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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

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Style: Neo-Expressionist
Cornucopia
Cornucopia

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

Coupe d'Abondance
Coupe d'Abondance

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

Georg Baselitz, Puck
Georg Baselitz, Puck

Georg Baselitz, Puck

By Georg Baselitz

Located in Hamburg, DE

Georg Baselitz (German, born 1938) Puck, 1993 Medium: Woodcut on wove paper Dimensions: 103 x 72 cm Edition of 300: Hand-signed and numbered Catalogue raisonné: WVZ 1008 Condition: V...

Category

Late 20th Century Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Woodcut

Portfolio 10 Master Prints #4
Portfolio 10 Master Prints #4

Portfolio 10 Master Prints #4

By Sandro Chia

Located in Hollywood, FL

Artist: Sandro Chia Title: Untitled 4 Medium: Carborundum etching with hand coloring on handmade paper, each piece is unique Size: 49 x 39 Inches Signed: Hand Signed Edition: 31/50...

Category

1980s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Etching

Tribal Rhythm
Tribal Rhythm

Tribal Rhythm

Located in West Hollywood, CA

In Haleh Mashian’s painting, “Tribal Rhythm,” a forward-facing female figure emerges amidst sweeping, gestural brushstrokes rendered in ethereal white. The dynamic movement of these ...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Bubbles Are Forever
Bubbles Are Forever

Bubbles Are Forever

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Within this piece by Haleh Mashian, the artist skillfully integrates an array of diverse media, such as resin spheres and a meticulously crafted crystal formation cast by her own han...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Hawaii Travel Signed
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Hawaii Travel Signed

Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Hawaii Travel Signed

By Robert Kawika Sheer

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Three Hawaiian Spirits in a Lava Tube" is an original fine art photography print by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed the piece in the lower right and editioned it in the lower...

Category

Early 2000s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper, Photographic Film

Sleepwalking monochromatic, mysterious interior black/white w dramatic windows

Sleepwalking monochromatic, mysterious interior black/white w dramatic windows

By Tom Bennett

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Monotype on paper Dramatic imagery from Tom Bennett’s series of black and white monotypes, blending surrealistic mindscapes with stark realism About Tom Bennett: With quick brushstrokes, Tom Bennett creates representational images of human figures and animals, emphasizing movement in a manner reminiscent of Lucien Freud, Edgar Degas and the photographer Eadweard Muybridge. Elongated and blurry, the horse racing up a hill (Canter Fritz, 2002) and the sinister cat landing a leap (Chien Blanc, 1998) elicit a sense of foreboding enhanced by Bennett’s somber palette; his female figures too reflect a grim sense of humor with their distorted nude bodies. The face of Untitled Figure (1997), for example, is obscured by layers of dark paint. Classically trained as a painter, he initially worked in oil on canvas but discovered that monotype printing enabled him to “literally push the image around,” creating an essential element of motion. To overcome the limited scale of monotypes, however, he switched to painting on slick-surfaced plastic. Tom Bennett’s practice is rooted in the classical tradition where painting and drawing from life is highly regarded. Bennett’s work is heavily influenced by Francis Bacon, Frank Auberbauch and foremost his father, Harry Bennett, who was also an artist. Tom’s time living abroad in Spain and traveling through Eastern Europe and Africa provided the artistic freedom to explore many of the techniques and subject matter that continue to define his practice. Bennett was born and raised in Connecticut. His mediums include monotypes, oil on paper, canvas or styrene board. In a technique that Tom started over 4 years ago, several of his monotypes have been painted over with oil paint using a palette knife, brush, or his fingers to re-purpose the underlying image. These works are a testament to Bennett’s ability to quickly and concisely compose an image with expressive brush strokes, foreshortened figures and expertly rendered light. Tom’s work has been featured in group and solo exhibitions worldwide. Bennett lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. He is currently represented by Tabla Rasa...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Monotype

Fusion & Abstraction
Fusion & Abstraction

Fusion & Abstraction

By Jean Sanglar

Located in Miami, FL

Born in the South of France in 1926 and raised by very strict parents, Jean Sanglar was prohibited from playing with same age mates. Truly talented, as a young boy he drew frequentl...

Category

Late 20th Century Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Pastel, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic

"Izapa 2", Colorful Neo-Expressionist Oil Painting
"Izapa 2", Colorful Neo-Expressionist Oil Painting

"Izapa 2", Colorful Neo-Expressionist Oil Painting

By Ford Crull

Located in Brooklyn, NY

“It is terrifying to paint. When you start out, you are faced with this great unknown. And you think, am I ever going to paint again? Yet, as you work, it starts to formulate itself....

Category

1990s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Farmers are Ploughing Their Fields II, " Mixed Media w/ Stamp Signature
"Farmers are Ploughing Their Fields II, " Mixed Media w/ Stamp Signature

"Farmers are Ploughing Their Fields II, " Mixed Media w/ Stamp Signature

By Xiao Ming

Located in Milwaukee, WI

"Farmers are Ploughing Their Fields II" is a mixed media piece by Xiao Ming. The artist stamped their mark lower right. It features abstracted figures farming. 20" x 10 3/4" art 28" x 28" art Born in the Yunnan province of China, Close to Tibet, Xiao Ming found her artwork on her beliefs and traditions of living with nature as a guardian and protector. These beliefs and traditions may have influenced Ming to favor colored inks, a gouache of sorts derived from mineral pigments bound by using animal glue, Mings work is steeped in Chinese art history, influenced by the ancient scroll...

Category

1990s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Jewels, abstract collage, colorful black female figure gesture green earth tones

Jewels, abstract collage, colorful black female figure gesture green earth tones

By Audrey Anastasi

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Paper paint charcoal collage These collages were created first in the presence of a live model, working quickly, in charcoal and pastel, and again, later, alone in the studio, furio...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Charcoal, Archival Paper, Magazine Paper

Muddy Company oil on monotype

Muddy Company oil on monotype

By Tom Bennett

Located in Brooklyn, NY

provocative female figure Oil on paper Tom Bennett’s practice is rooted in the classical tradition where painting and drawing from life is highly regarded. Bennett’s work is heavily influenced by Francis Bacon, Frank Auberbauch and foremost his father, Harry Bennett, who was also an artist. Tom’s time living abroad in Spain and traveling through Eastern Europe and Africa provided the artistic freedom to explore many of the techniques and subject matter that continue to define his practice. Bennett was born and raised in Connecticut. His mediums include monotypes, oil on paper, canvas or styrene board. In a technique that Tom started over 4 years ago, several of his monotypes have been painted over with oil paint using a palette knife, brush, or his fingers to repurpose the underlying image. These works are a testament to Bennett’s ability to quickly and concisely compose an image with expressive brush strokes, foreshortened figures and expertly rendered light. Tom’s work has been featured in group and solo exhibitions worldwide. Bennett lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. He is currently represented by Tabla Rasa...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Paper, Oil

"Love is the Souls of a Genius" Painting 30" x 24" inch by Vera Kochubey
"Love is the Souls of a Genius" Painting 30" x 24" inch by Vera Kochubey

"Love is the Souls of a Genius" Painting 30" x 24" inch by Vera Kochubey

By Vera Kochubey

Located in Culver City, CA

"Love is the Souls of a Genius" Painting 30" x 24" inch by Vera Kochubey Medium: Wall paint on canvas ATTENTION: please contact us if you want this painting to be shipped rolled to...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Paint, Mixed Media

Blue Song
Blue Song

Ford CrullBlue Song, 2023

$17,600Sale Price|20% Off

Blue Song

By Ford Crull

Located in Brooklyn, NY

“It is terrifying to paint. When you start out, you are faced with this great unknown. And you think, am I ever going to paint again? Yet, as you work, it starts to formulate itself. Ultimately every work really just decides itself. I love to paint. I love the smell of paint (oil) and the way it does different things depending on how you apply it. I love how if you use a lot of turpentine, it forms these rivulets like streams in the desert. Acrylics just can’t match the intensity or viscosity of oils. In early days, I painted landscapes and portraits, but I tried to infuse them with my own nomenclature. The colors, brushstrokes, and marks that I put on a canvas transfigure into a profound sensibility that I cannot deal with in any other way. And color is a way of expressing my emotions, and the way it is planted in my works helps tell the story. When I was a boy I drew incessantly. I had sheets of paper roughly 10 by 15 inches, and I covered them with Civil War soldiers. Literally hundreds of them, each drawn with the same delicacy as if they were alive. Later I advanced to WW2, with German soldiers attacking the well-meaning but hapless British, grey against ochre, tanks and explosions, and beautiful landscapes where it happened. As I became older, I wondered what it was that had so intrigued me with these war scenarios. I became fascinated with the symbols, icons and pictograms that were behind these historic conflicts. They had a substance and meaning for me that far outweighed their prescribed meaning. A cross meant Christianity, but in the films of Sergei Eisenstein, there was a distinction between the Teutonic knights with their iron helmets invading the Russian orthodox warriors to the east. A cross could mean many things, we bow down before a cross, but are repulsed by a swastika. Yet they are related. If you cut the corners of a circle with a cross bisecting it, an early Christian icon...

Category

2010s Neo-Expressionist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Nevermind
Nevermind

Ford CrullNevermind, 2023

$17,600Sale Price|20% Off

Nevermind

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

Winged Victory
Winged Victory

Ford CrullWinged Victory, 2023

$17,600Sale Price|20% Off

Winged Victory

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 Crayon, Oil

Midsummer Night Ruby 2
Midsummer Night Ruby 2

Midsummer Night Ruby 2

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

Enamel

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.