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.
Pink peony on a golden background
Located in Zofingen, AG
A delicate close-up of a blooming pink peony, built on a subtle play of light and tonal transitions. The petals appear to glow from within, shifting from pale blush to richer raspber...
Canvas, Acrylic
Robot Circleish - Large Scale Abstract Expressive Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The paintings of Bruce Rubenstein seamlessly marry sophistication with affordability. His expressive abstract landscape artwork 'Robot Circleish' features whimsical details and vibra...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
The Divine Goddess - Warm Soft Jewel Tone Abstract Floral Painting
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
$1,412
"Blooming Current" impressionistic painting, colorful flowers on cotton canvas
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Look at the flowers. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.” — Osho Blooming Current reflects the energy of nature through an expressive composition of blossoms and branc...
Canvas, Linen, Spray Paint, Acrylic
Unlikely Refresh, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This abstract landscape painting, built through multiple layers of wet-on-wet mediums, creates a rich surface. The tactile depth contrasts with smooth, glossy p...
Oil
$2,000
Do The Twist - Original Soft Gestural Texture Abstract Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles artist Amber Goldhammer paints dramatic abstract compositions in acrylic on canvas featuring energetic brushstrokes. Goldhammer uses her contemporary paintings to express...
Canvas, Latex, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic
THE MILKY WAY CIRCLE (Limited Edition of Only 30 Prints)
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
**STORE CLOSURE - UP TO 80% OFF - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT** ***EVERYTHING MUST GO BY DECEMBER 31ST!*** >>The artist is moving to a new full time venture in 2026<< _________...
Canvas
"Girl in the Rain - Gold Edition #6", Abstract, Painting, 21st Century
By Roger König
Located in Dessau-Rosslau, Sachsen Anhalt
Gold Edition - with real gold leaf, 23,75 carat Art measures 11.81 x 11.81 inches Frame measures 22.83 x 22.83 x 2.36 inches Framed in a high-quality contemporary wooden moulding....
Clay, Acrylic
$9,063
Contemporary Large New Abstract Dots Colors Artist Christina Gschwantner
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, Oil, Acrylic
$8,828
Topographie du reve, Large Abstract Geometric, Framed, Expressionism, French
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Title: Topographie du Rêve Oil on canvas – 39.37 × 39.37 in (100 × 100 cm) Framed: 42.13 × 42.13 in (107 × 107 cm) – Natural wood floater frame (black optional) Year: 2025 – Signed l...
Oil
$906
Flowers and Shadows. Floral still life, blue flowers, sunlight, impressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
Hawaii, tropical flowers, Plumbago, blue flower painting, floral art, garden still life, plein air, American art Painted from life in Hawaii, th...
Canvas, Oil
ABSTRACT 2565
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured vibrant emotion into layers of soft pastels, letting acrylics dance freely across the canvas. The swirling pinks, yellows, and blues express an uplifting ener...
Oil, Acrylic
Let's Climb The Mountains - Large Colorful Abstract Nature Landscape on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Maria C Bernhardsson's original artworks are influenced by the architecture and geometry of houses. Born in Sweden, Bernhardsson travels the world photographing and sketching houses ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$22,500
Saturday on Wednesday, Large Abstract Expressionist Acrylic Painting, 20th C.
Located in Beachwood, OH
Richard Andres (American, 1927–2013) Saturday on Wednesday, c. 1975 acrylic on canvas signed lower right, signed and titled verso 48.5 x 62.5 inches Richard Andres was born in Buff...
Acrylic
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
$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
$1,165
MIST
Located in Zofingen, AG
"A thin veil of fog hides the world. In this shaky haze dreams are born”
Canvas, Oil
Don't Let Them Burst your Bubble: Blue 61425
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This contemporary wall sculpture features bubbles of blue glass. Cheryl Wilson Smith is known for her uniquely beautiful glasswork—its form, colour and texture is often inspired by...
Metal
$7,800
Matter and Antimatter - Italian Abstract Art, Gestural Abstraction, Blue, Yellow
Located in New York, NY
Materia et Antimateria by Ruggero Vanni is an exceptional example of abstract expressionism meeting sculptural sensibilities. This unique mixed-media painting blends pigments and tex...
Canvas, Oil
$2,706
Monochrome Ultramarine Blue Abstract Painting on Canvas Artist Gabriela Meunie
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
$6,474
Dialogues geometriques, Abstract textured, French artist, Oil paint Contemporary
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Oil on canvas Unframed size: 100 x 81 cm (39.37 x 31.88 in) Framed size: 107 x 88 cm (42.12 x 34.64 in) Choice of natural oak or black floater frame Year: 2025 Signed lower right Cer...
Oil
Composite #6, Abstract Geometric Shapes, Mid-20th Century
Located in Beachwood, OH
Charles Fodor (American, 20th Century) Composite #6, 1969 Oil on canvas Signed, dated and titled verso 27.5 x 20 inches 29 x 21.5 inches, framed
Oil
Eclipsed in Time - black and white abstract portrait, limited edition of 20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
"Eclipsed in Time" suggests a moment of transition, obscurity, or transformation—much like an eclipse where something is temporarily veiled yet still present. The title reflects the ...
Giclée
$72Sale Price|20% Off
Donald Lipski 'Roland Garros French Open' 1995- Poster
Located in Brooklyn, NY
In 1995, American sculptor Donald Lipski was commissioned to design the official poster for the French Open at Roland Garros. Known for his innovative installations and large-scale p...
Offset
Original Diptych-Spring Duet-British Awarded Artist-Abstract UK Contemporary
Located in London, GB
Spring Duet is part of Shizico Yi’s ongoing exploration of the diptych format—a project that began in 2024. Painted en plein air, every canvas captures both the landscape outside her studio and the intimate interior surrounding it. This duality unfolds across two paintings, creating a visual dialogue that shifts and harmonises like a musical duet. The work belongs to Shizico’s long-running Memory Landscape Series (est. 2015), in which she moves fluidly between mediums—installation, sculpture, painting—and across visual languages from impressionism and expressionism into abstraction. In this spring chapter, she turns to the gentle hues of the Northern European early spring: soft greens, creamy whites, pink-apricot light—tones that hold the tender, awakening atmosphere of the season. Each canvas functions like a musical note; together, the pair forms a coherent visual phrase. Their relationship is harmonious yet flexible, offering multiple ways of living with the work in your home. -Artist's Lifetime Warranty for the original artwork Details Diptych (set of 2 paintings) Medium: oil, acrylic, mixed media on canvas Size: • Each canvas: 50 × 39.5 cm • Total combined size: 50 × 79 × 1.5 cm (Unframed measurements) -Versatile Display: The diptych may be hung: • Side by side as a traditional diptych set • Separated across different walls to create visual punctuation and subtle connection between spaces This flexibility allows the work to adapt to a variety of homes and interior styles. -Guarantee End to end tracking Delivery Worldwide by Royal Mail Worldwide at lowest flat Rate £22. About the artist: Dr. Shizico Yi is a London-based artist working across installation, film, and painting. Her practice explores themes of loss, repetition, the everyday, and the significance of memory. Drawing on a background in design and film, she creates works that weave personal experience into wider social and human narratives. Yi holds a PhD in Fine Art from the University of East London (2017), an MFA, and a BA in Womenswear from the University of the Arts London. Her practice also includes plein air painting from spring to autumn and studio-based work in winter, allowing place and season to inform the energy, scale, and materiality of her pieces. Her work has been exhibited internationally in the UK, Korea, and Italy, and is held in private collections across the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and the UK. Notably, Shizico Yi secured the title of Winner of the Women Film Makers: Best Shorts Competition in 2013 in Los Angeles, USA. She also serves as a guest jury member at the 14th-16th Annual New York City Independent Film Festival from 2022 to 2024 and is a curator and founder of no barking aRt...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
The Open Door 1979 Signed Limited Edition Lithograph
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Artist: Romare Bearden Title: The Open Door Year: 1979 Print: Lithograph on Somerset Paper Paper size : 22'' x 30'' Edition: Signed in pencil and marked 4/175 Romare Bearden is r...
Lithograph
$2,400
Shady Spot, Guatemala - Cool Tone Abstract Landscape Textural Impasto 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
$3,413
Contemporary Minimal Abstract Diptych, Large-Scale Neutral Textured Painting
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
$1,294
Light of the Hills– Original Textured Abstract landscape , Oil, Contemporary
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
In Light of the Hills, Sophie Dumont, a French contemporary painter, captures the serene rhythm of an abstract landscape built through subtle layers of oil paint. Soft greens, ochres...
Oil
$1,090
Festival of Joy - Abstract Expressionism Maximalis Delight Joy Texture Statement
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Festival of Joy Abstract Expressionism Colorful Delight Joy Movement Texture Statement Vibrant Festivitas Laetitiae - Festival of Joy This vibrant artwork, set on a deep cr...
Oil, Acrylic
ECHO
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting resonates with silence dissolved in shades of blue. Gentle layers of color, from the lightest to the deepest, unfold into an invisible vibration—an echo that seems to...
Canvas, Oil
Original Drawing on Wood-Breakfast with Cat-British Awarded Artist-Large panel
Located in London, GB
This special large drawing on wood board (ready to hang) created by Shizico in early autumn where her Cat and the garden take centre stage. The pictorial language in this series pays...
Wood Panel, Charcoal, Carbon Pencil
$1,400Sale Price|30% Off
Untittle, 110x105 cm, acrylic, canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Untittle, 110x105 cm, acrylic, canvas
Paper, Pastel, Acrylic
$22,000
Joyce Kozloff - Tepoztlan II unique, signed gouache & pencil, coveted 1970s work
Located in New York, NY
Joyce Kozloff Tepoztlan II, 1973 Gouache and colored pencil on paper Signed, dated and titled twice: once on the back of the work (shown) and once on the original board which has bee...
Gouache, Color Pencil
$2,020
Earth to Sky - Tall Impasto Inspired Colorful Thick Paint Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Canvas, Acrylic, Glitter
$900
Sea in Orange, School of Fish in Turquoise, Abstract Patterns Seascape, Paper
Located in Barcelona, ES
This series by Enric Servera explores the relationship of humans to salt and seawater. The intention of these works is to submerge us into the sea, a salty treasure that surrounds us...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Watercolor
$526
Hand-Painted Artist Proof-Summer Night-British Awarded Artist-One Off large size
Located in London, GB
This stunning Artist's Proof is an one-off, hand-painted by the artist Shizico , signed at front and on the back label too; the proof is 90% hand painted with original oil paint by S...
Gesso, Archival Ink, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Giclée
$12,124
Contemporary Abstract Painting by Colt Seager, Geometric Color Field, Oil Canvas
By Colt Seager
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, Oil
$7,800
Set Adrift - Large Moody Atmospheric Abstract Alluring 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
$411
Small abstract expressive nature painting wood frame "Spring on the horizon"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract expressive nature painting, created by French artist Natalya Mougenot, bursts with color and emotion. "Spring on the Horizon" captures the fresh energy of ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$7,100
av_965 Colorful Original Contemporary Abstract Painting on Natural Linen Canvas
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...
Linen, Acrylic
Diversions 1970 Signed Limited Edition Screen Print
By Ian Tyson
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Ian Tyson Diversions XI - 1970 Screen Print 16'' x 15'' inches Edition: signed in pencil and marked 23/150 Ian Tyson, British painter, printmaker and book artist, was born in Wallas...
Screen
Spring Rain
By Manabu Mabe
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Spring Rain" 1981, Is a colors lithograph on Fabriano paper by noted Brazilian/Japanese artist Manabu Mabe, 1924-1997. It is hand signed, titled in Japanese and ...
Lithograph
Helter Skelter - Large Contemporary Cubist Terracotta Orange Oil Painting Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles artist Harrison Gilman graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. In 2018 his artworks were exhibited at the We Rise Art Fair in Los Angeles alongside Shepard Fairey ...
Canvas, Oil
$13,700
Cloudstack - Large Oversized Red Contemporary Geometric Metal Steel Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by dance and weightlessness, Granville Beals' industrial metal sculptures are primarily about relationships. Concerned with form and abstraction, he does not merely manipula...
Metal, Steel
La Force Eternelle - Dreamy Abstract Floral Painting
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
Personatge I Estels II, 1979
By Joan Miró
Located in Beachwood, OH
Joan Miró (Spanish, 1893-1983) "Personatge I Estels II," 1979 Etching, aquatint in colors with embossing on Arches wove paper Signed in pencil lower right, numbered 26/50 lower left ...
Etching, Aquatint
$529
Contemporary impressionist expressive floral painting paper "Roses in light"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This expressive and vibrant floral painting of roses, created by the contemporary French artist Natalya Mougenot, is a dynamic representation of nature’s energy. Born in Kazakhstan i...
Paper, Acrylic
Soaring Through the Dream. Oversized abstract painting, purple, violet
Located in Oslo, NO
Soaring Through the Dreams invites the viewer into a realm where imagination and reality flow together in vibrant motion. Layers of translucent color — from deep turquoise and violet...
Canvas, Acrylic
Abstract 4, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Layers of blue and cream with touches of orange and black create an energetic composition. The blending of colors evokes a strong sense of movement, while the s...
Oil
$35,000
"Raked Off" Lynne Drexler, Abstract Expressionist, Patterns, Orange, Green
Located in New York, NY
Lynne Drexler Raked Off, 1989 Signed, titled and dated on the reverse Oil on canvas 36 x 31 inches Provenance The artist The Collection of Jerry Vis, Monhegan Island Meredith Ward F...
Canvas, Oil
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Figural Abstract Painting w/ Gears of an Engine, Ohio Artist
Located in Beachwood, OH
James Massena March (American, 1953-2021) Untitled Oil on canvas 30 x 48 inches "My paintings are about space, form and energy. I generally start ...
Oil
$1,553
A Chance Encounter. Large abstract painting, violet, ochre, lilac, expressionism
Located in Oslo, NO
A spontaneous meeting of colors and forms — A Chance Encounter captures the fleeting moment when two movements cross and create something unexpected. Layers of ochre, violet, and ind...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,236
Point d'equilibre, Abstract Library, oil paint, Expressionism, Contemporary art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Point d’Équilibre Oil on canvas 50 x 50 cm (19.7 x 19.7 in) Framed dimensions available upon request Floater frame in natural wood (also available in black) Signed on the front Born...
Oil
Ruz Golden Black Big Dejame - original abstract acrylic canvas painting
By Rafael Ruz
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Dejame - original abstract acrylic canvas painting. framed , Rafael (Barcelona 1956) While contemplating the painting of Ruz, we are inclined to talk about real ‘psychodrama’, in t...
Canvas, Acrylic
Contemporary abstract expressionist nature canvas "Colors of the summer horizon"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Colors of the Summer Horizon" is a dynamic, contemporary abstract landscape by French artist Natalya Mougenot, part of her Nature series, where she explores the natural world throug...
Canvas, Acrylic
Hope: Extra Large, Floral, Landscape, Painting in Acrylic and Oil
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Hope - Floral landscape after the Storm Extra large floral showcase Investment Extra large Floral Showcase Investment Nature Landscape Joy Colorful Authentic Original One-of...
Acrylic, Oil
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Ellsworth Kelly, Red Form, from Revue Cahiers d'Art, 2012
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015), titled Formulaire rouge (Red Form), originates from the 2012 publication Revue Cahiers d'Art, 2012, no. 1, Ellsworth Kelly. ...
Lithograph
$4,237
ABSTRACT textured Minimalist Handmade Paper Black Sand Tones by Alicia Gimeno
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...
Ink, Handmade Paper, Acrylic
Rêver Ensemble - Soft Green Abstract Floral Landscape Painting
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