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.
Blue Landscape – Original Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, 30 × 40 cm, 2022
Located in Agrigento, AG
Blue Landscape is an original oil painting by Italian contemporary artist Marilina Marchica, created in 2022. Built through delicate layers of deep blue and soft tonal variations, t...
Canvas, Oil
Pastel Grid (Spice) - contemporary, minimalist, abstract, pastel on paper
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This colourful contemporary pastel on paper in grid form is by Milly Ristvedt. The classic grid pattern becomes more than a ‘container’ for colour in the hands of master colourist M...
Paper, Pastel
$703Sale Price|38% Off
Powerful Vagina Oil Painting, Abstract Expressionism, 50x50 cm
By Nerea Caos
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Title: The Powerful Vagina Artist: Nerea Caos (Nerea Sánchez Castro) Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 50 x 50 cm (19.7 x 19.7 in) Format: Unframed Year: 2025 Signature: Signed on th...
Canvas, Oil
$2,800
Art Card: Frank Stella The Fossil Whale (Hand Signed by Frank Stella), Framed
By Frank Stella
Located in New York, NY
Offset lithograph card Hand signed and dated '93 by Frank Stella on the front Gorgeous card depicting abstract expressionist artist Frank Stella's "The Fossil Whale" on the front cov...
Postcard
$15,000
"Pond With Lotus Flowers" Monet's Water Garden in Giverny Painting on Canvas
By Eric Alfaro
Located in New York, NY
From Monet's sanctuary in Giverny, we are transported effortlessly through bold brushwork and impasto paint. Alfaro diligently layers the canvas with acrylic paint creating a truly b...
Canvas, Acrylic
Large Vintage American Cubist Abstract Original New York School Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American cubist abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Unsigned. Measuring: 49 by 37 inches overall, and 48 by 36 painting alone. Excellent condition, ready to hang a...
Canvas, Oil
$15,000
"Porcelain and Flowers" French Vase with Colorful Flowers Oil Painting on Linen
By Eric Alfaro
Located in New York, NY
An impressionistic depiction of a Saint-Cloud factory porcelain vase ca. 1695–1710 with a burst of flowers exploding with color and bold marks. Alfaro bridges the Baroque cultural mo...
Linen, Oil
$645
Moon Flower Potted Plant - Lively Abstract Colorful Botanical 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
Nympheas De Mon Coeur - Soft Abstract Floral Landscape Painting
By Vè Boisvert
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from an immersive and impressionistic interpretation of nature, Canadian artist Vé Boisvert paints textural original artworks that capture the fleeting effects of...
Canvas, Acrylic
$880
Caribbean Sandy Shore Triptych, Blue Tones Seascape, Sunny Waves Cyanotype Print
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This series of cyanotype triptychs showcases the beauty of nature scenes, including stunning beaches and oceans, as well as the intricate textures of water, forests, and skies. These triptychs are large pieces that feature lush blues, making them an impressive addition to any beautifully designed space. Each triptych is printed by hand and carefully crafted to capture the unique essence of these natural environments, with a focus on the interplay of light and shadows, and the subtle nuances of tone and texture. The beach and ocean scenes depict the dynamic beauty of waves crashing against the shore, with the cyanotype process lending a dreamy, ethereal quality to the images. Similarly, the forest and wood scenes offer a glimpse into the hidden depths of nature, with the cyanotype process lending a sense of mystery and wonder to the images, while the lush blues of cyanotypes imitate the sky and clouds perfectly. These triptychs are perfect for anyone who loves to surround themselves with the beauty of nature, and they make an excellent centerpiece for any beautifully designed space. Details: + Title: Pleasant Waters in Tulum Beach...
Lithograph, Monotype, Paper
Abstract Painting on Canvas by Serg Graff, "Welding Spatter", COA
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This painting is a vibrant explosion of color and texture, presenting an abstract composition that radiates energy and spontaneity. The canvas is densely packed with swirling lines, ...
Oil, Acrylic
Going: Abstract Mixed Media on Wood Panel, Framed, 91.4x76.2 cm
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Stephen identifies the delicate texture and beauty of the natural oxidation process. Oftentimes a found object initiates his work: By incorporating an object directly, imprinting, or...
Mixed Media, Wood, Wood Panel
Pumpkin, Red/White, Yayoi Kusama 草間 彌生
By Yayoi Kusama
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Yayoi Kusama (1929) Title: Pumpkin, Red/White Year: 2016 Medium: Painted cast resin sculpture Sculpture Size: 4 × 3.5 x 3.5 inches Inscription: ©Yayoi Kusama, as issued Notes...
Epoxy Resin
$100Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Painting on Canvas by Serg Graff "Funny Octopuses", COA
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This is a unique original acrylic painting on canvas in a lively fantasy abstract style by Serg Graff, titled “Funny Octopuses.” The painting bursts with color and movement, depicti...
Acrylic
Don't Let Them Burst your Bubble: Clear 81425 - Clear Glass Abstract Sculpture
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary wall sculpture features bubbles of clear glass. Each work is individually hand-formed in glass, so slight variations in colour, shape, and texture from the images ...
Glass, Mixed Media
$108Sale Price|20% Off
French Expressionist Abstract Original
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition by Jacques COULAIS (1955-2011) watercolour painting on artist paper unframed: 14.75 x 13 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings...
Watercolor
Ramunės - abstract analogue black and white floral photography, Ltd. 20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
'Ramunės' London, United Kingdom 2022 Limited edition of 20. Photograph printed on heavyweight fine art paper. Photograph is shipped fast and flat in secure thick cardboard packa...
Film, Photographic Film, Giclée
2303 - Original Figurative Neutral Abstract Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Swiss artist Edith Konrad paints figurative abstract compositions with mixed media on canvas. She layers her expression of her emotional response to the subjects with dynamic texture...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
"Tectonics 09"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
This work is part of the Tectonics series, exploring structure, rhythm, and material through repetitive carved patterns. The piece consists of three vertical panels forming a tripty...
Wood, Mixed Media
Nick Thomm - LUMINANCE - SET (Standard)
By Nick Thomm
Located in FITZROY, VIC
Nick Thomm 'LUMINANCE' (SET) 69cm x 92cm (27"×36″) per print. Blue Limited Edition of 425. Orange Limited Edition of 409. Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemühle 308gsm Fine Art Pape...
Archival Ink, Giclée, Archival Pigment
#45, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket of realism to...
Pigment
$880Sale Price|70% Off
Flags of peace #28 by Gilbert Pauli - Oil on canvas 70x90 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Born in 1944 in the canton of Fribourg, Gilbert Pauli currently lives in Geneva, where he devotes himself to painting and sculpture, a passion he developed from his childhood. His fa...
Oil
$200Sale Price|50% Off
#38 After the Rains
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Douglas M. Olsen (b. 1960). #38, After the Rains, 1980. Watercolor on rag paper, 22 x 22 inches. Signed lower margin and on verso.
Watercolor, Rag Paper
$12,000
Western Sky Emma Lake (Diptych) - contemporary, abstract, acrylic on paper
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This large acrylic abstract painting is a diptych by Milly Ristvedt. The beauty of a vast prairie sky is suggested by the grand gestural brushstrokes of brilliant colour in this dip...
Acrylic, Archival Paper
$527
Contemporary abstract expressionist floral painting on paper "Floral Radiance"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This painting makes part of my series dedicated to the scenes of a summer period. This abstract vibrant floral painting called "Floral radiance" is done in a modern contemporary exp...
Paper, Acrylic
$163Sale Price|20% Off
Bright & Colorful French Landscape Impressionist Oil Painting Floral Meadow
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Maggy Clarysse (1931-2011) Oil on thick card, unframed 7 x 9.5 inches Initials Signed ...
Oil
Girlhood Secrets
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 97×97 cm (Total canvas size including stretching margins: 107×107 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled This painting immerses the viewer into an atmos...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,160Sale Price|35% Off
Pedro Friedeberg "Ciudad de un millón con 25 huevos duros" Giclee
Located in Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de México
WE WILL SHIP THIS ARTWORK WORK TO YOU WITH A COURTESY PEDRO FRIEDEBERG STYLE BLACK AND GOLD STRIPED FRAME . . . . Pedro Friedeberg is an Italian-born Mexican artist and designer kn...
Etching, Digital Pigment
$3,900
Wall Composition 5.1 - contemporary, abstract, glazed, ceramic wall sculpture
By Bill Greaves
Located in Bloomfield, ON
The contemporary horizontal panels of this wall composition are handmade in ceramic. On his Instagram post, Bill Greaves has a series of photographs taken from the shoreline of his ...
Ceramic
The Villagers - Abstract Figurative Syrian Middle Eastern Oil Portraits Painting
Located in Sevenoaks, GB
* No US duty or taxes to pay on works of art * A beautiful Syrian abstract oil on canvas depicting female villagers, by Jumaah Nazhan. The artist is very interesting as was the onl...
Canvas, Oil
The Glance
Located in Zofingen, AG
A woman glances back over her shoulder, her golden dress catching the light against a garden in bloom. Rich blues and warm yellows create a striking, romantic contrast. Ready on a st...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,636Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 2561
Located in Zofingen, AG
This piece is a celebration of contrasts—the intense dance between light and shadow, order and chaos. Using acrylic, I layered textured strokes and splashes of gold to evoke emotion ...
Oil, Acrylic
Abstract 4, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Layers of blue and cream with touches of orange and black create an energetic composition. The blending of colors evokes a strong sense of movement, while the...
Oil
$15,000
"Dancing in Teal Waters" Colorful Japanese Koi Fish & Water Oil Painting Canvas
By Eric Alfaro
Located in New York, NY
An impressionistic portrayal of Japanese Koi fish jubilantly depicted with movement and enthusiasm. In a burst of motion, the fish joyfully swim in the clear light blue waters, as th...
Canvas, Oil
New Orleans IceCream Festival (Limited Edition of Only 30 Prints)
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
**IMPORTANT** This is a limited edition print on premium CANVAS. It will arrive rolled inside a tube. A "Certificate of Authenticity" issued by the artist is included. The print is ...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas
Pearlescent Drapery. 3D textured
Located in Zofingen, AG
The artwork, created on 1 cm thick plywood, is a unique combination of textures and natural elements. The upper part of the painting is made from faux leather with a pearlescent tint...
Plywood, Mixed Media
$1,874
Held in Burgundy - Contemporary floral colorful large painting dark red
Located in Zofingen, AG
Burgundy earned its name from a wine region, and something of that heritage lingers in the color — the weight of grapes ready for harvest, the patience required before anything can b...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
Pastel Cloud Sketch Pink minimalist abstract sky painting
Located in COOMERA, QLD
"Pastel Cloud Sketch Pink" is a large original painting featuring soft pink and green hues that blend to create a dreamy cloudscape. Thick, descriptive strokes of acrylic paint bring...
Canvas, Acrylic
Oil on canvas “Abstract Composition”, Yves Frangeul, 1964 France
Located in Valladolid, ES
Amazing oil on canvas with an abstract and avant-garde theme, by the French painter Yves Frangeul, dated 1964. The work presents a non-figurative scene, seemingly a superimposition o...
Canvas
'Green Shade' — Mid-century Modernism, Abstract Expressionism, Atelier 17
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Stanley William Hayter, 'Green Shade', color etching and scraper, 1963, edition 50, (only 39 printed), B&M 278. Signed, titled, dated, and numbered '1/50' in pencil. A superb, richly-inked, luminous impression, with fresh, vivid colors, on Barcham Green textured cream wove paper; the full sheet with margins (2 3/16 to 3 1/4 inches), in excellent condition. Printed: intaglio black-green, contact lumogen yellow, soft roller phthalo green. Scarce. Image size 15 7/16 x 11 5/8 inches (392 x 295 mm); sheet size 21 1/8 x 16 inches (537 x 406 mm). Matted to museum standards (unframed). Collection: The British Museum ABOUT THE ARTIST Stanley William Hayter (1901-1988) was a British painter and printmaker associated in the 1930s with Surrealism and from 1940 onward with Abstract Expressionism. Regarded as one of the most significant printmakers of the 20th century, Hayter founded the legendary Atelier 17...
Etching
Untitled, 1978 - contemporary, gestural, abstract, acrylic on paper
By Carol Sutton
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary abstract acrylic painting is by Carol Sutton. A flurry of colourful gestural brushstrokes dances across the canvas in this engaging acrylic painting by artist Caro...
Acrylic
Abstract 2508
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I delved into the raw emotions of rebirth and transformation. The blend of cool blues and spirited pink streaks across a tumultuous yet harmonious canvas symb...
Acrylic
original etching for Paroles Peintes
By Enrique Zañartu
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: original etching. Printed in 1965 for the deluxe limited edition "Paroles Peintes II" portfolio, published in Paris by Lazar-Vernet. This magnificent, rich impression is one ...
Etching
Abstract 5, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Patches of cream, turquoise, and grey fill this abstract painting. Blue and orange accents, along with black lines, create contrast. Scratches and marks bring...
Oil
Contemporary abstract expressionist nature canvas "Colors of the summer horizon"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Colors of the Summer Horizon" is a dynamic, contemporary abstract landscape by French artist Natalya Mougenot, part of her Nature series, where she explores the natural world throug...
Canvas, Acrylic
$38,000
Print of Frank Stella Wall Relief Sculpture, Hand Signed, Dated by Artist Framed
By Frank Stella
Located in New York, NY
Frank Stella (after) Untitled, for the Very Special Arts Gallery (Hand Signed by Frank Stella), 1992 Photo lithograph and offset litho on thin board (hand signed by Frank Stella) Fra...
Lithograph, Offset
Venus - Ethereal Abstract Textural Floral Painting in Blush, Coral and Gold
By Vè Boisvert
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from an immersive and impressionistic interpretation of nature, Canadian artist Vé Boisvert paints textural original artworks that capture the fleeting effects of...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,400
"I'm Sorry Too" (contemporary, abstract, dark, flora, green, rose floral, linen)
Located in Paris, IDF
I'M SORRY TOO 2024 Paris, France This abstract flora painting portrays two roses seemingly merging in harmonious synchronization, evoking a sense of beauty intertwined with a poigna...
Linen, Dye
$12,000
Empty poems and Fake Gods, Aldo Chaparro, Oil on canvas, 90x68cm, Mexican, 2026
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
The death of painting and its returns have been proclaimed repeatedly at different moments throughout its history. Such pronouncements have functioned as intellectual provocations an...
Canvas, Oil
On the Bright Side, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Various shades of blue, with touches of purple and cream, create a soothing backdrop. A bold orange form adds contrast and visual interest without disrupting th...
Acrylic
$1,150
Red Codec, Abstract Painting, Blue and Yellow Layers, Acrylic Paint on Paper
Located in Barcelona, ES
Details: Title: Red Codec Medium: Acrylic Painting Monoprinting on Paper Size: 83x65 cm ( 32.7 x 25.6 inches) Year: 2024 * Frame is for illustrative purposes only. Artwork shipped c...
Acrylic, Watercolor, Handmade Paper
Impermanence Series n6. From the Impermanence series
Located in Miami Beach, FL
In the Kingdom of Transience, everything is temporary, subject to constant change. Everything is unstable and volatile like the wind. The precariousness of our existence reminds us t...
Ink, Canvas, Pigment
$2,840
Alfred Jansen, Non Objective, Gnomen, lithograph, 1960, Pratt Graphic Art Center
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Alfred Jensen (American, born Guatemala, 1903–1981) Gnomen, 1960 Color lithograph on Arches wove paper Image: approximately 12 × 15⅞ inches (30.5 × 40.3 cm) Sheet: approximately 18½ ...
Lithograph
Hydrangea on Green, Oil Painting
By Judy Mackey
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A bouquet of white hydrangeas rests in a deep blue vase. Thick palette-knife strokes give the flowers a sculptural presence, while soft green tones in the backg...
Oil
One of One Artist's Proof-Hand Painted-Dahlias-British Awarded Artist-Aluminium
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This is a rare hand-painted Artist's Proof by contemporary artist Shizico Yi, created on a deluxe matte-finish giclée aluminium panel. Each edition is 90% hand-painted with Shizico’s...
Metal
$393Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary expressive seascape ocean waves acrylic painting on paper
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This artwork " "Waiting for calmness on the ocean waves" "is a vibrant and dynamic depiction of a seascape, masterfully capturing the essence of a lively and tumultuous ocean. The...
Paper, Acrylic
Green Depth - Large Abstract Acrylic Painting on Canvas: 200x150cm.
Located in Zofingen, AG
Experience the captivating interplay of light, color, and texture with this original abstract painting. "Green Depth" is a visual metaphor for a positive and dynamic vision of life, ...
Oil, Acrylic
$321Sale Price|20% Off
20th Century French Expressionist Wacky Figures In Blue and Green Abstract
By Akos Biro
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Wacky Abstract by Akos Biro (Hungarian 1911-2002) pastel painting on card, unframed painting: 8.5 x 7 inches provenance: the artists estate, France condition: good and fai...
Pastel
The Open Door 1979 Signed Limited Edition Lithograph
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Artist: Romare Bearden Title: The Open Door Year: 1979 Print: Lithograph on Somerset Paper Paper size : 22'' x 30'' Edition: Signed in pencil and marked 4/175 Romare Bearden is r...
Lithograph
$5,500
Serie 2021 #6, Contemporary Geometric Abstract Painting, Oil on Canvas, 2021
Located in Miami, FL
Serie 2021 #6, Contemporary Geometric Abstract Painting, Oil on Canvas, 2021 Rebeca Mendoza plays with simultaneity, superimposition, and ambiguity in her work as she goes through t...
Oil