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.
Contemporary Minimalist Light Installation Sculpture Suspended LED Artwork Mareo
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Technical Specifications Each sculpture integrates high-quality LED light strips, with each vertical element operating through an independent transformer to ensure optimal performan...
Metal
#49, 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
$904
Flowers and Shadows. Floral still life, blue flowers, sunlight, impressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
Hawaii, tropical flowers, Plumbago, blue flower painting, floral art, garden still life, plein air, American art Painted from life in Hawaii, th...
Canvas, Oil
Solar Series #2: Bridge at Auver - Abstract Oil on Canvas, 2000s
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This colorful abstract painting was created by the Canadian artist David Sorensen. One of Canada’s finest contemporary artists, David Sorensen actually began his art career as a sc...
Canvas, Oil
$411
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
$7,100
av_965 Colorful Original Contemporary Abstract Painting on Natural Linen Canvas
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...
Linen, Acrylic
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
Untitled #527 by Murray Duncan – Original Contemporary Mixed Media on Paper
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #527 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
AWH 338 - Abstract Minimalist Textured Layered Colorfield Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bernhard Zimmer produces deeply layered, subtly textured abstract paintings that contain diametrically opposed elements—order and chaos, abstraction and representation, boldness and ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Pink peony on a golden background
Located in Zofingen, AG
A delicate close-up of a blooming pink peony, built on a subtle play of light and tonal transitions. The petals appear to glow from within, shifting from pale blush to richer raspber...
Canvas, Acrylic
Spring Rain
By Manabu Mabe
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Spring Rain" 1981, Is a colors lithograph on Fabriano paper by noted Brazilian/Japanese artist Manabu Mabe, 1924-1997. It is hand signed, titled in Japanese and ...
Lithograph
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 s...
Oil
Guy Harloff Signed and Dated Large Abstract Painting
By Guy Harloff
Located in Roma, IT
Guy Harloff Signed and Dated Large Abstract Painting Wonderful Guy Harloff large abstract painting Titled “Composition” 1954 Mixed media on paper applied to masonite. Inscription G...
Paper, Pastel, Watercolor
La Force Eternelle - Dreamy Abstract Floral Painting
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
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
$5,625Sale Price|25% Off
Sleep of the mind , 200x72 cm, oil on canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Sleep of the mind , 200x72 cm, oil on canvas
Canvas, Oil
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Figural Abstract Painting w/ Gears of an Engine, Ohio Artist
Located in Beachwood, OH
James Massena March (American, 1953-2021) Untitled Oil on canvas 30 x 48 inches "My paintings are about space, form and energy. I generally start ...
Oil
$1,551
A Chance Encounter. Large abstract painting, violet, ochre, lilac, expressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
A spontaneous meeting of colors and forms — A Chance Encounter captures the fleeting moment when two movements cross and create something unexpected. Layers of ochre, violet, and ind...
Canvas, Acrylic
$528
Contemporary impressionist expressive floral painting paper "Roses in light"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This expressive and vibrant floral painting of roses, created by the contemporary French artist Natalya Mougenot, is a dynamic representation of nature’s energy. Born in Kazakhstan i...
Paper, Acrylic
$2,962Sale Price|25% Off
Color Aditivo Antonella Uno (rare hand signed chromography on paper)
Located in Aventura, FL
Chromography on paper. Hand signed lower right by Carlos Cruz-Diez. Hand numbered 18/75 lower left. Sheet size: 13 x 19 inches. Frame size: 18.5 x 24.5 inches. Artwork is in exc...
Paper, Screen
$22,000
Joyce Kozloff - Tepoztlan II unique, signed gouache & pencil, coveted 1970s work
Located in New York, NY
Joyce Kozloff Tepoztlan II, 1973 Gouache and colored pencil on paper Signed, dated and titled twice: once on the back of the work (shown) and once on the original board which has bee...
Gouache, Color Pencil
$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
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
Lake Dream, Abstract Oil Painting
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
$13,819
Abstraction 100.150-33 20 A&B by Nicolas Galtier - Gold Leaf Painting, Abstract
Located in Paris, FR
Abstraction 100.150-33 20 A & B is a diptych by French artist Nicolas Galtier. It consists of two canvases each measuring 59.1 × 39.4 in / 150 cm H x 100 cm L. The artist uses ...
Linen, Mixed Media
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
Original Drawing on Wood-Breakfast with Cat-British Awarded Artist-Large panel
Located in London, GB
This special large drawing on wood board (ready to hang) created by Shizico in early autumn where her Cat and the garden take centre stage. The pictorial language in this series pays...
Wood Panel, Charcoal, Carbon Pencil
Untitled #SP-207, Mixed Media on Paper by Murray Duncan - Abstract Geometric
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #SP-207 by Murray Duncan Mixed media on paper Size: 32" x 40” Unframed, signed A bold mixed-media work with dynamic lines and textures. This captivating piece by Murray D...
Paper, Oil Crayon, Acrylic
$3,800
Serie Visiones Sin Motivo, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 160 x 120 cm 2025 About the Artist Pilar de Ariño was born in Mexico City in 1992. She studied Industrial Design at Universid...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$4,230
ABSTRACT textured Minimalist Handmade Paper Black Sand Tones by Alicia Gimeno
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...
Ink, Handmade Paper, Acrylic
Nick Thomm - LUMINANCE - SET (Standard)
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
Rêver Ensemble - Soft Green Abstract Floral Landscape Painting
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
L'homme à la fraise - Linocut by Pablo Picasso - 1962
Located in Roma, IT
Color linocut on strong wove paper, realized in 1962. Image dimension: 53.2x39.2; Sheet dimension 62.5x44.3 cm. One of the "épreuves de passe" remaining with the printer Arnéra in ...
Linocut
Abstract Composition
Located in Columbia, MO
Original oil painting by Pennerton West, signed lower recto. Pennerton West (American, 1913 - 1965) was a painter, printmaker, and designer, descended from the historical American p...
Canvas, Oil
$2,726Sale Price|20% Off
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
162R13061 1-2-3 (Abstract Print)
Located in London, GB
Unframed. Dimensions (3x): 65 × 50 cm/25.6 x 19.6'' Edition of 11 copies, numbered from 1 to 11/11. Dated, numbered, and signed by the artist in pencil. The copy offered for sale is ...
Paper, Engraving, Ink
Don't Let Them Burst your Bubble: Blue 61425
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary wall sculpture features bubbles of blue glass. Cheryl Wilson Smith is known for her uniquely beautiful glasswork—its form, colour and texture is often inspired by...
Metal
Ruz Golden Black Big Dejame - original abstract acrylic canvas painting
By Rafael Ruz
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Dejame - original abstract acrylic canvas painting. framed , Rafael (Barcelona 1956) While contemplating the painting of Ruz, we are inclined to talk about real ‘psychodrama’, in t...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,050
Original-Impasto-Moonlit Dahlias-Jardin d'Hiver-British Awarded Artist-Gold leaf
Located in London, GB
Jardin d'Hiver Series is Shizico Yi's latest collection, created in her winter studio while longing for the summer left behind. Reflecting on the vibrant days spent painting en plein...
Gold Leaf
$763
Contemporary abstract Impressionist floral painting " The Language of Roses"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary vivid expressionist floral painting, “The Language of Roses”, was created by French artist Natalya Mougenot and belongs to her ongoing series of still life composit...
Paper, Acrylic
$7,800
Set Adrift - Large Moody Atmospheric Abstract Alluring 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
Hope: Extra Large, Floral, Landscape, Painting in Acrylic and Oil
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Hope - Floral landscape after the Storm Extra large floral showcase Investment Extra large Floral Showcase Investment Nature Landscape Joy Colorful Authentic Original One-of...
Acrylic, Oil
Family IV - Elegant Figurative Bronze Sculpture of Two People
Located in Los Angeles, CA
German sculptor Nando Kallweit produces figurative bronze sculptures and reliefs with aquiline and a graceful modern appeal. Kallweit is inspired by seemingly disparate cultures; the strength of ancient Egyptian sculptures...
Metal, Bronze
$900
Sea in Orange, School of Fish in Turquoise, Abstract Patterns Seascape, Paper
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
PULSATION OF TIME
Located in Zofingen, AG
In Pulsation of Time, the artist turns to the technique of impulsive gesture, intertwining it with delicate, translucent glazing. The multilayered texture forms a space that seems to...
Canvas, Oil
$3,900Sale Price|56% Off
Light Thoughts, 2024 Mixed Media on Artist Board, Abstract Geometric Art
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Light Thoughts, 2024 Mix Media on artist board Size - 72" height x 84" width x 1.75" depth Signed Murray Duncan is a self-taught creative visionary. Know for his large-scale, expres...
Glaze, Oil Crayon, Acrylic
Cuerpos Magnéticos #9. Wall sculpture
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Cuerpos Magnéticos was born searching for the relationship between nature and our bodies: we see rocks, bones, structures, flexibility, attractions, spaces, movement, stillness. Cuer...
Epoxy Resin
$5,000
"The Botanist's Table" Porcelain White Vase with Colorful Flowers Oil Painting
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
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Ellsworth Kelly, Red Form, from Revue Cahiers d'Art, 2012
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015), titled Formulaire rouge (Red Form), originates from the 2012 publication Revue Cahiers d'Art, 2012, no. 1, Ellsworth Kelly. ...
Lithograph
$415
Memory - Muted Color Impasto Inspired Textural 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
$1,498Sale Price|25% Off
Round Multicolor Relief Wall Sculpture in Clay Fake Gum Abstract Candy Mosaic
Located in FISTERRA, ES
"Fake Gum" is a captivating circular wall sculpture by Elizabeth Art Candy that explores the seductive tension between softness and artifice. Composed of hundreds of hand-molded clay...
Clay, Spray Paint, Board
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
"Dawn, " Limited Edition Giclee Print, 48" x 48"
Located in Westport, CT
This abstract, limited edition print by Elwood Howell features a predominantly green palette, with a muted yellow area at the top of the composition. Subtle circle shapes and long ve...
Digital, Giclée
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
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
$4,112
Christina Gschwantner Love Dots Vivid Contemporary Abstract 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, Oil, Acrylic
Diversions 1970 Signed Limited Edition Screen Print
By Ian Tyson
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Ian Tyson Diversions XI - 1970 Screen Print 16'' x 15'' inches Edition: signed in pencil and marked 23/150 Ian Tyson, British painter, printmaker and book artist, was born in Wallas...
Screen
Sundown – Original 16" x 12" Expressive Landscape on Paper
By Jodi Ferrier
Located in Washington, DC
Capture the fleeting, incandescent glow of the day’s end with "Sundown," an evocative 14" x 11" original painting on paper. This intimate work serves as a masterclass in atmospheric ...
Acrylic
$3,555
Remembering This Side Of You - Original Minimalist Abstract Painting on Canvas
Located in Manchester, GB
Henry Woolway, Remembering This Side of You, 2025 Overlapping acrylic dyed canvas with frayed edges 68 x 57.5 cm Artwork is hand-framed in a tray frame Hand-signed by Artist on reve...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,520Sale Price|20% Off
Life to the Full LA Blue 2 - Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sarah Johnson infuses passion, heart, and a lifetime of creative experience into each original painting. Her radial series exhibits both uninhibited freedom and methodical technique. Through colors, textures, and movement, Johnson’s acrylic paintings on canvas radiate joy with pleasing repetition and form. This 48-inch high by 30-inch wide one-of-a-kind painting is stretched, wired, and ready to hang. The sides of this original artwork are painted and it does not require framing. It is signed by the artist on the back. Free local Los Angeles area delivery. Affordable Continental U.S. and International shipping are available. A certificate of authenticity issued by the Los Angeles art gallery is included. Johnson says about her work: "I believe things that you bring into your home make a difference in the way you live and feel. My artwork is inspired by joy, purpose, and freedom. I hope my paintings are a source of inspiration for you and everyone who enters your home." Each series has a meaningful message, adding both truth and beauty to your walls. Johnson is based in Dallas, Texas, and has been a professional artist since 2012. Her abstract artworks are collected internationally. REPRESENTATION Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, California, USA EDUCATION 2010 The University of Texas at Austin EXHIBITIONS 2022 Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA 2022 The Collective, Dallas, TX 2022 Mecox Gardens, Houston, TX 2022 The Arbors, Round Top, TX 2022 The Walking Man, Whitefish, MT 2022 BayHill Design Studio, Austin, TX 2022 Septemberfest Art Fair, Midland TX - Honorable Mention 2021 Olive & Home, Tyler TX...
Canvas, Acrylic