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.
$880Sale Price|70% Off
Flags of peace #28 by Gilbert Pauli - Oil on canvas 70x90 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Born in 1944 in the canton of Fribourg, Gilbert Pauli currently lives in Geneva, where he devotes himself to painting and sculpture, a passion he developed from his childhood. His fa...
Oil
$4,183
Christina Gschwantner Love Dots Vivid Contemporary Abstract 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, Oil, Acrylic
Hui Sheng Landscape Original Oil On Canvas "Outside III"
Located in New York, NY
Title: Outside III Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 23 x 31 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition. Note: This painting is u...
Canvas, Oil
$827Sale Price|20% Off
LARGE FRENCH CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT CUBIST PAINTING - RENE LEROY (B.1932)
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: Rene Leroy (French b. 1932) signed Title: Abstract/ Cubist Composition Medium: mixed media, material and oil on canvas, framed, signed Size: frame: 29.5 x 37 ...
Oil
XOXOX 1/10 - contemporary, abstract, painted aluminum, outdoor sculpture
By Rob Lorenson
Located in Bloomfield, ON
A version of this compelling abstract sculpture was recently installed on a University campus in Indiana. Rob Lorenson’s work can be found in numerous public art venues in North Amer...
Metal
$370
Abstract impressionist nature acrylic on paper "Serenity in the mountains"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This contemporary abstract impressionist nature painting, infused with a touch of modernity and expressive flair, is titled "Serenity in the Mountains." Vibrant and evocative, this ...
Paper, Acrylic
Portrait 1982 Signed Limited Edition Lithograph
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Guillaume Corneille Portrait - 1982 Print - Lithograph on Arches Archival Paper 30'' x 22'' Edition: signed in pencil and marked 25/300 As a co-founder of the famed experimental art...
Lithograph
$3,800
Serie Visiones Sin Motivo, Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting, 21st Century
Located in Mexico City, MX
Contemporary Art, Abstract Painting Acrylic on canvas 160 x 120 cm 2025 About the Artist Pilar de Ariño was born in Mexico City in 1992. She studied Industrial Design at Universid...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$1,980
Love Conquers All - Extra Large Abstract Painting, Bold Colors, New, Maximalism
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Love Conquers All - Omnia Vincit Amor Extra Large Abstract Investment Bold Color Large rendition in the Unchained Expressions series. It attempts to map the road to freedom...
Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Spray Paint, Color Pencil
$304Sale Price|20% Off
Ocean blue - abstract painting, made in blue color
By Mila Akopova
Located in Fort Lee, NJ
Interior design paintings. The work was done with alcohol ink in blue color on Yupo paper. The work is 11 by 14 inches in size, framed (gold or black) with a styrene face on a mat bo...
Paper, Ink
Fountain of Life // Interior Water Abstract / blue ocean / sea, waves.
Located in Zofingen, AG
Water is a symbol of the fundamental principle of everything, it is the element from which everything on the Earth was born. Using the ThetaHealing technique The painting is fi...
Acrylic
$750
Message of Eternity Abstract Painting, 2010s, New, 77x61 cm
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
Painting with a composition of overlapping planes and figures. The scene presents a space constructed through geometric and organic forms in relationships of crossing and continuity....
Canvas, Oil
Ruz Gray and Black Diptych Very Big original abstract canvas acrylic
By Rafael Ruz
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
El brote- original abstract canvas diptic acrylic painting. virtual frame , Rafael (Barcelona 1956) While contemplating the painting of Ruz, we are inclined to talk about real ‘psyc...
Canvas, Acrylic
$165Sale Price|20% Off
Exotic French Impressionist Oil Painting Bridge and Palm Trees.
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Maggy Clarysse (1931-2011) Oil on board, unframed 10.75 x 8.75 inches Signed co...
Oil
Contemporary colorful abstract acrylic painting of woman's body on paper
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This abstract piece "Resilient reflection" is part of Natalya's series dedicated to "Women," where the artist explores the complexities of womanhood and femininity. Through this work...
Paper, Acrylic
$1,075
Original-Impasto-Moonlit Dahlias-Jardin d'Hiver-British Awarded Artist-Gold leaf
Located in London, GB
Jardin d'Hiver Series is Shizico Yi's latest collection, created in her winter studio while longing for the summer left behind. Reflecting on the vibrant days spent painting en plein...
Gold Leaf
$1,338Sale Price|30% Off
Large Geometric Abstract. 'Traces No.9 Pour une Archéologie du Présent.'
Located in Cotignac, FR
Large 1970s abstract geometric acrylic and oil on plywood panel signed Rivel and dated 1977 to the bottom left. The painting is titled to the rear of the panel. Numbers of colour fields in muted shades jostle against one another. It is the shapes and the space between them which give energy to the painting whilst the colour palette restrains. The painting is highly textured as the artist has applied the paint thickly and energetically with both palette knife and large brushstrokes. At times layers of paint reveal underlying colours. This painting fits perfectly into the abstract genre with its focus on its formal qualities over and above its subject matter. Furthermore the artist experiments with reconstructing shapes and rejecting three dimensional perspective. A fine example of non objective art...
Acrylic, Board
"Angela" Abstract Figure with 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, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$4,780
Dialogue of Forms — Contemporary Geometric Abstract Oil Painting, Sophie Dumont
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
French contemporary artist Sophie Dumont presents in Dialogue of Forms a refined geometric abstraction structured through a delicate balance of curved forms, architectural lines, and...
Oil
$879Sale Price|20% Off
Parisian Abstract Expressionist Original Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stunning original oil painting by the French abstract artist, Yvette Dubois-Habasque (1929-2016). The painting has excellent provenance having come from the artists studio sale in Pa...
Oil
$956Sale Price|20% Off
Ellsworth Kelly, Black and White, from Derriere le Miroir, 1958
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015), titled Noir et blanc (Black and White), originates from the historic 1958 folio Derriere le Miroir, No. 110. Published by Ma...
Lithograph
Lake Dream, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A tranquil lake stretches across the foreground, painted in deep teal, green, and blue tones that ripple with soft movement. Above the water, warm landforms ris...
Oil
Still Life Interior
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Frederick Serger (1889-1965). Still Life, ca. 1950. Oil on gessoed paper mounted to illustration board. Image measures 16 x 17 inches. Framed measurement: 25.5 x 25.5 inches. ...
Paper, Oil
The Lady maquette, replica of Chicago Picasso sculpture, American Bridge Company
Located in New York, NY
(After) Pablo Picasso The Lady (Maquette), ca. 1967 Mixed Media Sculpture edition Cor-ten Steel This maquette is based upon the original Chicago Picasso-a monumental sculpture by Pablo Picasso in Chicago, Illinois. The sculpture, dedicated on August 15, 1967, in Daley Plaza in the Chicago Loop...
Stone, Steel
State of Blue
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
$5,050
Cosmic Trigger V.2 - Large Contemporary Organic Shape Abstract Oil Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Harrison Gilman's large original artworks begin with a layer of fast-paced gestural abstraction followed by organic shapes and geometric structures. Some of his paintings remain in t...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Just Like Blue Sapphire 01 - Mellow Abstract Painting
By Usha Shukla
Located in Boston, MA
Just Like Blue Sapphire 01 16.0 × 20.0 × 1.5, 2.0 lbs Oil Paint Hand signed by the artist Artist's Commentary: "Over the years I’ve become a keen observer of wave patterns. On th...
Oil
$3,944
Contemporary Minimalist Earth Tones Abstract Painting Canvas Tete Alurralde
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
$166Sale Price|20% Off
French Impressionist Oil Painting Bright and Colourful Pansies
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Maggy Clarysse (1931-2011) Oil on board, unframed 8.75 x 10.75 inches Signed Initials ...
Oil
"The Denizens of Delight - Fun with Matisse", Abstract, Mixed Media Painting
By Peter Knapp
Located in Franklin, MA
Peter Knapp’s “The Denizens of Delight – Fun with Matisse” is a 27.375 x 38.25 x 1 inch mixed media abstract painting on panel in blue, purple, orange, and green acrylic, ink, and co...
Archival Ink, Acrylic, Panel, Color Pencil
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
$3,700
Mnemonic Rhythm (Bright, Multicolored Textile Inspired Abstract Wall Sculpture)
By Susan Stover
Located in Hudson, NY
Mnemonic Rhythm (Bright, Multicolored Textile Inspired Abstract Wall Sculpture), made by Susan Stover in 2025 wood, oil paint, varnish, waxed linen thread 30 x 30 inches Lightweight,...
Thread, Wood, Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
$2,041Sale Price|20% Off
Huge French Contemporary Modernist Abstract Oil Painting Multi Colors
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Composition signed by Jacqueline VERDET (French, 1931-2023) oil painting on canvas, unframed canvas: 45 x 35 inches condition: the work is in overall very sound and good con...
Canvas, Oil
$3,275
Stronger Together - Abstract Figurative Ocean Swimming Still Life Oil Panting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Artist Michelle Fillmore discovered her passion for oil painting while pursuing her studies at the University of Las Vegas, where she earned a BA in Painting and Drawing in 2015. Kno...
Canvas, Oil
Autumn impressions
Located in Zofingen, AG
Autumn impressions. In this piece, I poured my passion for vibrant color and movement into every brushstroke. The rich reds and purples evoke the fiery heart of autumn, while the su...
Canvas, Oil
$2,310
Awakening Dreams - Abstract Luminous Earth Tone Textural Floral Acrylic Artwork
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
Evening Coffee, Joan Mitchell, Larry Poons, expressionism, contemporary
Located in Jönköping, SE
This painting belongs to my ongoing exploration of the relationship between nature and the human experience. Inspired by the natural world and influenced by the Eastern philosophy of...
Acrylic
On the Bright Side, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Various shades of blue, with touches of purple and cream, create a soothing backdrop. A bold orange form adds contrast and visual interest without disrupting th...
Acrylic
Portrait in gold
Located in London, London
one of a kind oil on canvas portrait painting 51x51x3cm hand signed An artist's certificate of authenticity is included The red chairs living room photos are part of the i...
Gold
"Wine-Tasting Holiday in Provence" Contemporary Expressionism Nature Leisure
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
Contemporary Oil Painting – Original Artwork on Stretched Canvas, Ready to Hang (60 × 50 × 1.5 cm / 23.6 × 19.7 × 0.6 in) – "Wine-Tasting Holiday in Provence" “Wine-Tasting Holiday ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,080Sale Price|20% Off
Pumpkins, Yellow/Black, Red/White (Two Sculptures), Yayoi Kusama 草間 彌生
By Yayoi Kusama
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Yayoi Kusama (1929) Title: Pumpkins, Yellow/Black, Red/White (Two Sculptures) Year: 2016 Medium: Painted cast resin sculptures with decorative boxes, as issued Sculpture Size...
Epoxy Resin
$4,700
Fruity Ramen Alchemy: THE ANSWER IS WITHIN - Large Meditative Abstract Painting
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
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
Cretan dream No.2 - Monochrome Water Abstraction, Limited Edition of 20
By Ugne Pouwell
Located in London, GB
Cretan dream No.2 is an abstract study of light moving across Aegean water, filaments of brightness threading through soft tonal depths. The piece sits between seascape and drawing: ...
Giclée
$880
Caribbean Sandy Shore Triptych, Blue Tones Seascape, Sunny Waves Cyanotype Print
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This series of cyanotype triptychs showcases the beauty of nature scenes, including stunning beaches and oceans, as well as the intricate textures of water, forests, and skies. These triptychs are large pieces that feature lush blues, making them an impressive addition to any beautifully designed space. Each triptych is printed by hand and carefully crafted to capture the unique essence of these natural environments, with a focus on the interplay of light and shadows, and the subtle nuances of tone and texture. The beach and ocean scenes depict the dynamic beauty of waves crashing against the shore, with the cyanotype process lending a dreamy, ethereal quality to the images. Similarly, the forest and wood scenes offer a glimpse into the hidden depths of nature, with the cyanotype process lending a sense of mystery and wonder to the images, while the lush blues of cyanotypes imitate the sky and clouds perfectly. These triptychs are perfect for anyone who loves to surround themselves with the beauty of nature, and they make an excellent centerpiece for any beautifully designed space. Details: + Title: Pleasant Waters in Tulum Beach...
Monotype, Paper, Lithograph
$14,342
Constructed Memory-Abstract oil painting, stylized bookshelf with warm tones
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Sophie Dumont (b. 1964, Paris) French contemporary painter Sophie Dumont has developed a distinctive body of work over the past two decades, exploring the intersection of memory, str...
Oil
$1,800
Frank Stella - Exotic bird card, Signed in black marker by Frank Stella, Framed
By Frank Stella
Located in New York, NY
Offset lithograph postcard Hand signed in black marker by Frank Stella Provenance: Obtained directly from the artist by the present owner This signed card depicts Frank Stella's 1977...
Postcard
Test Color - Colorful Impasto Textural Thick Paint Framed 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, Board
$7,150
Flowers abstract sky Blooming Ether Abstract Painting, Acrylic Oil on Canvas
Located in London, London
All custom charges are included in the final price agreed. Red flowers, blue sky, space, stars, passion, pink, crimson, blossom, love. Abstract RED flowers expressionist extra larg...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
$1,500
Alhambra Castle in Spain, Charcoal Drawing by Etienne Poirier, circa 1950
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning charcoal drawing by French artist Etienne Poirier (1919 - 2002). This rare artwork is a charcoal-on-paper composition depicting an interpretation of the famous Alhambra Pa...
Charcoal
$160Sale Price|36% Off
Joan Miro 'Pasadena Art Museum Exhibition' 1969- lithograph Mourlot Mid Century
By Joan Miró
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This original lithograph poster was produced for the retrospective exhibition of Joan Miró's graphic work, held at the Pasadena Art Museum in California, U.S.A., in 1969. Published b...
Lithograph
$4,000
Combahee Night - Abstract Black Sculptural Original Three-Dimensional Wall Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Atticus Adams' organically composed modern metal sculptures embody the transformative power of art, illustrating the creation of beauty, meaning, and emotional impact from industrial...
Metal, Wire
Beige Dream.Heat-haze vision
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work is a contemplative abstract landscape, it is painted in oil on linen canvas using the lessirovka technique - this is when layers of paint let light through, and the lower l...
Canvas, Oil
Large Vintage American Modernist Framed Abstract Expressionist Signed Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large vintage American modernist oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Provenance from a Sag Harbor, NY collection. Handsomely framed. Excellent condition, ready to hang and ...
Oil, Canvas
Abstract Oil Painting by Mirko Baricchi – Minimal Contemporary Composition
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Mirko Baricchi (born 1970) is an accomplished Italian painter who currently lives and works between Vicenza and La Spezia, regions located in Veneto and Liguria, Italy, respectively....
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Abstract Oil Painting by Mirko Baricchi – Contemporary Color Field Composition
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Mirko Baricchi (born 1970) is an accomplished Italian painter who currently lives and works between Vicenza and La Spezia, regions located in Veneto and Liguria, Italy, respectively....
Cotton Canvas, Oil
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
$52,000
Immigrant V3 - female, figurative, bronze, stainless steel outdoor sculpture
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This figurative outdoor sculpture in female form is forged in bronze and stainless steel. Galina Stetco used her own body as a model for the mould of this compelling and poignant l...
Bronze
HERNANDEZ PIJUAN geometric composition.original engraving abstract painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
geometric composition.original engraving abstract painting. VIRTUAL FRAMED Pijuan, Joan (Barcelona, 1931-2005). Joan Hernández Pijuan formed between Barcelona and Paris. It has the ...
Engraving
$717Sale 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