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Contemporary Art

CONTEMPORARY STYLE

Used to refer to a time rather than an aesthetic, Contemporary art generally describes pieces created after 1970 or being made by living artists anywhere in the world. This immediacy means it encompasses art responding to the present moment through diverse subjects, media and themes. Contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, performance, digital art, video and more frequently includes work that is attempting to reshape current ideas about what art can be, from Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s use of candy to memorialize a lover he lost to AIDS-related complications to Jenny Holzer’s ongoing “Truisms,” a Conceptual series that sees provocative messages printed on billboards, T-shirts, benches and other public places that exist outside of formal exhibitions and the conventional “white cube” of galleries.

Contemporary art has been pushing the boundaries of creative expression for years. Its disruption of the traditional concepts of art are often aiming to engage viewers in complex questions about identity, society and culture. In the latter part of the 20th century, contemporary movements included Land art, in which artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer create large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations and other works in soil and bodies of water; Sound art, with artists such as Christian Marclay and Susan Philipsz centering art on sonic experiences; and New Media art, in which mass media and digital culture inform the work of artists such as Nam June Paik and Rafaël Rozendaal.

The first decades of the 21st century have seen the growth of Contemporary African art, the revival of figurative painting, the emergence of street art and the rise of NFTs, unique digital artworks that are powered by blockchain technology.

Major Contemporary artists practicing now include Ai Weiwei, Cecily Brown, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker.

Find a collection of Contemporary prints, photography, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Contemporary
Recognized Seller Listings
Marlboro by Anouk Krantz 2023

Marlboro by Anouk Krantz 2023

By Anouk Krantz

Located in Chicago, IL

Marlboro (B&W) 2023 ARCHIVAL PIGMENT PRINT Unframed Sizes: 40 x 60 in (101.6 x 152.4 cm) - Edition of 15 + 2 AP (Artist Proofs) SILVER GELATIN PRINT Unframed Size: 11.3 x 17 in (28...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin

Don't Let Them Burst Your Bubble: Purple 1 XL - sculpture, blown glass and metal
Don't Let Them Burst Your Bubble: Purple 1 XL - sculpture, blown glass and metal

Don't Let Them Burst Your Bubble: Purple 1 XL - sculpture, blown glass and metal

By Cheryl Wilson Smith

Located in Bloomfield, ON

This contemporary purple glass tabletop sculpture is by Cheryl Wilson Smith. Cheryl Wilson Smith is known for her uniquely beautiful glass work—its form, colour and texture are ofte...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Glass, Mixed Media

They reveal themselves over time & Disappeared where it's hard to disappear. Art
They reveal themselves over time & Disappeared where it's hard to disappear. Art

They reveal themselves over time & Disappeared where it's hard to disappear. Art

By On Hansen

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Traces of lived experiences appear in On Hansen's works, exploring the possibilities of formal abstraction and seeking an organic experience between space and time through painting a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Crayon, Ink, Wax, Oil, Acrylic, Graphite

American West by Anouk Krantz 2021

American West by Anouk Krantz 2021

By Anouk Krantz

Located in Chicago, IL

American West (B&W) 2021 ARCHIVAL PIGMENT PRINT Unframed Sizes: 40 x 60 in (101.6 x 152.4 cm) - Edition of 10 + 2 AP (Artist Proofs) SILVER GELATIN PRINT Unframed Size: 11.3 x 17 i...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin

Flowers for Mary #4

Flowers for Mary #4

By Gail Norfleet

Located in Dallas, TX

Gail Norfleet earned her BFA at The University of Texas at Austin, and her MFA at Southern Methodist University. She has had solo exhibitions at The McKinney Avenue Contemporary and ...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

India Ink, Acrylic, Illustration Board

Awaken - cool, gestural, seascape
Awaken - cool, gestural, seascape

Awaken - cool, gestural, seascape

By Sasha Rogers

Located in Bloomfield, ON

The exquisite ethereal contemporary paintings of Canadian artist Sasha Rogers can be found in both private and corporate collections throughout the world. Rogers is highly regarded f...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Untitled II, Wall SculptureTridimensional Portrait
Untitled II, Wall SculptureTridimensional Portrait

Untitled II, Wall SculptureTridimensional Portrait

By Cristian Hunter

Located in Miami Beach, FL

This artwork was created by the artistic duo Hunter & Gatti (2010–2023). These works are part of the archive managed and exhibited by Cristian Hunter. The artist's technique consists...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Acrylic, Photographic Paper, Black and White, Archival Pigment

Meteor Rider
Meteor Rider

Meteor Rider

By Yuji Hiratsuka

Located in Palm Springs, CA

"Meteor Rider" features a contemplative, angelic figure adorned with delicate wings, surrounded by celestial orbs and accompanied by a watchful owl, all rendered in Hiratsuka’s signa...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Intaglio

Hidden Cities III: Continuum, by Peter Milton
Hidden Cities III: Continuum, by Peter Milton

Hidden Cities III: Continuum, by Peter Milton

By Peter Milton

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Peter Milton’s Hidden Cities: Continuum transforms the grandeur of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele into a layered meditation on architecture, memory, and the passage of time. The Gall...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Art

Materials

Engraving, Etching

Freedom
Freedom

Freedom

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Cuban based artist Support Cuban artists

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Quantum Leap 4
Quantum Leap 4

Quantum Leap 4

By Hunt Slonem

Located in Denver, CO

This double-bunny painting is an excellent example of Hunt Slonem's art practice, set in a frame hand chosen by Hunt himself. Hunt Slonem's artistic trajectory has always been chara...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Oil, Wood

Python Birkin, Snake Leather Birkin choked by Python, Fine Art Photography, 2016
Python Birkin, Snake Leather Birkin choked by Python, Fine Art Photography, 2016

Python Birkin, Snake Leather Birkin choked by Python, Fine Art Photography, 2016

By Tyler Shields

Located in Vienna, AT

Iconic Snake leather birkin bag, being choked by a python snake, photographed by Tyler Shields in 2016. All prints are limited edition. Available in multiple sizes. High-end framing on request. All prints are done and signed by the artist. The collector receives an additional certificate of authenticity from the gallery. In this haunting still life, a live ball python intertwines with a snakeskin...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

"The Nose" by William Kentridge (Photograph, Black and White, Newspaper, Print)
"The Nose" by William Kentridge (Photograph, Black and White, Newspaper, Print)

"The Nose" by William Kentridge (Photograph, Black and White, Newspaper, Print)

By William Kentridge

Located in New York, NY

This is a monochromatic photogravure, aquatint and drypoint on Hahnemuhle Copperplate warm white paper. Created in 2010, it is signed in pencil lower right and numbered from the edit...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Screen, Photogravure

Bea with a whip at The Other Side

Bea with a whip at The Other Side

By Nan Goldin

Located in New York, NY

Nan Goldin Bea with a whip at The Other Side 1973 Gelatin silver print 14 x 11 inches; 36 x 28 cm Edition of 100 Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in graphite (lower right verso) ...

Category

1970s Contemporary Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

untitled (horseman)
untitled (horseman)

untitled (horseman)

By Maximino Javier

Located in Palm Springs, CA

This whimsical and surreal etching by Mexican artist Maximino Javier, dated 1984, embodies his unique visual language that blends fantasy, folklore, and satire. Executed with intrica...

Category

1980s Contemporary Art

Materials

Etching

The Longing
The Longing

The Longing

By Kevin Sloan

Located in Denver, CO

In a time of profound environmental change, Kevin Sloan’s images depict rare beauty intertwined with puzzlement. Part art, part artifice, his painstaking vignettes of animals posed i...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Pink Ascension Beyond The Moon & Stars
Pink Ascension Beyond The Moon & Stars

Pink Ascension Beyond The Moon & Stars

By Hunt Slonem

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Hunt Slonem, American, included in 250+ museum collections Unique oil on canvas painting, artist's antique frame, signed and dated verso Inspired by nature and his 60 pet birds, Hu...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Corpheum XIX - large, geometric, abstract, stainless steel outdoor sculpture
Corpheum XIX - large, geometric, abstract, stainless steel outdoor sculpture

Corpheum XIX - large, geometric, abstract, stainless steel outdoor sculpture

By Claude Millette

Located in Bloomfield, ON

The graceful arc of a dancer in motion is emulated in the fluid form of this elegant sculpture by Claude Millette. Three attached curved columns of polished stainless steel appear to almost float in mid-air. The Quebec artist...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Stainless Steel

Guardians & Butterflies Savior
Guardians & Butterflies Savior

Guardians & Butterflies Savior

By Hunt Slonem

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Hunt Slonem, American, included in 250+ museum collections Unique oil on canvas painting, signed and dated verso Inspired by nature and his 60 pet birds, Hunt Slonem is renowned fo...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Essence of Life
Essence of Life

Essence of Life

Located in Plano, TX

"Essence of Life" is a part of Christopher Kennedy's "Trees Revered" series. Please note that the image without the frame is a better representation of the actual image. "This parti...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Archival Paper

Distant Muses
Distant Muses

Distant Muses

By Brice Marden

Located in New York, NY

Brice Marden Distant Muses 2000 Screenprint 23 1/2 x 19 1/8 inches; 60 x 49 cm Edition of 300 Signed, dated, and numbered in graphite (lower recto) Frame available upon request Available from Matthew Marks...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Art

Materials

Screen

(Gognitive Load, Part 1)
(Gognitive Load, Part 1)

(Gognitive Load, Part 1)

By Darius Steward

Located in Fairlawn, OH

(Gognitive Load, Part 1) Watercolor on heavy wove paper with collage elements, 2024 Signed lower right above spiral notebook (see photo) Condition: Excellent, never framed Image/Shee...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Watercolor

St. George — African American artist
St. George — African American artist

St. George — African American artist

By John Tarrell Scott

Located in Myrtle Beach, SC

John Tarrell Scott, 'St. George', woodcut, edition 20, 1992. Signed, dated, titled, and numbered '18/20' in pencil. A fine, black impression, on off-white, laid Japan paper, with ful...

Category

1990s Contemporary Art

Materials

Woodcut

A Broken Frame - An Album Cover for Depeche Mode - Medium Size Photograph
A Broken Frame - An Album Cover for Depeche Mode - Medium Size Photograph

A Broken Frame - An Album Cover for Depeche Mode - Medium Size Photograph

Located in London, GB

A solitary figure harvests wheat under a darkening sky, embodying resilience against nature's elements... “It had been raining all morning but the clouds suddenly parted and we had ...

Category

1980s Contemporary Art

Materials

Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Color

"Patti Cake"
"Patti Cake"

"Patti Cake"

By Michael Carson

Located in Scottsdale, AZ

Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, whose artwork can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the Unite...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Wood Panel, Oil

The Painted Flag - painting, acrylic on canvas
The Painted Flag - painting, acrylic on canvas

The Painted Flag - painting, acrylic on canvas

By Charles Pachter

Located in Bloomfield, ON

One of Canada’s leading contemporary artists, Charles Pachter is renowned for his iconic pop art images that often celebrate our national pride. The clean, graphic lines of the Canad...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Cocoon"

"Cocoon"

By Tim Rees

Located in Scottsdale, AZ

Timothy Rees was fascinated with drawing throughout his youth and after high school pursued a degree in animation. The pull to painting portraits and figures was strong, however, le...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Untitled. Ref. 94029
Untitled. Ref. 94029

Untitled. Ref. 94029

By Carlos Capelan

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Capelán's work stands out for its rigorous handling of diverse artistic techniques and procedures, ranging from drawing to installation, including painting, printmaking, photography,...

Category

1990s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Untitled. Ref. 94019
Untitled. Ref. 94019

Untitled. Ref. 94019

By Carlos Capelan

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Capelán's work stands out for its rigorous handling of diverse artistic techniques and procedures, ranging from drawing to installation, including painting, printmaking, photography,...

Category

1990s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Havana No 6, Red - bold, bright, colorful, abstract, modernist, oil on canvas
Havana No 6, Red - bold, bright, colorful, abstract, modernist, oil on canvas

Havana No 6, Red - bold, bright, colorful, abstract, modernist, oil on canvas

By David Sorensen

Located in Bloomfield, ON

In this colourful abstract painting by David Sorensen, bright red draws the viewer’s eye. The Canadian artist completed a series of oils after visiting Havana, Cuba in 1999. The Havana series was created using a spatula and paintbrush. The result is highly textured pieces rendered in vivid colours—graphic shapes of lime green, orange, indigo and brown. A grid-like pattern of thick vertical and horizontal lines adds visual drama and contrast. “To me, there is still this celebration worth the paint. And it’s about an open door that the artist used to call muse.” David Sorensen Born in Vancouver Sorensen (1937-2011) studied at UBC and the Vancouver School of Art. His teachers were renowned—Arthur...

Category

1990s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

In Plain Sight
In Plain Sight

In Plain Sight

By Tim Berg & Rebekah Myers

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Ceramic parrots atop wood perches, each is handmade Our objective is to distill the stereotypical perceptions and associations within our culture into visually compelling objects, s...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Ceramic, Wood

Mobius H6 25/50 - large, smooth, black granite, abstract, outdoor sculpture
Mobius H6 25/50 - large, smooth, black granite, abstract, outdoor sculpture

Mobius H6 25/50 - large, smooth, black granite, abstract, outdoor sculpture

By Jeremy Guy

Located in Bloomfield, ON

This sculpture is numbered in an edition of 50 and can be purchased on a commission basis, please allow 8 - 12 weeks before shipping. The sculpture weighs about 600 lbs and different base options are available, please inquire. This Jeremy Guy Mobius sculpture is formed from black granite. The surface is like velvet to the touch; the granite is subtly flecked with copper and white. The form, a Mobius strip...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Granite, Stainless Steel

Gaze Big Green - large, colorful, geometric abstract, contemporary oil on canvas
Gaze Big Green - large, colorful, geometric abstract, contemporary oil on canvas

Gaze Big Green - large, colorful, geometric abstract, contemporary oil on canvas

By David Sorensen

Located in Bloomfield, ON

Geometric passages in painterly red-orange frame a central green field in this bold abstract painting by David Sorensen. Through his painterly modern compositions, celebrated Canadian painter David Sorensen (1937-2011) sought to “give voice to the inner reality.” In the paintings from his last years, Sorensen offers solutions to the nature of abstraction – wresting nature and the horizon from pure form and brilliant colour. Born in Vancouver, Sorensen studied at UBC and the Vancouver School of Art under Arthur...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Corpheum XVII - contemporary, geometric abstract, Corten steel outdoor sculpture
Corpheum XVII - contemporary, geometric abstract, Corten steel outdoor sculpture

Corpheum XVII - contemporary, geometric abstract, Corten steel outdoor sculpture

By Claude Millette

Located in Bloomfield, ON

This contemporary, geometric abstract, Corten steel outdoor sculpture is by Quebec artist Claude Millette. Millette has been creating compelling sculptures for more than four decades...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Steel

"Gluttony"

"Gluttony"

By Tim Rees

Located in Scottsdale, AZ

Timothy Rees was fascinated with drawing throughout his youth and after high school pursued a degree in animation. The pull to painting portraits and figures was strong, however, le...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Contemporary art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Contemporary art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Stefanie Schneider, Tyler Shields, Kirsten Thys van den Audenaerde, and Richard Heeps. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Paper and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Contemporary art, so small editions measuring 0.02 inches across are also available.