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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
Coupe d'Abondance
Coupe d'Abondance

Evelyne BallestraCoupe d'Abondance, 2023

$3,744

Coupe d'Abondance

By Evelyne Ballestra

Located in Miami, FL

Born 1949, Fréjus, France French artist Evelyne Ballestra studied painting in the South of France before moving to Switzerland where she met her mentor, Rolf Dürig, a master of the ...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Instant Society Street Art Basquiat Style
Instant Society Street Art Basquiat Style

Diego TirigallInstant Society Street Art Basquiat Style, 2022

$2,200

Instant Society Street Art Basquiat Style

Located in OIA, ES

"Nestcafe Society" and Corporate Ideals A striking painting by Diego Tirigall prompts deep thoughts about the relationship between appearances and reality. The painting features a rough sketch of a well-known instant coffee brand logo with words "N3stcafe Society" beneath it. This serves as a powerful symbol of the illusions that society and corporate ideals can create. The Illusion of High-Quality Coffee The painting highlights the gap between the promise of high-quality coffee and the reality of mass-produced, preservative-filled coffee packaged in an industrial jar. The large axe that cuts through the words "N3stcafe Society" symbolizes the destruction of these false promises and the consequences of pretending to be something one is not. The red coffee jar...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Enamel

Suicide

Richard BosmanSuicide, 1980-81

$1,200

Suicide

By Richard Bosman

Located in New York, NY

Richard Bosman (b. 1944) is a painter and printmaker known for his woodcuts depicting turbulent seascapes. He studied at Bryam Shaw School of Painting and Drawing in London, The New ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

The nature explode * 1986. Aquatint, etching on paper 9/13. 41x58 cm

Ivars PoikansThe nature explode * 1986. Aquatint, etching on paper 9/13. 41x58 cm, 1986

$946Sale Price|20% Off

The nature explode * 1986. Aquatint, etching on paper 9/13. 41x58 cm

Located in Riga, LV

The nature explode * 1986. Aquatint, etching on paper 9/13. 41x58 cm Ivars Poikans 1952. Riga Ivars Poikāns works in painting, graphics, book illustration, cinema art. Born on Oct...

Category

1980s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Etching, Aquatint

Diet Street Art Basquiat Style
Diet Street Art Basquiat Style

Diego TirigallDiet Street Art Basquiat Style, 2022

$3,019

Diet Street Art Basquiat Style

Located in OIA, ES

"Diet" is a thought-provoking piece that delves into the complexities of life and the human condition. The use of surreal imagery and symbolism in the painting invites the viewer to ...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Enamel

Hunt Slonem "Hombre" Red and Orange Diamond Dust Bunny Heart

Hunt SlonemHunt Slonem "Hombre" Red and Orange Diamond Dust Bunny Heart, 2022

$11,500

Hunt Slonem "Hombre" Red and Orange Diamond Dust Bunny Heart

By Hunt Slonem

Located in Houston, TX

Hunt Slonem "Hombre" Red and Orange Bunny Heart A rabbit gestured in red and orange on a matching Diamond Dust background in a vintage frame. Unframed: 14 x 14 inches Framed: 20 x 1...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Resin, Oil, Panel

Astro Boy - Street Art
Astro Boy - Street Art

Diego TirigallAstro Boy - Street Art, 2022

$3,019

Astro Boy - Street Art

Located in OIA, ES

🔸 _Title: Astro Boy 🔸 _Artist: Diego Tirigall 🔸 _Year of Creation: 2023 🔸 _Dimensions: 1 meter by 1 meter 🔸 _Medium: Acrylic, enamel, spray paint, oil pastel 🔸 _Support: Canvas stretched on wooden frame 🔸 _Condition: New work sold directly by the artist 🔸 _Provenance: Directly from the artist's studio 🔸 _Location: Spain 🔸 _Signature: On the front and back 🔸 _Detailed Description: Diego Tirigall's "Astro Boy" is a nostalgic tribute to the iconic animation character, presented through the distinct lens of urban art. This work invites deep reflection on our digital age, depicting Astro Boy as a white specter, suggesting the loss of an authentic childhood now supplanted by the flickering lights of screens. This message of resistance against the omnipresence of digital technology is reinforced through Astro Boy's stance, akin to Michelangelo's David, an iconic symbol of resistance and humanity. This piece is part of Tirigall's "Cracking the Kids Code" series, reflecting his concerns about the growing role of technology in child-rearing. "Astro Boy" invites the viewer to contemplate the space screens...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Enamel

Deux Iris
Deux Iris

Evelyne BallestraDeux Iris, 2023

$2,657

Deux Iris

By Evelyne Ballestra

Located in Miami, FL

Born 1949, Fréjus, France French artist Evelyne Ballestra studied painting in the South of France before moving to Switzerland where she met her mentor, Rolf Dürig, a master of the ...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Cornucopia
Cornucopia

Evelyne BallestraCornucopia, 2023

$7,850

Cornucopia

By Evelyne Ballestra

Located in Miami, FL

Born 1949, Fréjus, France French artist Evelyne Ballestra studied painting in the South of France before moving to Switzerland where she met her mentor, Rolf Dürig, a master of the ...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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.

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