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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
"Julia" Framed Limited Edition Hand Written Lyrics
"Julia" Framed Limited Edition Hand Written Lyrics

"Julia" Framed Limited Edition Hand Written Lyrics

By John Lennon

Located in Laguna Beach, CA

Rare Limited Edition Serigraph of John Lennon's handwritten lyrics for the song "Julia" first released on the Beatles "White Album" in 1968 and written about John's mother. This lim...

Category

1990s Contemporary Art

Materials

Other Medium

Untitled Patchwork Landscape with French Pastries Large Painting
Untitled Patchwork Landscape with French Pastries Large Painting

Untitled Patchwork Landscape with French Pastries Large Painting

By Kathi Packer

Located in Surfside, FL

Genre: Modern Subject: Landscape Medium: Mixed Media, Oil, Watercolor Surface: Canvas Country: United States Dimensions: 42" x 36" x 3/4" Dimensions w/Frame: 47 3/4" x 41 1/2" Kathi...

Category

1990s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Watercolor

Bonanza Café (Film Edge), Lone Pine, California - American Diner Interior Photo
Bonanza Café (Film Edge), Lone Pine, California - American Diner Interior Photo

Bonanza Café (Film Edge), Lone Pine, California - American Diner Interior Photo

By Richard Heeps

Located in Cambridge, GB

Bonanza Café, iconic photograph from Richard Heeps Dream in Colour series, it was the cover artwork on his book Man's Ruin. The photo takes you back to small town Americana with the ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Silver Gelatin

Hombre in Pink Annapolis

Hombre in Pink Annapolis

By Hunt Slonem

Located in London, GB

Hunt Slonem Hombre in Pink Annapolis, 2021 Signed and dated on verso Oil on Canvas 182.9 x 213.4 cm Artist and collector Hunt Slonem is best known for huge Neo-Expressionist oil pai...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Georgian Contemporary Art by Nino Tolomashvili - Untitled
Georgian Contemporary Art by Nino Tolomashvili - Untitled

Georgian Contemporary Art by Nino Tolomashvili - Untitled

Located in Paris, IDF

Mixed media on fabric canvas Nino Tolomashvili is a Georgian painter born in 2003 who lives and works in Tbilisi, Georgia. After completing her schooling, she pursued her studies a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Pueblo, Colorado; June

Pueblo, Colorado; June

By Steve Fitch

Located in Sante Fe, NM

In “American Motel Signs” Steve Fitch crisscrossed the United States documenting the colorful dynamic, advertisements inviting weary traveler to park their car and pack it in for the...

Category

20th Century Contemporary Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Shalako Night
Shalako Night

Shalako Night

By Dan Namingha

Located in Santa Fe, NM

hand pulled limited edition lithograph signed and numbered by the artist Glenn Green Galleries also presents paintings, prints and sculpture by Southwestern luminary, DAN NAMINGHA....

Category

1980s Contemporary Art

Materials

Lithograph

Untitled 18

Untitled 18

By Billy Childish

Located in London, GB

Billy Childish Untitled 18, 2013 Giclee archival print 36.19 x 30.48 cm 14.25 x 12 in Billy Childish’s emotional, introspective portraits and landscapes take inspiration from the ar...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Giclée, Archival Pigment

Window8, Original Painting
Window8, Original Painting

Window8, Original Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
"In my eyes, a window is by no means just part of a structure in a house but is something with remarkable meaning," shares artist Wenjie Jin. Each opening pla...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Acrylic

Magic - Contemporary Abstract Painting
Magic - Contemporary Abstract Painting

Magic - Contemporary Abstract Painting

Located in Carmel, CA

Beth Shields is a distinguished abstract artist whose work has captivated collectors and audiences worldwide. Based in Santa Cruz, California, Beth has dedicated her life to artistic...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Wax, Oil, Graphite

Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, black and white photograph, limited
Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, black and white photograph, limited

Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, black and white photograph, limited

By Gerald Berghammer

Located in Vienna, Vienna

Gerald Berghammer - Black and white cityscape photography. Gondolas docked along a canal with the Basilica di San Giorgio Maggiore, stormy weather. Archival pigment ink print as par...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Art

Materials

Digital Pigment

Woman in Sheer Dress, Silver Gelatin Black & White Photograph by Art Shay
Woman in Sheer Dress, Silver Gelatin Black & White Photograph by Art Shay

Woman in Sheer Dress, Silver Gelatin Black & White Photograph by Art Shay

By Art Shay

Located in Chicago, IL

At what appears to be a costume party, this beautiful woman, draped in a sheer tunic, must have been the center of attention. Dressed as Aphrodite, she clearly commands those around her. With his camera as his constant companion, Shay was able to capture moments of everyday life and make them extraordinary. This artwork is currently unframed. Contact gallery for framing options. Art Shay Woman in Sheer Dress silver gelatin print 20h x 16w in 50.80h x 40.64w cm 7ED.1.20.12005 ASY12005 “Art Shay’s photography shakes you up, sets you down gently, pats you on the head and then kicks you in the ass.” Roger Ebert “[Shay’s work] ranks with some of the greats of the 20th century.” Ellen & Richard Sandor, Renowned photo collectors “I’ve admired Art Shay’s work for almost forty years, and he keeps getting better. He can do anything with a camera, but what he mostly does is capture real moments and transform them into visual poetry. His work continues to be an inspiration to me.” William Friedkin, Director of French Connection “Art Shay is one of our finest photographers. His work over the past fifty years has artfully captured the beauty, humor, and pathos of America.” Studs Terkel “Art Shay is one of the best photojournalists I know. I’ve been a fan of his work since the early 1950s - before the launch of playboy magazine.” Hugh Hefner “Algren, Terkel, Royko, they gave us a voice. Art Shay gave us a face.” Tony Fitzpatrick, Chicago Artist “Art Shay is America’s Cartier-Bresson.” Thomas Dyja, author of The Third Coast “Chicago’s Art Shay in many ways is to American photography what Nelson Algren was to American writing: that rare and absolutely necessary citizen who’s blessed with a cold eye, a clear head, and a warm heart. What is it about Chicago that keeps giving us men like this?” Russell Banks, Novelist “The best images of Simone de Beauvoir and her times have been passed down to us by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Gisele Freund, Robert Doisneau, Georges Brassai, and in America, the Chicago-based Art Shay, all world-class photographers.” Christophe Loviny, Art Editor, Paris “Art Shay is the best photo-journalist Chicago ever produced.” Arthur Siegel, photographer; IIT Institute of Design President “I have one of Art Shay’s pictures over my desk. It reminds me every morning of my Chicago roots. Arts photos, like me, have the Chicago accent, which may be to say he’s telling you the truth. I think it takes a realist to see the humor in things. I know it takes a realist to see the depths of tragedy. Art’s work is so real it feels like a Madison Street guy tapping me on the forearm.” David Mamet

Category

1960s Contemporary Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Painting Large Abstract Figures Animal Nature Soulful Earthy Calm Modern Blue
Painting Large Abstract Figures Animal Nature Soulful Earthy Calm Modern Blue

Painting Large Abstract Figures Animal Nature Soulful Earthy Calm Modern Blue

By Karnish Art

Located in Pretoria, Gauteng

Title: The Guardians of Vision Painting Abstract Figurative Giraffe Nature Blue Earthy Calm Modern Bold Soulful Invest Large Unique One-of-a-kind LARGE ARTWORK This work is part of...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars, Mixed Media, Pastel, Oil

BEYONCE, DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE

BEYONCE, DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE

By Markus Klinko

Located in Austin, TX

Museum quality fine art print of Beyonce by photographer Markus Klinko. Shot in 2003 for the cover of the album, Dangerously In Love This print is available in the following sizes,...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

C Print

Wine Press House in the Wheat Field, Limited Edition Color Landscape Photograph
Wine Press House in the Wheat Field, Limited Edition Color Landscape Photograph

Wine Press House in the Wheat Field, Limited Edition Color Landscape Photograph

By Gerald Berghammer

Located in Vienna, Vienna

Archival pigment ink print, produced in a limited edition of 8 // Gallery ID: 21090 Fine art prints are produced to order on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta. Each print is stamped on the...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Digital Pigment

I am fleeting #12. From I am fleeting Series
I am fleeting #12. From I am fleeting Series

I am fleeting #12. From I am fleeting Series

By Javier Rey

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Is a project that debates through the photographic image, the importance that humans have assigned to ourselves, and proposes a reconciliation with the reality of our own insignifica...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Color, Archival Pigment

La Grande Preugne - by Skadi Engeln Contemporary Abstract Wood Print
La Grande Preugne - by Skadi Engeln Contemporary Abstract Wood Print

La Grande Preugne - by Skadi Engeln Contemporary Abstract Wood Print

Located in DE

Skadi Engeln, a Berlin- and France-based artist, studied sculpture at FH Ottersberg with Robert van de Laar and painting with Michael Kohr and Hermanus Westendorp. Her work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group shows in cities like Berlin, Düsseldorf, Paris, New York, and more, and is part of international collections. Engeln explores landscape as a dynamic, ever-changing entity dissolving into light, water, and weather, only to reassemble itself. Like painting, landscapes blur the line between the visible and the hidden, revealing deeper truths in their transitions. The horizon plays a central role in her work, both separating and connecting what lies above and below, the seen and the concealed. Rather than decoding these layers, she preserves their mystery and beauty. Since 2001, she has focused on abstract landscape painting. Her recent works depict landscapes veiled by lines, stripes, and distortions, creating a sense of distance, like reflections in a train window...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper, Woodcut

"S&S&S&S 26 in Iridescent Aquamarine", Folded Archival Paper, Abstract Patterns
"S&S&S&S 26 in Iridescent Aquamarine", Folded Archival Paper, Abstract Patterns

"S&S&S&S 26 in Iridescent Aquamarine", Folded Archival Paper, Abstract Patterns

By Matt Shlian

Located in Philadelphia, PA

This piece titled "S&S&S&S 26 in Iridescent Aquamarine" is an original piece by Matt Shlian and is made from hand-folded archival paper. This piece measures 32”h x 25”w unframed. As...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Archival Paper

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Winter Sport Athletes

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Winter Sport Athletes

By Mark Beard

Located in New York, NY

Signed in red, u.l. Oil on canvas mounted to Masonite Price includes $650 additional cost of framing. This work is offered by ClampArt in New York City

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Masonite, Oil

Heart Space - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Men, Love, Home
Heart Space - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Men, Love, Home

Heart Space - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Men, Love, Home

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Sam...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Today is a Gift 2 -Contemporary, 21st Century, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women
Today is a Gift 2 -Contemporary, 21st Century, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women

Today is a Gift 2 -Contemporary, 21st Century, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women

Located in Ibadan, Oyo

Learn from the past, Live in the present, Hope for the future, Do your best today, Never give up, Improve your tomorrows. Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nige...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Portrait in Brown, Contemporary Mixed Media Figurative Portrait
Portrait in Brown, Contemporary Mixed Media Figurative Portrait

Portrait in Brown, Contemporary Mixed Media Figurative Portrait

Located in Atlanta, GA

Title: Portrait in Brown Medium: Mixed media on board Size: 12 × 9 inches Portrait in Brown is an expressive contemporary figurative painting by the artist Heritage, created in mixe...

Category

Mid-20th Century Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media

Sunflowers Oil on Canvas Painting, Expressionist Style, 50x50 cm
Sunflowers Oil on Canvas Painting, Expressionist Style, 50x50 cm

Sunflowers Oil on Canvas Painting, Expressionist Style, 50x50 cm

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Natalia Pankova (1965) - Sunflowers - Oil on canvas Oil measurements 50x50 cm. Frameless. This striking piece by Natalia Pankova, a renowned contemporary Russian painter, captures the energy and vitality of a sunflower bouquet in her signature expressionist style. Pankova uses a vibrant palette and dynamic brushstrokes, creating a powerful balance between structure and emotion. The artist draws clear inspiration from masters such as Vincent van Gogh, whose use of color and expressive approach to still life revolutionized the art world, and Paul Cézanne, celebrated for his structural and geometric treatment of still life. Additionally, echoes of Wassily Kandinsky's expressionism can be seen, particularly in the harmonious interplay of shapes and colors. The painting is not framed, offering the buyer the freedom to select a frame that best suits their personal style and space. Perfect for collectors or contemporary art enthusiasts looking for a vibrant and unique piece. An excellent addition to any collection! Natalia Yuryevna Pankova (Russian: Наталия Юрьевна Панкова, Gorky, June 28, 1965) is a Russian painter. Natalia Pankova was born in the city of Gorky in 1965. She finished her studies at the Gorky Art Institute and the Moscow External University of Humanities. Master in art criticism. Member of the Union of Artists of Russia. President of the Directorate of the Nizhny Novgorod Fund “Russian Art” Representative advisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in the city of Nizhny Novgorod for cultural affairs. Natalia Pankova's paintings are in the collections of the Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum The Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Mordovia “S.D. “Erzia” The Chuvash State Art Museum The National Museum of Fine Arts of Algeria Margaret Thatcher Alain Juppé Sergei Kiriyenko Boris Nemtsov Irina Jakamada Frits Philips Mstislav Rostropovich and Galina Vishnevskaya Yuri Bashmet Vladimir Spivakov Bank of Russia He has been exhibiting his work since 1988, during which time he has participated in more than 70 individual exhibitions of artists in Russia and abroad. Among which stand: 1989: Exhibition hall of the Association of Creators “Black...

Category

1990s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Hunt Slonem "Subtle Nature" Bunny
Hunt Slonem "Subtle Nature" Bunny

Hunt Slonem "Subtle Nature" Bunny

By Hunt Slonem

Located in Boston, MA

Artist: Slonem, Hunt Title: Subtle Nature Date: 2025 Medium: Oil on wood Unframed Dimensions: 10" x 8" Framed Dimensions: 14.5" x 12.5" Signature: Signed by Artist on Verso Ed...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Oil

Coral Column
Coral Column

David C. GallupCoral Column, 2022

$44,000Sale Price|20% Off

Coral Column

Located in Palm Desert, CA

Alongside my wife Nansi, I have been lucky to explore some of the most beautiful and pristine coral reefs in the world. People often think we take pictures of the corals and paint them, but that is far from our process, which involves (at least in this case) working from an abstract design and weaving in memories and imagination until I had this image resolved. This painting is scheduled to be a part of our (Nansi’s and mine) international museum exhibition highlighting the beauty and fragility of our coral reef ecosystems, kicking off at the new ICONIC Museum in Texas in 2024. David C. Gallup has devoted his life to the study, teaching, and creation of art. He graduated from Otis/Parsons in Los Angeles in 1990, and soon found himself supervising a staff of over thirty artists under pop art legend Hiro Yamagata on the Earthly Paradise collection and other projects. He began plein-air painting on mornings, weekends and after work, and eventually left his friend and patron Yamagata to pursue a career as a gallery artist. For over a decade, he was the Vice President of the historic California Art Club...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Undivided Lemon, Oil Painting
Undivided Lemon, Oil Painting

Undivided Lemon, Oil Painting

By McGarren Flack

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A solitary lemon rests on a table, exuding a subtle blue glow. Soft light brings out its textured skin, creating a contrast with the shadow that pools beneath...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Oil

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.