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.
"Untitled #164 " watercolor print on fine art paper
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Over the past 20 years, Michelle Oppenheimer has become well known for composing paintings that capture the imaginative and organic possibilities of abstract watercolor and acrylic. ...
Inkjet, Paper
Champagne Afternoon - Abstract Sculpture, Outdoor, Steel and Glass, 2010+
By Susan Rankin
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Like flowers in a garden, Susan Rankin’s beautiful glass columns appear to sway in the breeze. An avid gardener, Rankin has created a series of outdoor sculptures inspired by the for...
Steel
Yellow, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Multiple layers of color characterize this abstract piece. Shades of orange, yellow, and cream are applied dynamically, creating a vibrant composition. Bold b...
Oil
$826
Modern abstract figurative woman's portrait acrylic painting "Between times"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
Contemporary expressive female portrait inspired by Matisse, bold Fauvist color modern art painting celebrating feminine strength, authenticity, and inner transformation “Between Ti...
Paper, Acrylic
The Rooster, Abstrast Charcoal Drawing by Etienne Poirier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning charcoal drawing by French artist Etienne Poirier (1919 - 2002). This rare artwork is a charcoal-on-paper composition depicting an interpretation of the proud rooster. Thi...
Charcoal
$1,816Sale 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
$100Sale Price|20% Off
Serg Graff Original “Brigel” Acrylic Ship Painting Gold Leaf Frame Nautical
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This striking original acrylic painting by Serg Graff, titled “Brigel” , captures the luminous power of the open sea and the symbolic voyage of human spirit. Painted in 2025, the wor...
Acrylic
Open Spaces, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft whites and cool blues create a tranquil, expansive space. Accents of orange and fine linework bring contrast and gentle energy. Minimalist abstract forms i...
Acrylic
$680
Untitled #535 by Murray Duncan – Original Contemporary Mixed Media on Paper
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #535 by Murray Duncan – Contemporary Mixed Media on Paper Size: 32" x 40" Unframed, signed on the back A striking exploration of form and movement, Untitled #527 by Murray ...
Oil Crayon, Acrylic, Pencil
Textured Abstract Painting on Canvas by Serg Graff, "Magical Friends", COA
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This is an original textured acrylic painting on canvas by contemporary fantasy artist Serg Graff, titled “Magical Friends”. Medium: Acrylic on canvas Artist: Serg Graff (signed and...
Acrylic
Red on Yellow - Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 1970s, Large Scale
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This large-scale contemporary painting by Milly Ristvedt explores colour in abstract form. A masterful, award-winning colourist, Milly Ristvedt’s elegant abstract paintings hang on...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,793Sale Price|20% Off
Circular Multicolor Clay Sphere Wall Relief Geometric Pop Abstract Sculpture
Located in FISTERRA, ES
Circular wall relief composed of hundreds of hand-formed clay spheres creating a vibrant geometric field of color, texture and dimensional abstraction. Bubble belongs to Elizabeth A...
Clay, Spray Paint, Board
$8,500
"Try Not to Dream", Abstract Expressionist, Figures, Yellow, Gray, Oil Painting
By Sorin Bica
Located in Franklin, MA
Sorin Bica's "Try Not to Dream" is a 82 x 76 x 2 inch abstract expressionist oil painting on canvas. It features elongated figures in bold yellow, white, gray, and red, with expressi...
Canvas, Oil
$1,529
"Blooming Silence” Contemporary Acrylic Painting on canvas Floral Still life
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Blooming Silence” – Acrylic on Canvas by French Artist Natalya Mougenot Contemporary Floral Still Life (80 × 60 × 1.5 cm / 31.5" × 23.6" × 0.6") "Blooming Silence" captures a mome...
Canvas, Acrylic
Jazz II Deluxe 1980 Signed Limited Edition Screen Print
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Artist: Romare Bearden Title: Jazz II Deluxe Medium: Screen Print Edition: Signed in pencil and marked 178/200 Size: 31 x 41½ inches Romare Bearden (1911–1988) was a celebrated Afri...
Screen
$100Sale Price|20% Off
White and Green Abstract Offset Print, Late 20th Century, Unframed
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This poster for the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, designed by Zigi Ben-Haim, features a striking abstract composition primarily in white and green. The poster exemplifies a blend of modern...
Offset
$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
$1,500
Abstract Shapes of School of Fish, Seascape Diptych in Vivid Tones, Organic 2026
Located in Barcelona, ES
Details: Title: Chromatic Shoal 9 & 10 Medium: Acrylic Paint on Watercolor Paper Size: 80x120 cm total ( 31.5x47.3 inches), each panel measures 80x60cm (31.5x24 inches) Year: 202...
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor, Monoprint
$8,000
"The Botanist's Table" Porcelain White Vase with Colorful Flowers Oil Painting
By Eric Alfaro
Located in New York, NY
An impressionistic depiction of a white porcelain vase with a burst of white, pink, orange, yellow and light red flowers exploding with color and bold marks. Alfaro bridges the Baroq...
Oil, Canvas
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
$1,500
Interaction of Color: Homage to the Square, Abstract Screenprint by Josef Albers
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
This "Homage to the Square" print was created by Albers for the occasion of an exhibition at Grippi Gallery in Manhattan in 1973. It is in an excellent white contemporary frame. Art...
Screen
$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
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
$1,761Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 2273
Located in Zofingen, AG
Abstract 2273 - painting is a powerful vision of Love’s vibration, Compassion’s strength, and Hope’s vitality. Woosh away your worries! Feel the exhilarating and mighty presence of W...
Acrylic
$15,298
Large Triptych Abstract Bookshelf Painting – Oil on Canvas, Modern Library
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Silent Chronicles: An Ode to Immobile Memory Triptych – Oil on canvas (3 panels) With "Silent Chronicles", Sophie Dumont invites us into a world where minimalist aesthetics meet the ...
Oil
$312Sale Price|20% Off
One-Of-A-Kind Abstract Painting on Canvas by Serg Graff " Modern Vision", COA
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This unique large acrylic painting on canvas is a vibrant and energetic abstract work filled with overlapping splashes, drips, and swirls of bold, bright colors such as pink, yellow,...
Oil
TBG Origins: You Bring Me Joy - Large Meditative Abstract Painting on Canvas
By Jason DeMeo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract minimalist artist Jason DeMeo presents a collection of artworks designed to engage viewers in a meditative experience, drawing them closer to the enduring ideals of truth, b...
Gold Leaf
"I Want To Believe", Abstract Expressionist, Figurative, Red, Oil Painting
By Sorin Bica
Located in Franklin, MA
Sorin Bica's "I Want To Believe" is a 69 x 58 inch abstract expressionist oil painting on canvas, representing stylized human figures in vivid red, orange and black tones, with bold ...
Canvas, Oil
$109Sale 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
Abstract - Lithograph by Carla Accardi - 1970 ca.
Located in Roma, IT
Limited edition of 150 pieces, hand signed and numbered in pencil. Very good condition.
Lithograph
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
$885Sale Price|25% Off
Abstract Expressionist Figure in Pink and Gold Contemporary Spanish Oil Painting
By Nerea Caos
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Abstract Expressionist Figure in Pink and Gold – Contemporary Spanish Oil Painting Artist: Nerea Caos (Spain, born 1993) Title: Explosion de Color Technique: Oil on canvas Dimension...
Canvas, Oil
$4,196Sale Price|20% Off
Mid 20th Century French Expressionist Abstract Portrait Very Thick Impasto Oil
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Portrait Expressionist work, painted with very thick impasto oil paint. unsigned but clearly by a very good hand. French School, mid 20th century oil on board, unframed 36...
Oil
Cretan dream No.2 - Monochrome Water Abstraction, Limited Edition of 20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
Cretan dream No.2 is an abstract study of light moving across Aegean water, filaments of brightness threading through soft tonal depths. The piece sits between seascape and drawing: ...
Giclée
la Femme Sur la Plage Abstract colourful painting of a nude on a beach, french
Located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Framed Size: 34" x 40" Claude Venard’s La Femme sur la Plage is a vibrant and expressive composition that distils the figure into a dynamic arrangement of colour, texture, and form...
Canvas, Oil
Reliefes Wall Sculpture, Abstract Geometric, Resin and Pigment
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Bark and Reliefs, 2018 By Carla Gimbatti From the Series Reliefs Aquaresin and Pigment Overall size: 79 H x 16.6 W in. Individual size:79 H x 8.3 W in. each _____ After graduating ...
Resin, Pigment
$15,500
"I Dream in Flowers", Vibrant Colorful Heavily Textured Mixed Media Abstract
Located in Carmel, CA
Sveta Hessler (Russian, born 1973) "I Dream in Flowers" 2025 Oil and mixed media on stretched canvas Signed on verso. “I Dream in Flowers” is a heavily textured contemporary abstrac...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Stretcher Bars, Oil
$1,596Sale Price|20% Off
Huge French 20th Century Abstract Expression Painting 1980's Blur of Colors
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition by Marie Deloume (French born 1942) oil painting on paper stuck on canvas, unframed canvas size: 40 x 29 inches Signed verso condition: overall ver...
Canvas, Paper, Oil
$396Sale 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
Portrait 1982 Signed Limited Edition Lithograph
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Guillaume Corneille Portrait - 1982 Print - Lithograph on Arches Archival Paper 30'' x 22'' Edition: signed in pencil and marked 25/300 As a co-founder of the famed experimental art...
Lithograph
Christina Gschwantner, Large Colorful Contemporary Abstract Painting on Blue
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The work reflects the artist’s mastery of gesture and emotion, where each mark becomes a visual language. A striking piece that brings movement, depth, and intensity to any collectio...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$2,500
avp_1519 - Original Abstract Deep Magenta Tone Contemporary Painting on Paper
By Alex Voinea
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The colorful abstract artworks of Romanian artist Alex Voinea are inspired by experiments with paint poured over vibrating surfaces, such as speakers at full volume. Alex Voinea coll...
Paper, Acrylic
Huma by Antoine Vidal - abstract bronze sculpture, vertical
Located in Paris, FR
Huma is an abstract bronze sculpture by French artist Antoine Vidal. Vidal's works in bronze, very often marked by a verticality with totemic accents, reflect an aesthetic pursuit fo...
Bronze
$4,000
Combahee Night - Abstract Black Sculptural Original Three-Dimensional Wall Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Atticus Adams' organically composed modern metal sculptures embody the transformative power of art, illustrating the creation of beauty, meaning, and emotional impact from industrial...
Metal, Wire
The Shambles in York City England Medieval Street Framed, Acrylic on Board, 2007
Located in Preston, GB
The Shambles in York City England Medieval Street Framed, Acrylic on Board, 2007 - a rare early work by leading British Contemporary Artist, Angela Wakefield. This colourful & en...
Gesso, Paint, Varnish, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Board
Original-Benton Irises in Starry Night-Le Bleu-Awarded Woman Artist-Gold Leaf
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This Gold Leaf and Oil on paper, named Benton Irises in Starry Night is a part of Le Bleu Series by award winning British artist Shizico Yi. She created the painting in her garden p...
Gold Leaf
$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
Water Garden. Large Contemporary Triptych Oil Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Francesca Owen is one of the foremost Expressionist artists in the UK. Her works are heavily influenced by the sights, sounds and colours of India where she travels extensively and w...
Oil
Lake Dream, Abstract Oil Painting
By Lisa Crosby
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A tranquil lake stretches across the foreground, painted in deep teal, green, and blue tones that ripple with soft movement. Above the water, warm landforms ris...
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
$7,434
Lucio Fontana (1899–1968) - Concetto Spaziale - Vacuum-formed plastic object
Located in Varese, IT
Vacuum-formed plastic object, edited in 1968. Limited edition Artwork size: 29 x 29 x 2 cm Framed size: 46.5 x 46.5 x 4 cm Very good conditions Includes the original book that acc...
Plastic
Selfportrait as a Flowerpot by Dieter Roth abstract lithograph
By Dieter Roth
Located in New York, NY
This proof is one of just a few printed in this color combination: the edition of 110 is printed with an orange background, while this copy is a muted yellow with the central, scribb...
Handmade Paper, Lithograph
$200Sale Price|20% Off
Signed 1995 Abstract Lithograph by Eduardo Chillida, 26.75x18.75\"
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Collage by Eduardo Chillida is a limited edition lithograph, expertly printed on Stonehenge Super White mat finish paper and published by ARTE in Paris in 1995. This print features a...
Lithograph
$4,366
Contemporary Minimalist Earth Blue Abstract Painting Canvas Tete Alurralde
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
Quiet Beauty in Nature, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This abstract painting invites quiet reflection, evoking the stillness of a misty landscape mirrored in calm waters. A gentle palette of greens and blues wash...
Oil
$160Sale Price|36% Off
Joan Miro 'Pasadena Art Museum Exhibition' 1969- lithograph Mourlot Mid Century
By Joan Miró
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This original lithograph poster was produced for the retrospective exhibition of Joan Miró's graphic work, held at the Pasadena Art Museum in California, U.S.A., in 1969. Published b...
Lithograph
Guerrero Celeste, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 200 X 150 CM Signed FREE SHIPPING ROLLED UP About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 1973) graduated from Escuela Naci...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,400
Fruity Ramen Alchemy: ARRIVAL - Meditative Abstract Blue Tone Painting on Canvas
By Jason DeMeo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract minimalist artist Jason DeMeo presents a collection of artworks designed to engage viewers in a meditative experience, drawing them closer to the enduring ideals of truth, b...
Gold Leaf
Dance of the Hummingbirds
By Iryna Kobzar
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Dance of the Hummingbirds” invites the viewer into a luminous world of movement, balance, and quiet magic. Two vibrant hummingbirds gracefully hover around blooming fuchsia flowers,...
Canvas, Acrylic
$4,825
Ascension - Original Abstract Colorful Landscape Ink Painting on Archival Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Max Naylor’s “Ascension” rises through a richly layered garden scene, where towering trees, oversized fungi, curling plant forms, and glowing flowers create a sense of upward movemen...
Cotton, India Ink, Archival Paper