earth - British Sculptor, Abstract, Marble, Italian Carrara, Philosophy, Figure
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Earth by British sculptor Ian Thomson. Thomson's travels have provided inspiration for his work. He holds degrees in Architecture and Philosophy & describe...
Marble
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - ZAP
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Artwork made by acrylic & texture on solid maple, mahogany & matte clear coat Scott Troxel draws on the aesthetics of bygone technology and the forward-looking designs of the Atomic...
Acrylic, Mahogany, Maple
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - Tenser
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Artwork made by birch, pigmented lacquer & MDF Scott Troxel has exhibited his work at numerous fairs and exhibitions across the United States, including The Other Art Fair in NYC, T...
Birch, Lacquer
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - Stasis
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Artwork made by birch, pigmented lacquer & MDF Scott Troxel has exhibited his work at numerous fairs and exhibitions across the United States, including The Other Art Fair in NYC, T...
Birch, Lacquer
"Abstract, " White Opal Sculpture by Obert Mukumbi
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Abstract" is an original white opal sculpture by Obert Mukumbi. The artist signed the sculpture. 13 1/2" x 9" x 6" Obert Mukumbi was born on February 11, 1974 in Mashonaland Central Province where he also attended school. He was interested in wood craft and worked on that while he was still in school. Soon after school he was encouraged by his cousin Kennedy Musekiwa...
Stone
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - King
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Artwork made by Suede Venetian paint , latex, birch, MDF & wax Scott Troxel has exhibited his work at numerous fairs and exhibitions across the United States, including The Other Ar...
Latex, Birch, Paint, Wax
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - Condenser
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Artwork made by birch, pigmented lacquer & MDF Scott Troxel has exhibited his work at numerous fairs and exhibitions across the United States, including The Other Art Fair in NYC, T...
Birch, Lacquer
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - Blanco
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Artwork made in Suede Venetian paint, latex, Cedar wood, MDF & wax Scott Troxel has exhibited his work at numerous fairs and exhibitions across the United States, including The Othe...
Latex, Wood, Cedar, Wax
Vanguard : contemporary modern abstract geometric sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Greg Chann creates contemporary modern abstract geometric sculptures. His constructions are complex interwoven systems of physical elements varying in size,...
Steel
Red Magic
Located in Naples, Florida
Colombian-American artist has a 35-year career in sculpture and painting. Trained in Italy, USA and Colombia with renowned artists Libe de Zulategui, Dora Ramirez...
Steel
$544Sale Price|20% Off
Vajrasattva Statue 7.5 Inch with 24K Gold Handcrafted by Lost Wax Process
Located in TRUMBULL, CT
This statue is handcrafted by lost wax process which is one of the ancient process of metal craft. Vajrasattva is seated on lotus with one hand holding a Vajra and the other hand a b...
Copper
Clouds of Smoke – Flare
Located in New York, NY
Ching Ke Lin is a bamboo artist, who keeps delving into the land, exploring the common ground between humans and bamboo, and refining his creative vocabulary in the law of nature. R...
Wood
Clouds of Smoke – Glint
Located in New York, NY
Ching Ke Lin is a bamboo artist, who keeps delving into the land, exploring the common ground between humans and bamboo, and refining his creative vocabulary in the law of nature. R...
Wood
Clouds of Smoke – Pulse
Located in New York, NY
Ching Ke Lin is a bamboo artist, who keeps delving into the land, exploring the common ground between humans and bamboo, and refining his creative vocabulary in the law of nature. R...
Wood
Clouds of Smoke – Drift
Located in New York, NY
Ching Ke Lin is a bamboo artist, who keeps delving into the land, exploring the common ground between humans and bamboo, and refining his creative vocabulary in the law of nature. R...
Wood
$9,200
Rhythm
Located in New York, NY
Painted Aluminum Sculpture. Blue and white. About the Artist: Studied engineering and sculpture at Stony Brook University. Steve has created sculptures of welded bronze or aluminum and have installed them around the world, including Hong Kong, Tokyo, England, France, Germany, Israel, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Grand Cayman...
Mixed Media
Discovery 2018-3, Kug Kyung Oh
Located in Porto, 13
"Discovery 2018-3" by Kug Kyung Oh Medium: Bronze Edition: 2 of 6 Dimensions: 19.5 x 19.5 x 89 cm / 7.7 x 7.7 x 35 in Year: 2018 "Discovery 2018-3" by Kug Kyung Oh is a profound medi...
Bronze
Lost in the Stars
Located in Milford, NH
A wonderful abstract expressionist three dimensional construction by American artist Varujan Boghosian (1926-2020). Boghosian was born in New Britain, CT and after serving in the United States Navy, he attended Central Connecticut Teachers College and the Vesper George School of Art in Boston. In 1953, he had a Fulbright grant to paint in Italy, and from 1956 to 1959, he worked with Josef Albers, geometric abstractionist, at Yale University where he earned both his BFA and MFA. Boghosian became a professor of sculpture at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and became primarily known for his assemblages in which he uses a variety of incongruous objects such as parts of weathered barn doors, antique dolls' heads, old leather, marbles, and ping-pong balls. This construction consists of antique lithographs laid on board, including a shooting target sheet, and metal jacks, all presented on an antique celestial map...
Found Objects, Laid Paper, Lithograph, Adhesive, Wood Panel
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - Matisse
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Artwork made with spray acrylic on poplar with gloss clear coat Scott Troxel draws on the aesthetics of bygone technology and the forward-looking designs of the Atomic Age and mid-c...
Wood, Acrylic
Fruits of War
Located in Milford, NH
A fine abstract expressionist assemblage by American artist Varujan Boghosian (1926-2020). Boghosian was born in New Britain, CT and after serving in the United States Navy, he attended Central Connecticut Teachers College and the Vesper George School of Art in Boston. In 1953, he had a Fulbright grant to paint in Italy, and from 1956 to 1959, he worked with Josef Albers, geometric abstractionist, at Yale University where he earned both his BFA and MFA. Boghosian became a professor of sculpture at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and became primarily known for his assemblages in which he uses a variety of incongruous objects such as parts of weathered barn...
Found Objects
$40,000
Waves of Blue
Located in New York, NY
Abstract. Painted, Welded -Aluminum Kinetic Sculpture. Blue colors. Moves in the wind. About the Artist: Studied engineering and sculpture at Stony Brook University. Steve has created sculptures of welded bronze or aluminum and have installed them around the world, including Hong Kong, Tokyo, England, France, Germany, Israel, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Grand Cayman...
Mixed Media
British Contemporary Sculpture by Philip Hearsey - Ritual
Located in Paris, IDF
26 high x 12 x 11 cm Bronze on a Jesmonite base Stamped with monogram signature and uniquely numbered 864 Unique The two distinct colourings are separated by natural bronze edge in a...
Bronze
$2,900
British Contemporary Sculpture by Philip Hearsey - Doorway Into The Unknown
Located in Paris, IDF
37.5cms high x 24.5 x 12 Bronze on a weathered steel base Unique Stamped with monogram signature and uniquely numbered 869 The natural bronze elements are lacquered for protection a...
Bronze, Steel
$50,000
Lola
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful Sculpture in white marble by the artist Agustin Cardenas. Signed on the base of the sculpture. Cárdenas was a descendant of african slaves from Senegal and Congo. He was b...
Marble
$45,000
Veil VII
Located in Santa Monica, CA
The Veils introduce Brindle’s newest series, where diaphanous washes of color float on elegantly suspended sheets of acrylic. Painted in layers from the back of these sleek, crystall...
Automotive Paint, Acrylic
Abstract Ceramic Sculpture 'Moonlight Underwater'
Located in White Plains, NY
'Moonlight Underwater' 2025 by Contemporary American artist, Sheryl Zacharia. Ceramic, 17 x 22.5 x 6 in. This sculpture incorporates a rich palette of colors in bronze, gray, red, bl...
Ceramic
Bronze Sculpture 'Danza II' by Carola Eggeling 'Polished Bronze'
Located in Paris, FR
Bronze Sculpture 'Danza II' by Carola Eggeling Abstract sculpture with beautiful curved lines and golden skin. Polished bronze sculpture Signed and numbered by the artist Limited e...
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture 'O.T. IV' by Carola Eggeling, Patinated Bronze
Located in Paris, FR
Bronze Black Sculpture 'O.T. IV' by Carola Eggeling Abstract sculpture with beautiful curved lines. German bronze sculpture Certificate of authenticity Numbered and signed artwork L...
Bronze
Aluminum Sculpture 'Wandobjekt' by Carola Eggeling, White Lacquer
Located in Paris, FR
Aluminum Sculpture 'Wandobjekt' by Carola Eggeling Abstract sculpture with beautiful curved lines. German aluminum sculpture Finish: White Lacquer Certificate of authenticity Numb...
Steel
Indian Contemporary Art By Sumit Mehndiratta - Unblock
Located in Paris, IDF
Wooden sculpture Sumit Mehndiratta is an Indian artist born in 1986 who lives & works in New Delhi, India. He has pursued Master of Science in International Fashion Marketing from M...
Wood
Indian Contemporary Art By Sumit Mehndiratta - Neon Butterflies
Located in Paris, IDF
Six Stainless steel discs measuring 14x4x4 cms each hung individually on the wall with a wooden hanging provision on the back of each disc, can be hung in any way as a set of six. S...
Stainless Steel
Indian Contemporary Art By Sumit Mehndiratta - Mandala Series No. 13
Located in Paris, IDF
Ten Stainless steel discs measuring 3x3x1.75 inches each (7.6x7.6x4 cms) hung individually on the wall with a 3M velcro tape hanging provision on the back of each disc, can be hung i...
Stainless Steel
Indian Contemporary Art By Sumit Mehndiratta - Mandala Series No. 12
Located in Paris, IDF
Five Stainless steel discs measuring 6.75x6.75x1.5 inches each (17x17x4 cms) hung individually on the wall with a 3M velcro tape hanging provision on the back of each disc, can be hu...
Stainless Steel
Indian Contemporary Art by Sumit Mehndiratta - Nailed it Series No.165
Located in Paris, IDF
Textiles, acrylic paint and metal on wooden panel, edition of 5 Sumit Mehndiratta is an Indian artist born in 1986 who lives & works in New Delhi, India. He has pursued Master of Sc...
Metal
Indian Contemporary Art by Sumit Mehndiratta - Butterfly Park 8
Located in Paris, IDF
Mixed media sculpture on wood panel framed Sumit Mehndiratta is an Indian artist born in 1986 who lives & works in New Delhi, India. He has pursued Master of Science in Internationa...
Mixed Media, Wood Panel
Chinese Contemporary Art by Wu You - Love is a Pain Point
Located in Paris, IDF
Stainless steel - The artwork comes with COA
Stainless Steel
Chinese Contemporary Art by Wu You - Love is Melting
Located in Paris, IDF
Stainless steel - The artwork comes with COA
Stainless Steel
Chinese Contemporary Art by Wu You - Love Never Hides
Located in Paris, IDF
Stainless steel - The artwork comes with COA
Stainless Steel
Blue Squares
By Dennis Leri
Located in New York, NY
Painted Steel. Metal Sculpture About the Artist: I create sculpture for indoor, outdoor, private and public spaces from various materials such as steel, copper and wood. Through the...
Metal, Steel
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - Navy Citron
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Artwork made in acrylic on birch with satin lacquer and Venetian gold plaster paint backer Navy Citron is a striking mid century modernist inspired wall sculpture made from birch, m...
Metal, Bronze, Enamel
$14,500
Kerla
By Zammy Migdal
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful shades of green resembling fields of green grass are the inspiration for these undulating steel elements installation. There are 18 element of various sizes that can be arr...
Steel
$6,196
The Dance - 21st Century, Marble sculpture, Organic shapes, nature inspired
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
Noemi Palacios expresses herself through form and matter, a medium through which she has found a deep understanding of her inner self. Her evocative pieces are inspired by the univer...
Marble
Scars - 21st Century, Marble sculpture, Organic shapes, nature inspired
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
Noemi Palacios expresses herself through form and matter, a medium through which she has found a deep understanding of her inner self. Her evocative pieces are inspired by the univer...
Marble
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - Tiki III
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Tiki III Wood, paint, lacquer on MDF 24" x 24” x 1” Tiki III is a discreet and elegant minimalist contemporary wall sculpture. It is constructed with high-end birch plywood, acrylic...
Enamel
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - SSB6
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Artwork made with MDF, enamel, Shou sugi ban pine, oil & satin lacquer Scott Troxel has exhibited his work at numerous fairs and exhibitions across the United States, including The ...
Enamel
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - Pinwheel
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Artwork made in birch, wax and acrylic washes Scott Troxel has exhibited his work at numerous fairs and exhibitions across the United States, including The Other Art Fair in NYC, Te...
Enamel
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - Natural Mystic
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Artwork made with birch panel, latex, lacquer, enamel & MDF Scott Troxel has exhibited his work at numerous fairs and exhibitions across the United States, including The Other Art F...
Enamel
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - Atlas
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Lacquer on MDF with cherry and mahogany wood lacquer This Series focuses on the combination of wood and sleek modern painted panels. I feel they are retro-futurist. The juxtapositi...
Lacquer
American Contemporary Sculpture by Scott Troxel - 30LOVE
By Scott Troxel
Located in Paris, IDF
Enamel and latex on MDF + birch with satin lacquer 30LOVE is an elegant modern and minimalist contemporary wall sculpture. It is constructed with birch panels, acrylic and latex was...
Enamel