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Neo-Expressionist Art

NEO-EXPRESSIONIST STYLE

A resurgence of interest in Expressionism, Pop art, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism and other movements gained steam among artists of the 1970s and ’80s, in part as a reaction to the austerity of the prevailing minimalism and Conceptual art of the era. A decadent, bold and brash art style called Neo-Expressionism saw painters returning to figural representation, creating highly textured works that were imbued with intensely personal narratives.

Neo-Expressionist paintings are sensuous in nature and highly subjective in meaning. Expressive brushwork, highly pigmented colors and layered forms and materials lent sculptural attributes to the work and were used to depict symbolic narratives from history, mythology and the artist’s personal experience. 

Prominent figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat led the Neo-Expressionist movement in the United States with paintings and prints that were raw, emotional and often violent in nature. In Germany, Die Neuen Wilden (the “New Fauves”) was the name given to a group of postwar artists that included the likes of sculptor Georg Baselitz and Gerhard Richter, a painter and photographer who explored the possibilities of both abstraction and realism, sometimes in a single piece. The work of the New Fauves — labeled as such for its return to Fauvism’s textured brushwork and use of vibrant colors — shares commonalities with Neo-Expressionism, and Baselitz was a pioneer of the movement in Europe. In addition, Willem de Kooning’s pulsating action paintings and Julian Schnabel’s experimentation with the materiality of paintings also took shape during this period.

“I was trying to make paintings different from the paintings that I saw a lot of at the time, which were mostly minimal, and they were highbrow and alienating, and I wanted to make very direct paintings that most people would feel the emotion behind when they saw them,” said Basquiat. 

Neo-Expressionism generated some polarizing opinions, with some celebrating the revival of personal subjectivity in art while others criticizing the movement for being too commercially driven and nostalgic. But most experts agree that Neo-Expressionism was a huge commercial success and culturally impactful, paving the way for the postmodern work of artists like Richter and Sigmar Polke

Find original Neo-Expressionist paintings, prints, mixed-media works and other art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Neo-Expressionist
Untitled
Untitled

Untitled

Located in New York, NY

This sophisticated lithograph was executed by the renowned visual artist Peter Eugene Ball circa 1970. Realized in black and white, it depicts a styl...

Category

1970s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

"Stop The Hatred". Contemporary Neo Expressionist Oil Painting
"Stop The Hatred". Contemporary Neo Expressionist Oil Painting

"Stop The Hatred". Contemporary Neo Expressionist Oil Painting

By Sax Berlin

Located in Brecon, Powys

This is such a pertinent piece from Sax Berlin. Nobody else painting today melds generations  and genres in this way; 60's colours, 70's glam, 80's street, 90's hip- hop and 21st cen...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Wise Up We All From Africa. Large Neo Expressionist Painting
Wise Up We All From Africa. Large Neo Expressionist Painting

Wise Up We All From Africa. Large Neo Expressionist Painting

By Sax Berlin

Located in Brecon, Powys

Painted in Sax Berlin's iconic Sharp Edge style, Wise Up displays motif's from Africa, see the display of flags at the bottom of the canvas for example, and instantly recognisable sy...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Liberty Now! " Large Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting
"Liberty Now! " Large Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting

"Liberty Now! " Large Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting

By Sax Berlin

Located in Brecon, Powys

This piece is stoked with imagery and icons. Immediately recognisable in this painting are the Statue of Liberty, and the Guardian Angels, but there are other, more subtle images thr...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

New Star
New Star

New Star

By Ford Crull

Located in Brooklyn, NY

“My work can be understood through the mind, but it is best felt with the heart, experienced through the emotions, recognized as a manifestation of the spiritual that is born on the ...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Ecstasy:  Contemporary Neo Expressionist Oil Painting
Ecstasy:  Contemporary Neo Expressionist Oil Painting

Ecstasy: Contemporary Neo Expressionist Oil Painting

By Sax Berlin

Located in Brecon, Powys

This painting from Sax Berlin's studio overlooking the wild Atlantic Ocean captures the essence of ecstasy. It's imbued with the hot sense of the urgency and frenetic energy of New Y...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic

Still life  1986. 1/21. Paper, etching, aquatint, 31x40 cm
Still life  1986. 1/21. Paper, etching, aquatint, 31x40 cm

Still life 1986. 1/21. Paper, etching, aquatint, 31x40 cm

Located in Riga, LV

Still life 1986. 1/21. Paper, etching, aquatint, 31x40 cm Ivars Poikans 1952. Riga Ivars Poikāns works in painting, graphics, book illustration, cinema art. Born on October 24, 19...

Category

1980s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Etching, Aquatint

Garfields Muscular Hello

Garfields Muscular Hello

By Olivia Gibb

Located in Kansas City, MO

Title : Sylvester Admiring His Knockers Materials : stamps, ink, crayon,marker,pen Date : 2017 Dimensions : 8.5x11"

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Untitled
Untitled

Peter Robert KeilUntitled, 1987

$1,400Sale Price|22% Off

Untitled

By Peter Robert Keil

Located in Summit, NJ

Great piece by Peter Keil. The piece is from his family's private collection. It is framed in its original gold wood frame with a linen liner. Background is a beautiful blue with ma...

Category

1980s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

"Cow and Ballerina, " Painted Wood Sculpture signed by Schomer Lichtner
"Cow and Ballerina, " Painted Wood Sculpture signed by Schomer Lichtner

"Cow and Ballerina, " Painted Wood Sculpture signed by Schomer Lichtner

By Schomer Lichtner

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Cow and Ballerina" is an original painted wood sculpture by Schomer Lichtner. It features a high-kicking ballerina standing on the back of a cow. The artist signed the piece. 36" x 61" x 26" art Milwaukee artist, Schomer Lichtner passed away on May 9, 2006 at the age of 101. He continued to amaze and create with his whimsical paintings of ballerinas and cows. He and his late wife Ruth Grotenrath, both well-known Wisconsin artists, began their prolific careers as muralists for WPA projects, primarily post offices. Schomer Lichtner was well known for his whimsical cows and ballerinas, such as his "Ballerina Dancing on Cow" sculpture below. The late James Auer, art critic for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel referred to Lichtner as the artist laureate of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the official artist of the Milwaukee Ballet. Lichtner also painted murals for industry and private clients. Schomer was a printmaker and produced block prints, lithographs, and serigraph prints. His casein (paint made from dairy products) and acrylic paintings are of the rural Wisconsin landscape and farm animals. He became interested in cows when he and Ruth spent summers near Holy Hill in Washington County. According to David Gordon, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, Schomer Lichtner had a tremendous joie de vivre, " joy of life," and expressed it in his art. Schomer Lichtner was nationally known for his whimsical paintings and sculptures of black- and white-patterned Holstein cows...

Category

1990s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

Most Young Kings Get Their Head Cut Off
Most Young Kings Get Their Head Cut Off

Most Young Kings Get Their Head Cut Off

By Sax Berlin

Located in Brecon, Powys

This is a stunning, subtle painting from Sax Berlin that evokes the phrase used by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Berlin's interpretation of the quotation draws on his own personal knowledge ...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic

Portfolio 10 Master Prints #5
Portfolio 10 Master Prints #5

Portfolio 10 Master Prints #5

By Sandro Chia

Located in Hollywood, FL

Artist: Sandro Chia Title: Untitled 5 Medium: Carborundum etching with hand coloring on handmade paper, each piece is unique Size: 39 x 49 Inches Signed: Hand Signed Edition: 31/50...

Category

1980s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

"Basket Weave Bacon Bowl, " Yellow Ceramic with Bacon signed by Michael Gross
"Basket Weave Bacon Bowl, " Yellow Ceramic with Bacon signed by Michael Gross

"Basket Weave Bacon Bowl, " Yellow Ceramic with Bacon signed by Michael Gross

By Michael Gross

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Basket Weave Bacon Bowl" is an original ceramic by Michael Gross. The artist signed and dated the piece on the bottom. It features images of bacon on yellow. 8 1/2" x 9 1/2" x 6" art The ceramic sculptures of Wisconsin artist Michael Gross are personal narratives that reveal an unusual mix of earthly magic and primal vitality. The artist works in a variety of forms, including figurines, large vessels and furniture. With over a dozen museum exhibitions under his belt, the artist is a regular exhibitor at SOFA in New York...

Category

1980s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Ceramic

Triple Halo Lil' Angel of SoHo
Triple Halo Lil' Angel of SoHo

Triple Halo Lil' Angel of SoHo

By Sax Berlin

Located in Brecon, Powys

Truly an exceptional, statement piece from Berlin. His Lil’ Angel is perhaps the most eyecatching and iconic of his works depicting the Guardian Angels. The Guardian Angels loomed la...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic

"Untitled Vase, " Neo-Expressionist Ceramic Vase signed by Michael Gross
"Untitled Vase, " Neo-Expressionist Ceramic Vase signed by Michael Gross

"Untitled Vase, " Neo-Expressionist Ceramic Vase signed by Michael Gross

By Michael Gross

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Untitled Vase" is an original ceramic vase by Michael Gross. It features abstracted and grotesque figures on a yellow ground. 11 1/2" x 4 1/2" art The ceramic sculptures of Wisconsin artist Michael Gross are personal narratives that reveal an unusual mix of earthly magic and primal vitality. The artist works in a variety of forms, including figurines, large vessels and furniture. With over a dozen museum exhibitions under his belt, the artist is a regular exhibitor at SOFA in New York...

Category

1980s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Ceramic

Born In the Night. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting
Born In the Night. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting

Born In the Night. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting

By Sax Berlin

Located in Brecon, Powys

When Sax Berlin experiences the desire to lay something down he's unstoppable. This piece was created from an initial impulse of red. He laid down the base of reds and retired for so...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Animal Rights
Animal Rights

Animal Rights

By Sax Berlin

Located in Brecon, Powys

When Muhammad Ali appears in your dreams there's bound to be a message! As a compassionate man Berlin feels strongly about many of the issues that affect our world. Animal Rights...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Meso Painting
Meso Painting

Ford CrullMeso Painting, 1998

$7,200Sale Price|20% Off

Meso Painting

By Ford Crull

Located in Brooklyn, NY

“My work can be understood through the mind, but it is best felt with the heart, experienced through the emotions, recognized as a manifestation of the spiritual that is born on the ...

Category

1990s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Enamel

Songbirds Sing
Songbirds Sing

Ford CrullSongbirds Sing

$17,600Sale Price|20% Off

Songbirds Sing

By Ford Crull

Located in Brooklyn, NY

“My work can be understood through the mind, but it is best felt with the heart, experienced through the emotions, recognized as a manifestation of the spiritual that is born on the ...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

21st Century Wild Man. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting
21st Century Wild Man. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting

21st Century Wild Man. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting

By Sax Berlin

Located in Brecon, Powys

With his Sharp Edge 21st Century Neo-Expressionist New York City Style series Berlin gifts us the fruits of complete abandonment in paint. He offers these works that map the evolutio...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Guardian Sista. Acrylic Neo Expressionist Painting
Guardian Sista. Acrylic Neo Expressionist Painting

Guardian Sista. Acrylic Neo Expressionist Painting

By Sax Berlin

Located in Brecon, Powys

New York City has immersed Berlin in the whole vibe of the street culture that existed in the city at that time. Guardian Sista pays tribute to the women who were an integral part of...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Neo-expressionist art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Neo-Expressionist 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, orange, purple, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Hunt Slonem, Enzio Wenk, Sax Berlin, and Jean Sanglar. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Acrylic Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Neo-Expressionist art, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available. Prices for art made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $39 and tops out at $215,000, while the average work sells for $3,444.