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.
$1,800
Frank Stella - Exotic bird card, Signed in black marker by Frank Stella, Framed
By Frank Stella
Located in New York, NY
Offset lithograph postcard Hand signed in black marker by Frank Stella Provenance: Obtained directly from the artist by the present owner This signed card depicts Frank Stella's 1977...
Postcard
Leopard resting on a tree
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting depicts a leopard resting on the branches of a tree in its natural environment. The composition is horizontal, with the animal’s elongated body following the curves of t...
Canvas, Acrylic
$783Sale Price|20% Off
Original-Once in a Sturgeon Moon-Brit Awarded Artist-plein-air with gold-leaf
Located in London, GB
Painted en plein air beneath the final full moon of summer—the Sturgeon Moon—this work captures a rare moment when the florals in Shizico Yi’s garden glowed under brilliant moonlight...
Gold Leaf
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
Signs of Life
By Michael Rich
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting is in excellent condition and has only been shown in a gallery setting. The paintings, drawings and prints of Michael Rich reflect an approach to nature and landscap...
Canvas, Wax, Oil
$200Sale Price|20% Off
Blonde Waiting Offset Lithograph, Abstract Expressionist, Framed, 1994
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Blonde Waiting is an offset lithograph by Roy Lichtenstein, from a portfolio of six prints published by the Guggenheim Museum, now out of print. Capturing LichtensteinÕs fascination ...
Offset
Equinox
Located in Paris, FR
Lithograph, 1962 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and nunmbered 30/75 Publisher : Maeght (Paris) Printer : Maeght (Paris) Catalog : [Vallier 177] 54.00 cm. x 80.00 cm. 21.26 in. x...
Lithograph
Abstract Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Sculpture', C. 1995 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Paper, Watercolor
$620Sale Price|20% Off
Mid Century Modern Abstract Expressionist Framed Original Large Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Nicely painted mid century abstract cubist oil painting. Great color and composition. Framed.
Canvas, Oil
$2,161Sale Price|35% Off
Painting of the Winter Sunshine with Mountain Lake by 20th Century Dutch Artist
By Joop Smits
Located in Preston, GB
Oil Painting of the Winter Sunshine with Mountain Lake by 20th Century Dutch Artist, Joop Smits (1938-2014) Art measures 16 x 12 inches Fr...
Oil, Board
Waits River Church, Vermont, Oil Painting
By Doug Cosbie
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Waits River is a small village on Highway 25 southeast of Stowe, Vermont. "The church, buildings and barns presented an iconic view of New England...
Oil
Sunny Day - Abstract Figurative Still Life Landscape 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
$1,896
"Potpourri III" colorful 3d impressionistic painting with flowers on canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Look at the flowers. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are." — Osho Dimensions: 90 × 90 × 2 cm / 35.4 × 35.4 × 0.8 in Potpourri celebrates the joyful abundance of color ...
Canvas, Linen, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$3,319
ABSTRACT Geometry Pink Painting by Contemporary German Artist Carolin Kreutzer
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
$636Sale Price|20% Off
Antique American Framed Original Vintage Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American abstract expressionist painting. OIl on canvas. Framed. Finely painted with wonderful color palette.
Canvas, Oil
"From the Inside" (Contemporary, Abstract, Original, Dark, Textured, Black)
Located in Paris, IDF
From The Inside 2025 Paris, France This abstract oil painting features a textured surface with deep black tones and natural cracks spreading across the canvas. The fissures expose a...
Oil, Linen
Transmission #1 2-2 Hand-Cut Wood Collage, Abstract, 21st Century
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Transmission #1 2-2" is an original hand-cut wood collage by Matt R. Phillips measuring 20"h x 13"w. The piece ships in the pictured, artist-made, wood floater frame. The artist us...
Wood, Mixed Media
Untitled 132_25 (Abstract Painting)
Located in London, GB
Ludovic Dervillez is a French abstract painter whose practice is a powerful interrogation of how painting can still be a living, resonant space, focusing on the vital tension between...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Cintra and Frenetic Diptych. Mixed media Abstract painting on Canvas
By Alec Franco
Located in Miami Beach, FL
" The work resists framing in concepts, it overflows the contours and borders of the rational. It is through the presence of color, combined with an abstraction at times with express...
Canvas, Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$611
CITGO sign and Fenway Park - original cityscape painting - contemporary artwork
By Lisa Bisbee
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet ...
Canvas, Oil
Blue Composition - Original Aquatint by Piero Dorazio - 1984
Located in Roma, IT
Aquatint on watermarked paper, hand-signed and hand-numbered in pencil on lower margin by Piero Dorazio. Edition of 55 prints. Wonderful contemporary and abstract blue composition ...
Aquatint
$1,707Sale Price|20% Off
In the Hydrangea Thickets. Textured floral, Japandi, Wabi-Sabi, Shabby Chic
Located in Oslo, NO
In this work, the artist immerses the viewer in a living, breathing environment—a space where color becomes a state, and texture a tangible memory of summer. Intertwined stems, leave...
Canvas, Acrylic
ISIDRO CAHUE sea original abstract paper acrylic painting
By Isidro Cahue
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
sea- original abstract paper acrylic painting Mixed technique on paper. Perfect state . The personality of the artist is reflected in different fields of art. His concern for the s...
Acrylic, Cardboard
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
Sense of Wonder, Abstract Painting
By Alicia Dunn
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Alicia Dunn captures an ethereal moment in time. She presents an abstract landscape in bold blue tones with orange accents. Alicia paints with heavy st...
Acrylic
Colours of the Wind 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
$525
Golden Hour Landscape 3 - Abstract Flowy Minimalist Ink Painting on Linen Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bettina Mauel expresses dynamism and sensuality in her paintings: “I paint what I experience,” she articulates. “This includes landscapes, flowers, and people in motion, capturing th...
Ink, Mixed Media, Linen
$1,250
Floral Fantasy: Nature Abstract Bold Statement Colorful Invest Striking Delight
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Floral Fantasy Nature, Abstract, Bold, Statement, Colorful, Invest, Striking, Delight, Modern, Landscape. In this work, I've poured my heart into a vivid garden of dreams, u...
Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Stretcher Bars
$4,000
Mystic Arboretum - Large Contemporary Abstract Geometric Botanical Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Harrison Gilman's large original artworks begin with a layer of fast-paced gestural abstraction followed by organic shapes and geometric structures. Some of his paintings remain in t...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,422
"Blue Canopy" bright 3d impressionistic painting with flowers on linen canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Look at the flowers. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.” — Osho Blue Canopy unfolds like a flowering sky, where delicate branches drift across a luminous blue ground....
Canvas, Linen, Spray Paint, Acrylic
Let the Light Shine Through: Floral, Abstract, Still-life, Painting, Bold
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Let the Light Shine Through Floral Abstract Still-life Painting Contemporary Expressionist Invest Abundance Flowers Vase In this piece, I captured abundance and an experienc...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$960Sale Price|20% Off
Ferris Wheel: abstract modern minimalist color field drawing with rainbow colors
By Gene Davis
Located in New York, NY
This geometric, minimalist print glows in rainbow shades. Vibrant raspberry pink, magenta, yellow, lime green, and sky-blue lines take on the organic quality of handmade paper, resul...
Lithograph
Ray of Light 1
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Encaustic on panel. It's simple; I create art because it makes me happy. I try not to overthink the process of what I’m painting and let my intuition be my guide. I love laying do...
Encaustic
$3,911
Contemporary Minimalist Yellow Earth 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
In the Sky, Abstract Expressionist Poster by Willem de Kooning
Located in Long Island City, NY
"In the Sky" is an original 1982 poster for the exhibition of "40 international aerial artists exhibiting over Purchase, New York, Aug 8, Washington DC, Oct 9, New York City, Oct 16, 1982". Produced and orchestrated by the Rainbow Art...
Offset
Joan Miró - MARAVILLAS CON VARIACIONES... Lithograph Contemporary Art Abstract
By Joan Miró
Located in Madrid, Madrid
Joan Miró - Maravillas con variaciones acrósticas en el jardín de Miró II Date of creation: 1975 Medium: Lithograph on Gvarro paper Edition: 1500 Size: 49,5 x 35,5 cm Condition: In v...
Paper, Lithograph
Untitled 145_25 (Abstract Painting)
Located in London, GB
Ludovic Dervillez is a French abstract painter whose practice is a powerful interrogation of how painting can still be a living, resonant space, focusing on the vital tension between...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$872Sale Price|54% Off
Lyrical Abstract Expressionist Gouache on Paper, Signed, 81x61 cm
Located in Cotignac, FR
Lyrical abstract expressionist gouache on paper by French artist Michel Loiseau. Signed bottom right. Michel Loiseau-Rizzo, born in 1937 is an illust...
Paper, Gouache
$9,364
ABSTRACT Contemporary Artist French Rose Madone New Artwork Nature earth colors
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 A...
Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media
"Midnight Blossoms" impressionistic painting, dark blue flowers on linen canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Look at the flowers. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.” — Osho Fine branches carry clusters of deep blue blossoms and buds that drift gently across the canvas. Layer...
Canvas, Linen, Spray Paint, Acrylic
Composition in Red - Screen Print by Franco Giuli - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Rainbow Abstract Composition is an original artwork realized in the 1970s by the contemporary artist Franco Giuli (1934-2018) Mixed colored screen print....
Screen
Fred Kenknight "Midday Sun" Abstract Oil Painting c.1963
Located in San Francisco, CA
Fred Kenknight Vintage 1960s "Midday Sun" Abstract Oil Painting Fantastic vintage oil painting signed by Fred Kenknight. Though untitled, we are call...
Oil, Board
Calendula. Hope in Pixels.
Located in Zofingen, AG
These calendula flowers seem to whisper that they can help heal humanity. They aren’t imagined or artificial — they hold life itself, remembering both our fragility and our strength....
Canvas, Oil, Thread
Mountain High - Large Original Abstract Expressionism Playful Landscape Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The paintings of Bruce Rubenstein seamlessly marry sophistication with affordability. His expressive abstract landscape artwork 'Flourishing Fields' features whimsical details and vi...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Black chic. Abstraction
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting on a square canvas measuring 40x40 cm is a unique piece of art. It is executed in black tones using various textures such as putty and clay. Some areas of the painting ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$31,413
Umbrella - Silent Rain No.5 , Abstract, Painting, 21st Century, Acryl and Clay
By Roger König
Located in Dessau-Rosslau, Sachsen Anhalt
A unique large-scale work from the ongoing Umbrella series. The figure appears suspended between presence and dissolution, as dripping layers evoke the quiet persistence of rain. T...
Clay, Acrylic
$2,172Sale Price|20% Off
Huge French Abstract Painting Brown Beige Yellow Ochre colors, signed
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French abstract School, late 20th century/ early 21st century, inscribed initials MD Title: Brown, yellow, beige abstract composition painted on a very large scale. ...
Oil, Canvas
28K Gold Organic - 3D gold color contemporary abstract mural sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Erin Vincent is a Toronto based-artist whose work draws on a variety of repetitive and labor intensive processes and materials. Things and common objects have always fascinated Vinc...
Foam, Acrylic, Wood Panel
SCULPTURE Abstract Lighting LED Light Ray Contemporay Artist Mareo Rodriguez NEW
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
This sculpture can also be made to order in the dimensions specified. Please contact the gallery for further details. At Escat Gallery we are committed to maintaining the highest s...
Metal
Sunsets on the Hudson (Abstract Painting in Blue, Pink and Metallic Gold)
By Bruce Murphy
Located in Hudson, NY
Sunsets on the Hudson (Abstract Painting in Blue, Pink and Metallic Gold), 2019 by Bruce Murphy 38 x 42 inches, unframed, enamel paint on archival paper Signed, verso This gestural ...
Enamel
Hushed Moment 1
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Encaustic on panel. It's simple; I create art because it makes me happy. I try not to overthink the process of what I’m painting and let my intuition be my guide. I love laying do...
Encaustic
Voluminous Triangles.
Located in Zofingen, AG
This inspiring piece on canvas captivates with its beauty and depth. Crafted using putty, the artwork has acquired exquisite volume, inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in a wo...
Canvas, Acrylic, Putty
Miro original painting.
By Joan Miró
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Original drawing painted in wax by Joan Miro. Certified by Jacques Dupin, official certifier of the artist's work. The work is a wax painted on two continuous pages of a book publish...
Crayon
Vintage American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Framed Original Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist abstract expressionist oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Measuring: 25 by 19 inches overall. Handsomely fr...
Oil, Canvas
Viktor Kobylianski Abstract Composition Rose Tones Mixed Media on Canvas Large
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, Mixed Media, Pigment
Micmac I, Abstract Expressionist Screenprint by Dan Christensen
Located in Long Island City, NY
Dan Christensen, American (1942 - 2007) - Micmac I, Year: circa 1981, Medium: Screenprint, signed, titled and numbered in pencil, Edition: 43/100, Image Size: 38.25 x 27 inches, ...
Screen
Ventrilocuo, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas / Framed Black wood 50 x 75 cm Signed About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 1973) graduated from Escuela Nacional d...
Canvas, Acrylic
$580Sale Price|51% Off
Mid-20th Century Abstract Expressionist Lithograph, Signed
Located in Belgrade, MT
This lithograph is part of my private collection. It is limited in edition ,artist signed lower right and is in very good condition. Walter Becker was a German artist. Another impres...
Lithograph
$646Sale Price|20% Off
Original 1970'S French Abstract Composition with Thick Organic Lines
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist: Claude Lagouche (French 1943-2020) Claude Lagouche was born January 2, 1943 in Naves, died January 16, 2020. He quickly gained recognition for his talent and his work, exh...
Watercolor
Scavi CXLVII Triptych Large Abstract, Fresco on Linen, 2000
By Marcia Myers
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Scavi CXL VII Triptych 2000 Fresco, varnish on linen Size: 85"h x 72"w x2" Titled, signed and dated on verso, made up of three panels that are all screwed together with industrial ro...
Linen, Varnish, Oil
$4,326
Fear and Compliance, contemporary, expressionism, Joan Mitchell, Larry Poons
Located in Jönköping, SE
This painting is part of a series titled Contemplation and Introspection. In this series I am exploring the profound relationship between nature and the human experience. The collect...
Acrylic