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.
$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
$4,500
Happiest Place on Earth - Large Monochrome Contemporary Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Harrison Gilman's large original artworks begin with a layer of fast-paced gestural abstraction followed by organic shapes and geometric structures. Some of his paintings remain in t...
Canvas, Oil, Charcoal, Mixed Media
$247
Abstract Expressionist impressionist nature oil painting "Calling to nature""
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This small-format oil painting "Calling to nature " by French artist Natalya Mougenot evokes the quiet ambiguity of nature. Painted on stretched cotton canvas (20 x 20 cm / 7.9 x 7...
Canvas, Oil
Caroni
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Color screenprint, color pencil on heavy white wove paper, 1971. 840x595 mm; 33 1/4×23 1/2 inches (sheet), full margins. Signed and numbered 47/175 in pencil, lower margin. Publishe...
Color Pencil, Screen
Hand painted Proof-Gladiolus Common Blue-British Awarded Artist-English Cottage
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
"Gladiolus Common Blue" marks the latest project by Shizico Yi, a continuation of her renowned "Sunlit Series." Initiated in late spring 2023 and extending throughout the years where...
Gesso, Oil, Acrylic, Archival Paper
Rasplerry folds. 3D abstraction
Located in Zofingen, AG
This exquisite clay miniature, measuring just 26 × 32 cm, is created on a canvas fully formed from clay. The sculpted surface resembles softly draped fabric, with fluid folds seeming...
Clay, Canvas, Acrylic
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
$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: 10.75 x 8.5 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we h...
Oil
$6,690
Malbec by Gabriela Azar Schreiner. Contemporary abstract Painting
Located in Mentone, AU
The painting features dark, rich tones that shift subtly depending on the light, revealing layers of burgundy, fuchsia, and lilac throughout the piece. This painting is unstretched ...
Acrylic
"Exist"
By Iryna Rets
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Exist” 2026 Series “From Simple to…” This work addresses simple things that lie in the basic settings of life. Repetitive, almost unnoticed actions that over time create a sense of ...
Acrylic
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
$376
Abstract Impressionist oil painting on cardboard "Blossoms of the almond tree"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary floral expressionist piece with a touch of impressionism was created by French artist Natalya Mougenot and belongs to her evocative series dedicated to the beauty o...
Oil, Cardboard
$720
Tempestuous Tidal in Blue, Stormy Seascape Diptych, Cyanotype Print, Duo, Blue
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is an exclusive handprinted limited edition cyanotype. "Tempestuous Tidal in Blue" is an original cyanotype diptych portraying the tidal behavior during a storm. Details: + T...
Lithograph
$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
$23,600Sale Price|20% Off
Composition, Basket Series, Dale Chihuly
By Dale Chihuly
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Dale Chihuly (1941) Title: Composition, Basket Series Year: 1985 Medium: Acrylic on Arches Aquarelle paper Size: 42 x 30 inches Inscription: Signed and dated by the artist No...
Acrylic
#200, 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
$9,797
Contemporary Large New Abstract Dots Colors Artist Christina Gschwantner
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, Oil, Acrylic
Attempt at Harmony Abstract Painting, Mixed Media, Ochre Tones, 88cm
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
"Attempt at Harmony" is an abstract painting distinguished by its texture and intertwined layers of color. Dominated by ochre tones, the piece is complemented by flashes of blue, pur...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,416
"At The Very Least" (original abstract, flora, flowers, fauna, green, pink, red)
Located in Paris, IDF
AT THE VERY LEAST 2026 Paris, France This vibrant and immersive floral painting, captures an expansive, almost overgrown garden expanse of blooming roses enveloped in dense, swirlin...
Oil Crayon, Cotton Canvas, Oil
Momentous - Original Colorful Vibrant Abstract Mixed Media Artwork on Paper
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...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic
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
The Air Feels New
Located in Zofingen, AG
shipped rolled in a tube. The Air Feels New from the series “Inner Landscapes” This painting is part of the Inner Landscapes series, where landscape becomes a reflection of memory, ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Under Spring's Canopy - rich, colourful, layered abstract, oil on canvas
Located in Bloomfield, ON
A velvety dark green reminiscent of a forest’s canopy dominates the canvas in this abstract piece by Noreen Taylor. Glimpses of yellow and pale green pro...
Canvas, Oil
Apple Garden Latte
Located in Zofingen, AG
shipped in roll Apple Garden Latte (from the Inner Landscapes series) This work is a visual embodiment of a May morning, a moment when space fills with light, fragrance, and movement...
Canvas, Acrylic
Life - Large Oversized Bold Colorful Abstract Expressive Modern Original Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles artist Amber Goldhammer paints dramatic abstract compositions in acrylic on canvas featuring energetic brushstrokes. Goldhammer uses her contemporary paintings to express...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Latex, Spray Paint, Acrylic
Cuerpos Magnéticos Spring. Wall sculpture
Located in Miami Beach, FL
From the series Cuerpos Magnéticos (Magetic Bodies) Cuerpos Magnéticos was born searching for the relationship between nature and our bodies, attraction and rejection. We see rocks,...
Epoxy Resin, Pigment
Energized, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Dorothy Gaziano presents an abstract painting in various shades of blue, ranging from light turquoise to deep navy. The composition features layered, tex...
Acrylic
'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
Big Sur Views - Abstract Landscape Ocean Blue Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
With a contemporary perspective on landscape painting and inspired by paintings created by old masters, German artist Katharina Husslein paints in a representational manner to captur...
Canvas, Oil
$412
Small abstract expressive nature painting wood frame "Spring on the horizon"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressive nature painting, created by French artist Natalya Mougenot, bursts with color and emotion. "Spring on the Horizon" captures the fresh energy of ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,318Sale Price|30% Off
Traces No.9 Pour une Archéologie du Présent, 1970s Acrylic on Plywood
Located in Cotignac, FR
Large 1970s abstract geometric acrylic and oil on plywood panel signed Rivel and dated 1977 to the bottom left. The painting is titled to the rear of the panel. Numbers of colour fields in muted shades jostle against one another. It is the shapes and the space between them which give energy to the painting whilst the colour palette restrains. The painting is highly textured as the artist has applied the paint thickly and energetically with both palette knife and large brushstrokes. At times layers of paint reveal underlying colours. This painting fits perfectly into the abstract genre with its focus on its formal qualities over and above its subject matter. Furthermore the artist experiments with reconstructing shapes and rejecting three dimensional perspective. A fine example of non objective art...
Acrylic, Board
$2,074Sale 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
$850
In The Making 1 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Abstract, Colour Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
By and by Too many thoughts rooted in my soul So many memories, the good and the bad They all shaped me. Colourful in a wink, darkness looted. But when it's all going grey, it shine...
Canvas, Oil
Internal Mythologies
Located in Dallas, TX
encaustic on paper
Paper, Encaustic
Suspended Organic Mar II Natural Raffia Textile Sculpture by Eliurpi 2026
By Eliurpi
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...
Textile
$4,200
Turnabout: Abstract Geometric 3D Wooden Wall Sculpture in Green, Grey & Beige
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract geometric three-dimensional wood wall sculpture in bright pastel hues of sage green, light grey, and beige "Turnabout", hand-carved wooden wall sculpture by Hudson Valley ar...
Wood, Dye, Acrylic, Wood Panel
Where Endings Begin, nature, expressionism, joan mitchell, contemporary
By Lloyd Tabing
Located in Jönköping, SE
This painting is from my series titled "The Untethered Soul." This series delves into the transformative power of nature, capturing the essence of what one feels rather than sees. In...
Acrylic
$1,980
Love Conquers All - Extra Large Abstract Painting, Bold Colors, New, Maximalism
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Love Conquers All - Omnia Vincit Amor Extra Large Abstract Investment Bold Color Large rendition in the Unchained Expressions series. It attempts to map the road to freedom...
Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Spray Paint, Color Pencil
Joan Miró - MARAVILLAS CON VARIACIONES... Lithograph Contemporary Art Abstract
By Joan Miró
Located in Madrid, Madrid
Maravillas con variaciones acrósticas en el jardín de Miró IV Date of creation: 1975 Medium: Lithograph on Gvarro paper Edition: 1500 Size: 49,5 x 35,5 cm Condition: In very good con...
Lithograph
$5,901
Magic of Indigo: (SPACES Series) Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, 60x120 cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
A masterpiece exploring night mysticism, cosmic light, and the infinite. This panoramic 60x120cm oil, acrylic canvas captures a sublime transition from deep twilight shades into abso...
Oil, 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
$1,768Sale 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
ECHO
By Oksana Reva
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting resonates with silence dissolved in shades of blue. Gentle layers of color, from the lightest to the deepest, unfold into an invisible vibration—an echo that seems to...
Canvas, Oil
$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
Belond time, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Emily STARCK
Located in Yardley, PA
Large work of abstraction. Worked in several layers with raw emotions expressed by colors and gesture. Edges are painted in the continuity of the work. Dimensions are for stretched...
Acrylic
$322Sale 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
$56Sale Price|20% Off
Derrière Le Miroir No. 204 Lithograph, Abstract, Late 20th Century
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This rear cover lithograph from Derrière le Miroir No. 204 showcases Eduardo Chillida’s iconic abstract style, emphasizing his mastery of form, balance, and spatial exploration. Publ...
Lithograph
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
$365
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
$163Sale Price|20% Off
Exotic French Impressionist Oil Painting Bridge and Palm Trees.
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Maggy Clarysse (1931-2011) Oil on board, unframed 10.75 x 8.75 inches Signed co...
Oil
Mark TOBEY : Blue Composition, Original signed screenprint
By Mark Tobey
Located in Paris, IDF
Mark TOBEY (1890-1976) Blue Composition, 1976 Original color screenprint Signed with the artist's stamp Numbered / 77 copies On Auvergne vellum 64.5 x 50.5 cm INFORMATION: Authenti...
Screen
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
$18,000
SCARCE! Mark Rothko at Museo d'Arte Moderna Ca' Pesaro, Venezia hand no. 250/500
By Mark Rothko
Located in New York, NY
Mark Rothko at Museo d'Arte Moderna Ca' Pesaro, Venezia, 1970 Offset lithograph and lithograph on high quality lithographic paper Numbered in pencil 250/500 in the lower left front ...
Lithograph, Offset
$2,060
Contemporary large abstract expressionist floral painting "Just flowers"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Just Flowers" is a modern Expressionist floral painting with Fauvist-inspired color and gestural abstraction. Three vivid red blossoms rise against a luminous turquoise backdrop, ea...
Paper, Acrylic
$1,850
Komorebi -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract Expression, Friendship, Nature
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
There are days I find myself looking back at moments that live quietly in memory, days filled with laughter, noise, and the warmth of people I once stood beside. I painted this from ...
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
$3,415
l'Atelier en suspens, Abstract, Textured, Geometric, Contemporary, French art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
In The Studio in Suspension, Sophie Dumont reimagines the atmosphere of a working artist’s studio, where canvases, color fields, and subtle objects appear to hover in a poised, quiet...
Oil
Traces. Medium abstract painting, grey, blue, ochre, expressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
Following the afterglow — amber notes against misty blues — the surface begins to hum, holding a calm tension between warmth and air. Layered veils and soft, gestural passages keep t...
Canvas, Acrylic
Pink Abstract, Signed Colorful Screenprint by Piero Dorazio
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Piero D'Orazio, Italian (1927 - ) Title: Pink Abstract Year: 1992 Medium: Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 66/99 Size: 30 x 21.5 inches
Screen
"Angela" Abstract Figure with Gown French Haute Couture Oil Painting on Paper
By Cindy Shaoul
Located in New York, NY
Exploring the purity of the feminine form and the drama of French haute couture, artist Cindy Shaoul creates a dialogue between the figurative and the abstract. Her spirited composit...
Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Archival Paper
Mid Century Modern Brutalist Welded Expressionist Sculpture After Paul Evans
Located in Surfside, FL
In this bronze sculpture the artist (unknown) has welded together a group of totems or monuments into a unified piece. T Neo-Dada Abstract Sculpture: Assemblages In contrast, abstra...
Metal