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.
Could become (Abstract Painting)
Located in London, GB
Size without the frame: 130 x 97 cm (51,2 x 38,2 in) Size including the frame: 132 x 99 cm (52 x 39 in) Barcelona based painter Nikolaos Schizas creates dynamic abstract paintings t...
Canvas, Acrylic
$111,912
No.020125 by Thierry Martenon - monumental wood sculpture, outdoor, abstract
Located in Paris, FR
No.020125 is an abstract wood sculpture by French sculptor Thierry Martenon. This monumental sculpture combines smooth geometric patterns with a highly textured surface. The artist ...
Wood
Umbrella - Silent Rain Diptych No.3, Abstract Painting, 21st Century, Acryl
By Roger König
Located in Dessau-Rosslau, Sachsen Anhalt
Artist: Roger König b. Dessau, Germany (1968) Master student of Kurt Schönburg, HWK Halle, Germany. This diptych explores movement, emotion, and dissolution within the artist’s ong...
Acrylic, Clay
$1,396Sale Price|30% Off
The Desire to Fly - Abstract Oil on Linen Seascape, Signed, 50x100 cm
Located in Silverthorne, CO
A sweeping abstract seascape and sky painting in deep blues, vibrant pinks, and hints of green. A gorgeous jewel-like surface and ever-changing movement. This painting was inspired b...
Linen, Oil
CC #86 - Green Blue Abstract Geometric Wall Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Anna Kruhelska, a talented visual artist and practicing architect from Lodz, Poland, merges her expertise in both fields to create captivating artworks. With a background in major ar...
Wood, Plywood, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$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
$1,000
Frank Stella - Original Leo Castelli Gallery offset lithograph invitation, 1969
By Frank Stella
Located in New York, NY
Offset lithograph poster Unframed and unsigned Published by Leo Castelli Gallery at 4 East 77th Street on the occasion of the exhibition in November, 1969 The artwork depicted in thi...
Lithograph, Offset
Abstract 2, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Layers of colors and gestures define this abstract piece. Soft green, orange, and blue contrast with touches of black. Expressive scratches and marks bring text...
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
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
$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
$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
Birds-Eye View at 7.17 PM
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work is a meditation on the bird’s-eye view as a rare gift of our time. The ability to observe landscapes from above reshapes not only scale, but perception itself. What for tho...
Canvas, Oil
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 d...
Oil
$60Sale Price|20% Off
Figurations of Clangor Offset Print, Abstract Expressionist, Unframed
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This striking poster features the work of Adolph Gottlieb, one of the iconic figures in the Abstract Expressionist movement, from the exhibition *Los Irascibles: Pintores Contra el M...
Offset
$4,189
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
"The Three Graces"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
This arresting contemporary masterpiece is a profound exploration of human connection and the fluid nature of identity. Employing a sophisticated palette of moss green, aged parchmen...
Canvas, Acrylic
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
London Sakura-Hand painted Limited Edition-British Awarded Artist-Edition #6/10
Located in London, GB
This painting captures the early spring in Shizico Yi’s garden, where the Cherry Prunus stands as the season’s first joyful announcement. Painted en plein air, it reflects the raw fr...
Metal
Unlikely Refresh, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This abstract landscape painting, built through multiple layers of wet-on-wet mediums, creates a rich surface. The tactile depth contrasts with smooth, glossy p...
Oil
$14,000
A852 - Original Large Scale Minimalist Modern Green Expressive Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Swiss-born artist Marco Schmidli creates large-scale minimalist paintings reminiscent of color field studies with a contemporary edge. Placing emphasis on process, he lets the medium...
Canvas, Acrylic
Under The Night Sky - Abstract Cool Tone Figurative Textured Impasto Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ekaterina Ermilkina’s original, abstract fine art paintings are created using a skillful combination of applying and removing oil paint with a palette knife on canvas. Her inspiratio...
Canvas, Oil
Interesting Abstract Painting Original Frame ca' 1950's
Located in Saint Petersburg, FL
A really interesting Abstract Expressionist painting ca' 1950's. Beautiful colors, the frame is shaped, original.
Oil
Red leopard on blue
Located in Zofingen, AG
This acrylic painting on canvas combines the power of imagery with the expressiveness of color. The figure of the leopard emerges through a bold contrast of vibrant red and deep blue...
Canvas, Acrylic
Set of 6 drawings. From the series Latin America Artists & Architects
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The project is based in the contrast of the two images, the air waybill and the postage stamp, from different times but similar in their function. The artist seeks to enlighten the c...
Paper, India Ink, Color
$852Sale 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
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
$1,800
Burst II - large scale abstract photograph of caleidoscopic color explosions
Located in San Francisco, CA
From Christian Stoll's body of works BURST (2015), an abstract exploration of high speed photographs capturing mesmerizing explosions of caleidoscopic color 27 x 40 inches (68 x 102...
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Archival Pigment, Giclée
Evening in The Tropics, Geometric Tiles in Yellow, Miami Sunset Patterns
Located in Barcelona, ES
These series of paintings by Natalia Roman gather their inspiration from geometric, minimalist shapes and paintings from the beginning of Modernism, with a special emphasis on Art De...
Watercolor, Acrylic, Handmade Paper
Pink Indian Mountain Temple Garden
Located in Brecon, Powys
Paul Wadsworth has a very special, innate talent for transporting the viewer into other realms. In his stunning, vibrant works from his travels on the Indian sub-continent the painti...
Oil
$6,800
Dawn Breakers - Contemporary Wall Sculpture, Hand Forged Glass, 20x38"
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Inspired by the splendour of an early morning sky, this contemporary wall sculpture, Dawn Breakers, was hand forged by John Paul Robinson. The Canadian artist is known for his master...
Steel
$1,104Sale Price|50% Off
Almond Blossom Watercolor on Board, Kashmir Landscape, Signed, 1960
Located in Norfolk, GB
Dina Nath Walli (1908–2006) Almond Blossom, Kashmir Watercolour on Board c 1960 Framed size: 42.8cm x 52.8cm Image size: 27.5cm x 38cm Signed and dated 1970 on the verso, gifted fro...
Board, Watercolor
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
Abstract 2569
Located in Zofingen, AG
This artwork captivates with its abstract representation of a serene landscape, dominated by green and pink hues. The piece is a vivid explosion of color and texture, invoking the es...
Oil, 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
Hui Sheng Landscape Original Oil On Canvas "Outside III"
Located in New York, NY
Title: Outside III Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 23 x 31 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition. Note: This painting is u...
Canvas, Oil
$9,750
Spiral Staircase In Nature. Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Paul Wadsworth has a very special, innate talent for transporting the viewer into other realms. In his stunning, vibrant works from his travels on the Indian sub-continent the painti...
Oil
$540
Hand-Painted Limited Edition #2/10-Magic Bell & Blue Rose-British Awarded Artist
Located in London, GB
This set of two are hand painted limited edition on Giclee. Each edition is 80% hand-painted with Shizico’s own oil, gesso, and acrylic—every colour hand-mixed, every surface individ...
Metal
$2,209Sale Price|20% Off
French 20th Century Dual Bright Abstract Kitchen Scene Large Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition by Gilbert Pelissier (French born 1924) signed oil painting on canvas, unframed inscribed verso canvas size: 35 x 46 inches condition: overall very...
Canvas, Oil
$8,976
Geometric Resonance — Contemporary Geometric Abstract Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
French contemporary artist Sophie Dumont presents in Geometric Resonance a refined geometric abstraction structured through a subtle dialogue between curved forms, architectural line...
Canvas, Oil
$600Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Horses and Cow by David Crown, Oil on Canvas Painting, 1985
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 20" x 24" oil on canvas painting by London-based artist David Crown was created in June of 1985. Three animal figures in the foreground are ren...
Canvas, Oil
$19,500
Art Card: Willem de Kooning and Elaine de Kooning, 1953 (Hand Signed by BOTH)
Located in New York, NY
Art Card: Willem de Kooning and Elaine de Kooning, 1953 (Hand Signed by BOTH Willem de Kooning and Elaine de Kooning) from the Dan Pope collection, 1985 Offset lithograph postcard (S...
Postcard
"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
Whispers of You in My Thoughts
Located in Zofingen, AG
A contemplative abstract composition rendered in delicate layers of pearl gray, powder beige, and muted lavender tones. Soft horizontal gestures evoke the meeting line of sky and wat...
Canvas, Acrylic
$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
$3,900
Absorbed in Brilliance (Gerhard Richter Style Abstract Painting in Blue & Teal)
By Bruce Murphy
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract expressionist painting in the style of Gerhard Richter in a blue, teal, and green palette with accents of peach, yellow, and pink "Absorbed in Brilliance", made by Bruce Mur...
Enamel
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
Evening in Silence, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft greens, blues, and earthy tones suggest an abstract river nestled among dense foliage. The water reflects the overcast sky, creating a sense of depth and t...
Oil
The Assembled Whole. 2
Located in Zofingen, AG
An abstract work from the series “The Assembled Whole.”, continuing the exploration of wholeness emerging from the connection of fragments. The composition is structured through the ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$297Sale Price|20% Off
Modern Abstract Black White Nature Oil Painting on Paper "Under the Maltese sun"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This painting "Under the Maltese sun" , created by French artist Natalya Mougenot, is part of her Nature series. Completed in the summer of 2023, it reflects the artist’s desire to c...
Oil, Paper
$287Sale Price|20% Off
Floral painting "Summer Blooming Flowers in a Blue Vase" Mixed Media on Paper
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
Contemporary Floral Artwork – "Summer Blooming Flowers in a Blue Vase" – Mixed Media on Heavy-Weight Acid-Free Paper (21 × 29.5 cm / 8.3 × 11.6 in), Unframed “Summer Blooming Flowers in a Blue Vase” is a contemporary floral artwork by French artist Natalya Mougenot, created with a vibrant mix of watercolor and acrylic paints on heavy-weight professional acid-free paper. Measuring 21 × 29.5 cm (8.3 × 11.6 in), this one-of-a-kind original painting is sold unframed, giving you the freedom to frame it according to your taste and interior. The composition captures a lively bouquet bursting with color and texture. Flowers in shades of pink, purple, and luminous white are rendered with bold, gestural brushstrokes, creating movement, depth, and vibrancy. The blue-checkered vase...
Acrylic, Watercolor, Paper
$3,949
Contemporary Minimalist Diptych Blue Abstract Painting Canvas by Tete Alurralde
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The artwork is conceived as a diptych. The total dimensions of the two pieces together are 80 × 180 cm, with each individual work measuring 80 × 90 cm. The overall dimensions are cal...
Acrylic, Cotton Canvas
Overlapped by Tejinder Kanda - Contemporary Impasto Painting
Located in DE
Tejinder Kanda "In-Within" reflects the Artist's exploration of time and space, presenting spontaneous works that embody absolute independence, free from preconceived notions. These...
Acrylic
$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
Bridge - Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 1969, Colorful Ribbons
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This large contemporary abstract painting by Milly Ristvedt is one of her colourful ribbons series. In the late 1960s, Canadian artist Milly Ristvedt had fallen in love with using r...
Canvas, Acrylic
Still Life Interior
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Frederick Serger (1889-1965). Still Life, ca. 1950. Oil on gessoed paper mounted to illustration board. Image measures 16 x 17 inches. Framed measurement: 25.5 x 25.5 inches. ...
Paper, Oil
$881Sale Price|20% Off
Parisian Abstract Expressionist Original Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by the French abstract artist, Yvette Dubois-Habasque (1929-2016). The painting has excellent provenance having come from the artists studio sale in Pa...
Oil
$3,949
Contemporary Minimalist Green Tones 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
$11,500
Golden Moments - Large Original Abstract Expressionism Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The paintings of Bruce Rubenstein seamlessly marry sophistication with affordability. His original art merges the creative attitudes of the two distinct art hot spots of New York and...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Promises, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Promises is a bold, surreal exploration of fractured communication and emotional duality. On one side, a blue figure with exposed gears in its head suggests mechanical logic or the m...
Acrylic