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.
The Hush of Winter, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A quiet, enveloping atmosphere emerges. The abstract scene evokes the stillness of winter days when hushed sound and landscape rest within a veil of calm. Subtl...
Oil
$19,000
Louise Bourgeois - Horseshoe (with accompanying horseshoe), signed & inscribed
Located in New York, NY
Engraving by Louise Bourgeois, 2002, hand signed, numbered and inscribed to her longtime printer Judith Solodkin of Solo Impressions, accompanied by an actual horseshoe gifted by the...
Metal
$500Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Figures in Purple and Green - Original Mixed Media Piece
Located in Soquel, CA
Abstract Figures in Purple and Green - Original Mixed Media Piece Bright and colorful abstract by Jennie T. Rafton (American, b. 1925). Two figurative shapes stand in front of a blu...
Paper, Oil, Mixed Media
Reconstruction, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Several shades of blue sweep across a lightly textured background. Bits of orange highlight the focal point, adding warmth to the composition. Sections of gray ...
Acrylic
$822Sale Price|20% Off
Rene Leroy Large French Abstract Cubist Mixed Media Painting Framed
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Key Details Artist: Rene Leroy, French, born 1932 Title: Abstract / Cubist Composition Medium: Mixed media, material and oil on canvas, framed Size: Painting: 29 x 36 inches; framed:...
Oil
$519Sale Price|20% Off
Original Air France Greece (Grece) vintage travel poster
Located in Spokane, WA
Original Air France Grece vintage travel poster. Linen-backed original travel poster by Air France to Greece. Stylized Greek columns and the Parthenon in Athens, Greece sit on a mediterranean blue background. Very good condition, A- Ready to frame. Edges were trimmed at the time of linen backing. The creation of this poster was part of a larger series initiated by Pierre Sautet, the Deputy Commercial Director of Air France. Mathieu began working on these posters a year earlier and completed the series in 1967. Air France is France's flag carrier airline, one of the world's largest and most well-known airlines. Established in 1933, the airline has a rich history and has played a significant role in the development of international air travel. Air France often featured a distinctive style that reflected the cultural and artistic trends of the time. From the Art Deco elegance of the 1930s to the vibrant colors and bold designs of the 1960s, these posters represent the changing aesthetics over the decades. Due to their artistic quality and historical significance, Air France vintage posters...
Offset
Abstract 1, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Green, blue, and orange with black accents create a dynamic abstract composition. Scratches and marks add texture and energy. Artist Dorothy Gaziano used oil pa...
Oil
Sphere Definition 10 Abstract Artwork Original Painting Ready to Hang
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Vahe Yeremyan Title: Sphere Definition 10 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Year: 2025 Style: Abstract Art Dimensions: 36.5" x 69.5" x 2" inch (93 x 177 x 5cm) Presentation: Framed,...
Canvas, Oil
COLORFUL RAINBOW RAIN III (Limited Edition Print of Only 30)
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
**STORE CLOSURE - UP TO 80% OFF - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT** ***EVERYTHING MUST GO BY DECEMBER 31ST!*** >>The artist is moving to a new full time venture in 2026<< _________...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas
$712Sale Price|25% Off
Sonderlust -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, Pop Culture, Anxiety, People
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
All of us can change the past. We cannot take back what has happened, who we love, what we have done. Just like we cannot change our current situation. I think life is a funny thing,...
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
$208Sale Price|30% Off
Deflection of Light - Venice No 1, Abstract Oil Crayon on Paper, 1995
Located in Bournemouth, Dorset
George Dannatt (1915-2009) Deflection of Light - Venice No 1 1995 Mixed crayons on paper Image: 26.4 x 19.6 cm Mount: 40.0 x 32.4 cm Reference no: 1233/1 George Dannatt’s lon...
Oil Crayon
$845Sale Price|20% Off
Complementary Patterns 8, Large Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Canvas 2025
Located in Zofingen, AG
In crafting this piece, I poured my soul into an exuberant celebration of color and monochromy, using the brushes and palette knife's bold strokes to invite a dance of joy and freedo...
Acrylic
$556Sale Price|20% Off
Pumpkin, Yellow/Black, Yayoi Kusama 草間 彌生
By Yayoi Kusama
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Yayoi Kusama (1929) Title: Pumpkin, Yellow/Black Year: 2016 Medium: Painted cast resin sculpture with decorative box, as issued Sculpture Size: 4 × 3.5 x 3.5 inches Inscripti...
Epoxy Resin
$2,082Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 2506
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I meld the raw emotions of expressionism with the fluid ambiguity of abstraction. The cascades of cool blues and greens contrast with warm golden hues, capturing a mom...
Acrylic
$294Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract impressionist nature acrylic on paper "Serenity in the mountains"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract impressionist nature painting, infused with a touch of modernity and expressive flair, is titled "Serenity in the Mountains." Vibrant and evocative, this ...
Paper, Acrylic
$1,775Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 2446
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant creation, I've layered acrylics to evoke a sense of dynamic motion and emotional depth. The bold streaks and delicate drips represent the perpetual dance between chao...
Acrylic
Xavi Carbonell, Untitled mixed media on canvas framed, 2025
Located in New York, NY
Vibrant, chaotic, and irresistibly fun — this piece explodes with color and imagination. Whimsical figures and spontaneous gestures fill the canvas with energy, humor, and emotion. I...
Alabaster
$8,665
Contemporary Minimal Abstract, Large-Scale Neutral Earth Tones Painting
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
At Escat Gallery we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork in our collection comes with a Certificate of Au...
Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Pigment
$556Sale Price|20% Off
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 with decorative box, as issued Sculpture Size: 4 × 3.5 x 3.5 inches Inscription:...
Epoxy Resin
Unfettered - Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Abstract, 48in x 60in
By Mario Angel
Located in Mississauga, CA
This large-format acrylic on canvas masterpiece, titled "Unfettered", stands as a monumental achievement in contemporary surreal still life painting. Rejecting traditional representa...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,799Sale Price|20% Off
Maurice Vagh Weinmann Floral Bouquet Still Life Oil Painting Framed
By Maurice Vagh-Weinmann
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title Maurice Vagh Weinmann Floral Bouquet Still Life Oil Painting Framed Key Details Artist: Maurice Vagh Weinmann, Hungarian, 1899–1986 Title: Summer Bouquet Medium: Oil painting o...
Oil
XOXOX 1/10 - contemporary, abstract, painted aluminum, outdoor sculpture
By Rob Lorenson
Located in Bloomfield, ON
A version of this compelling abstract sculpture was recently installed on a University campus in Indiana. Rob Lorenson’s work can be found in numerous public art venues in North Amer...
Metal
Garden Party - Mixed Media Sculptural Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kristina Fjellman, a Minnesota-based visual artist and performer, seamlessly blends sculpture and performance art in her captivating work. With exhib...
Steel, Wire
Let's Climb The Mountains - Large Colorful Abstract Nature Landscape on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C Bernhardsson's original artworks are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Born in Sweden, Bernhardsson travels the world photographing and sketching houses ...
Canvas, Acrylic
"Rhythmic Sanctuary" Abstract metallic glaze stoneware ceramic sculpture
Located in East Quogue, NY
Hand-pitched speckled stoneware ceramic sculpture with metallic glaze by Jessamyn Go. Jessamyn Go's work is deeply rooted in the visceral, meditative experience of working with clay...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Glaze
$284Sale Price|73% Off
Rothko? No - Limited Signed Abstract Photography Print, 21st Century
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Picture done occasionally, reminded me to Mark Rothko, limited to 5, signed. I can imagine it on a white wall with a wonderful frame.
Photographic Paper, Color
$12,000
Color Intersected Series No 6 - contemporary, geometric abstract, oil on panel
By Shayne Dark
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary, geometric abstract, oil-on-panel painting is by Canadian artist Shayne Dark. Dark calls his extraordinary new series of dynamic oil paintings—'calculated chaotic c...
Oil, Wood Panel
Fountain of Life // Interior Water Abstract / blue ocean / sea, waves.
Located in Zofingen, AG
Water is a symbol of the fundamental principle of everything, it is the element from which everything on the Earth was born. Using the ThetaHealing technique The painting is fi...
Acrylic
Composition No. 4
Located in Zofingen, AG
Composition No.4 from the series “Quiet Motion” This work explores the subtle movement of light and form. Soft transitions and layered transparencies create a sense of depth, while ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$2,468Sale Price|20% Off
"Floral Landscape" very large diptych on linen, colorful impressionistic art
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Look at the flowers. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are." - Osho „Floral Landscape“ is a captivating diptych with two parts, each measuring 80x80x2 cm/31,5x31,5x0,8 in...
Spray Paint, Canvas, Acrylic
$8,308
Equilibrium
Located in London, London
extra large scale abstract painting artist: Katarina joys 110x210cm abstract painting, landscape, The item is located in central London, United Kingdom. The painting will be shippe...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Evening Coffee, Joan Mitchell, Larry Poons, expressionism, contemporary
Located in Jönköping, SE
This painting belongs to my ongoing exploration of the relationship between nature and the human experience. Inspired by the natural world and influenced by the Eastern philosophy of...
Acrylic
Abstract Expressionist Two Sided Painting - Male Figuratives in Oil on Masonite
Located in Soquel, CA
Double sided figurative abstract by San Jose, California area artist Daniel David Fuentes (American, 20c-2017). San Francisco bay area abstract expressionist and landscape artist dur...
Masonite, Oil
Ventrilocuo, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas / Framed Black wood 50 x 75 cm Signed About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 1973) graduated from Escuela Nacional d...
Canvas, Acrylic
$72Sale Price|20% Off
Daniel Humair 'Roland Garros French Open' 2004- Poster
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Galerie Le Long Paris, 2004 French Open Paper Size: 29.5 x 23.25 inches ( 75 x 59 cm ) Image Size: 29.5 x 23.25 inches ( 75 x 59 cm ) Framed: No Condition: A: Mint Shipping an...
Offset
$332Sale Price|20% Off
Expressive impressionist floral acrylic painting on paper "Spring's flowers"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressive Impressionist floral painting was created by French artist Natalya Mougenot, whose signature style brings emotion and energy to every brushstrok...
Acrylic, Paper
$14,125
Rose Madone — Large Neutral Abstract Minimal Earth Diptych on Canvas (Set of 2)
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Onirisme organique (Diptych), 146 × 114 cm each panel, Acrylic on raw canvas. Total size of the two panels: 146 × 228 cm. At Escat Gallery, we are committed to maintaining the highe...
Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Pigment
"Threading The Water Needle". Large Contemporary Abstarct Oil Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Threading the Water Needle is a classic painting by Susan Bleakley; she weaves the intricate design and colour palette into this statement art work in the style for which she is best...
Oil
$1,709Sale Price|20% Off
In the Hydrangea Thickets. Textured floral, Japandi, Wabi-Sabi, Shabby Chic
Located in Oslo, NO
In this work, the artist immerses the viewer in a living, breathing environment—a space where color becomes a state, and texture a tangible memory of summer. Intertwined stems, leave...
Canvas, Acrylic
$600Sale Price|20% Off
Blue Ridge summer, Contemporary impressionism, blue, white, green, on paper
Located in Cumming, GA
This painting includes the impression of mountains, forests, grasses. It evokes a pleasant endorphin release that promotes health and well-being. Powerful in its simplicity.
Paper, Acrylic
"Wild White Horses" Contemporary Outsider Urban Expressionism Painting Framed
By Purvis Young
Located in New York, NY
The painting is an expressive, abstract work by Purvis Young with a strong emphasis on dynamic brushwork and a limited color palette dominated by deep reds, off-whites, and subtle ac...
Found Objects, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Cardboard
$108Sale Price|20% Off
French Expressionist Abstract Original Painting Artists Studio Provenance
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition by Jacques COULAIS (1955-2011) gouache painting on paper/ card unframed: 19.5 x 13 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we hav...
Oil
$155Sale Price|50% Off
Untitled Composition (British Modernism, Geometric, Abstract, 50% OFF - MUST GO)
By Jim Bird
Located in Kansas City, MO
Jim Bird Untitled Composition from "Ediciones Poligrafa, Barcelona at Redfern Gallery, London" Original Color Lithograph Year: 1979 Edition: 100 Size: 10 x 7.325 inches (25.4 × 18.6...
Lithograph
$332Sale Price|20% Off
Small abstract expressive nature painting wood frame "Vibrant essence of spring"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressive nature painting, created by French artist Natalya Mougenot, bursts with color and emotion. Titled "The Vibrant Essence of Spring", it captures ...
Canvas, Acrylic
'Abstract, Ebony & Rust', San Francisco Bay Area Abstraction, Large Oil
By Eral Leek
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, "Eral" for Eral Leek (American, 20th century) and dated 1962. A substantial, mid-century oil abstract comprising bold, overlapping rectangular compositional elem...
Canvas, Oil
#99, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
$38,000
Yellow Circuit - minimalist, yellow, stainless steel outdoor sculpture
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This minimalist metal outdoor sculpture in bright yellow was created by Canadian sculptor Alexander Caldwell. The Calgary-based artist is known for ...
Stainless Steel
$200Sale Price|20% Off
Achille Perilli Lithograph Poster, Abstract Geometric Art, 1973
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is an original lithograph poster created for Achille Perilli’s 1973 exhibition Works on Paper at Marlborough Galerie in Zürich. A leading figure in postwar Italian abstraction, ...
Lithograph
"Finishing Touch", Abstract Collage painting
Located in Westport, CT
This contemporary abstract painting by Jill haas features a contemporary style, often exploring themes of introspection and emotion through abstract forms and thoughtful color palett...
Mixed Media, Wood Panel
$657Sale Price|20% Off
Cubist Composition Oil Painting on Card, Signed, Late 20th Century
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Cubist Composition by Armand Rottenberg (French 1903-2000) signed lower corner, oil painting on card, unframed painting: 13 x 10.75 inches Stunning original Cubist painting by the...
Oil
$2,730
Monochrome Ultramarine Blue Abstract Painting on Canvas by Gabriela Meunie
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
At Escat Gallery we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork in our collection comes with a Certificate of Au...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Pigment
Original Modern Contemporary painting on canvas, Abstract, Fantasy style, Framed
Located in Palm Coast, FL
Up for sale Original Abstract Acrylic Painting on canvas in a fantasy abstract style. A unique technique, very colorful. An unusual combination of colors, a flow from sharp to soft s...
Acrylic
$2,175
Golden Slumber - Moody Abstract Atmospheric Landscape Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mark Acetelli’s oil and mixed media paintings awaken the viewer’s sense of exploration and adventure; they demand a new discovery. His artworks exhibit a chemistry of complexity and ...
Canvas, Oil
"After the performance"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
The painting depicts two ballerinas, both tired and happy, each experiencing their performance in their own way, with their own emotional reactions
Canvas, 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
Ruz Big Diptych Gold and Black Yellow acrylic on canvas. abstract.
By Rafael Ruz
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Eclipse. original acrylic on canvas. abstract. painting Original work by the Spanish painter Rafael RUZ. Acrylic on canvas . , Rafael (Barcelona 1956) While contemplating the paint...
Acrylic
$486
Relief Blue 29 - Large Blue Abstract Relief Pallet Knife Ocean Texture Painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
Elevate your space with this large original, gradient of blue, abstract painting! Made on stretched heavy canvas, the edges are painted for a polished look. The glossy varnish not on...
Varnish, Acrylic
$149Sale Price|69% Off
Lithographie Originale I
By Joan Miró
Located in Kansas City, MO
Joan Miró Lithographie Originale I Color Lithograph Year: 1981 Size: 12.5 × 9.6 inches Catalogue Raisonné: Cramer 177, Der Lithograph IV, 1969-1972 Publisher: Maeght Editeur, Paris, ...
Lithograph
The Lady maquette, replica of Chicago Picasso sculpture, American Bridge Company
Located in New York, NY
(After) Pablo Picasso The Lady (Maquette), ca. 1967 Mixed Media Sculpture edition Cor-ten Steel This maquette is based upon the original Chicago Picasso-a monumental sculpture by Pablo Picasso in Chicago, Illinois. The sculpture, dedicated on August 15, 1967, in Daley Plaza in the Chicago Loop...
Stone, Steel
Vintage American Modernist Abstract Framed Original Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Measuring: 25 by 19 inches overall and 24 x 18 painting alone. Framed in ...
Canvas, Oil