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.
$1,037
Original-Moon Lit Dahlias-British Awarded Artist-Gold Leaf on oil canvas Board
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
Moonlit Dahlia is a large gold-leaf painting created by Shizico Yi in early autumn, when dahlias reach their fullest bloom and the first turning leaves colour the garden. Painted on ...
Gold Leaf
$9,000Sale Price|62% Off
Three Totems - Large Oversized Abstract Modern Textural Grey Steel Sculptures
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by dance and weightlessness, Granville Beals' industrial metal sculptures are primarily about relationships. His original artworks capture the essence of Abstract Expression...
Metal, Steel
$22,000
EK Ib /// Josef Albers Orange Screenprint Homage to the Square Abstract Bauhaus
By Josef Albers
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Josef Albers (German-American, 1888-1976) Title: "EK Ib" Portfolio: Homage to the Square: Edition Keller Ia-Ik *Monogram signed and dated by Albers in pencil lower right Year...
Screen
$526
Contemporary abstract figurative woman's portrait on paper "Silent beauty"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Silent Beauty” is a contemporary figurative portrait by French artist Natalya Mougenot, exploring feminine identity, vulnerability, and inner strength through expressive color and i...
Paper, Acrylic
$10,000
Anish Kapoor - Flow (Pink), Abstract Color etching from the UK, Signed/N, Framed
By Anish Kapoor
Located in New York, NY
Color etching on wove paper Pencil signed and numbered 19/39 on the verso This work has been elegantly framed in a museum quality handmade wood frame by the prestigious fine art fram...
Etching
$1,350
Don't Let Them Burst Your Bubble: Lagoon 2 XL - Blown Glass Sculpture
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary turquoise glass bubble tabletop sculpture is by Cheryl Wilson Smith. Cheryl Wilson Smith is known for her uniquely beautiful glass work-its form, colour and textur...
Glass, Blown Glass
$400
Flower in Bowl - Abstract Cool Tone Botanical Mixed Media Painting on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Krisanne Souter weaves together elements of nature and ancient feminine archetypes, such as the Mother and the Mystic. Botanical themes, playful elements, and unexpected surprises ar...
Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor, Color Pencil
Insightful Intent: Calm Dog Painting, Abstract Expressionist, Framed Gold
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: BLUE - Insightful Intent Painting Animal Dog Modern Gold Contemporary Striking Invest Bold Classic Joy Original One-of-a-kind This painting forms part of an artwork series c...
Gold
$3,160
Modern abstract expressionist floral painting on linen canvas "Peony Bloom"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Peony Bloom" is a contemporary floral still life by French artist Natalya Mougenot, where vibrant color and expressive gesture celebrate the joyful abundance of peonies at their pea...
Acrylic, Canvas, Linen
My Joyful Heart - Lively Colorful Abstract 3-D Painted Weaving
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Wire
Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night-Hand painted No 2 Limited Edition of Ten
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This striking large hand painted limited Edition is No. 2 of only 10 in existence. 90% of the painting is hand-painted in oil and gesso on giclee by Shizico Yi, the edition featuring...
Gesso, Ink, Oil, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Giclée
$2,050
Deep Roots - Original Elegant Organic Abstract Redwood Sculpture with Maple Base
By Joe Garnero
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Joe Garnero’s medium of choice for his winding abstract wood sculptures is reclaimed Redwood roots, which he finds along the northern California coast. The distinct curving shapes of...
Steel
Subtle balance
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work continues an exploration of silence as an inner space — a state where perception slows down and the boundaries between forms become soft and unstable. It is built on a bala...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Marine Spectrum, Mixed Media Seascape, Art Brut Style on Paper, Light Tones
Located in Barcelona, ES
This series by Enric Servera explores the relationship of humans to salt and seawater. The intention of these works is to submerge us into the sea, a salty treasure that surrounds us...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Watercolor
The Fall of Troy 1979 Signed Limited Edition Screenprint
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Artist: Romare Bearden Title: The Fall of Troy Year: 1979 Print Screenprint Size : 29.25'' x 21.75'' inches Image size: 24" x 18" inches Edition: signed in pencil, and numbered XX...
Screen
Sculpted white folds. 3D texture
Located in Zofingen, AG
The artwork is crafted on a wooden circular canvas, enhancing its organic and natural appeal. The folds, created from durable mesh and coated with plaster, add depth and texture to t...
Mixed Media
Sunchasers: Painting of Dogs, Modern Abstract, Gold Frame, 51x41cm
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Sunchasers Painting Animal Dog Modern Gold Contemporary Striking Invest Bold Classic Joy Original One-of-a-kind This painting forms part of an artwork series called BLUE. I ...
Gold
$1,090
Festival of Joy - Abstract Expressionism Maximalis Delight Joy Texture Statement
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Festival of Joy Abstract Expressionism Colorful Delight Joy Movement Texture Statement Vibrant Festivitas Laetitiae - Festival of Joy This vibrant artwork, set on a deep cr...
Oil, Acrylic
Crustacean Green Ceramic Bowl Sculpture
Located in East Quogue, NY
"Green Crustacean Seapod", Ceramic Bowl Sculpture Dimensions: 8 H × 8 W × 5 D Medium: Hand-built ceramic, glazed stoneware Hand-built ceramic sculpture finished in a green glaze. Ad...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Enigma, Contemporary Abstract Geometric Painting by Sophie Dumont
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
French contemporary artist Sophie Dumont creates layered oil paintings that balance structure, atmosphere, and emotion. Her work is held in private and museum collections and is reco...
Oil
Sam Francis Abstract Lithograph, Signed, 1992, Untitled Yellow
By Sam Francis
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Sam Francis Title: Untitled Yellow Medium: Etching & aquatint in colors on wove paper Year: 1992 Edition Size: IX/XVIII Sheet Size: 36 1/8" x 39 3/8" Image Size: 23 1/4" ...
Etching, Aquatint
$742Sale Price|20% Off
Mid Century French Geometric Abstract Starburst in Brown Blue and White
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Mid Century French Geometric Abstract Starburst in Brown Blue and White by Serge Guerin (b. 1916), French signed lower right “SG”, name stamped verso Acrylic and gouache on ar...
Ink, Acrylic, Gouache
Nick Thomm - STEMS (Rose) Standard
By Nick Thomm
Located in FITZROY, VIC
Nick Thomm 'STEMS' (Rose) 69cm x 92cm (27"×36″) Limited Edition of 322. Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemühle 308gsm Fine Art Paper. Condition: NEW. Worldwide Shipping. Sold Unframed.
Archival Ink, Giclée, Archival Pigment
And Water Was First
Located in Zofingen, AG
And Water Was First And Water Was First is part of Olena Kishkurno’s ongoing Inner Landscapes series - a body of work situated between abstract landscape and abstract impressionism,...
Canvas, Oil
Robot Circleish - Large Scale Abstract Expressive Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The paintings of Bruce Rubenstein seamlessly marry sophistication with affordability. His expressive abstract landscape artwork 'Robot Circleish' features whimsical details and vibra...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$556Sale Price|20% Off
Original Set-Jardin d'Hiver-le bleu series-British Awarded Artist-work on paper
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This Set of 2, work on paper, named Le Bleu are a part of Jardin d'Hiver Series by award winning British artist Shizico Yi. She created the series in her winter studio while longing...
Gold Leaf
$3,575Sale Price|35% Off
Maternity with Centaur (M.195) by Marc Chagall *Colorful Lithograph*
By Marc Chagall
Located in Santa Monica, CA
"Maternity with Centaur (M.195)" is a lithograph on Arches created by Marc Chagall . Printed in Paris by the renowned master printers Atelier Mourlot Frères, it was published by Édit...
Lithograph
French Geometric Abstract Expressionist Circular Linear Composition Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
French Geometric Abstract Expressionist Circular Linear Composition Oil Painting by Gilbert Pelissier (French, born 1924) French abstract expressionist oil painting on canvas, unfram...
Oil
Evening Whisper by Gabriela Azar Schreiner. Contemporary abstract Painting
Located in Mentone, AU
This painting is unstretched and unframed. It will be carefully rolled and shipped in a tube. "Creating large-scale abstract paintings that evoke tranquility and presence in any spa...
Acrylic
Picnic by the Cypress
Located in Zofingen, AG
Picnic by the Cypress Size: 140×97 cm (overall size with stretching 150×107 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled In this piece, a moment of calm and ease mee...
Canvas, Acrylic
$444
"Joyful blooms" Contemporary abstract expressionist floral still life painting
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Joyful Blooms" is an original contemporary floral still life by French artist Natalya Mougenot, painted in her distinctive metamodern expressionist style with acrylic paint and acry...
Paper, Acrylic
$5,618
Triptych “Symphony of nature” X-Large size . Semi-abstract interior painting
Located in Oslo, NO
This triptych showcases a dramatic seascape that captures the raw energy of turbulent waves crashing against rugged rocks. The swirling, frothy waters are depicted with dynamic brush...
Canvas, Acrylic
Time of change
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting explores an inner sense of trust that is shaped through closeness, support, and growing up. It speaks about the moment when a person learns to find safety within themse...
Canvas, Acrylic
$455Sale Price|30% Off
Blue Desert No. 6 - Abstract Deep Green Bronze Geometric Original Wall Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Alexander Eulert's original mixed media paintings on wood panels are abstract propositions of worlds where divergent forces coalesce into harmonious geometric interactions. He draws ...
Metal, Gold Leaf
$24,000
"Stone and Sage" Massive Abstract Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Signed Original
Located in Carmel, CA
Nan Van Ryzin (American, born 1952) "Stone and Sage" 2026 Acrylic paint on canvas, stretcher bars Signed and dated on verso. "Stone and Sage" is a work of rare quiet power - an epic...
Canvas, Stretcher Bars, Acrylic
L'ordre des tomes, Contemporary textured Oil on Canvas, Abstract library
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Born in Paris in 1964, French contemporary painter Sophie Dumont creates richly textured oil paintings inspired by landscapes, artists' studios and her celebrated library series. Her...
Oil
Modern City scape, London from St.Pauls in monochrome
Located in Woodbury, CT
William Yates (British, 20th Century) St. Paul’s Cathedral, London Oil on board, circa 1970 Signed on the reverse William Yates was a gifted British painter whose expressive citysca...
Oil, Board
$430Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract impressionist expressive flowers acrylic on paper "Floral Inspiration"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This vibrant artwork captures a bouquet of pink flowers displayed in a glass vase, enveloped by expressive, swirling brushstrokes. This artwork named " Floral Inspiration" belongs ...
Paper, Acrylic
Can this be real From the my journey collection - 1999
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Alexandra Nechita Can this be real From the my journey collection - 1999 Print - Lithograph on Arches Archival Paper 35½'' x 23¾'' inches Edition: Signed in pencil, dated and marked 139/199 Embossed with Mourlot Paris Stamp "I am so blessed to have a younger brother named Maximillian. Can this be real? I feel so infinitely happy, so full of life, so complete to have Maximillian. Loving to open up a chest full of race cars and trucks or kicking a ball the way boys do, was something unknown to me.""Having my pony tail pulled so much was another surprise of having a little brother. Even wild adventures like building pyramids out of live snails was nothing compared to trying to hold our garden spiders...
Lithograph
$2,020
Earth to Sky - Tall Impasto Inspired Colorful Thick Paint Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Acrylic, Glitter
$518
Hand Painted Edition-Sunset Song with Blue and Green-British Awarded Artist-No.2
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
Sunset Song with Blue and Green is part of Sunset Song Series, a major new body of work created by British awarded artist Shizico Yi for her solo exhibition Modern Ancient. Painted e...
Gesso, Oil, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$5,500
Revival-Refraction - Large Earth Tone Teal Original Layered Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rachel Taggart’s abstract paintings explore the way light passes through color and creates a sense of depth. Diluted acrylic washes settle into the raw canvas in translucent layers, ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Signed 1983 Limited Edition J'ai retrouvé mon père sur les rives du Jourdain
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Artist: Theo Tobiasse, French/Israeli (1927 - 2012) Title: J'ai retrouvé mon père sur les rives du Jourdain. Cat. Nahan Year: 1983 Medium: Aquatint Etching with Carborundum, signed i...
Aquatint
$819
Modern abstract Impressionist still life floral painting on paper "Roses Trio"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Roses Trio” is a vibrant contemporary floral still life by French artist Natalya Mougenot, whose intuitive, spontaneous brushwork transforms everyday blooms into a burst of emotiona...
Paper, Acrylic
$2,341
Suburbs of Lausanne between day and night // texture original oil impasto 3d /
Located in Zofingen, AG
This Impressionist painting conveys a meditative sense of immersion in the silence of nature. The canvas exudes coolness and sensual tenderness. This is not just a landsca...
Oil
"La Boheme" Large Scale Rose and Burgundy Acrylic & Oil Pastel Abstract 72"x72"
Located in New York, NY
"La Boheme", 2026, 72" H x 72" W. "La Boheme" is a monumental contemporary abstract painting consisting of acrylic, pencils, and oil pastels on canvas by Argentine-born artist Kari...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Carbon Pencil, Color Pencil
Color metamorphoses
Located in Zofingen, AG
This abstract composition combines fluid acrylic painting with precise graphic linework. Organic fragments of flowing color — turquoise, gold, blue, coral and earthy tones — emerge a...
Cardboard
$11,529
Abstraction 150.200-2 13 A by Nicolas Galtier - Abstract Gold Leaf Painting
Located in Paris, FR
Abstraction 150.200-2 13 A is a painting by French artist Nicolas Galtier. The artist uses a mixed technique combining pigments, binders, glues and various metal powders and sheets. ...
Linen, Mixed Media
Roy Lichtenstein - 1987 Modern painting with Clef poster, Hand Signed, inscribed
Located in New York, NY
Offset lithograph poster Signed exhibiton poster for the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Hand signed, dated '88 and inscribed 'To Osc...
Lithograph, Offset
Meet Me There IV (Abstract Painting)
By Petra Schott
Located in London, GB
This artwork will be shipped rolled in a dent-resistant tube. German artist Petra Schott translates human emotions, memories, and sensory experiences into expressive, lyrical abstr...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil
Helter Skelter - Large Contemporary Cubist Terracotta Orange Oil Painting Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles artist Harrison Gilman graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. In 2018 his artworks were exhibited at the We Rise Art Fair in Los Angeles alongside Shepard Fairey ...
Canvas, Oil
Echoes of the Flow
Located in Zofingen, AG
This piece from the *"Silhouettes"* series presents a bright abstract landscape where hints of a river, fields, and sky can be discerned. It continues the exploration of the connecti...
Acrylic, Archival Paper
Falling Reef. From the series Polyculture
Located in Miami Beach, FL
These works explore our relationship with the incredible biodiversity of our planet Earth. Visual representations of flowing colours, smells, sounds and the feeling of our life sourc...
Canvas, Acrylic
“Set Out”
By Iryna Rets
Located in Zofingen, AG
The works from this series were exhibited at ART KYIV Fair 2026 and later presented as part of the artist’s solo exhibition “Points of View” at MODI Art & Wine Gallery, Kyiv. “Set ...
Canvas, Acrylic
White Standing Pod Ceramic Vessel Sculpture
Located in East Quogue, NY
"White Standing Pod", Ceramic Sculpture Dimensions: 5 H × 5.5 W × 5.5 D Medium: Hand-built ceramic, glazed stoneware Adrienne Fierman’s "White Standing Pod" embodies the meditative ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Hand-Gilded-Constant Gardener-the last Artist Proof-Rare X-Large-Awarded Artist
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This is an unique one-off Artist Proof, in a rare Extra-Large square format. A special Proof that only 3 have been made with hand gilded Gold Leaf. The outstanding hand-painted qual...
Gold Leaf
Joan Miro Color Etching, Signed, Abstract Style, 1966, Le Dedans Le Dehors
By Joan Miró
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Joan Miro Title: Le Dedans & Le Dehors Medium: Etching and aquatint on paper Date: 1966 Edition: 16/60 Framed Size: 15 1/2" x 13" Sheet Size: 7 1/2" x 5" Signature: Hand sign...
Etching, Aquatint
Autumn in the garden V
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this artwork, I embraced abstraction to depict the vibrant, transformative energy of autumn. Using oil paints, I splashed hues of red, gold, and orange, each stroke symbo...
Canvas, Oil
Bark and Reliefs Abstract Geometric Wall Sculpture, Resin
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Bark and Reliefs, 2018 By Carla Gimbatti From the Series Reliefs Aquaresin and Pigment Overall Size: 79 H x 33 W in. Individual Size: (Bark) 79 H x 16.5 W in. (Reliefs) 79 H x 8....
Resin, Pigment
$200Sale Price|20% Off
Framed 1994 Bedroom at Arles Offset Lithograph, Abstract Impressionist
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bedroom at Arles is an offset lithograph by Roy Lichtenstein, from a portfolio of six prints published by the Guggenheim Museum, now out of print. In this witty reinterpretation of V...
Offset