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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
"Reverb" by Denzil Forrester (Reggae, Club, Dance, Concert, Print, Drawing)
"Reverb" by Denzil Forrester (Reggae, Club, Dance, Concert, Print, Drawing)

"Reverb" by Denzil Forrester (Reggae, Club, Dance, Concert, Print, Drawing)

Located in New York, NY

This vibrant image is a stellar example of Denzil Forrester’s depictions of dub and reggae clubs – a subject that has been central to his practice since the late 1970's. "I’m interes...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Mirages #10 and #3 Diptych. Landscape architectural color photograph
Mirages #10 and #3 Diptych. Landscape architectural color photograph

Mirages #10 and #3 Diptych. Landscape architectural color photograph

By Javier Rey

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Mirages. The idea of the monumental, utopian and modern city is constantly debated due to its own fragility. The idealization of the city is weak and vulnerable, threatened by the ru...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Color, Archival Pigment

Narcisissistic Mirror, by Yuji Hiratsuka
Narcisissistic Mirror, by Yuji Hiratsuka

Narcisissistic Mirror, by Yuji Hiratsuka

By Yuji Hiratsuka

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Medium: Intaglio and Chine Colle Year: 2021 Image Size: 12 x 9 inches Edition of 15 Signed, titled and numbered by the artist. A young Japanese woman contemplating her image in a mi...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Receptacle #1. From The Vase Series
Receptacle #1. From The Vase Series

Receptacle #1. From The Vase Series

By ALMO 4

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Almo wonders about his identity, the countries he has lived in, his daily routine and how he creates himself. An outsider who has made the world his home, skin, and citizenship, and ...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Prussian Blue Movement #2. From The Prussian Blue Series
Prussian Blue Movement #2. From The Prussian Blue Series

Prussian Blue Movement #2. From The Prussian Blue Series

By ALMO 4

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Almo wonders about his identity, the countries he has lived in, his daily routine and how he creates himself. An outsider who has made the world his home, skin, and citizenship, and ...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Mac II, Charcoal on paper painting (Framed)
Mac II, Charcoal on paper painting (Framed)

Mac II, Charcoal on paper painting (Framed)

By Gonzalo Fuenmayor

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Mac II, 2020 by Gonzalo Fuenmayor Charcoal on paper Image size: 11 in H x 18 in W Frame size: 16 in H x 23 in W x 1.5 in D ___________________ Gonzalo Fuenmayor's work reflects a do...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper, Charcoal

Seascapes 2, 2020 - Grass and Flowers under Tree Canopy in Woodland Forest

Seascapes 2, 2020 - Grass and Flowers under Tree Canopy in Woodland Forest

By Ellie Davies

Located in Brighton, GB

Seascapes 2, 2020 - Grass and Flowers under Tree Canopy in Woodland Forest by Ellie Davies Seascapes 2 by Ellie Davies is a stunning Digital C-Type Print on Fuji Maxima Matte paper,...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Photographic Paper, Digital, C Print, Color

Abstract Head Looking Right and Left. From The Head Series
Abstract Head Looking Right and Left. From The Head Series

Abstract Head Looking Right and Left. From The Head Series

By ALMO 4

Located in Miami Beach, FL

​Whether they are symbols, dreams or marks of the life of each of us. The artist's work often features heads, floating bodies, trees, dollar signs, cars, laurel branches, and symboli...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Acrylic, Canvas

Girlfriend, Portfolio of 9 Portraits, From The Girlfriend series, B&W photograph
Girlfriend, Portfolio of 9 Portraits, From The Girlfriend series, B&W photograph

Girlfriend, Portfolio of 9 Portraits, From The Girlfriend series, B&W photograph

By Michael James O’Brien

Located in Miami Beach, FL

Men, Women, and Drag, draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural commentary. O’Brien's photographss highlig his ability to capture the human experience with depth and nuance. His involvement in activism, particularly with HIV/AIDS awareness and support, further informs his artistic perspective, making his work both impactful and deeply personal. Michael James O’Brien draws inspiration from his diverse roles as a photographer, poet, and activist. His work often intersects with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural commentary. O'Brien produced a diverse body of photographic work, from still lifes and portraits to art documentation. He still uses film and works in medium and large formats. His themes are not classical, the artist prefers to portray extraordiary beuty, transgender people and still lifes. The artist's images have a sense of discovery and loss; absence and presence. From the Series Girlfriend Printed on Hahnemuhle fine art photo rag paper Dimension for each print is 22 in. H x 17 in. W (The overall size composition of the entire portfolio is: 66 in. H x 51 in. W) Limited Edition of 10 + 2AP All these portraits were made on tri-x BW film with a Pentax 6 x 7 photographed in Natural Light. 1. Lavinia (Girlfriend), NYC, 1992 “I came to Manhattan with just a handbag” - Lavinia Co-op 2. Ebony Jet (Girlfriend), NYC, 1992 “We’re all born naked, everything else is drag” - RuPaul Charles 3. Miss Guy (Girlfriend), NYC, 1992 “You’ve got your mother in a whirl; she’s not sure if you’re a boy or a girl.” - David Bowie, Rebel, Rebel 4. Ming Vauze (Benjamin Liu) NYC, 1992 “Impersonation is the supreme act of creation.” - Yukio Mishima...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Archival Pigment, Black and White

San Marco #2, by Mario Teleri Biason
San Marco #2, by Mario Teleri Biason

San Marco #2, by Mario Teleri Biason

By Mario Teleri Biason

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Signed and numbered by the artist, unique etching with hand coloring. This is based on one section of the larger work, the artist book/wall hanging "endless". "This print is ded...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Art

Materials

Etching

Nothin
Nothin

Nothin

By Joseph Havel

Located in Houston, TX

Joseph Havel Nothin, 2008 Double woven silk taffeta labels, acrylic construction, plywood 24 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Art

Materials

Fabric, Plexiglass, Plywood

Kate Moss
Kate Moss

Kate Moss

By Annie Kevans

Located in New York, NY

Listing includes framing, free shipping to continental US and a 14-day return policy. Kate Moss by Annie Kevans 20 x 16 inch paper 16 x 20 inch image Archival pigment print Edition 15 of 50 Signed and edition on the front of the print Frame is in fair condition and is included for free due the condition issues. The print itself is in excellent condition. If you would like the print sent unframed the cost is the same. Please let us know if you would prefer to have us ship the print unframed. Artist Biography - Kevans’ paintings reflect her interests in power, manipulation and the role of the individual in inherited belief systems. She looks at alternative histories and how they relate to current issues and creates what she describes as ‘anti-portraits’ that may or may not be based on real documentation. She believes that, as her work is concept driven, sometimes the actual similarity to the person depicted in the work is irrelevant. This can be seen in her 'Boys' series which is not about portraying dictators as they really looked as children but rather about the notion of the ‘innocent child’ which has influenced images of children in art...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment

Owlphabet, etching by Kelvin Mann
Owlphabet, etching by Kelvin Mann

Owlphabet, etching by Kelvin Mann

By Kelvin Mann

Located in Palm Springs, CA

This print relates to a complete series of 26 letters done for his Alphabet portfolio. A close look at the feathers shows letters, spelling Owlphabet. The owl and other animals form ...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Cider forest V (diptych) - Contemporary, Landscape, Beige, Brown, Trees, Nature
Cider forest V (diptych) - Contemporary, Landscape, Beige, Brown, Trees, Nature

Cider forest V (diptych) - Contemporary, Landscape, Beige, Brown, Trees, Nature

By Ioan Sbârciu

Located in Baden-Baden, DE

Cider forest V (diptych), 2006 Mixed technique: acrylic paint, sparkle, white powder mounted on wooden panel 30.7 H x 94.48 W in ( 30.7 H x 47.24 W in each) 78 H x 240 W cm (78 H x 120 W each) Signed on each panel " 'Cider Forest' series is an artistic project carried out by Ioan Sbârciu...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic

The Expulsion, by Stan Washburn
The Expulsion, by Stan Washburn

The Expulsion, by Stan Washburn

By Stan Washburn 1

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Medium: Etching Edition of 120 Year: 1977 ImageSize: 2.5 x 4.5 inches Signed, titled and numbered etching from the edition of 90. A bemused ram stands by in the center, while God is...

Category

1970s Contemporary Art

Materials

Etching

Solicitor's Head
Solicitor's Head

Solicitor's Head

By Lucian Freud

Located in New York, NY

Lucian Freud Solicitor's Head 2003 Etching on Somerset soft white paper 23 1/4 x 19 inches; 59 x 48 cm Edition of 46 Initialed and numbered in graphite (lower recto) Frame available upon request Published by Matthew Marks Gallery...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Art

Materials

Etching

Hotel Chelsea, New York
Hotel Chelsea, New York

Hotel Chelsea, New York

By Victoria Cohen

Located in Miami Beach, FL

These extraordinary photographs are part of the the Hotel Chelsea series. The Hotel Chelsea closed its doors for the first time in its iconic history of over one hundred years. American photographer Victoria Cohen...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

C Print

Still life with Tulips, Garden Gloves and a Fluted Opalina Vase, Antwerp, Photo
Still life with Tulips, Garden Gloves and a Fluted Opalina Vase, Antwerp, Photo

Still life with Tulips, Garden Gloves and a Fluted Opalina Vase, Antwerp, Photo

By Michael James O’Brien

Located in Miami Beach, FL

O'brian's staged photographs masterfully balance organic forms with the geometric structure of books, vases, and other objects. The simplicity of the setting highlights the vibrant s...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Color, Archival Pigment

Probability Deep Blue 4 - elegant, curved, abstract, glass, wall sculpture
Probability Deep Blue 4 - elegant, curved, abstract, glass, wall sculpture

Probability Deep Blue 4 - elegant, curved, abstract, glass, wall sculpture

By John Paul Robinson

Located in Bloomfield, ON

John Paul Robinson creates original contemporary wall sculptures from coloured glass that are filled with light. This piece features elegant arched deep blue tubes of glass that are polished to a smooth finish and overlap one another to create a dynamic composition. The Canadian artist often explores themes related to how the world works. This is one of a series intended to represent the dual nature of light as both a particle and a wave. In physics, the wave nature of light is referred to as a "probability wave". “The thickness of the glass and curvature of the lens conspire to create their own optical effect. As your gaze moves across the piece it causes the small grains of coloured glass to shift just a bit. Starry Starry Night...

Category

2010s Contemporary Art

Materials

Steel

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.