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
Period: 1950s
Midnight Madness - Witches on Night Flight
Located in Miami, FL
Pioneering female illustrator Gwenda Morgan creates an exuberantly complex image of a squad of broom-riding - pointed-hatted witches with black cats in tow. They fly through an inky black moonlit sky and are witnessed by only a rooftop owl. With the simple means of black and white, Morgan has rendered a highly charged composition that pluses with electricity. The whole image is on the cusp of being abstract while being representational. It is brilliantly designed with great attention to detail and is evocative of a sorcerer's malignant powers. Unframed. not signed
Printed from the original block as part of the suite of 8 prints that accompanied the limited edition book Diary of a Land Girl, Whittington Press, 2000. The suite of prints was included with the first 50 copies of the book, and a further 8 suites were printed, from which this print comes.
Gwenda Morgan (1 February 1908 – 1991) was a British wood engraver. She lived in the town of Petworth in West Sussex.
Early life
Morgan was born in Petworth, her father having moved there to work at the ironmongers, Austen & Co, of which he later became proprietor. He was the son of a Welsh-born military farrier.
Education
Following school in Petworth and at Brighton and Hove High School, Morgan, studied at Goldsmiths' College of Art in London from 1926. From 1930 she attended the Grosvenor School of Modern Art in Pimlico where she was taught and strongly influenced by the principal, Iain Macnab. The Grosvenor School was a progressive art school and the championing of wood engraving and linocuts fitted with its democratic approach to the arts.
Works
Morgan was commissioned to illustrate a number of books published by private presses. For the Samson Press she produced the frontispiece for Duke Hamilton...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Woodcut
Portrait of a Young Woman
By Béla Czóbel
Located in London, GB
BELA CZOBEL 1883-1976
1883 - Budapest-1976 (Hungarian)
Title: Portrait of a Young Woman
Technique: Original Hand Signed Pencil Drawing on paper
size: 28.3 x 21 cm / 11.3 x 8.6 in...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Pencil
Marlon Brando Kissing Dog, Libertyville, IL 1950 - Large Format Black & White
By Art Shay
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a large scale black and white photo of Marlon Brando as a young man at his family farm with his dog. In 1951 Life Magazine asked Art Shay to photograph Marlon Brando at his family home in Libertyville, IL. This is one of the photos from that shoot. In 2000, Art Shay published Album for an Age: Unconventional Words and Pictures from the Twentieth Century. This artwork is matted and framed.
Art Shay
Marlon Brando Kissing Dog...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Eyeball Freak, Circus Side Show Curiosity, Silver Gelatin Print, Framed, 1952
By Art Shay
Located in Chicago, IL
“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 20...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Autograph Letter by Piero Dorazio - 1950s - Contemporary
Located in Roma, IT
L.A.S. (Lettre Autographe Signée) Autograph Letter Signed by P. Dorazio, to the Countess A.L. Pecci-Blunt. On Letterhead “Piero Dorazio 16 Piazza Armellini – Roma”. Rome, 27th March ...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Paper
Chevau Léger Français - Vintage Poster - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Chevau Léger Français is a vintage poster designed by I.Sosteni, printed in Italy by Aga Cuneo" Edizione Aga il Portichetto".
Good condition.
The rare edition poster in the silver ...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Offset
Jayne Mansfield with Seagrams Dogs (Limited Edition of 10, No 6-10) - 30"x40"
By Barry Kramer
Located in New York, NY
Shot by Barry Kramer (1921- 1984), one of the most prolific photographers of his time, captures the essence of 1950's Hollywood movie star, Jane Mansfield...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Archival Pigment
Frank Sinatra and Lauren Bacall at Villa Capri
By Frank Worth
Located in Austin, TX
Frank Sinatra and Lauren Bacall smiling while having a meal at a cafe, 1957.
Frank Sinatra was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and later called...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Still Life - 1950s - Pio Semeghini - Painting - Contemporary
Located in Roma, IT
Hand signed and dated by the artist lower right. Includes a beautiful contemporary wooden gilded frame. In excellent conditions.
References:
- Catalogo della mostra di Pio Semeghini...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Oil, Wood
Angels of Canova - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1950s
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Angels of Canova is a pencil drawing on paper realized by an anonymous artist in the mid-20th century.
Good conditions with slight folding.
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Pencil
Flower Angel
By Andy Warhol
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Andy Warhol is arguably the most important American artist of the 20th century. In the 1950s, he was an in-demand and celebrated illustrator working for New York's toniest publicatio...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Watercolor, Lithograph, Offset
Historical Photo - Lagaillarde, Crespin, Richaud, Laborde - vintage photo- 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Historical Photo - Lagaillarde, Crespin, Richaud, Laborde is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the 1950s.
Good conditions and aged.
It belongs to a historical album inc...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Nude - Guzzi Beppe - Vintage Photo - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Nude- Guzzi Beppe is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the 1954.
Good conditions, with some decoloration spots and aged margins.
It belongs to a historical album includ...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Marc Chagall 'Hannah Prays to the Lord' 1956 Etching
By Marc Chagall
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Marc Chagall
Title: Hannah Prays to The Lord
Year: 1956
Dimensions: 16.12" W: 12.37"
Medium: Etching, Unsigned
Condition: Excellent
After Chagall completed his etchings for ...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Etching
LA DEMONSTRATION (TITRE AU DOS)
Located in Aventura, FL
Original oil on canvas painting. Hand signed, titled and dated on verso by Roberto Matta. Frame size approx 38 x 46 inches.
Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of A...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Marc Chagall 'Jacob Pleurant Joseph (Jacob Weeps for Joseph), 1956
By Marc Chagall
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Description
Artist: Marc Chagall
Title: Jacob Weeps for Joseph
Year: 1956
Dimensions: 16.12" W: 12.37"
Medium: Etching, Unsigned
Condition: Excellent
After Chagall completed his etc...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Etching
Doris Day - Vintage Photo - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Doris Day is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1950s.
Good conditions.
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Old Days - Clock Making in Hong Kong - Vintage Photo - 1958
Located in Roma, IT
Old Days - Clock Making in Hong Kong 1958 is a black and white vintage photo, realized in 1958.
It belongs to a historical album including historical moments, royal families, and...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Old Days - A Woman with her Seven Children and two Stewardesses... - 1956
Located in Roma, IT
Old Days - A Woman with her Seven Children and two Stewardesses posing near the Steps of a Lai plane is a vintage black and white photograph realized in 1956.
Good conditions.
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Ralph Buche Winner of 1950 Noble Peace Prize - Vintage Photo - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Ralph Buche winner of the 1950 Noble Peace Prize is a black and white vintage photo.
It belongs to a historical album including historical moments, royal families, and political eve...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Composition by Arikha Avigdor - Post-war and Contemporary gouache, c. 1955
Located in London, GB
Composition by Arikha Avigdor (1929-2010)
Gouache on paper
39 x 75 cm (15 ³/₈ x 29 ¹/₂ inches)
Signed lower right
Executed circa 1955
This work is an fine example of the Avigdor’s a...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Paper, Gouache
Emilio Lussu - Vintage Photo - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Emilio Lussu is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1950s.
Good conditions.
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Landscape in Luzern - Vintage Photo - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Landscape in Luzern is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1950s.
Good conditions.
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Old Days - Vintage Photo - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Old Days is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1950s.
Good conditions.
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Ann Baxter and Richard Todd - Vintage Photo - 1957
Located in Roma, IT
A Scene on the Set of "Don Giovanni" by Joseph Losey is a vintage black and white photograph realized in 1979.
Good conditions.
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Eve Arnold - Marilyn Monroe reading Ulysses, Photography 1955, Printed After
By Eve Arnold
Located in Greenwich, CT
"Marilyn Monroe reading Ulysses by
James Joyce, New York, Long Island, 1955."
All available sizes and editions:
24" x 20", Edition of 25 + 3 Artist Proofs
34" x 24", Edition of 25 +...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Paper, Cotton
Eve Arnold - Charlotte Stribling (also known as Fabulous), 1950, Printed After
By Eve Arnold
Located in Greenwich, CT
All available sizes and editions:
24" x 20", Edition of 25 + 3 Artist Proofs
34" x 24", Edition of 25 + 3 Artist Proofs
"Eve Arnold, born in 1912 to Russian-immigrant parents in Ph...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Cotton, Paper
Eve Arnold - Bar girl in a brothel, Photography 1954, Printed After
By Eve Arnold
Located in Greenwich, CT
A model in Harlem, New York City in 1968.
All available sizes and editions:
20" x 24", Edition of 25 + 3 Artist Proofs
24" x 34", Edition of 25 + 3 Artist Proofs
"Eve Arnold, born ...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Cotton, Paper
Eve Arnold - Two young models check their make-up, 1950, Printed After
By Eve Arnold
Located in Greenwich, CT
Two young models check their make-up backstage at a local fashion show at the Abyssinian Church in Harlem, New York City in 1950.
All available sizes and editions:
24" x 20", Editio...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Paper, Cotton
Eve Arnold - Black is beautiful, Photography 1968, Printed After
By Eve Arnold
Located in Greenwich, CT
Black is beautiful, New York City, USA in 1968.
All available sizes and editions:
24" x 20", Edition of 25 + 3 Artist Proofs
34" x 24", Edition of 25 + 3 Artist Proofs
"Eve Arnold,...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Paper, Cotton
Eve Arnold - Marilyn Monroe in Long Island, Photography 1955, Printed After
By Eve Arnold
Located in Greenwich, CT
Marilyn Monroe in Long Island, New York in 1955
All available sizes and editions:
24" x 20", Edition of 25 + 3 Artist Proofs
34" x 24", Edition of 25 + 3 Artist Proofs
"Eve Arnold,...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Cotton, Paper
Elvis Presley and Sweetheart on Motorcycle
By Bob Williams
Located in Austin, TX
A Vintage 1957 image depicting music's new sensation Elvis Presley on his brand new Harley Davidson FLH in front of his new mansion home, Graceland. With him is his girlfriend actres...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Swing, Black and White Portrait Photo of Child and Gaudi Cathedral Barcelona
By Burt Glinn
Located in New york, NY
Burt Glinn's The Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Swing, 1959, is a gelatin silver print, 20 x 16, signed and stamped print, authenticated by the estate. A young girl swings carefree agai...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Partisan - Lithograph by Giacomo Manzù - 1954
Located in Roma, IT
Edition of 100.
Hand signed and numbered.
Very good condition.
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Lithograph
Untitled - Mixed Media by Ben Shahn - 1950s
By Ben Shahn
Located in Roma, IT
Untitled is an drawing realized by Ben Shahn (Kovno 1898-New York 1969)
Pen drawing on paper applied on canvas.
Hand-signed lower right: Ben Shahn.
Some light folds and discoloring...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Canvas, Mixed Media, Paper
Untitled - Drawing by Cristian Uboldi - 1952
Located in Roma, IT
Untitled is a drawing, realized in 1952, by the Artist Cristian Uboldi.
Black and white mixed media on paper. Hand Signed and dated on the right corner.
The artist wants to def...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Mixed Media
Young Price Charles of Wales - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Young Price Charles is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the 1950s. It belongs to historical album including photo reportages of historical moment and political events, me...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Historical Photo - Viva Fidel - 1956
Located in Roma, IT
Historical Photo - Viva Fidel is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the 1956. It belongs to historical album including photo reportages of historical moment and political e...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Raoul Salan - Portrait - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of Raoul Salan is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1950s.
Good conditions.
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Raoul Salan - Portrait - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Raoul Salan is a vintage black and white photograph realized in the 1960s.
Good conditions.
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Alexandra Princess of Kent - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Alexandra Princess of Kent is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the 1950s. It belongs to historical album including photo reportages of historical moment and political eve...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Vintage Photograph of Painting at MET - 1953
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Photograph of Painting at MET is a black and white vintage photo realized by an anonymous artist in 1953.
Good condition.
The artwork belongs to a series of photos which ...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Home in the Desert - Painting by Mario Asnago - 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Home in the desert is an artwork realized by Mario Asnago (Barlassina, 25 March 1896 – Monza, 28 January 1981).
Oil paiting on canvas.
107 x 85 cm; framed.
Hand signed in the lo...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Untitled - Mixed Media by Ezio Bruno Caraceni - 1956
Located in Roma, IT
Untitled is an artwork realized by Ezio Bruno Caraceni, in 1956.
Mixed media on canvas, 52 x 67 cm.
Hand signed and dated bottom right.
Good conditions
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Mixed Media
Letter U - Lithograph and Screen Print by Erté - 1950
Located in Roma, IT
Hand signed and numbered. Edition of 350 prints. Near perfect conditions.
From the suite "Alphabet". Edition 191/350.
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Screen, Lithograph
Sidereus Nuncius - Etching by Pierre-Yves Trémois - 1955
Located in Roma, IT
Le Messager Sidéral (Sidereus Nuncius) is an etching on paper, realized in 1955 by the French artist Pierre-Yves Trémois (Paris, 1921).
From Edition of 140 copies of the Suite "Cyn...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Etching
Elizabeth Taylor, B & W Photograph of Glam Hollywood Star on the Beach 1950s
By Burt Glinn
Located in New york, NY
Elizabeth Taylor, 1959 by Burt Glinn is a black-and-white photograph shot on film a portrait of Elizabeth Taylor on the beach during the filming of the adaptation of Tennessee Willia...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
James Dean in Restroom
By Frank Worth
Located in Austin, TX
Hilarious black and white candid shot of actor James Dean talking on the phone while using the restroom.
James Dean was an American actor. He is remembered as a cultural icon of te...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Elvis Presley: The Kiss
By Lloyd Dinkins
Located in Austin, TX
A vintage 1956 photograph featuring the King, Elvis Presley puckering his lips as he kisses the lens in this fantastic shot. This rare photo is a second-generation example made after...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Murray Garrett 'Frank Sinatra' Limited Edition Photograph by Getty, 16x20
Located in San Rafael, CA
American singer and actor Frank Sinatra (1915 - 1998) gestures with his hands while singing into a microphone during a recording session in a studio at Capitol Records, early 1950s. ...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Archival Paper, Silver Gelatin
Yeshiva Boys, Black-and-White Photography 1950s Jewish Diaspora Brooklyn, USA
Located in New york, NY
Yeshiva Boys, 1954 is a black-and-white photograph of two young studious boys behind a glass door, an entrance to a Brooklyn brownstone in New York City. A gelatin silver lifetime pr...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Photographic Paper, Photographic Film, Silver Gelatin
Bouquet by Hugues Pissarro dit Pomié - Contemporary still life painting
Located in London, GB
Bouquet by Hugues Pissarro dit Pomié (b. 1935)
Oil on canvas
80 x 40 cm (31 ¹/₂ x 15 ³/₄ inches)
Signed lower right, Hugues Pissarro
Executed circa 1959-60
This work is accompanied ...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Albert Einstein - Etching by Pierre-Yves Trémois - 1955
Located in Roma, IT
Albert Einstein is an etching on paper, realized in 1955 by the French artist Pierre-Yves Trémois (Paris, 1921).
From Edition of 140 copies of the Suite "Cynégétique", including 3...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Etching
Frank Sinatra Standing with T-Bird
By Frank Worth
Located in Austin, TX
Stunning black and white capture of jazz musician and singer Frank Sinatra leaning against a classic T-Bird.
Francis Albert Sinatra was an American singer, actor, and producer who ...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Archival Pigment, Archival Paper, Archival Ink, Digital
Elizabeth Taylor with Sunglasses for "Giant"
By Frank Worth
Located in Austin, TX
This iconic and elegant portrait captured by celebrity photographer Frank Worth features actress Elizabeth Taylor on the set of the film "Giant" for her role as character Leslie Bene...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Elizabeth Taylor with Vintage Camera
By Frank Worth
Located in Austin, TX
Actress Elizabeth Taylor takes a photo with a Rollieflex twin lens medium format reflex camera wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses and smoking a cigarette on the set of the movie 'Gi...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Elizabeth Taylor with Lasso
By Frank Worth
Located in Austin, TX
This stunning colored image features the lovely Elizabeth Taylor spinning a lasso on the set of the 1956 film "Giant". Sprawling epic covering the life of a Texas cattle rancher and ...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Digital, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Galileo Galilei - Etching by Pierre-Yves Trémois - 1955
Located in Roma, IT
Galilée is an etching on paper, realized in 1955 by the French artist Pierre-Yves Trémois (Paris, 1921).
From Edition of 140 copies of the Suite "Cynégétique", including 31 origin...
Category
1950s Contemporary Art
Materials
Etching
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.
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