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.
$616Sale Price|20% Off
Opus 92 by Gilbert Pauli - Acryl on paper 31x40 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper with frame in wood and glass sizes: 48x57x2 cm
Acrylic
Sinjerli Variation Ia
By Frank Stella
Located in New York, NY
From the artist's Sinjerli Variations series created in 1977, Frank Stella created this original print as a lithograph and screenprint in colors on Arches paper. Hand-signed in penci...
Lithograph, Screen
$4,062
TN845-T by Hachiro Kanno - Calligraphy-based abstract painting, triptych, black
Located in Paris, FR
TN845-T, by Japanese contemporary artist Hachiro Kanno. H 41 cm x W 99 cm. Signed, sold unframed. Ink and acrylic on canvas. This artwork is a triptych composed by three panels measu...
Canvas, Acrylic
Unity of Colors - Original Signed Vintage Poster
By Max Bill
Located in Paris, IDF
Max BILL (1908–1994) Unity of Colors, 2015 Original vintage poster (high-quality four-color process) Signed on the sheet On paper, 75 × 60 cm (29.52 x 23.62 in) INFORMATION: Origin...
Offset
"Painted emotion" Contemporary abstract expressionist acrylic painting on canvas
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Painted Emotion": A Visceral Abstraction of Human Feeling by Natalya Mougenot Discover "Painted Emotion," a striking 2023 contemporary abstract expressionist acrylic painting on c...
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$5,280Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Sculpture_Halfway Around the World_Matt Devine_Steel/Powdercoat/Marble
By Matt Devine
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Matt Devine 1763 Study #1 Steel w/ Powdercoat on Marble Base (Indoors Only) 24" x 10" x 8" Matt Devine is a self-taught sculptor working with steel, aluminum and bronze. Born and r...
Marble, Steel
Composition Abstract Expressionist Painting, Mixed Media, 1990s
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Born in New York on March 16th 1952, Lawrence Alexander Willette cultivated his prowess as an abstract expressionist and had since mastered several other genres of painting over the ...
Mixed Media
$5,000
Sargasso ( Abstract New Brutalism 3D Wooden Wall Sculpture in Blues and Greens)
Located in Hudson, NY
"Sargasso" hand-carved wooden New Brutalism wall sculpture by Hudson Valley artist, Stephen Walling, made in 2013 36 x 40 x 2.5 inches Carved wood and ac...
Wood, Dye, Acrylic, Wood Panel
Anthropométrie (ANT 83)
By Yves Klein
Located in New York, NY
Color lithograph on Rives BFK, 2001. Proof, aside from the numbered edition of 200 . With the artist's estate ink stamp, verso. Published by Editions T.A.T. Arts, Paris. The sheet ...
Lithograph
Retrato en Rojo, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 200x130cm Signed About the artist Enrique Pichardo (Mexico City, 1973) graduated from Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultur...
Canvas, Acrylic
#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
Red II, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas by Gustavo Schmidt
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Gustavo Schmidt Title: Red II Year: 2016 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed and titled verso Size: 54 x 44 inches
Canvas, Oil
$1,218Sale Price|20% Off
Enroute - Large Mountain Skiing Black & White Art Photography
Located in Zürich, CH
Hailing from the picturesque city of Zaragoza, nestled near the Pyrenees, Carlos Blanchard's journey into the realm of photography was influenced by the rich tapestry of his upbringi...
Black and White
"Relaxing at Camarillo" - Abstract Expressionism
Located in Soquel, CA
"Relaxing at Camarillo" - Abstract Expressionism A man relines in a black hat and a green shape emulating the symbol of infinity, accented in bright canary yellow and gray, by Calif...
Paper, Acrylic, Gouache, Pencil
Sunrise in the Land of Rodeos, Contemporary Abstract, Oil Painting on Paper
By Brian Adgate
Located in Rockland, MA
Sunrise in the Land of Rodeos grew out of my time in New Mexico and my response to the expansive landscape surrounding Santa Fe. I was particularly interested in the transitional qua...
Oil, Archival Paper
To and Fro, Abstract Screenprint by Jean-Marie Haessle
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Jean-Marie Haessle, American (1939 - ) Title: To and Fro Year: 1980 Medium: Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 295 Paper Size: 23 in. x 29 in. (58.42 cm x 73...
Screen
Dark green abstraction
Located in Zofingen, AG
This abstract piece is created with alcohol inks on synthetic paper. Intricate interweavings of deep gray-green, graphite, soft green, and subtle lilac hues create a multi-layered, a...
Ink, Synthetic Paper
$476Sale Price|20% Off
Pumpkin, Red/White, Yayoi Kusama 草間 彌生
By Yayoi Kusama
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Yayoi Kusama 草間 彌生 (1929–2026) Title: Pumpkin, Red/White Year: 2016 Medium: Painted cast resin sculpture Size: 4 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches (10.16 x 8.89 x 8.89 cm) Condition: Well p...
Epoxy Resin, Paint
$11,600Sale Price|20% Off
Charles Ragland Bunnell 1951 New York Skyline Abstract Expressionist Oil
Located in Denver, CO
A striking circa 1951 abstract cityscape by important American modernist and Abstract Expressionist Charles Ragland Bunnell (1897–1968), depicting the New York City skyline through a...
Oil
Illusion, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Layers of vivid green, red, and orange create a bold abstract composition. Artist Maya Henaff uses a soft silicone knife to blend the paint. She then scratches ...
Acrylic
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Original Abstract Painting on Canvas by Serg Graff, "Apocalypse" COA, framed
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
“Apocalypse: Lost Soul Catcher” – Original Painting by Serg Graff (2022) Step into the blazing vision of the apocalypse with this powerful and surreal original acrylic painting by Bo...
Acrylic
Whispers in Blue - Abstract Figurative Landscape Textured Impasto Oil 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
$400Sale Price|20% Off
Original Painting on Canvas in a Fantasy Abstract Style by Serg Graff "LOOP" COA
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This vibrant and dynamic painting by Serg Graff, titled “Loop,” bursts with bold colors, energetic brushstrokes, and richly textured layers. The composition is alive with swirling or...
Acrylic
Aleksandar Bezinovic Geometric Abstraction Black Grey Contemporary Minimalist
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Contemporary geometric abstract painting by Aleksandar Bezinović in black and grey. A bold arrangement of interlocking, rounded black forms sits against a pale, softly marked ground....
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$270Sale Price|20% Off
Fifty Gestures, No. 2 - Large Series (China Ink, Calligraphy, 20% OFF)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Melanie Sherman Fifty Gestures, No. 2 - Large Series 2026 China Ink on Premium Paper Paper Size: 14 x 17 inches (35.56 x 43.18 cm) Matted Size: 19.75 x 27.5 inches (50.17 x 69.85 cm)...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper
Abstract Figure, Unique White Marble Sculpture by Mario DeNoto
By Mario DeNoto
Located in Long Island City, NY
A white marble sculpture by Mario DeNoto. A modern abstract figure of subtly human-like features and slight gray veining. Artist: Mario DeNoto Title: Abstract Figure Medium: White...
Marble
$2,159Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 2453
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this vibrant cascade of color, I sought to encapsulate the visceral rush of emotions that dawn on us in moments of profound reflection and turmoil. Each stroke embodies a flicker ...
Acrylic
$2,600Sale Price|20% Off
Movement Along a Horizon - Abstract Impressionist 2 Sided Oil Painting, Signed
Located in Soquel, CA
Movement Along a Horizon - Abstract Impressionist Oil Painting, Signed Vibrant abstract painting by Monterey, California based artist Vladimir Yerokhin (Russian b.1942 d.2019.) A ho...
Oil, Board
Three Sisters: large abstract expressionist figural painting & breast feeding
Located in Bryn Mawr, PA
FREE DELIVERY to certain areas along the Mid-Atlantic corridor between NJ and VA -- contact me to ask if your area qualifies. Ellen Powell Tiberino, matriarch of the Tiberino artist dynasty that includes her artist-husband Joseph and three artist-children (Raphael, Gabriel, and Ellen), often looked to Black women and girls as subjects, in the contexts of motherhood, pregnancy, and childhood, as well as subjects drawn from her neighborhood communities. Her work is expressionistic and passionate with dramatic gestures and dark colorism in her figures, but it is also intimate and highly personal. At this point in her career, Tiberino had been struggling with cancer, and as a result, her palette became brighter and more colorful than her former dark palette. "Three Sisters" includes Ellen Powell Tiberino’s self-portrait in the front of the composition, nursing an infant. Tiberino’s two sisters, Joyce and Anne, sit behind her. Tiberino likely paints from memory or imagination here, since her four children were well beyond nursing age when she created this painting. "Three Sisters" is likely among the last large-scale canvases Tiberino completed, opting to work on a smaller scale and while seated as her illness progressed. Tiberino ultimately lost her battle in 1992. "Three Sisters" comes from a private Main Line, PA collection, acquired directly from the artist immediately upon its completion. Framed in original wood strip frame. It is in excellent condition. Tiberino graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1959, where she was awarded a prestigious Cresson scholarship to study in Europe. After returning to the US, she lived and worked in New York until she married fellow artist (Joseph) and returned to her hometown of Philadelphia where she continued to create oil paintings, oil pastels drawings, sculptures, murals, and mosaics. In Philadelphia, she was part of social and professional circles that included Moe Brooker, Barbara Bullock, Walter Edmonds, Charles Pridgen, Leroy Johnson, John Simpson, James Dupree...
Canvas, Oil
$245
Pastel Study 1 - Original Architecture Landscape Oil Based Artwork on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kathleen Keifer's original artworks represent one of the most significant expressions of New California Realism. Keifer brings a fresh perspective to her colorful scenes of everyday ...
Paper, Oil Pastel
Tombe Du Ciel I / Oil on Linen
Located in Burlingame, CA
Tombe du Ciel, (Night Fall), is an abstract impasto painting. An elegantly layered view of twilight, rich in shades of deep night indigo blue...
Canvas, Oil, Wood Panel
Optimism Painting I, Acrylic & Mixed Media on Wood, 2019, 16x16
Located in London, GB
Optimism Painting I - acrylic & mixed media on wood, 2019 16 x 16" inches / 41 x 41 cm mint condition - original and unique piece. Christian Möller, German and born in Kabul A...
Mixed Media, Acrylic
$734
Contemporary abstract expressionist woman's portrait on paper "Her eternity"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
“Her Eternity” is a contemporary abstract portrait by French artist Natalya Mougenot, created as part of her ongoing series honoring women and their inner, timeless worlds. In this w...
Paper, Acrylic
$6,800
Crowing for the Sun to Come Up painting, Texas Rooster Painting, Texas Artist
Located in Houston, TX
Crowing for the Sun to Come Up is an oil painting of a Texas Rooster prancing in the field. It is 24 x 18 and comes with a custom made frame. Artist Statement: " I am inspired b...
Oil
$10,200Sale Price|20% Off
Large Mid Century Modern Texas Artist Abstract Expressionist Action Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
An abstract expressionist painting by Duayne Hatchett . Oil on canvas, circa 1990. Signed verso. Framed. Image size, 60"H x 56"L. Duayne Hatchett was a visual artist whose work...
Canvas, Acrylic
Richard Serra 'Videy Afangar #6' Limited Edition, Signed Etching Print
Located in San Rafael, CA
Richard Serra (born 1939) Videy Afangar #6, from Videy Afangar Series, 1991 Etching on Hahnemühle paper Signed and dated in pencil lower right Edition 73/75 (there were also 20 artis...
Etching
Jazzu - Être ici vivant
By Jazzu
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Jazzu Être ici vivant 2025 Acrylique sur papier fort 2025 42 x 29,7 cm 490 euros
Acrylic
Somewhere Feeling Calm, Abstract Painting
By Kajal Zaveri
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Shades of blue, green, and white suggest a peaceful landscape. The painting reflects the quiet, expansive spaces in nature that always draw artist Kajal Zaver...
Acrylic
Red/Blue/Black Diamond
Located in Austin, TX
Artist: Ilya Bolotowsky Title: Red/Blue/Black Diamond Year: 1970 Dimensions: 25.75 in x 35.875 in Signed lower right Edition: 30/125 A striking example of Bolotowsky’s mature geomet...
Screen
#63, 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
$2,800
Rare Dorothy Dehner Mid century modern sculptural Minimalist lithograph signed/N
Located in New York, NY
Dorothy Dehner Untitled from Lunar Series, 1971 Rare Lithograph on white Arches paper 22 × 27 inches Pencil signed, dated and numbered; with inscription including unique series numbe...
Lithograph
$5,000
La Vie Est Belle - Original Colorful Abstract Expressionism Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The paintings of Bruce Rubenstein seamlessly marry sophistication with affordability. His original art merges the creative attitudes of the two distinct art hot spots of New York and...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$5,500
April Gornik - Tropical Drift, Color direct gravure with spit bite aquatint S/N
By April Gornik
Located in New York, NY
April Gornik Tropical Drift, 1998 Exquisite color direct gravure with spitbite aquatint on Somerset Satin white paper Pencil signed, dated, titled and numbered 11/40 by April Gornik ...
Engraving, Aquatint
Sakura Wind: The Breath of Liberty
Located in Zofingen, AG
In "Sakura Wind," Tetiana Pchelnykova masterfully synthesizes the dramatic energy of English Romanticism with the delicate symbolism of Eastern aesthetics. Drawing inspiration from J...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Quiet Beauty in Nature, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This abstract painting invites quiet reflection, evoking the stillness of a misty landscape mirrored in calm waters. A gentle palette of greens and blues wash...
Oil
The Red Bouquet Original Mixed Media Painting on Canvas, 2023
By RIVERO MARIA
Located in Beccar, AR
The Red Bouquet Original Mixed Media Painting on Canvas, 2023 Artwork Details Title: The Red Bouquet Artist: Maria Angela Rivero Year: 2023 Medium: Mixed media on canvas Dimen...
Mixed Media
$339Sale Price|20% Off
Original painting on canvas, portrait of Andrew Jackson signed Serg Graff, COA
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
This bold and imaginative painting by Serg Graff, titled “Golden President Andrew Jackson,” is a rare and unique creation blending acrylic, oil, and mixed media on canvas in a naïve ...
Acrylic
'Little Notes I & II (pair)', Original Abstract Text-based Painting
Located in Westport, CT
Painting Description — Little Notes I & II (pair) Acrylic on canvas, 10 x 10 x 1 inches each; sold as a pair, 2026, TG643 From the Things I Meant to Say collection. These small ...
Acrylic
View of Bass Rock
By Mike Hall
Located in London, GB
Artist Statement, “My career in Film and Television design enabled me to travel extensively in Europe and the West Indies. During these projects I was able to draw and paint many of...
Acrylic
Homage to the Square - P2, F8, I1 - Geometric Screenprint by Josef Albers
By Josef Albers
Located in Long Island City, NY
"Homage to the Square - Portfolio 2, Folder 8, Image 1" from the portfolio “Formulation: Articulation” created by Josef Albers in 1972. This monumental series consists of 127 origina...
Screen
Moonlight, Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting on Board by Leonardo Nierman
Located in Long Island City, NY
Leonardo Nierman, Mexican (1932 - 2023) - Moonlight, Medium: Oil on board, Size: 32 x 24 in. (81.28 x 60.96 cm), Frame Size: 40 x 32 inches
Oil
Diptych 1 & 2 - acrylic on canvas
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Nina is an artist, ceramist and colorist with 20 years of professional experience and a lifetime of art appreciation. Originally from Virginia and having traveled and lived extensive...
Canvas, Acrylic
Large Pot With Red Flowers, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
"Large Pot With Red Flowers" is a still life painting of a potted plant bursting with vibrant red flowers. The use of a predominantly green palette creates a harmonious and calming b...
Oil
Tangent 5
Located in Dallas, TX
acrylic, oil & paper collage on canvas
Canvas, Acrylic, Paper, Oil
You brought Sunshine and Summer: Original Floral Painting, Blue vase, Geese.
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: You brought Sunshine and Summer Original Floral Painting, Blue vase, Geese, Heron, Unique, One-of-a-kind. "You brought Sunshine and Summer" is a painting that portrays a dee...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
“Chasing Picasso” Mixed Media Painting ( 36 x 48 )
By Scott Harper
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
BORN JULY 31, 1979 IN NEW JERSEY, USA CURRENTLY LIVES AND WORKS IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA BIO: As an artist based in the vibrant community of West Palm Beach, my work is an explor...
Oil, Acrylic
$6,850
"Untitled" Acrylics, Pencils, Oil Pastels on Paper in Neutral Hues of Taupe
Located in New York, NY
"Untitled" 2019, 25" x 31" horizontal drawing on paper by Argentine-born artist Karina Gentinetta (featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, the...
Glaze, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Carbon Pencil
Loving Souls: Figurative Abstract Acrylic on Canvas, Indigo, Teal, 30 x 40in
By Mario Angel
Located in Mississauga, CA
Loving Souls is a figurative abstraction by Colombian-born, Canadian-based painter Mario Angel. For Mario, the painting is about love that transcends. In this view, the bond between ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Colored Wall, Signed Abstract Expressionist Lithograph by Sean Scully
By Sean Scully
Located in Long Island City, NY
Sean Scully's work has shifted the paradigm in American abstraction from Minimalism and its reduced vocabulary towards an emotional form of abstraction, returning to the metaphor and...
Lithograph
$1,015
Pyramids and Circles - Original Lithograph with Printed Signature (Maeght)
Located in Paris, IDF
Alexander Calder (1898-1976) Pyramids and Circles (Homage to San Lazzaro, 1975) Original lithograph (Arte, Maeght) Signed in the plates Limited edition of 575 unnumbered copies On A...
Lithograph