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.
$48,985
Frank Stella, Whitney Museum exhibited graphic work with Label, Signed/N, Framed
By Frank Stella
Located in New York, NY
Frank Stella (Whitney Museum Exhibited) Shards IVA (Axsom 151), 1982 Lithograph & Silkscreen on Arches Cover Paper (Whitney Museum exhibition label verso of frame) 45 1/2 × 39 1/...
Mixed Media, Lithograph, Screen
Still Life with Flowers
By August Mosca
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Still Life with Flowers, 1962. Gouache and ink on paper, 16.25 x 22 inches. Signed and dated center right. Framed measurement: 26 x 31 inches. original frame and glass. Excellent con...
Ink, Gouache
"Everyday Shapes" by Danny McCaw (2024) Abstracted Figures, Oil Painting
By Danny McCaw
Located in Denver, CO
Danny McCaw's (US based) "Everyday Shapes" is an oil painting with impasto brushstrokes that depicts two abstracted figures. Bio/artist statement: Danny McCaw is the youngest son o...
Oil
$850
Colorful Portrait Painting on Board by Peter Keil w Tiffany Blue Background
By Peter Keil
Located in Hudson, NY
This modern abstract painting by Peter Keil is on a smooth masonite board with a painted Tiffany Blue background, black abstract portrait. Here you ...
Masonite, Acrylic, Board
$2,104
Abstract Wooden Sculptures Soldier's Luck I, 1992 German/Swiss Artist Rolf Hans
By Rolf Hans
Located in Eltville am Rhein, DE
Rolf Hans Frankfurt 1938 - 1996 Basel Soldatenglück I, 1992 / Soldier's Luck I, 1992 wooden sculptures signed, dated, and titled on the underside 115 x 40 x 16 cm The sculptures are...
Iron
$20,514
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
Lichen 9 - Nature-inspired 3D mural sculpture on cardboard with gold leaves
Located in New York, NY
Phély’s practice is rooted in her dialogue with nature, an inexhaustible source of forms, textures, and rhythms. From her early experiments in clay, plaster, and bronze, she has move...
Gold Leaf
$31,853
No.061222 by Thierry Martenon - large wood sculpture, abstract, geometric
Located in Paris, FR
No.061222 is an abstract sculpture in wood by French sculptor Thierry Martenon. This large-scale sculpture weaves together richly textured geometric forms, establishing a dynamic int...
Wood, India Ink
$1,870
Contemporary Mixed-Media Abstract Painting on Canvas by Emma Labattaglia 2025
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
At Escat Gallery, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork in our collection includes a Certificate of Authe...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
$108Sale Price|20% Off
French Expressionist Abstract Original Painting Artists Studio Provenance
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition by Jacques COULAIS (1955-2011) gouache painting on paper/ card unframed: 12.75 x 10 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we ha...
Oil
$1,875Sale Price|25% Off
Mid-century Ladies of the Evening Surrealist Cityscape Architectural painting
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Nicola Ortiz Poucette (1935-2006). Ladies of the Evening, ca. 1960. Ink and casein on illustration board. Image measures 15 x 26 inches; 19 x 30 inches framed. Signed lower right...
Oil, Archival Paper
$327
"The French Mediterranean coast" (contemporary seaside landscape painting)
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This acrylic painting makes part of my series dedicated to the scenes of a summer period. I was inspired by my summer vacations spent in the department of Pyrenees-Orientales in the...
Acrylic, Paper
$1,168Sale Price|20% Off
Morning Stretch, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
By Ana Valdes
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 150 x 120 cm 2024 Signed and dated on the side About the Artist Painting was always present in Ana Valdes's life, but it was ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Love Don’t Meet Somewhere Oil Painting, Floral Still Life, 100x100 cm
Located in DE
Title: Love don’t meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along This is a beautiful oil painting of an array of flowers in a vase in front of a dark background. Reminding us of o...
Canvas, Oil
$13,250
A641 - Big Canvas Art Large Contemporary Neutral Palette Abstract Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Swiss born artist Marco Schmidli creates minimalist paintings with a contemporary edge. Placing emphasis on process, he lets the mediums naturally manifest within his artwork. “An im...
Canvas, Acrylic
$960Sale Price|20% Off
RAINBOW EPICENTER I (LIMITED EDITION OF ONLY 30 PRINTS ON CANVAS)
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
Concetto Spaziale - Lithograph by Lucio Fontana - 1962
Located in Roma, IT
Concetto Spaziale is a contemporary artwork realized by Lucio Fontana. Aquatint etching on Fabriano paper. Edition of IV/XXV. The complete edition includes also 75 specimen number...
Paper, Lithograph
$1,996Sale Price|20% Off
Antique American School Original Large Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American school abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Image size, 25L x 47H.
Canvas, Oil
$900Sale Price|25% Off
Banana leaves, 100x70cm, acrylic/canvas/pastel
By Fleur
Located in Yerevan, AM
Banana leaves 100x70 cm Fleur Professional artist from Belarus
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
Abstract Bronze Cube Sculpture, Geometric Form, Unique, 2005, 42x25 cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
sculpture CUBE was made in 2005. An abstract geometric form made of bronze. Interior sculpture, that may looks your place fancy and original. One of a kind art piece.
Bronze
$5,400
Winter Solstice - Large Original Minimalist Contemporary 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, Acrylic
Hillsdale, Aug 14th, Large Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting Richard Weston
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Richard Weston, American XXth Title: Hillsdale, Aug 14 Year: circa 1980 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed u.l. Size: 48 x 48 inches (121.92 x 121.92 cm)
Canvas, Oil
$12,858
TN509-T by Hachiro Kanno - Calligraphy-based abstract painting, triptych, white
Located in Paris, FR
TN509-T is a unique triptych painting by Japanese contemporary artist Hachiro Kanno. The painting is made with Ink and acrylic on canvas. It is composed by 3 panels, total dimensions...
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
$2,619Sale Price|20% Off
Stunning British Abstract Original Painting Signed
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Robert Somerton (British, born 1972) Abstract composition acrylic on boxed canvas (no frame required) 14 x 18 inches signed upper left corner Superb original abstract painting by th...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,000Sale Price|25% Off
Waterfall (abstract expressionist landscape collage)
By Elsie Driggs
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Elsie B. (Gatch) Driggs (1898-1992) – Waterfall, 1960. Mixed media collage, signed lower right and on verso. Artwork measures 22 x 30 inches. Framed measurement: 31.5 x 40 inches. ...
Paper, Watercolor
$2,800
Piero Dorazio - Geometric Abstraction, Ex-Bank of NY, Lithograph SIgned/N Framed
Located in New York, NY
Piero Dorazio Abstract Composition (Bank of New York Corporate Collection), 1971 Lithograph on wove paper Pencil signed, numbered 73/75 and dated on the front. The back bears a label...
Lithograph
$759
Wabi-Sabi Fragments I - emerald green painting on linen canvas with 3d flowers
Located in Zofingen, AG
„My work lives in the space between control and its absence.“ – Anastassia Skopp A few years ago, Anastassia Skopp began reading Eckhart Tolle, which led her toward other teachings ...
Canvas, Linen, Acrylic
White Standing Pod Ceramic Vessel Sculpture
Located in East Quogue, NY
"White Standing Pod", Ceramic Sculpture Dimensions: 5 H × 5.5 W × 5.5 D Medium: Hand-built ceramic, glazed stoneware Adrienne Fierman’s "White Standing Pod" embodies the meditative ...
Ceramic, Stoneware
Sculptural Vessel: Hand Sculpted Contemporary Ceramic Art
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This unique contemporary ceramic vessel is by Bruce Cochrane. The striking clay artwork of this Canadian artist has garnered him international attention including several nomination...
Ceramic
$709Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Oil Painting by Yvette Dubois-Habasque, Signed, 21st Century
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract, by Yvette Dubois-Habasque (1929-2016) signed with initials and dated verso oil painting on artists board, unframed painting measures: 9.5 x 13 inches Stunning original ab...
Oil
ELARA B - 'Moon of Jupiter'
Located in Boston, MA
ELARA B - 'Moon of Jupiter' 11.0 × 17.0 × 5.0, 16.0 lbs Bronze Hand signed by the artist Artist's Commentary: "Jupiter’s moon Elara was discovered in 1905 by Charles Dillon Perrin...
Bronze
Letter on the Blind II Offset Print, Geometric Abstraction, 2014
By Frank Stella
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This reproduction of Letter on the Blind II by Frank Stella, published and printed by the de Young Museum in 2014, references Stella's original 1974 painting on canvas. Known for his...
Offset
The Journey, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A soft palette of blue-grey, cream, and pale orange shapes this textured abstract painting. Black line work winds across the surface, guiding the viewer’s eye...
Oil
$4,910
On The Other Side - Original Minimalist Abstract Textured Painting on Canvas
Located in Manchester, GB
Henry Woolway, On The Other Side, 2023 Acrylic on Canvas 61 x 92 cm (24 x 36.22 in) Artwork is set in a stained red wood frame with a 5mm shadow gap Hand-signed by the artist Ab...
Canvas, Acrylic
$640Sale Price|20% Off
1970 Signed Limited Edition Large Screen Print II
By Jimmy Ernst
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Jimmy Ernst Plate II - 1970 Print - Screen Print on Heavy Paper 28'' x 37'' inches Edition: Signed in pencil and numbered 24/125 Jimmy Ernst’s artwork was influenced by a number of powerful talents and vital currents in the art of his time. Son of Max Ernst, Jimmy drew upon the biomorphic and surreal compositions of his father, as well as Arp, Klee, André Breton, and Lyonel Feininger. His mature oil paintings, which emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, reflect the Atomic Age aesthetic of the period. Often, they resemble crystals or webs; many look like vast labyrinths and are interpreted as symbols of the unconscious mind. Ernst was always interested in spirituality and drew inspiration from indigenous American art...
Screen
Fields of Gold: Abstract Encaustic Painting, 21st Century, Framed
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
$439Sale 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
$4,092
Mirrored Lakes and Streams I & II, Abstract Style Painting, Gestural Artwork
Located in Deddington, GB
Complete size of diptych: H:200cm x W:200cm. This painting is inspired by walking the beautiful landscape around me. How the light catches and intensifies the streams, waterfall and ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,389
Marino Marini (1901–1980) - MARINO FROM SHAKESPEARE I - Color drypoint etching
Located in Varese, IT
Color drypoint etching and aquatint on paper, edited on 1977. Limited edition of 75 copies, numbered as 27/75 in lower left corner. Hand-signed in pencil by artist in lower right cor...
Etching
$2,182Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 2437
Located in Zofingen, AG
In creating this piece, I harnessed the vibrant chaos and serenity of nature's own contrasts. Using acrylics allowed me to layer and texturize, enveloping the canvas in a dance of sh...
Acrylic
$654Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled - Contemporary pencil drawing, Figurative, Black & white
Located in Warsaw, PL
ANTONI JANUSZ PASTWA (b. 1944) Graduated from Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw at the Faculty of Sculpture. Obtained his diploma in 1970. Between 1974-1981 he was an assistant at profe...
Paper, Pencil
Chateau Mouton Rothschild Wine Label Signed & inscribed Philippine de Rothschild
Located in New York, NY
Bernard Séjourné Chateau Mouton Rothschild Wine Label (Hand Signed & Inscribed), 1989 Wine Label Print Signed “To John A. Powers, Chairm...
Lithograph, Offset
$7,800
Delta (Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting on Canvas in Teal, Aqua Blue & Green)
By Jenny Nelson
Located in Hudson, NY
Square, abstract expressionist oil painting on canvas in aqua, teal, blue, and green against pale grey with accents of yellow, peach, and mauve 'Delta' by Jenny Nelson Oil on linen, ...
Canvas, Oil
"PDP 1359 ct23" Original Collage on Canvas (9.25 x 9.25)
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Post Dogmatist Painting on Panel, signed verso Art is 8 x 8 with frame approximately 9.5 x 9.5 ready to hang Cecil Touchon Born 1956 Austin, Texas is a contemporary American collage...
Acrylic
$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
"On High" Modern Abstract Geometric Lithograph Edition 59 of 125
Located in Houston, TX
Modern abstract geometric lithograph with neutral tones. The work is signed, titled, and editioned by the artist in pencil along the bott...
Lithograph
Gathering, Abstract Painting with Bold Black Brushstrokes, Signed, 46x60
By Matt Higgins
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This abstract piece explores balance through bold black brushstrokes set against a soft neutral background. The composition combines sweeping gestures and organic forms, creating a s...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,000
Angel with Nails/Veil (diptych) - Painting Inspired by Bernini's Angels in Rome
Located in Chicago, IL
Ivan Markovic transports viewers into a world of technicolor with this collection of works inspired by Bernini's angels. Markovic's life in Rome brought him to walk across the Ponte ...
Wood, Oil
$1,855Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 23105, Impasto Acrylic Painting, 120x100cm, Ready to Hang
Located in Zofingen, AG
Dive into a world of vibrant artistry with "Abstract 23105," an abstract painting that is an explosion of bright and bold colors. This masterpiece is crafted with a rich impasto tech...
Acrylic
Josette Urso "Emerald Grove" 2025 watercolor on paper
By Josette Urso
Located in New York, NY
Josette Urso Emerald Grove, 2025 watercolor on paper 12 x 16 in. (urso309) Of her recent works, Urso states, "I make exploratory paintings, working in response to my immediate envir...
Watercolor
7.10.24 #4 - Original Blue and Green Abstract Mixed Media Artwork on Paper
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...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Nature’s Pulse by Gabriela Azar Schreiner. Contemporary abstract Painting
Located in Mentone, AU
Capella Sydney Hotel art collection Star Princess cruise Selling houses Australia 5 Fake- Paramount + Dream homes The Block Gran design Australia Magazine "Creating large-sca...
Acrylic
$4,441
No title
By Zao Wou-Ki
Located in Paris, FR
Lithograph, 1961 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and annotated EA Edition : 125 Publisher : L'Oeuvre Gravée (Paris) 65.00 cm. x 50.00 cm. 25.59 in. x 19.69 in. (paper) 50.00 cm. ...
Lithograph
$750
No. 4: Small Abstract Expressionist Monotype in Navy Blue, Soft Yellow & Green
By Jenny Nelson
Located in Hudson, NY
Small abstract expressionist style monotype in navy blue, green, light violet, and soft yellow 'Untitled 4' by Jenny Nelson Monotype, mad...
Oil, Archival Paper, Monoprint
Flor Nuit - Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Abstract, 24in x 32in
By Mario Angel
Located in Mississauga, CA
This enchanting acrylic on canvas by Mario Angel, titled "Flor Nuit," offers a mesmerizing foray into botanical and figurative abstraction. The composition centers on a stylized, lum...
Canvas, Acrylic
La Cour (French Courtyard Interior with Birds and Birdcage)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Nobuku Koike (Japanese, b.1937) La Cour, 1974. Color etching on Arches paper. Plate measures 7.5 x 8.5 inches. Framed measurement: 12 x 13.5 inches. Signed, dated, numbered an...
Etching
The Inner Circle
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 97×120 cm (overall size with stretching 107×130 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled the series "The Inviolable Reserve" "The Inner Circle" (The Invio...
Canvas, Acrylic
Abstract 2544
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured my emotions through bold acrylic strokes, capturing the interplay of light and shadow with soft pastels and deep blues. The textured layers express a dynamic ...
Oil, Acrylic
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
Untitled
Located in Barcelona, CT
the painting is being offered with a work and authenticity certificate
Canvas, Oil