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.
"Gary, " an Acrylic on Parchment signed by Reginald K. Gee
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Gary" is an original acrylic painting on parchment signed and dated in the lower right by the artist Reginald K. Gee. It is also signed and dated on verso. This painting depicts a m...
Parchment Paper, Acrylic
$2,048Sale Price|25% Off
Elephantoms, 100x80cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Elephantoms, 100x80cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Canvas, Pastel, 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
Ramon Poch 8.3.2 119 Famili Square. original acrylic painting
By Ramon Poch
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
109 120x120 cm. original acrylic painting Born in Badalona (Barcelona). Photographer and advertising film director. Founding partner of the advertising production company La Cosa d...
Acrylic
$1,963Sale Price|25% Off
Where is your mind?, 90x70cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Where is your mind?, 90x70cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Canvas, Pastel, Acrylic
'Abstract Polyptych', Neo-Expressionist German School, Extra Large, Oversized
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
A substantial, modernist abstract acrylic polyptych comprising four separate works on canvas that arrange into a unified composition. Unsigned. Dated, verso, ‘1984' on upper left pan...
Canvas, Acrylic
"My Secret"- Colorful Neo-Expressionist 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....
Canvas, Wax, Oil
"Red Cross/Flower"- Colorful & Vibrant Neo-Expressionist 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....
Canvas, Wax Crayon, Oil
Totem Serena
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Wood, Oil
$6,800Sale Price|20% Off
Peace
By ETTE
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“PEACE” is sentimental to the artist. A painting she refused to sell for quite some time. Her grandmother, an artist herself, gifted ETTE a tube of gold paint before she passed away....
Canvas, Acrylic
Guardian Angel. 21st Century Sista. Contemporary Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Berlin’s iconic paintings of Guardian Angels is enhanced by this piece. This Sista is obviously a strong character and it’s easy to see in her how Berlin forged a connection with the...
Oil, Acrylic
$1,095
Vintage Brazilian Portrait Grid Orange and Blue Contrast Framed Gouache Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage Brazilian Portrait Grid Orange and Blue Contrast Framed Gouache Painting. Measuring: 22 by 18 inches overall and 18 by 14 inches image alone. Excellent condition, ready to h...
Paper, Gouache
$680
Cloudy Mountain Peaks, Expressionist Landscape, Vigorous Gestures, Earth Tones
By Albert Ducet
Located in Barcelona, ES
Details: Title: Cloudy Mountain Peaks Medium: Gouache Crayon on Watercolor Paper Size: 70x50 cm (28x20 inches). Year: 2026 * Frame is for illustrative purposes only. * Artwork shipp...
Paper, Oil Crayon, Acrylic
Hunt Slonem Oil Painting "Sky Light" Black and Blue Bunny
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Houston, TX
Hunt Slonem Oil Painting "Sky Light" Black and Light Blue Bunny A single rabbit gestured in black on a light blue background in a vintage frame Unframed: 8 x 6 inches Framed: 14 x 1...
Oil, Panel
$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 ...
Canvas, Oil Crayon, Oil
$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 ...
Canvas, Oil
Ecstasy: Contemporary Neo Expressionist Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
This painting from the Atlantic studio of Sax Berlin captures the essence of ecstasy. It’s imbued with a special sense of immediacy and fluid movement. The painting draws one in and ...
Oil, Acrylic
Cry For Freedom, The Promise Of America, Neo Expressionist Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Delivering beautiful paintings is what Sax Berlin does and this striking piece is both beautiful and has a narrative. Neo-Expressionism and abstract in its construct Berlin delivers ...
Gold Leaf
$975Sale Price|35% Off
"Love Your Fucking Self" Painting 31.5" x 24" inch by Vera Kochubey
Located in Culver City, CA
"Love Your Fucking Self" Painting 31.5" 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 lowe...
Canvas, Paint, Mixed Media
$3,000
Large Vibrant Jewel Coloured German Expressionist Figures Style of Emil Nolde
By Herbert Beck
Located in Norwich, GB
This striking large-scale work by Herbert Beck (1920–2010) is a luminous example of the artist’s mastery of colour and light. Measuring an impressive 100 x 80 cm in its frame, the pi...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
Neo-Expressionist Linear Geometric Abstract #2 - In the Style of Basquiat
By Peter Costello
Located in Soquel, CA
Neo-Expressionist Linear Geometric Abstract #2 - In the Style of Basquiat Dynamic contemporary Neo-Expressionist abstract composition in red, yellow, black, and teal by California ...
Paper, Pastel, Acrylic
Neo-Expressionist Abstract Surrealist Figures, #138
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Jesse Soifer (1932-2013). Untitled #138, ca. 1990. Ink and paper collage, sheet measures 12.5 x 19.5 inches. Unsigned. Estate stamp on verso sheet with assignation number. Early...
Paper, Ink
$682Sale Price|25% Off
“ Ethereum”, 60x40cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
“ Ethereum”, 60x40cm, acrylic, pastel, canvas
Canvas, Pastel, Acrylic
No Kings No War Wisdom Of Washington: Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Sticking to his 1980s Neo-expressionist roots Sax Berlin produces a topical piece close to his heart. Let his work do the talking Oil and acrylic paint on stareched canvas Signed
Oil, Acrylic
Untitled Neo-Expressionist Abstract Figural drawing.
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Paul Oberst (1955-2018) Untitled, 1982. 9.5 x 11 inches, image; 16.5 x 18 inches framed. Signed on reverse bottom.
Mixed Media
$920
Fluo Chaos, Urban Cubist Style, Colorful Composition, Abstract Pink and Yellow
Located in Barcelona, ES
Day Dreamer bursts with gestural freedom and expressive layering, capturing the raw vitality of cubist abstraction. With bold brushstrokes, spray textures, and a vibrant interplay of...
Paper, Oil Crayon, Acrylic
The Mechanics of Man - Abstract Figurative Mixed Media Skull 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
Hear See Speak - Abstract Figurative Skulls Mixed Media Urban 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
$505
Traces of Grace - Contemporary Abstract 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
$4,940
Upside Down
Located in Atlanta, GA
Carlos J. Tirado (born on April 3, 1964 in Caracas, Venezuela) is an artist, painter and sculptor who has developed a very personal and precise line of work linked to Neo-Pop art. Wi...
Mixed Media
$6,000
Vicente Cristellys, Oil on canvas "Gina Lollobrigida", Late 1950s
By Vicente Cristellys
Located in Saint Amans des cots, FR
This striking oil on canvas by Vicente Cristellys (1898–1970), a notable figure of the School of Paris, dates from the late 1950s and captures the timeless allure of cinema and fine ...
Canvas, Oil
Neo-Expressionist Abstract Surrealist Figures, #14
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Jesse Soifer (1932-2013). Untitled #14, ca. 1990. Ink and paper collage, sheet measures 9 x 12 inches. Measuring 18 x 21 in custom birch frame. Unsigned. Estate stamp on verso sh...
Paper, Ink
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
Landscape 140 by Jean Krille - Oil on Masonite 100x100 cm
By Jean Krille
Located in Geneva, CH
Jean Krillé’s paintings are known for their expressive use of color and dynamic, abstract forms, blending realism with abstraction in his depictions of nature. His landscapes often f...
Oil, Masonite
Guardian Angel Selfie, Neo Expressionist Painting on Canvas, 2010+
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
"Sharp Edge" Neo Expressionism from the studio of Sax Berlin
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$1,547Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled_Body Remains on the Field - Red, Contemporary, 21st Century, Landscape
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
Untitled_Body Remains on the Field, 2022 coloured pencils on paper 39 3/8 H x 27 9/16 W inches 100 H x 70 W cm Signed on reverse Zsolt Berszán embodies in his works the dissolution...
Paper, Color Pencil
$2,100Sale Price|25% Off
Diptych “Interaction 2”, 100 x 160cm, acrylic on canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Diptych “Interaction”, 100x160 cm
Canvas, Acrylic
Anytime Anywhere. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Acrylic On Canvas
Canvas, Acrylic
Learning to Move - Contemporary Abstract Figurative Mixed Media Art 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
Patterson Boat Vertical sin titulo 9. acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Patterson. boats. vertical . Licenciado en Bellas Artes por ISPEJV, en la Habana en 2002, especialización en Restauración y Conservación de pintura Mural y caballete. Ha ejercido...
Acrylic
$8,000
Tulip
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Woodmere, OH
Hunt Slonem (b. 1951) is an internationally celebrated American artist whose vibrant and instantly recognizable works have made him one of the most collectible contemporary painters ...
Wood, Oil
$360Sale Price|20% Off
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
$682Sale Price|40% Off
Neo-Expressionist Outsider Figurative Oil on canvas Painting with Masked Figures
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Neo-Expressionist Outsider Figurative Oil Painting with Masked Figures Artist: Sagarra Title: Neo-Expressionist Outsider Figurative Oil Painting with Masked Figures Medium: Oil on c...
Oil
Back to Source : We All from Africa. Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
A gripping piece referencing our mitochondrial roots. Berlin has created an image that is simultaneously urban jungle graffiti and African tribal mask. It would enhance any space an...
Oil, Acrylic
Caldentey Red Black original neo expressionist acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Otoño original neo expressionist acrylic painting. contemporary work by the mallorquin artist Toni CALDENTEY CALDENTEY, Toni - (Portocolom, Mallorca - Spain) The active notion of r...
Acrylic, Cardboard
Neo-Expressionist Abstract Surrealist Figures, #142 Philadelphia Artist
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Jesse Soifer (1932-2013). Untitled #142 ca. 1990. Ink and paper collage, sheet measures 14 x 15 inches. Unsigned. Estate stamp on verso sheet with assignation number. Early Life...
Paper, Ink
$1,512Sale Price|20% Off
Landscape 132 by Jean Krille - Oil on Canvas 51x61 cm
By Jean Krille
Located in Geneva, CH
Jean Krillé’s paintings are known for their expressive use of color and dynamic, abstract forms, blending realism with abstraction in his depictions of nature. His landscapes often f...
Oil, Canvas
No Kings No War: Large Neo-Renaissance Oil Painting, 78.75x59 Inches
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
Washington's Wisdom: No Kings. Contemporary Neo Expressionist Oil Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Sax Berlin's Sharp Edge 21st Century NYC Style Renaissance Neo Expressionism A painting imbued with symbolism and cultural references, No Kings - Wisdom of Washington pays Berlin's ...
Oil, Acrylic
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Citizens of a Quiet Country 5 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Neo-Expressionism
By Paschal Ugwu
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
These faces are not portraits of specific people, but emotional records of a collective condition. They carry the weight of fear, disappointment, suppressed anger, endurance, and fra...
Canvas, Acrylic
Caldentey Original Neo-Expressionist Acrylic Painting, Framed, 2000s
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
characters- Originall Neo-expressionist Acrylic painting contemporary work by the mallorquin artist Toni CALDENTEY Perfect state CALDENTEY, Toni - (Portocolom, Mallorca - Spain) Th...
Acrylic
$2,100Sale Price|25% Off
Diptych “Interaction”, 100x160cm, acrylic on canvas
Located in Yerevan, AM
Diptych “Interaction”, 100x160 cm
Canvas, Acrylic
$37,750
Hunt Slonem Oil Painting "Blue Diamond Dust (Moon Walk)" White and Blue Bunnies
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Houston, TX
Hunt Slonem "Blue Diamond Dust (Moon Walk)" White and Blue Bunnies on Blue Diamond Dust White and blue bunnies gestured on a blue diamond dust background. Unframed: 36 x 48 inches ...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Hunt Slonem Oil Painting "Catelayas Honolulu" Multicolor Flowers
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Houston, TX
Hunt Slonem "Catelayas Honolulu" Multicolor Flowers on Gold Flowers gestured in white, red, yellow, orange green, pink, and purple on a golden metallic background. Unframed: 48 x 48...
Canvas, Oil
Sax Berlin, Emissary Of Peace. Contemporary Figurative Painting
By Sax Berlin
Located in Brecon, Powys
Master artist Sax Berlin has turned his attention and considerable skills to creating this signature work, a self portrait. It's a complex piece that takes inspiration from the peace...
Oil, Acrylic
Patterson Boats Green Golden acrylic painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Patterson. virtual framed Licenciado en Bellas Artes por ISPEJV, en la Habana en 2002, especialización en Restauración y Conservación de pintura Mural y caballete. Ha ejercido co...
Acrylic
$360Sale Price|20% Off
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
$360Sale Price|20% Off
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
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
HIS NEW DEN Signed Oil Pastel on Grocery Bag, Man with Vacuuming, Surreal Scene
Located in Union City, NJ
HIS NEW DEN is an original oil pastel drawing on brown paper grocery bag by the self taught African American artist Reginald K. Gee, born April 28, 1964, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Gee...
Oil Pastel
Maybe Tomorrow - Contemporary Abstract Figurative Mixed Media Art 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
EchoLayer: Quantum Family - Abstract Expressionist Figurative Layered Art
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 ...
Plexiglass, Paint, Mixed Media