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.
Mémoire du Rivage Contemporary Coastal Abstract Painting by Sophie Dumont
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
French contemporary artist Sophie Dumont is known for her textured oil paintings exploring memory, landscape, and the passage of time through layered abstract compositions. Born in P...
Oil
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
Large Orange and Lavender - Abstract Acrylic Painting on Archival Paper
By Aron Hill
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary acrylic landscape painting is rendered in orange and lavender. Bold contemporary form and striking bright colours defines the unique artistic style of Aron Hill. A...
Acrylic, Archival Paper
$1,350
"Once Verdant" (flora, abstract, roses, blush, pink, green, dye, antique linen)
Located in Paris, IDF
ONCE VERDANT 2024 Paris, France This enchanting painting portrays the artist's vision of an abstracted, organic floral pattern. The floral shapes and shadows allude to traces of a ...
Linen, Dye, Oil
"Lotus" - Vintage Glass Sculpture
Located in Westport, CT
Resurrect Studio, “Lotus,” Vintage Glass Sculpture, 11 x 11 x 8.5 in. “Lotus” is a delicate vintage glass sculpture by Resurrect Studio, the collaborative practice of Nancy Wu and J...
Glass, Resin
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
Don't Let Them Burst Your Bubble: Amber 2 XL - Blown Glass Sculpture
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary amber coloured glass bubble is a tabletop sculpture. Cheryl Wilson Smith is known for her uniquely beautiful glass work-its form, colour and texture are often inspi...
Glass, Blown Glass
$1,680Sale Price|20% Off
The Alchemy of Letting Go. Modern colorful abstract painting 100x100 cm
By Anna Selina
Located in Zofingen, AG
This vibrant abstract piece, titled "Alchemy of Letting Go," features energetic, sweeping brushstrokes in bold, vivid colors. The dynamic composition embodies a process of transforma...
Oil
"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. ...
Paper, Inkjet
"Wrapper" Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Provenance – Annely Juda Fine Art (label verso) Sotheby’s June 2006 – 20th Century British Art (labels verso) Personal Collection of Jonathan Grimble Image 24" x 19.5". Framed 28....
Mixed Media
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
Don't Let Them Burst your Bubble: Clear 81425 - Clear Glass Abstract Sculpture
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary wall sculpture features bubbles of clear glass. Each work is individually hand-formed in glass, so slight variations in colour, shape, and texture from the images ...
Glass, Mixed Media
$175Sale Price|36% Off
Untitled Composition III (Gestural Abstraction, Lyrical, Tachisme, ~36% OFF)
By Otto Greis
Located in Kansas City, MO
Otto Greis Untitled Composition III Original Silkscreen on Fine Vellum Year: 1960 Sheet Size: 7.6 × 5.625 inches (19.30 × 14.29 cm) Mat Size: 10.6 × 8.125 inches (26.92 × 20.64 cm) F...
Vellum, Screen
$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
"Yellow" (2022) by Jennifer Bobola, Mixed Media Abstract Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Yellow" is an original, handmade mixed media painting, by Jennifer Bobola, that presents colorful abstract expressionism. Artist Statement: Let’s be honest, understanding abstract ...
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
$165Sale Price|20% Off
Bright & Colorful French Landscape Impressionist Painting Oil Impasto
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Maggy Clarysse (1931-2011) Oil on thick card, unframed 7.5 x 9.5 inches Signed In verso ...
Oil
$700
Abstract Composition Color Lithograph, Mid-20th Century, Unframed
By Marie Raymond
Located in Belgrade, MT
This color lithograph is part of my private collection since the 1970's. Marie Raymond was a pioneer post WWII painter of her generation. She was a lyrical abstractionist of her time...
Color, Lithograph
$1,600Sale 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
Flowers - Colorful Contemporary Floral Painting on Canvas
Located in East Quogue, NY
Julia Scheuer’s "Flowers" is an exuberant meditation on resilience and the emotional promise of spring. Created after a long winter, the painting channels the artist’s anticipation o...
Canvas, Acrylic
Untitled
Located in New York, NY
Artist Unidentified /Unknown, "Untitled" Edition 79 /100, 19.75 x 25.50, Late 20th Century Colors: Purple, Blue, Brown, Yellow, Turquoise, Pink Note* Unidentified Artist signature o...
Lithograph
$1,975
Wild Skies 4 - Abstract Gold Leaf and Acrylic Landscape Painting on Wood Panel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Adele Webster’s contemporary landscape paintings explore atmosphere, light, and the emotional presence of open space. Working with layered acrylic washes on wood panel, Webster creat...
Gold Leaf
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
Memory Wall #10 : Maximalist Abstract Color Field Painting in Red
Located in Hudson, NY
Large, brightly saturated red color field abstract geometric painting in various shades of bright green, blue, purple and deep red. "Memory Wall #10" made by Hudson Valley artist, Vi...
Plaster, Wax, Acrylic, Panel, Pigment
$877Sale 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
$1,821Sale 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
"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
Partition, Contemporary Abstract Painting by Sophie Dumont
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Partition is an original oil on canvas by French contemporary artist Sophie Dumont. Known for her richly layered surfaces and architectural sense of composition, Dumont creates paint...
Oil
Nick Thomm - HEMISPHERE (MULTI) XL
By Nick Thomm
Located in FITZROY, VIC
Nick Thomm - 'HEMISPHERE' - (Multi) XL SIZE 92cm x 122cm 36" x 48" Limited Edition of #85 Hand Signed & Numbered. Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemühle 308gsm Fine Art Paper. C...
Archival Ink, Giclée, Archival Pigment
$4,378
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 Yard
Located in Zofingen, AG
shipped in roll This work draws on personal memories of time spent with family. The image of a rural courtyard, animals, and the surrounding space is not merely a setting, but an i...
Canvas, Acrylic
Lilac green fantasy.
Located in Zofingen, AG
This abstract composition is inspired by the quiet rhythm of geological formations and the fluid movement of natural landscapes. Flowing layers of muted olive green, warm taupe, soft...
Ink, Synthetic Paper
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
$247Sale Price|20% Off
Ballet Dancers Theatre Stage Study Charcoal Drawing Mid Century Figurative
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Ballet Dancers Theatre Stage Study Charcoal Drawing Mid Century Figurative Medium: charcoal and white chalk on toned paper unframed image size: 8.75 x 11.75 inches (height x w...
Chalk, Charcoal
$828
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
Crustacean Green Ceramic Bowl Sculpture
Located in East Quogue, NY
"Green Crustacean Seapod", Ceramic Bowl Sculpture Dimensions: 8 H × 8 W × 5 D Medium: Hand-built ceramic, glazed stoneware Hand-built ceramic sculpture finished in a green glaze. Ad...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$4,000
New Looking Methods: Cobalt Blue & Gold Abstract Expressionist Painting, Framed
By Bruce Murphy
Located in Hudson, NY
Gestural abstract painting on paper with gold metallic powders and cobalt blue, pastel green, and rust colored enamel paint "New Looking Methods", made in 2022 by Hudson Valley paint...
Enamel
WORKING ON IT INCESSANTLY
By Mary Corita (Sister Corita) Kent
Located in Santa Monica, CA
CORITA KENT (Sister Mary Corita) 1918–1986 WORKING ON IT INCESSANTLY, ca. 1970 Color serigraph. Signed and numbered in ink 200/. In generally good condition. Image 22 3/8 x 11 1/2, sheet 23 x 12 1/4 inches. Provenance: Marjorie Kauffman Graphics on original period label. Sister Corita is highly important in the development of modern use of serigraphy with highly charged social and political content expressed in strong colors and dynamic composition. She often made biblical and well as literary references as a major part of the composition. She taught printmaking at Immaculate Heart...
Screen
$4,733
Dialogue of Forms — Contemporary Geometric Abstract Oil Painting, Sophie Dumont
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
French contemporary artist Sophie Dumont presents in Dialogue of Forms a refined geometric abstraction structured through a delicate balance of curved forms, architectural lines, and...
Oil
$7,150
Before The Wire (Green, Blue, & White Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting)
Located in Hudson, NY
Before The Wire Green, White , Blue Abstract Expressionist Painting Made by Ragellah Rourke in 2025 oil on canvas 36 x 48 inches, unframed The sides are cleanly painted light grey so...
Canvas, Oil
$1,322Sale Price|20% Off
Blue Yellow and Orange Abstract Diagonal Lines and Shapes French Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition signed by Gilbert Pelissier (French born 1924) oil painting on canvas with a rope material attached, unframed dated 88' canvas size: 46 x 35 inche...
Canvas, Oil
Copper Quasar-original mixed media geometric abstract painting-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
Gallery service: Complimentary worldwide shipping is offered, with Signet Contemporary Art covering all tariffs, customs duties and import taxes, making international collecting simp...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$2,556Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled. Big format contemporary abstract painting, colorful, young Polish art
Located in Warsaw, PL
Bright and colorful acrylic on canvas abstract painting by young Polish artist, Zuzanna Malinowska. Composition consists of geometric shapes in the centre , on the white background....
Canvas, Acrylic
$662
Hand-Painted Canvas Proof#2-Purple Misty Alliums-British Awarded Artist-Last One
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This Artist’s Proof is approximately 90% hand-painted with original oil paint and gesso by Shizico Yi, applied directly onto a premium Giclée canvas made from her original oil painti...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Giclée
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
Nick Thomm - Loom (SKY) Standard
By Nick Thomm
Located in FITZROY, VIC
Nick Thomm 'LOOM' (Sky) 69cm x 92cm (27"×36″) Limited Edition of 343. Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemühle 308gsm Fine Art Paper. Condition: NEW. Worldwide Shipping. Sold Unframed.
Archival Ink, Giclée, Archival Pigment
Mark TOBEY : Spring Garden, Original signed screenprint
By Mark Tobey
Located in Paris, IDF
Mark TOBEY (1890-1976) Spring Garden, 1976 Original color screenprint Signed with the artist's stamp Numbered / 77 copies On Auvergne vellum 64.5 x 50.5 cm INFORMATION: Authenticat...
Screen
Abstract Composition - Original color Etching and Aquatint - 1967
Located in Paris, IDF
Robert MOTHERWELL Abstract Composition Original etching and aquatint Unsigned On Johannot vellum 37.5 x 28 cm (c. 15 x 11 inch) Published by Lazar Vernet in 1967 and limited to 200 ...
Etching, Aquatint
$1,500Sale Price|40% Off
Landscape with Orange Sky
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
James Earl Ray (1928-1998). Landscape with Orange Sky. ca. 1975. Oil on masonite panel measures 6.5 x 8.5 inches, 10.5 x 12.5 inches framed. Signed lowe...
Masonite, Oil
Jungle Nights Abstract Expressionist Composition in Oil on Canvas
Located in Soquel, CA
Jungle Nights Abstract Expressionist Composition in Oil on Canvas Color, texture, light and shadow interplay in this dark jewel tone abstract by an unknown Bay Area abstract express...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil
$1,048
Original-Moon Lit Dahlias-British Awarded Artist-Gold Leaf on oil canvas Board
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
Moonlit Dahlia is a large gold-leaf painting created by Shizico Yi in early autumn, when dahlias reach their fullest bloom and the first turning leaves colour the garden. Painted on ...
Gold Leaf
Original World Cup USA 94 - Coca Cola Soccer poster
Located in Spokane, WA
Original World Cup USA ’94, Coca Cola sponsored vintage poster. Archival linen backed in A- condition, ready to frame. This World Cup ’94 poster is very rarely seen or available....
Offset
"Synergy"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
This striking contemporary masterpiece is a profound exploration of human connection and the fragmented nature of identity. Employing a sophisticated palette of earthy ochre, charcoa...
Gold Leaf
Spring. Awakening
Located in Zofingen, AG
shipped in roll “Spring. Awakening” reflects the first quiet shift of the season — a moment when light, color, and space begin to open. Soft layers of pale tones, subtle pinks, and g...
Canvas, Acrylic
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
$8,709
Eroded horizon- Large Abstract Painting – Landscape –Contemporary, French art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
This original oil painting by Sophie Dumont, a French contemporary painter, reflects her distinctive approach to landscape through abstraction, structure, and material depth. Born i...
Canvas, Oil
Abstract 2558
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured my emotions into a dance of textures and soft hues. The creamy creams, gentle pinks, and calming blues blend with unexpected bursts of black to evoke a serene...
Oil, Acrylic
$1,960
Oser s'exprimer - Abstract Textural Black and Gold Acrylic Painting on Canvas
By Vè Boisvert
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
$3,400
Poch 146 Dos Con Copas, Abstract Expressionist Acrylic Painting on Canvas, 2010
By Ramon Poch
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
146 original acrylic painting Born in Badalona (Barcelona). Photographer and advertising film director. Founding partner of the advertising production company La Cosa de las Pelicul...
Canvas, Acrylic
Whistler Abstraction! - Abstract Blue Landscape Textural Impasto Oil Painting
By Dana Cowie
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Using an impasto, painterly technique Dana Cowie creates cubist-inspired farm and rural landscapes. Working within controlled color schemes, her artworks appear abstract up close and...
Canvas, Oil