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Abstract Art

ABSTRACT STYLE

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.

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Style: Abstract
Artist: Scott Pattinson
Clyde House No 1 - small, bright, colourful, gestural, abstract, oil on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
A melange of fresh, modern colours swirl about the canvas in this abstract painting by Scott Pattinson. The Canadian artist is known for his intuitive sense of colour. This expressiv...
Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Karoi No 2 - bright, blue, white, colourful, gestural, abstract, oil on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
The palette is subtle: the gestural brushstrokes expressive—This is an earlier abstract painting by Scott Pattinson. The Canadian artist is known for his intuitive use of colour. Here the palette is an elegant mix of soft gray, pale blue, a touch of deep turquoise and yellow. Black offers contrast and dramatic interest. Karoi means ‘little witch...
Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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Previously Available Items
Remained Around it - warm, colourful, gestural abstraction, oil on canvas
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From Other Times - vibrant, colourful, gestural abstract, oil on canvas
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Beyond The Things - large, vibrant, colourful, gestural abstract, oil on canvas
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In Certain Places - soft, vibrant, colorful, gestural abstract, oil on canvas
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There Is Something - large, vibrant, colourful, gestural abstract, oil on canvas
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Denouement No 45 - large, bright, colourful, gestural, abstract, oil on canvas
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Abstract art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Abstract art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Sumit Mehndiratta, Giorgio Lo Fermo, Francisco Nicolás, and Dadodu . Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Synthetic Resin Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Abstract art, so small editions measuring 0.02 inches across are also available.

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