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.
Original Ronald Shap figure drawing, signed
Located in Columbus, OH
Original ink, gouache and oil pastel figure painting by celebrated, twentieth-century California landscape painter, Ronald Shap. Sketch of nude woman standing in washes of neon pink,...
Oil Pastel, Gouache, Ink
$6,560Sale Price|20% Off
Fleshy as the T-Bone
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Matthew Marcot is an American, self-taught artist specializing in Abstract and Neo-Expressionism, and primary mediums are semiotics and collage. An unde...
Canvas, Tape, Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Permanent Marker, Color Pencil
Caldentey Mallorca original neo figurative watercolor paper painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
original neo-expressionist acrylic painting . framed contemporary work by the mallorquin artist Toni CALDENTEY Painting on paper Perfect state CALDENTEY, Toni - (Portocolom, Mallorca...
Acrylic, Cardboard
Caldentey original Neo-figuratif acrylic canvas painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Tuta- original neo-expressionist acrylic painting. framed contemporary work by the mallorquin artist Toni CALDENTEY CALDENTEY, Toni - (Portocolom, Mallorca - Spain) The active noti...
Canvas, Mixed Media
"Blue Belles" by Anna Pennati - acrylic on canvas, 60x50cm
Located in Milano, MI
Dance and Passion is my “fil rouge”, the continuum in my artwork. Dance is my passion and in my paintings movement and anatomy are always respected and represented with knowledge. ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Pretending to Be Awake
By Taher Jaoui
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Neo Expressionist Abstracted Figurative painting
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Under A False Flag
By Taher Jaoui
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Neo Expressionist Abstracted Figurative painting in black and white
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Invisible Pain 2 -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract-Expressionism, Colour
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Jan...
Canvas, Acrylic
Invisible Pain 1 -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract-Expressionism, Colour
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Jan...
Canvas, Acrylic
$450
Weight of Presence 2 -21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract-Expressionism, Colour
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Jan...
Canvas, Acrylic
$450
Shared Atmosphere 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract-Expressionism, Colour
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Jan...
Canvas, Acrylic
$450
Shared Atmosphere 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract-Expressionism, Colour
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Jan...
Canvas, Acrylic
$450
Heat Between Us 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract-Expressionism, Colour
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Jan...
Canvas, Acrylic
$450
Heat Between Us 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract-Expressionism, Colour
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Jan...
Canvas, Acrylic
Positioning 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract-Expressionism, Colour
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Jan...
Canvas, Acrylic
Positioning 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract-Expressionism, Colour
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Jan...
Canvas, Acrylic
$920
Day Dreamer, Original Painting in Coral Tones, Street Art Influence on Paper
Located in Barcelona, ES
In this vibrant original painting, Perrine Honoré translates the expressive language of mural painting into an intimate pictorial format. Fluid lines and luminous fields of pink, cor...
Paper, Oil Crayon, Acrylic
The Blue Window
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media
Untitled
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media
Untitled
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media
Street Spirits: Fitting In - Abstract Expressionist Figurative Table Sculpture
By Soren Grau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from cultural icons and global events, Soren Grau's street art-infused Neo-expressionism invites art enthusiasts to be a part of a narrative larger than life. In ...
Concrete
Untitled
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media
Catch me !
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media, Oil Pastel
Les Aériennes
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...
Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Pastel, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Untitled
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media
Italian Neo Figurative Pop Art Painting Italo Scanga Artist Frame Memphis Cubist
By Italo Scanga
Located in Surfside, FL
Italo Scanga (Italian American 1932-2001) Mixed Media (with hand painted sculpture frame) Charcoal, gouache, acrylic paint, paper 1987-1988 Dimensions: Measures 26.5" x 20.5" x .75" framed. Hand signed and dated in the lower right corner. Provenance: On the back, there is writing to indicate this piece was included in a 1990 showing at Chico State's University Art Gallery. This painting and painted frame by Italo Scanga, epitomizes the characteristics of his oeuvre. It features a face and cypress tree. Polychrome and vibrant art from the Memphis Milano era. Italo Scanga (June 6, 1932 - July 7, 2001), an Italian-born American artist, was known for his sculptures, prints and, paintings, mostly created from found objects. In his youth in Calabria, Italy he worked as a cabinetmaker's apprentice and studies sculpture with a man who carved statues of saints. Italo Scanga was an innovative neo Dada, neo-Expressionist, and neo-Cubist multimedia artist who made assemblage, collage, sculptures of ordinary objects and created prints, glass, and ceramic works. Modern Italian abstract geometric folk art. Scanga's materials included natural objects like branches and seashells, as well as kitsch figurines, castoff musical instruments and decorative trinkets salvaged from flea markets and thrift shops. He combined these ingredients into free-standing assemblages, which he then painted. Although visually ebullient, the results sometimes referred to gruesome episodes from Greek mythology or the lives and deaths of martyred saints. He considered his artistic influences to be sweepingly pan-cultural, from African sculpture, to Cubism to Giorgio de Chirico. He often collaborated with the sculptor Dale Chihuly, who was a close friend. Constructed of wood and glass, found objects or fabric, his ensembles reflect a trio of activities—working, eating, and praying. These activities dominate the lives of those who live close to the land, but they are also activities that are idealized by many who contemplate, romantically, a simpler, bucolic life. Italo graduated from Michigan State University where he befriended fellow artists Richard Merkin and David Pease. He studied under Lindsey Decker...
Paint, Wood, Paper, Charcoal, Acrylic, Gouache
Swoon Song, 2023 - Hunt Slonem
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Porto, 13
The painting "Swoon Song" by Hunt Slonem, created in 2023, is an oil on canvas piece that measures 152 x 178 cm (60 x 70 inches). The work is in excellent, new condition, and feature...
Oil
"Anime" by Enzio Wenk, 2020 - Blue Watercolor on Paper, Abstract Figurative
By Enzio Wenk
Located in Bresso, IT
Translated title: "Souls". Watercolor on high-quality cotton paper, which is handmade in Italy. This is part of an album. The price refers to the single drawing.
Paper, Watercolor
Hunt Slonem "Mexican Red Head" Multicolor Amazon Parrot
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Houston, TX
Hunt Slonem "Mexican Red Head" Multicolor Amazon Parrot A single bird gestured in yellow, red and green on a white background in a vintage frame Unframed: 10 x 8 inches Framed: 13 x...
Oil, Panel
Upside-down
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...
Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Pastel, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Old But Golden - 21st Century, Contemporary, Neo-Figurative Portrait, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Huge Oil Painting "Jeu D'enfant" Colorful Vibrant Abstract Geometric
Located in Surfside, FL
The artist Richard Hennessy creates pictorial space as a complex and contradictory entity. The colorful ground uses alternately concave and convex forms and negative space to indicat...
Canvas, Oil
Protocol 29 - Abstract Figurative Color Drenched Mixed Media Artwork on Canvas
By Soren Grau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from cultural icons and global events, Soren Grau's street art-infused Neo-expressionism invites art enthusiasts to be a part of a narrative larger than life. In ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Protocol 27 - Abstract Figurative Color Drenched Mixed Media Artwork on Canvas
By Soren Grau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from cultural icons and global events, Soren Grau's street art-infused Neo-expressionism invites art enthusiasts to be a part of a narrative larger than life. In ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$655
Schematic 14 - Modern Black & White Abstract Figurative Street Artwork on Canvas
By Soren Grau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from cultural icons and global events, Soren Grau's street art-infused Neo-expressionism invites art enthusiasts to be a part of a narrative larger than life. In ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$655
Schematic 17 - Modern Black & White Abstract Figurative Street Artwork on Canvas
By Soren Grau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from cultural icons and global events, Soren Grau's street art-infused Neo-expressionism invites art enthusiasts to be a part of a narrative larger than life. In ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Nudes on a red sofa
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media
Untitled
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media
$708Sale Price|25% Off
"Seize the Moment", 60x40cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
"Seize the Moment", 60x40cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Canvas, Pastel, Acrylic
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Leap of Faith - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Neo-Expressionism People
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Neo-Expressionism, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Round Abstract Figures
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...
Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Pastel, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Le Passeur
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...
Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Pastel, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$3,375Sale Price|25% Off
Noah, 100x100 cm, acrylic on canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Noah, 100x100 cm, acrylic on canvas
Canvas, Acrylic
Crown of Stillness - Original Figurative Black, Red, White Abstract Artwork
By Soren Grau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from cultural icons and global events, Soren Grau's street art-infused Neo-expressionism invites art enthusiasts to be a part of a narrative larger than life. In ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$4,500
Think
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media
NO KINGS NO WAR: Large Contemporary Neo Expressionist Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Sax Berlin is a caring, compassionate man and his egalitarian outlook is translated into his art. This piece is large and impactful and shows this ascending star of the art world at ...
Oil, Acrylic
$655
Schematic 11 - Modern Black & White Abstract Figurative Street Artwork on Canvas
By Soren Grau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from cultural icons and global events, Soren Grau's street art-infused Neo-expressionism invites art enthusiasts to be a part of a narrative larger than life. In ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$655
Schematic 21 - Modern Black & White Abstract Figurative Street Artwork on Canvas
By Soren Grau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from cultural icons and global events, Soren Grau's street art-infused Neo-expressionism invites art enthusiasts to be a part of a narrative larger than life. In ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
Na Serious Matter - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Neo-Expressionism
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
$975
Desert Angel myths and legends strong color nude in nature abstract figurative
Located in Brooklyn, NY
soft pastel on sanded toned paper this item is mounted on archival foam board with a clear plastic protective coating suitable for framing under glass *ABOUT Stephen Basso Stephen ...
Pastel, Archival Paper
Hunt Slonem "Hombre Heart" Orange Double Diamond Dust Bunny
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Houston, TX
Hunt Slonem "Hombre Heart" Orange Double Bunny A pair of rabbits gestured in red and orange on a matching Diamond Dust background in a vintage frame. Unframed: 14 x 14 inches Framed...
Resin, Oil, Panel
Hommage à Baselitz
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...
Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Pastel, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$1,280Sale Price|20% Off
Esosa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Painting Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, this is not a print or other type of copy. Signed on the front side and accompanied by a Certificate of Auth...
Canvas, Acrylic
Photomaton
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...
Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Pastel, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Au pied levé
By Jean Sanglar
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Sanglar was born in France in 1926. He draws with taste and talent from an early age, however, his family will only consider this a mere hobby. After studying law, he later took...
Mixed Media
Acrobatic shadows
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...
Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Pastel, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$1,800Sale Price|28% Off
Okpara (First Son) - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Neo-Expressionism
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gal...
Canvas, Acrylic
Figure A - Original Abstract Modern Figurative Mixed Media Artwork on Canvas
By Soren Grau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Drawing inspiration from cultural icons and global events, Soren Grau's street art-infused Neo-expressionism invites art enthusiasts to be a part of a narrative larger than life. In ...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Abstraction in Blue
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...
Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel, Pastel, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic