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Abstract Art

ABSTRACT STYLE

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.

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Style: Abstract
This Week's Listings Only
Mid Century French Geometric Abstract in Black White and Navy Signed SG
Mid Century French Geometric Abstract in Black White and Navy Signed SG

Mid Century French Geometric Abstract in Black White and Navy Signed SG

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Title: Mid Century French Geometric Abstract in Black White and Navy Signed SG by Serge Guerin (b. 1916), French signed lower right “SG”, name stamped verso Acrylic and gouache on ar...

Category

20th Century Abstract Art

Materials

Ink, Acrylic, Gouache

Ocean's Jewels, Abstract Oil Painting
Ocean's Jewels, Abstract Oil Painting

Ocean's Jewels, Abstract Oil Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A layer of emerald green rests atop a base of purple, pale blue, and white, creating a striking contrast of light and dark. Scratches and marks added while the ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Art

Materials

Oil

Hui Sheng Landscape Original Oil On Canvas "Outside III"
Hui Sheng Landscape Original Oil On Canvas "Outside III"

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Flower Arrangement in Carved Wooden Bowl - Abstract Botanical Painting on Paper
Flower Arrangement in Carved Wooden Bowl - Abstract Botanical Painting on Paper

Flower Arrangement in Carved Wooden Bowl - Abstract Botanical Painting on Paper

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Krisanne Souter weaves together elements of nature and ancient feminine archetypes, such as the Mother and the Mystic. Botanical themes, playful elements, and unexpected surprises ar...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Art

Materials

Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor, Color Pencil

Floral  - Viktoria Ganhao Abstract Contemporary Painting
Floral  - Viktoria Ganhao Abstract Contemporary Painting

Floral - Viktoria Ganhao Abstract Contemporary Painting

Located in DE

This ethereal abstract painting captivates with its delicate interplay of colors and textures. Soft, swirling strokes of pastel greens and blues establish a serene, dreamlike atmosph...

Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Linen, Acrylic

Open Spaces, Abstract Painting
Open Spaces, Abstract Painting

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Art

Materials

Acrylic

Boats in Harbor (French Riviera painting)
Boats in Harbor (French Riviera painting)

Boats in Harbor (French Riviera painting)

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Michel Colin (b.1934). Boats in Harbor, 1969. Gouache on paper, sheet measuring 16 x 20 inches. Signed and dated lower right. Sheet is unframed. Michel Colin, born in 1934, live...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Art

Materials

Paper, Gouache

First Light, Abstract Oil Painting
First Light, Abstract Oil Painting

First Light, Abstract Oil Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Soft tones, texture, and linework shape this abstract painting. Warm oranges, creams, and yellows contrast with deep blacks, greys, and teals. Artist Dorothy Ga...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Art

Materials

Oil

Untitled
Untitled

Roland AyersUntitled, 1982

$960Sale Price|20% Off

Untitled

By Roland Ayers

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Roland Ayers (1932-2017). Untitled, 1983. Ink on paper, measures 17 x 23 inches. Unframed and unmounted. Signed and dated lower left. Ayers holds the distinction of having participated in the first important survey of African-Americans, Contemporary Black Artists in America, a 1971 show at The Whitney. Biography: Artist and art educator, Roland Ayers was born on July 2, 1932, the only child of Alice and Lorenzo Ayers, and grew up in the Germantown district of Philadelphia. Ayers served in the US Army (stationed in Germany) before studying at the Philadelphia College of Art (currently University of the Arts). He graduated with a BFA in Art Education, 1954. He traveled Europe 1966-67, spending time in Amsterdam and Greece in particular. During this period, he drifted away from painting to focus on linear figurative drawings of a surreal nature. His return home inaugurated the artist’s most prolific and inspired period (1968-1975). Shorty before his second major trip abroad in 1971-72 to West Africa, Ayers began to focus on African themes, and African American figures populated his work almost exclusively. In spite of Ayers’ travel and exploration of the world, he gravitated back to his beloved Germantown, a place he endowed with mythological qualities in his work and literature. His auto-biographical writing focuses on the importance of place during his childhood. Ayers’ journals meticulously document the ethnic and cultural make-up of Germantown, and tell a compelling story of class marginalization that brought together poor families despite racial differences. The distinctive look and design of Germantown inform Ayers’ visual vocabulary. It is a setting with distinctive Gothic Revival architecture and haunting natural beauty. These characteristics are translated and recur in the artist’s imagery. During his childhood, one of the only books in the Ayers household was an illustrated Bible. The images within had a profound effect on the themes and subjects that would appear in his adult work. Figures in an Ayers’ drawing often seem trapped in a narrative of loss and redemption. Powerful women loom large in the drawings: they suggest the female role models his journals record in early life. The drawings can sometimes convey a strong sense of conflict, and at other times, harmony. Nature and architecture seem to have an antagonistic relationship that is, ironically, symbiotic. A critical turning point in the artist’s career came in 1971 when he was included in the extremely controversial Whitney Museum show, Contemporary Black Artists in America. The exhibition gave Ayers an international audience and served as a calling card for introductions he would soon make in Europe. Ayers is a particularly compelling figure in a period when black artists struggled with the idea of authenticity. A questioned often asked was “Is your work too black, or not black enough?” Abstractionists were considered by some peers to be sell-outs, frauds or worse. Figurative* work was accused of being either sentimental or politically radical depending on the critical source. Ayers made the choice early on to be a figurative artist, but considered his work devoid of political content. Organizations such as Chicago’ s Afri-Cobra in the late 1960‘s asserted that the only true black art of any relevance must depict the black man and woman...

Category

1980s Abstract Art

Materials

Paper, Ink

Caribbean Sandy Shore Triptych, Blue Tones Seascape, Sunny Waves Cyanotype Print
Caribbean Sandy Shore Triptych, Blue Tones Seascape, Sunny Waves Cyanotype Print

Caribbean Sandy Shore Triptych, Blue Tones Seascape, Sunny Waves Cyanotype Print

By Kind of Cyan

Located in Barcelona, ES

This series of cyanotype triptychs showcases the beauty of nature scenes, including stunning beaches and oceans, as well as the intricate textures of water, forests, and skies. These triptychs are large pieces that feature lush blues, making them an impressive addition to any beautifully designed space. Each triptych is printed by hand and carefully crafted to capture the unique essence of these natural environments, with a focus on the interplay of light and shadows, and the subtle nuances of tone and texture. The beach and ocean scenes depict the dynamic beauty of waves crashing against the shore, with the cyanotype process lending a dreamy, ethereal quality to the images. Similarly, the forest and wood scenes offer a glimpse into the hidden depths of nature, with the cyanotype process lending a sense of mystery and wonder to the images, while the lush blues of cyanotypes imitate the sky and clouds perfectly. These triptychs are perfect for anyone who loves to surround themselves with the beauty of nature, and they make an excellent centerpiece for any beautifully designed space. Details: + Title: Pleasant Waters in Tulum Beach...

Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Monotype, Paper, Lithograph

Memory of blooming
Memory of blooming

Memory of blooming

Located in Zofingen, AG

This work appears as a fragment of a future archive, where not events are preserved, but states — tenderness, tension, and the fragility of life. The tulip petals unfold like layers ...

Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Large Abstract Expressionist Taiwanese Painting Chihung Yang Chinese Art
Large Abstract Expressionist Taiwanese Painting Chihung Yang Chinese Art

Large Abstract Expressionist Taiwanese Painting Chihung Yang Chinese Art

Located in Surfside, FL

Chihung Yang American (b. 1947) Untitled (Black and Brown Composition) (1986) Mixed media (acrylic, pastel) on paper Hand signed lower right Sheet 38 x 50 inches, frame dimensions: 4...

Category

1980s Abstract Art

Materials

Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper

'Abstract, Ebony & Rust', San Francisco Bay Area Abstraction, Large Oil
'Abstract, Ebony & Rust', San Francisco Bay Area Abstraction, Large Oil

'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...

Category

1960s Abstract Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Diptych: Registros XVII and Registros XVIII. From The Series Registros
Diptych: Registros XVII and Registros XVIII. From The Series Registros

Diptych: Registros XVII and Registros XVIII. From The Series Registros

Located in Miami Beach, FL

​Impressions of past lives, perceptions of future lives. The Records series carries that mystery. Simple and profound since its deed does not happen on the surface. Although it manif...

Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Canvas, Lacquer, India Ink, Acrylic, Pigment

Red Horse Abstract Watercolor on Archival Paper, 2010s, Unframed
Red Horse Abstract Watercolor on Archival Paper, 2010s, Unframed

Red Horse Abstract Watercolor on Archival Paper, 2010s, Unframed

Located in Zofingen, AG

Red Horse A symbol of aggression — not destructive, but productive. A force that exists within each of us, yet one we do not always allow to be released. It is an energy of movement ...

Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

Plants in Pottery Pots - Original Abstract Colorful Botanical Painting on Paper
Plants in Pottery Pots - Original Abstract Colorful Botanical Painting on Paper

Plants in Pottery Pots - Original Abstract Colorful Botanical Painting on Paper

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Krisanne Souter weaves together elements of nature and ancient feminine archetypes, such as the Mother and the Mystic. Botanical themes, playful elements, and unexpected surprises ar...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Art

Materials

Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor, Color Pencil

Expression 2, abstraction
Expression 2, abstraction

Expression 2, abstraction

Located in Zofingen, AG

The work is created in the fluid art technique on canvas, where the primary expressive element is the movement of paint. The composition is structured around a dynamic diagonal flow ...

Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Nick Thomm - AETHER (GREEN) Standard
Nick Thomm - AETHER (GREEN) Standard

Nick Thomm - AETHER (GREEN) Standard

Located in FITZROY, VIC

Nick Thomm 'AETHER' (Green) 69cm x 92cm (27"×36″) Limited Edition of 482 Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemühle 308gsm Fine Art Paper. Condition: NEW. Worldwide Shipping. Sold Unframed.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Art

Materials

Archival Ink, Giclée, Archival Pigment

Floral painting "Summer Blooming Flowers in a Blue Vase" Mixed Media on Paper
Floral painting "Summer Blooming Flowers in a Blue Vase" Mixed Media on Paper

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...

Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Acrylic, Watercolor, Paper

Original Modern Contemporary painting on canvas, Abstract, Fantasy style, Framed
Original Modern Contemporary painting on canvas, Abstract, Fantasy style, Framed

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...

Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Acrylic

Mid-century Abstract Expressionist painting
Mid-century Abstract Expressionist painting

Mid-century Abstract Expressionist painting

By Hoi Lebadang

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Beautiful ca. 1960-70 abstract painting in the style of Vietnamese artist, Hoi Lebadang (1921-2015) Oil on canvas measures 22 x 28 inches. Framed measurement 29.5 x 33.5 inches. Un...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Art

Materials

Oil

Abraham Walkowitz (1878-1965) Signed Antique Modernist Abstract Framed Painting
Abraham Walkowitz (1878-1965) Signed Antique Modernist Abstract Framed Painting

Abraham Walkowitz (1878-1965) Signed Antique Modernist Abstract Framed Painting

Located in Buffalo, NY

Vintage American modernist cityscape painting by Abraham Walkowitz (1878 - 1965). Mixed media on paper. Signed. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Measuring: 20 by...

Category

1910s Abstract Art

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Archival Paper

May 29 (Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting in Earth Tones of Green & Blue)
May 29 (Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting in Earth Tones of Green & Blue)

May 29 (Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting in Earth Tones of Green & Blue)

By James O'Shea

Located in Hudson, NY

Gestural, abstract expressionist oil painting on canvas in earth tones of blue and green, with accents of burgundy and pale yellow "May 29", Painted by Hudson Valley based artist, James O'Shea in 2021 Oil on canvas, 26 x 26 inches unframed, raw canvas sides Wire backing, ready to hang Signed verso James O’Shea’s deeply pigmented abstractions are grounded in the landscape. Taking his cues from the bare winter months in the Northeast when the horizon is stripped of its foliage, he suggests that “So much of life’s structure reveals itself when it goes into hibernation”. The architecture in O’Shea’s compositions takes form with expressive gestures using...

Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Signed Antique Painting: 'Still Life of Fruit and Flowers'
Signed Antique Painting: 'Still Life of Fruit and Flowers'

Signed Antique Painting: 'Still Life of Fruit and Flowers'

Located in St. Albans, GB

Mary Armour 1902 – 2000 Signed. Oil Paint on Board. Picture size: 24 x 24 inch (61 x 61 cm) Mary Nicol Neill Armour, née Steel, (27 March 1902 – 5 July 2000) was a Scottish landsc...

Category

20th Century Abstract Art

Materials

Board, Oil

Original-Rosarian-La Vie en Rose: Summer Bloom Serie-British Awarded Artist
Original-Rosarian-La Vie en Rose: Summer Bloom Serie-British Awarded Artist

Original-Rosarian-La Vie en Rose: Summer Bloom Serie-British Awarded Artist

Located in London, GB

Rosarian — La Vie en Rose is part of Shizico Yi’s ongoing Summer Bloom Series, a body of work in which she explores the magical qualities of roses and the complex challenge of painti...

Category

2010s Abstract Art

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Abstract art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Abstract art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Sumit Mehndiratta, Giorgio Lo Fermo, Francisco Nicolás, and Dadodu . Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Synthetic Resin Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Abstract art, so small editions measuring 0.02 inches across are also available.