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.
#43, 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
The Monster in the Forest (Tribute to Yves Klein)
Located in Paris, FR
Mixed media Silkscreen. Watercoloured proof, with collages, each work being unique and different, hand-enhanced by the artist. Handsigned by the artist in pencil Edition : 34/100 30....
Silk, Watercolor
$1,113Sale Price|20% Off
The Vanguard Series Nr. XXVII: A Collection of Postwar European Abstractions
Located in London, GB
"The Vanguard Series Nr. XXVII: A Collection of Postwar European Abstractions", oil on board, by unknown artist (circa 1950s–70s). A compelling body of work emerging from the forgott...
Oil, Board
$6,500
Untitled
Located in Phoenix, AZ
ceramic and wood Tetsuya Yamada (b. 1968, Tokyo) studied traditional Japanese ceramics before moving to the USA in 1994. He received his MFA from Alfred University in 1997 and is cu...
Ceramic, Wood
Study 1944 - Original Oil on Canvas - (Dubourg & de Staël, #21)
By Nicolas de Staël
Located in Paris, IDF
Nicolas de Staël Study 1944 Original oil on canvas Unsigned On canvas 32 x 24 cm (c. 13 x 10 in) Presented in in a wood frame 41 x 34 cm (c. 16 x 13 in) Annotated "Nicolas de Stael ...
Oil
Calipso (Impasto, Gold, Gold Leaf, Yellow, Blue, Teal, Red, Orange)
By Ted Hinrichs
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ted Hinrichs Calipso Acrylic on Canvas Year: 2023 Size: 29.25x35.5in Framed: 31.5x27.5x1.5in Signed by hand COA provided Ref.: 924802-1791 *Framed in black Wood Tags: Abstract, Acry...
Canvas, Acrylic
Vintage American Abstract Expressionist Pastel and Watercolor Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American abstract expressionist painting. Framed. Measuring: 23 by 28 inches overall and 20 by 25 painting alone. Signed and dated lower right. Excellent condition, ready to ...
Paper, Oil Pastel, Watercolor
$551Sale Price|20% Off
Fantastic Zoology I Etching, Abstract Style, Signed E/A, 20th Century
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Lovely etching, framed, with fine art glass. Signed, E/A.
Etching
$1,399Sale Price|33% Off
Transending Forms, Acrylic, Canvas, Red, Blue, Brown, Yellow, Green "In Stock"
By Amit Kalla
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Amit Kalla - Transending Forms - 36 x 60 inches (unframed size) Acrylic on Canvas, 2020 ** Free Shipment ...... will be delivered in rolled form. Style : Kalla’s work can be represe...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,100
Follow Your Intuition - Cool Tone Abstract Textural 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
Flow of Freedom
Located in Zofingen, AG
Freedom is always about pure energy and inner strength, and since ancient times, the horse has been its most powerful archetype. In this work, the image of the horse becomes a condui...
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil Crayon
“Meeting Point”
By Jacob Burda
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting “Meeting Point” captures a quiet moment of anticipation. In the foreground, a man in a cap leans calmly against a car, as if waiting for someone. In the background, anot...
Canvas, Acrylic
Nexa #1 and #2. Mixed media Abstract painting on Canvas
By Alec Franco
Located in Miami Beach, FL
DNA is genetic information, hidden and encrypted in body fluids. Veiled data that we load, that we do not know and that someone knows how to decipher. Such specifications characteriz...
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Pair, Red Woven Abstract Tapestry of Figures, Textile Sculpture
By Lilla Kulka
Located in Wilton, CT
Pair, sisal, wool, stilon, 125" x 77", 1989. This large figurative, abstract tapestry was done by textile artist, Lilla Kulka (b. 1946, Krakow, Poland). Artist Statement: "I creat...
Fabric, Textile, Tapestry, Wool, Thread
Spring Music - modernist, geometric abstraction, acrylic on panel
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This modern geometric painting by Burton Kramer was inspired by music. During his storied decades-long career, Burton Kramer has achieved international recognition as one of Canada’...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
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
Blue Encaustic Painting on Panel, Abstract, Framed, 21st Century
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Encaustic on panel. blue teal aqua white yellow orange navy Red green chartreuse It's simple; I create art because it makes me happy. I try not to overthink the process of what I...
Encaustic
#46, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket of realism to...
Pigment
"Love"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
"Love" in the Digital Age. This acrylic painting on canvas explores the nature of human intimacy in the modern world. Bright, neon streams of color and complex interweaving of lines ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$800Sale Price|20% Off
"Milla" Figure with White Gown French Haute Couture Oil Painting on Paper
By Cindy Shaoul
Located in New York, NY
Exploring the purity of the feminine form and the drama of French haute couture, artist Cindy Shaoul creates a dialogue between the figurative and the abstract. Her spirited composit...
Mixed Media, Oil, Archival Paper
Sanctuary of the Soul
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 97×97 cm (overall size with stretching 107×107 cm) Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: stretched canvas My painting "Sanctuary of the Soul" invites the viewer to reflect on...
Canvas, Acrylic
Chart 1970 - Lithograph by Mario Persico - 1970ca
Located in Roma, IT
Lithograph on paper. Hand signed and numbered in pencil. Edition of 100. Excellent condition.
Lithograph
Contemporary abstract Impressionist landscape on canvas "Summer's nature"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Nature’s Summer” is a vibrant celebration of movement, warmth, and color — a landscape that seems to pulse with the energy of a Provençal afternoon. The painting is built around the...
Canvas, Acrylic
Ruz Gray Black Qui Primitivum est. Landscapes - Abstract Acrylic Painting
By Rafael Ruz
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Original artwork by Spanish artist Rafael Ruz. Acrylic in perfect condition. While contemplating the painting of Ruz, we are inclined to talk about real ‘psychodrama’, in the sam...
Acrylic
Territory
Located in San Francisco, CA
Javier Manrique Territory, 2023 Acrylic on canvas 48 x 72 inches This is an abstract landscape painting created by Javier Manrique in 2023. This one-of-a-kind painting on canvas is ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Peace, Abstract Expressionist Silkscreen by Adolph Gottlieb 1970
Located in Long Island City, NY
An original silkscreen by American Abstract Expressionist, Adolph Gottlieb. Artist: Adolph Gottlieb, American (1903 - 1974) Title: Peace from the Peace Portfolio Year: 1970 Medium: ...
Screen
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
JHM - II /// Josef Albers Bauhaus Abstract Geometric Screenprint Minimalism Red
By Josef Albers
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Josef Albers (German-American, 1888-1976) Title: "JHM - II" Portfolio: Josef Albers Honors the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden *Monogram signed and dated by Albers in p...
Screen
La Dame a la Collerette - Linocut by Pablo Picasso - 1962
Located in Roma, IT
Color linocut on strong wove paper. Image dimension 53.2x39.3; Sheet size 62.5x44.5. One of the "épreuves de passe" remaining with the printer Arnéra in Vallauris, verso with the s...
Linocut
$1,250
Maze Mesa Bloom Abstract Sculpture, Powder Coated Steel, 2010- 27x6x6"
Located in Santa Fe, NM
It was the tumult of the sixties that compelled me to drop out of Swarthmore College, move “back to the land” and become an intuitive artist. I believed that if we were to survive a...
Steel
Collage on Canvas “PDP393ct09” 33 x 44.25
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
signed verso, custom framed and ready to hang Cecil Touchon Born 1956 Austin, Texas is a contemporary American collage artist, painter, published poet and theorist living in Pagosa ...
Acrylic
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
Ruz Big. Black Brown golden acrylic canvas painting
By Rafael Ruz
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
. Ruz. Big. black. Brown. golden acrylic canvas painting Original artwork by Spanish artist Rafael Ruz. Acrylic on canvas in perfect condition. While contemplating the painting of R...
Acrylic
"Horizon I", Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, Framed, 20x20, 2010+
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a one of a kind original oil painting by San Diego artist, Julia San Roman. Its dimensions are 20x20 It is framed in neutral wooden frame. A certificate of authenticity will ...
Canvas, Oil
Cubist Guitar - Lithograph poster - Berggruen / Mourlot 1979
Located in Paris, IDF
Fernand LÉGER (1881 - 1955) Cubist Guitar, 1979 Lithograph based on a watercolour from 1919 (Printed at the Clot, Bramsen and Georges workshops) Signed ‘FL’ on the plate, bottom rig...
Lithograph
$445Sale Price|20% Off
Gates No.1 Abstract Painting, Oil & Crayon on Paper, 1976, Unframed
Located in Bournemouth, Dorset
George Dannatt (1915-2009) 'Gates' No 1 1976 Medium: Oil & crayon on oil wash Image: 21.0 x 33.0 cm Reference no: 0450 George Dannatt’s long career as a painter and sculptor ended ...
Paper, Oil Crayon, Mixed Media, Oil
$1,492Sale Price|25% Off
Hydrangea - Soft abstract floral painting in gray and pink
Located in Silverthorne, CO
"Hydrangea" is a beautiful soft abstract floral painting and a lyrical ode to spring. It is made with ample paint and texture, in a beautiful palette of chromatic grays, violet, rose...
Oil
$1,260Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Expressionist Two Sided Painting - Male Figuratives in Oil on Masonite
Located in Soquel, CA
Double sided figurative abstract by San Jose, California area artist Daniel David Fuentes (American, 20c-2017). San Francisco bay area abstract expressionist and landscape artist dur...
Masonite, Oil
Mid-Century Abstract Expressionist Gouache on Paper, Signed, 41x55 cm
By Joseph Levin
Located in Cotignac, FR
Mid-century abstract expressionist geometric gouache on paper by Russian artist Joseph Levin. Signed to the bottom right and presented in a black passepartout. This artwork is a str...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
Bikini Catenary: panel painting w/ multi-colored arc lines on yellow & green
By Paula Cahill
Located in Bryn Mawr, PA
Paula Cahill's linear abstract compositions are often comprised of a single, luminous line that meanders, changes color, and seamlessly connects back to itself. This piece combines C...
Acrylic, Vinyl, Wood Panel
$20,873
No.201022 by Thierry Martenon - large wall sculpture, abstract geometric, wood
Located in Paris, FR
No.201022 is an abstract sculpture in wood by French sculptor Thierry Martenon. This large, shield-shaped sculpture presents a graceful alternation between curved lines and open spac...
Wood, India Ink
Notre Dame de Paris
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Claude Venard was a French a French post-Cubist and still life painter and was born in Burgundy in 1913. At the age of 17 he began to take evening classes in painting at the Ecole de...
Oil, Canvas
$444Sale Price|20% Off
French Expressionist Abstract Original Painting Artists Studio Provenance
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition by Jacques COULAIS (1955-2011) oil painting on board unframed: 11 x 7.5 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we have for sale ...
Oil
Man Ray (1890–1976) - Incompris - Color lithograph on paper - 1962
By Man Ray
Located in Varese, IT
Color lithograph on paper, edited in 1962 Limited edition, numbered in lower left corner. Hand signed by artist in pencil in the lower right corner. Very good conditions. Plate size:...
Lithograph
Autumn, Abstract Painting
By Joey Korom
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Joey Korom manifests an abstract vision of autumn in this dominantly pastel work. He executes the piece with two main colors, light blue, and sand. Prominent ...
Acrylic
Turquoise turtle in gold
Located in Zofingen, AG
The painting is created in a mixed media technique using gold leaf. The central image of the composition is a sea turtle — a symbol of harmony, wisdom, and tranquility. The turtle’s...
Canvas, Acrylic, Mixed Media
$3,380Sale Price|35% Off
In The Zone - Large Oversized Contemporary Minimalist Blue Abstract Painting
By Clara Berta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clara Berta’s acrylic and mixed-media paintings blend texture and color to create harmony, mystery, and depth on the painted surface. Her paintings transform spaces into Zen environm...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$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...
Santiago Medina - ETERNITY (OUTDOOR MONUMENTAL), Sculpture 2021
Located in Greenwich, CT
Italian stainless steel. Medina summarizes his artistic passion as “I bring inert stainless steel to life by creating sculptures full of light and movement”. Since studying at Harva...
Stainless Steel
Untitled, CR1095 (after painting Number 22, CR344), 1951, printed 1964
Located in Roma, IT
JACKSON POLLOCK (American, 1912-1956) Untitled, CR1095 (after painting Number 22, CR344), 1951, printed 1964 Screenprint, on Strathmore wove paper, numbered 49/50 in pencil lower left, and with the Estate of Jackson Pollock 1964 blindstamp lower left From the posthumous printing of 50 authorized by his widow, Lee Krasner, in 1964 (there was also a lifetime edition of 25) Published by Bernard Steffen...
Screen
The Foundation
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 110×97 cm (overall size with stretching 120×107 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled the series "The Inviolable Reserve" Painting "The Foundation" is ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$640
Brown and Yellow Italian Terrazzo Tiles, Geometric Composition, Floating Shapes
Located in Barcelona, ES
This series of hand painted acrylic paintings by Natalia Roman are inspired by the colors and textures of Italian terrazzo tiling. The patterns created c...
Acrylic, Handmade Paper
Resurfacing Mix Media on Canvas, Abstract, 48x48, 2025
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Resurfacing, 2025 by Murray Duncan Mixed media on canvas 48 × 48 inches Resurfacing is a quietly assertive abstract work that explores repetition, erosion, and the persistence of...
Glaze, Acrylic, Pencil
$1,990
Large Gold And Orange Warm Contemporary Abstract Painting By Kenneth Strandby
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
Presenting a large gold, orange, and yellow contemporary abstract painting by Danish artist Kenneth Strandby (1960 - ). With its color and its large size the painting has a warm and ...
Acrylic
$1,680
Sea to Sky - Turquoise Teal Color Field Abstract, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Sea to Sky is an original acrylic painting on canvas by Suzanne Vaughan. An abstract expressionist style painting with thick layers of acrylic paint in...
Acrylic
$3,025
My Hope in Disguise - Abstract Romantic Floral Botanical Still Life Oil Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Denna Erickson’s original artworks move through layers of oil, where personal symbols and organic forms emerge through luminous color. Guided by intuition, her paintings unfold throu...
Oil, Wood Panel
$9,500Sale Price|26% Off
"Four Winds" Blue House with White Roof in Yellow Field Abstract Landscape
By Wolf Kahn
Located in Houston, TX
Abstract drawing of a blue house in a yellow field by German-American painter, Wolf Kahn. Signed and dated by the artist in the lower right corner. Framed and matted in a silver wood...
Paper, Pastel
$15,500
The New Plans, Large Abstract Expressionist Mid Century Colorful Painting
Located in Beachwood, OH
Richard Andres (American, 1927–2013) The New Plans, 1969 Acrylic on canvas Signed lower right 57.5 x 48 inches Bottom part of frame is missing - can be repaired. Richard Andres wa...
Acrylic
Tall Stacked Vessel: Hand Sculpted Contemporary Ceramic Art
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This tall contemporary ceramic vessel is by Bruce Cochrane. The distinctive aesthetic of this Canadian ceramicist has attracted international attention. Bruce Cochrane has been firi...
Ceramic
Brake (from the Stoned Moon series)
Located in New York, NY
Lithographon Arches Cover, 1969. Signed by the artist, dated, and numbered 50/60 in pencil, lower margin. Printed by Robert Petersen. Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, with ...
Lithograph
Kasuri Panel 145, Japanese Silk Textile Wall Hanging by Jun Tomita
By Jun Tomita
Located in Wilton, CT
This silk ikat textile wall hanging is by Japanese fiber artist, Jun Tomita.
Fabric, Textile, Tapestry, Silk