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.
Golden branch on a mint green background. 3D textured.
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting, created on a round plywood canvas, is a unique combination of sculpture and painting. The upper part of the artwork is adorned with a hand-painted botanical pattern usi...
Mixed Media, Wood Panel
Vintage Abstract Impressionist French Countryside Oil Painting by Jacques Birr
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Vintage mid-century abstract impressionist oil painting on board signed at the bottom, Jacques Birr 91. With expressive cloud swirls created by a large brush, the artist has given u...
Oil
Neutral Nature (Gold) - Abstract Expressionist Acrylic Textural Drip Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles artist Marc Raphael's abstract expressionism paintings are influenced by New York's abstract expressionist movement. After encountering Jackson Pollock’s work for the fir...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,031
Large French Vintage Landscape Abstract Impressionist Coastal Oil Painting
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Large Vintage Abstract Impressionist oil painting on canvas, signed by the artist, Maryvonne LE DEIST (b.1936). This amazing painting hails from the 1960's and is entitled, 'Port de...
Oil
$5,500
Willem de Kooning - Lithograph for Spoleto Festival, Hand Signed/N, unframed
Located in New York, NY
This gorgeous, large vintage lithographic print, is a rare hand signed and numbered print from the limited edition of 150, the present work numbered 61/150. (There was, separately, a...
Lithograph
$2,175
Golden Slumber - Moody Abstract Atmospheric Landscape 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
Joan Miró - MARAVILLAS CON VARIACIONES... Lithograph Contemporary Art Abstract
By Joan Miró
Located in Madrid, Madrid
Maravillas con variaciones acrósticas en el jardín de Miró IV Date of creation: 1975 Medium: Lithograph on Gvarro paper Edition: 1500 Size: 49,5 x 35,5 cm Condition: In very good con...
Lithograph
Line of Silence No. 7
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Line of silence” is an ongoing painting cycle that explores the fragile boundary between presence and dissolution. Through a restrained color palette, layered surfaces, and a soften...
Canvas, Mixed Media
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
Pieced - Glass Sculpture, Abstract Wall Art, Soft Colors, 2010-
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Glass artist Cheryl Wilson Smith’s grandmother used to create hand-stitched quilts from cut squares of fabric. This beautiful wall sculpture with its patchwork pattern, and its soft ...
Glass
Abstract Expressionist French Urban Scene. Gouache on Paper. 50cm x 65cm. x
Located in Cotignac, FR
Colorful abstract expressionnist village scene in gouache and watercolor on paper by Belgian artist André Pierard. Signed bottom right and dated August 1976 bottom left. This artwo...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
Untitled III by Antoine Vidal - Vertical abstract sculpture, light gray and gold
Located in Paris, FR
Untitled III is an abstract sculpture by French artist Antoine Vidal. Bronze, 19.3 × 5.9 × 3.5 in (49 × 15 × 9 cm). Limited edition of 8 + 4 Artist's Proofs. Vidal's works in bronz...
Bronze
$538
Hand Painted X-Large-Gladiolus Glorious-British Awarded Artist-Limited Edition#8
Located in London, GB
This rare X-large Limited Edition is 80% hand painted and highlighted with original paint and brushstrokes painted by artist Shizico Yi. Only 10 Limited Edition has been made, last ...
Gesso, Archival Ink, Oil, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Giclée
$3,400
Fruity Ramen Alchemy: ARRIVAL - Meditative Abstract Blue Tone Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract minimalist artist Jason DeMeo presents a collection of artworks designed to engage viewers in a meditative experience, drawing them closer to the enduring ideals of truth, b...
Gold Leaf
The Assembled Whole. No 6
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting from the The Assembled Whole series is created on canvas using a collage technique with various textured materials. The composition features soft pink, gray, and black ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Axe Intérieur, Large Abstract Oil Painting, Signed, 2026, Textured
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Inner Axis (Axe intérieur) is a masterful work by contemporary French artist Sophie Dumont, exploring the delicate tension between architectural structure and painterly freedom. True...
Oil
$1,913
“Tulips of Love" Large-format Fauvist /Matisse inspired still life painting
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Tulips of Love” — Large-format contemporary Fauvist-inspired, Matisse-influenced floral still life created in a modern expressive / metamodern figurative style, executed in acrylic ...
Paper, Acrylic
Neutral Nature (Red) - Abstract Expressionist Acrylic Textural Drip Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles artist Marc Raphael's abstract expressionism paintings are influenced by New York's abstract expressionist movement. After encountering Jackson Pollock’s work for the fir...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Solace (Companionship) -21st Century Contemporary Abstract Expression, Love, Dog
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
There’s a silence that speaks when words can’t; the kind of silence that feels like a hand resting gently on your heart. Solace was born from that quiet. I painted this after a long...
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
$1,435Sale Price|20% Off
Original-Jardin d'Hiver-British Awarded Artist-Impasto, oil, goldleaf on Dahlias
Located in London, GB
Jardin d'Hiver Series is Shizico Yi's latest collection, created in her winter studio while savouring for the summer left behind. Reflecting on the vibrant days spent painting en pl...
Gold Leaf
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
Plougastel
Located in Paris, FR
Etching and aquatint, 1970 Edition : 78/125 Publisher : Galerie de Varenne (Paris) 65.50 cm. x 50.00 cm. 25.79 in. x 19.69 in. (paper) 49.00 cm. x 39.00 cm. 19.29 in. x 15.35 in. (...
Etching, Aquatint
#99, 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
Open Configuration – Contemporary Abstract Oil on Linen
Located in Zofingen, AG
Open Configuration This work explores structure as an evolving process rather than a fixed form. Geometric suggestions and color fields come together in an open configuration, where...
Canvas, Oil
Where Silence Rests
Located in Zofingen, AG
Oil on linen Belgian canvas. This minimalist seascape explores stillness as a spatial and perceptual experience. The horizon dissolves into a unified field where water and atmospher...
Canvas, Oil
#64, 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
$55,000
Mobius H6 Mirror Polished Stainless Steel - abstract, contemporary, sculpture
By Jeremy Guy
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Jeremy Guy’s distinctive abstract sculptures grace the grounds of many public places the world over. This is a favorite form—elegant, and bodacious, the curves of Mobius are based on...
Stainless Steel
Coral Reef, Abstract Mixed Media Painting, Acrylic & Sand, 24x18in, 2025
By a.muse
Located in New york, NY
For a 24 x 18in abstract painting on paper Coral Reef, a. muse uses acrylic, oil pastel, gouache, sand, and diamond dust to render colorful biomorphic forms from the sea. Warm and co...
Rag Paper, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Gouache
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 XVIII Date of creation: 1975 Medium: Lithograph on Gvarro paper Edition: 1500 Size: 49,5 x 35,5 cm Observations...
Lithograph
“Rest”
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting “Rest” from the series “From Simple to…” creates a sense of calm, recovery, and inner completeness. The minimalist image of the animal and the pastel, natural color pale...
Acrylic
$2,300
Atmospheric Balance - Contemporary Abstract Painting, Soft Blue and Neutral
Located in Cumming, GA
Atmospheric Balance original painting captures a luminous, tranquil moment inspired by light, air, and natural equilibrium. Soft layers of pale blue, warm ivory, and subtle neutral t...
Canvas, Acrylic
Niki de Saint Phalle - I Rather Like You A Lot You Fool rare silkscreen signed/N
Located in New York, NY
Niki de Saint Phalle I Rather Like You A Lot You Fool, 1970 Silkscreen on wove paper Signed and numbered 74//75 in graphite pencil on the front Frame included: This work is elegantly...
Pencil, Graphite, Screen
"Forevermore 2" - Original Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Denver, CO
Forevermore 2 by Dorothy Fagan is a 2023 oil on canvas measuring 48 x 36 inches, with a framed size of 49.50 x 37.50 x 2 inches. Professionally framed and ready to hang, this vibrant...
Canvas, Oil
154 Squares V.3 - Modern Color Drenched Abstract Geometric Acrylic Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brandon Neher is a California artist whose original paintings embody a profound exploration of space, structure, and balance, infused with a touch of modern minimalism. Drawing inspi...
Wood, Mixed Media, Acrylic
#12, 1956 Abstract Expressionist painting
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Beautiful abstract expressionist painting with complex textures in white and terracotta red. #12, 1956. Oil on masonite panel measuring 16 x 20 inches. Framed measurement 18 x 22 i...
Masonite, Oil
"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
$2,500
avp_1521 - Original Abstract Vibrant Blue Tone Contemporary Painting on Paper
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...
Paper, Acrylic
Contemporary impressionist nature landscape painting "Tranquil Provence"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Tranquil Provence” is a luminous landscape by French artist Natalya Mougenot, inspired by her travels in the south of France, a region renowned for its sweeping coastal views, cypre...
Paper, Acrylic
Abstract I by Yann Guillon - vertical bronze sculpture, black patina
By Yann Guillon
Located in Paris, FR
Abstract I (Abstraite I) is an abstract sculpture by French contemporary artist Yann Guillon, made of bronze and finished with a black patina. Limited edition of 8 + 4 artist's proof...
Bronze
White folds 8. 3D abstraction.
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting, created on canvas with clay, depicts soft, flowing folds that create the impression of draped fabric. The entire piece is rendered in a pure white color, giving it eleg...
Clay, Canvas
$2,031
Abstract Impressionist Oil Painting on Canvas of Provence, France 1970's
Located in AIGNAN, FR
Vintage Abstract Impressionist oil painting on canvas, signed by the artist, Maryvonne LE DEIST (b.1936). This painting is entitled, 'Les Alphinnes' which is a small mountain range ...
Oil
Apotheosis of Twilight, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, 61x80 cm
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
Painting on canvas constructed through overlapping layers of color. The composition is organized by chromatic fields that intersect and extend in different directions. The surface pr...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$6,200
Beyond the Ashes - Abstract Moody Neutral Tone Figurative 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
TBG Origins: You Bring Me Joy - Large Meditative Abstract Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Abstract minimalist artist Jason DeMeo presents a collection of artworks designed to engage viewers in a meditative experience, drawing them closer to the enduring ideals of truth, b...
Gold Leaf
$2,152
Warm Evening. Semi-abstract floral painting, warm color, large, horizontal
Located in Oslo, NO
What we see here is not an ordinary floral landscape, but a state of time, that brief moment between day and night, when the air still retains warmth, but the light has already becom...
Canvas, Acrylic
avp_1219 - Original Color Drenching Contemporary Abstract Painting on Paper
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...
Paper, Acrylic
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
Hand Painted Proof, One off-Jardin d'Automne-British Awarded Artist-gladiolus
Located in London, GB
This is an One of One artits's Proof, hand painted by the artist Shizico with her hand mixed original paint. Rare Proof only one, highly collectable within an attractive offer. Abo...
Metal
Love surrounds you by Love by Gaetan de Seguin Figurative contemporary Painting
Located in DE
Contemporary figurative painting with lots of details and movement. Beautiful statement piece for any art collection. Combining a lot of different colors in any interiors and settin...
Canvas, Acrylic
$597
Sakura at sunrise //abstrakt floristics oil painting / moody art / good vibes
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting captures the beauty of the awakening of nature. The touches of the oil palette embody the bright dance of the first rays of dawn, embracing delicate flowers. Thr...
Oil
$530
"Rosa Pristina" (contemporary, original, abstract, floral, pink flora, natural)
Located in Paris, IDF
ROSA PRISTINA Latin for "earliest rose" or "pristine rose," captures a bloom suspended forever between full vitality and delicate decay. The painting is an abstract elegy to the rose...
Dye, Oil, Plaster, Cotton Canvas
$840Sale Price|43% Off
Concrete Geometric Abstract Composition with Blue (~44% OFF LIST PRICE)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Gottfried Honegger Concrete Geometric Abstract Composition with Blue 3D-construction, Screenprint on Hahnemuhle Velvet 2015 Size: 20.9 × 21.1 on 24.2 × 23.8 inches Edition: E.A. of 5...
Archival Paper, Screen
Cuerpos Magnéticos #44. Wall sculpture
Located in Miami Beach, FL
From the series Cuerpos Magnéticos (Magetic Bodies) Cuerpos Magnéticos was born searching for the relationship between nature and our bodies, attraction and rejection. We see rocks,...
Epoxy Resin, Pigment
Zephyr Monumental 2/7 Mirror Polished Stainless Steel - outdoor sculpture
By Jeremy Guy
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This sculpture is number 2 in an edition of 7 and can be purchased on a commission basis. Please allow 24 -30 weeks before shipping. It can also be created in smaller sizes, between ...
Stainless Steel
Cuerpos Magnéticos Spring. Wall sculpture
Located in Miami Beach, FL
From the series Cuerpos Magnéticos (Magetic Bodies) Cuerpos Magnéticos was born searching for the relationship between nature and our bodies, attraction and rejection. We see rocks,...
Epoxy Resin, Pigment
1990s Abstract Offset Print: Brown and Orange on Slate, Unframed
By (after) Mark Rothko
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This high-quality reproduction of Brown and Orange on Slate faithfully captures Mark Rothko’s signature exploration of color, light, and emotion. Rothko’s artistic process was deeply...
Offset
Painting Animal Dog Modern Gold Contemporary Striking Invest Bold Classic Joy
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Sunchasers Painting Animal Dog Modern Gold Contemporary Striking Invest Bold Classic Joy Original One-of-a-kind This painting forms part of an artwork series called BLUE. I ...
Gold
Blue & Gray Offset Print, Abstract Style, Circa 2005, Unframed
By Mark Rothko
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This high-quality reproduction poster of Mark Rothko's Blue & Grey (1962) was published and designed by the Beyeler Foundation in Basel, Switzerland. The artwork features a subtl...
Offset
$2,200
Absolute Wealth - Large Contemporary Abstract Maximalism Painting, Ready to Hang
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Absolute Wealth Large Painting Absolute Wealth - Contemporary Abstract Colorful Maximalism Bold Invest Another soulful artwork by Karnish. Symbols and forms unfold in this m...
Gesso, Canvas, Acrylic, Wood, Charcoal, Spray Paint, Color Pencil, Stret...
$6,700
12 Dreams - Large Floral Mixed Media Abstract Landscape Painting on Canvas
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...
Enamel