Used to refer to a time rather than an aesthetic, Contemporary art generally describes pieces created after 1970 or being made by living artists anywhere in the world. This immediacy means it encompasses art responding to the present moment through diverse subjects, media and themes. Contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, performance, digital art, video and more frequently includes work that is attempting to reshape current ideas about what art can be, from Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s use of candy to memorialize a lover he lost to AIDS-related complications to Jenny Holzer’s ongoing “Truisms,” a Conceptual series that sees provocative messages printed on billboards, T-shirts, benches and other public places that exist outside of formal exhibitions and the conventional “white cube” of galleries.
Contemporary art has been pushing the boundaries of creative expression for years. Its disruption of the traditional concepts of art are often aiming to engage viewers in complex questions about identity, society and culture. In the latter part of the 20th century, contemporary movements included Land art, in which artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer create large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations and other works in soil and bodies of water; Sound art, with artists such as Christian Marclay and Susan Philipsz centering art on sonic experiences; and New Media art, in which mass media and digital culture inform the work of artists such as Nam June Paik and Rafaël Rozendaal.
The first decades of the 21st century have seen the growth of Contemporary African art, the revival of figurative painting, the emergence of street art and the rise of NFTs, unique digital artworks that are powered by blockchain technology.
Major Contemporary artists practicing now include Ai Weiwei, Cecily Brown, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker.
Find a collection of Contemporary prints, photography, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
"El Guapo" - Contemporary Acrylic Barn Painting on Canvas
Located in Denver, CO
Justin Wheatley was born and raised in Clinton, Utah. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Utah State University with an emphasis in drawing and painting, and a Masters of Arts fro...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,770
Between the dust and the sky, Minimalist Landscape cowboy painting , 100x80 cm
Located in DE
Contemporary figurative oil painting of a sun-drenched desert landscape, depicting figures in cowboy attire gathered with blue horses across a vast sandy terrain. Figures in cowboy a...
Oil, Canvas
"Overlook" - Contemporary Acrylic Barn Painting on Canvas
Located in Denver, CO
Justin Wheatley was born and raised in Clinton, Utah. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Utah State University with an emphasis in drawing and painting, and a Masters of Arts fro...
Canvas, Acrylic
Beginning XI - Contemporary Joyful Oil Painting, Beach View, Seaside, XL Format
Located in Hallein, AT
Signed to the verso Artodyssey "Julita Malinowska's paintings belong to those, which once seen - are never forgotten. The open spaces, sometimes cool and bright, at other times heav...
Canvas, Oil
On a Warm Summer Evening
By Jacob Burda
Located in Zofingen, AG
Life Is Beautiful is a celebration of the quiet richness hidden within ordinary days. We often feel that something is missing from our lives, believing happiness lies somewhere ahead...
Acrylic, Canvas
"In a Round About Way", Figurative Painting of a Girl Dancing with Skeletons
By Mando Marie (seeyouthroughit)
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"In a Round About Way" is a one-of-a-kind original work by Amanda Marie (Mando), created using acrylic and aerosol on canvas. The piece measures 32.75”h x 21”w framed, and is shipped...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Bold - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa, Modern Women
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, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Thorns Before Roses - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern Men
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This work questions what happens after arrival. When the life once desired is finally attained, soft, beautiful, without struggle, why does the mind remain unsettled? Thorns Before ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Learning to Live
By Jacob Burda
Located in Zofingen, AG
Learning to Live is a quiet reflection on the beauty that already surrounds us. So often we spend our lives chasing the next achievement, believing that happiness lies somewhere ahea...
Canvas, Acrylic
Life in Color
By Jacob Burda
Located in Zofingen, AG
Life in Color celebrates the quiet beauty of sharing life with someone you love. In the simplest moments—a conversation, a shared meal, or the comfort of being together—the ordinary ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Too Late to Scare Me Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, Signed, 105x80 cm
Located in Zofingen, AG
The most compelling works of contemporary art do not simply depict events—they reveal shifts in human consciousness. Too Late to Scare Me belongs to this tradition, transforming an i...
Lacquer, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Monet’s Dahlias by Lumi Mizutani, Japanese-Style Painting, Garden Flowers
Located in Paris, FR
Monet’s Dahlias is a unique painting by contemporary artist Lumi Mizutani. The painting is made with pigments and Indian ink on Japanese paper mounted on panel, dimensions are 31.8 ×...
Paper, Pigment, Panel, India Ink
In the Moment
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 95×95 cm (overall size with stretching 105×105 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled Series: Chill Out «In the Moment» This painting is about the simple ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Awaiting - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa, Modern Women
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, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$2,120Sale Price|20% Off
Untitled 6 - 21st Century, Contemporary Figurative, Neo-Expressionism
By Wisdom Uche
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique; this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Ar...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,304
Jetty 12 January 16:02 - Modern Minimalistic Landscape Painting, See View
Located in Hallein, AT
Robert Motelski's paintings are exceptional visions of nature, visions of space which surrounds us. They tell about being, fate and passing. They depend on the season of year, the ti...
Canvas, Oil
Beauty from Within 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women, Fabrics
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Bakare Babatund...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Stories of the Old House
By Jacob Burda
Located in Zofingen, AG
Having stood for generations, this old house has witnessed countless stories of human life. Within its walls echoed laughter and tears, the joy of new beginnings, the birth of childr...
Canvas, Acrylic
Chill Out
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 95×95 cm (overall size with stretching 105×105 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled This painting is about the importance of slowing down and allowing ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,750Sale Price|25% Off
TURNING INTO STONE 3 surreal original oil Paula Craioveanu large 30x38in Florida
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Turning into Stone 3 " . Original, unique painting. oil on canvas, 30x38in. Shipped stretched ready for display in the US, and shipped rolled in a tube to Europe and to the rest of...
Canvas, Oil
$1,000
Cow #1
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 95×95 cm (overall size with stretching 105×105 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled Cow #1 is a painting about the beauty of simple things and the joy ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Time Keeper. Large Acrylic Painting, Blue Orange Geometric Rabbit.
Located in Oslo, NO
An original acrylic on canvas depicting a young woman holding a geometric rabbit with a melting pocket watch, combining contemporary figurative painting with geometric abstraction. T...
Canvas, Acrylic
Ancestral Throne - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women, Fabrics
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Bakare Babatund...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$3,500Sale Price|30% Off
Lady with Books 2 original painting by Paula Craioveanu 39x23in FRAMED
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Lady with Books 2", 39x23in / 100x60cm. Original painting. Shipped as it is, stretched, ready for hanging, framed. Framed size 41.5x25.7in. Free shipping with 1stDibs code This p...
Canvas, Acrylic
AV NOVA by Ramon Enrich - Architecture and Landscape Painting
By Ramon Enrich
Located in Paris, FR
AV NOVA is a painting by Spanish contemporary artist Ramon Enrich. Acrylic on canvas: H 39.4 × L 51.2 in inches / H 100 × L 130 cm. The artwork is sold framed (brown floating frame)...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,850
What Remains Unmasked - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Culture
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Holding the mask rather than wearing it, the figure enters a quiet moment of reflection. Once a symbol of identity, the mask becomes an object of inquiry, revealing the roles, expect...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
Waiting for a Miracle- 21st century Contemporary Figure painting
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Ksenya Istomina – Waiting for a Miracle Oil on linen, 105 x 70 cm In Waiting for a Miracle, Ksenya Istomina captures a moment of quiet contemplation and anticipation. A young woman ...
Linen, Oil
Chill Out: At Ease
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 90×90 cm (overall size with stretching 100×100 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled Series: Chill Out Title: «Chill Out: At Ease» This painting is abou...
Canvas, Acrylic
Rodeo Rouge - Abstract Figurative Cowgirl Pinup Portrait Painting on Paper Map
By Jesse Black
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jesse’s imagery often merges playful and gritty elements, blending floral patterns, vintage-inspired designs, and bold outlines with a touch of whimsy. His artwork exudes a sense of ...
Paint, Paper, Acrylic
State of Mind 15 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women, Floral
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
The artist's expressive strokes, rendered with bold acrylics, bring to life a figurative portrait that speaks volumes about resilience and aspiration. The interplay of colors and tex...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,412
Nuenen memories 2 En Plein Air Nuenen- 21 st Century Contemporary Landscape
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Joost Verhagen Memory of Nuenen 80 x 100 cm Acrylic paint on canvas Shipping on a roll in a tube we can offer, worldwide, for free. If you decide to purchase the painting framed an...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$2,950
In My Heart, Contemporary Oil on Canvas Landscape Painting, Framed, 21st Century
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Sonja Brussen – In My Heart Oil on canvas 40 x 100 cm Framed in a white wooden frame Overall dimensions with frame: 42 x 102 cm Frame included in the price In My Heart is an orig...
Oil, Canvas
Summer - Contemporary Impressionistic Painting of a Landscape
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Frank Dekkers Summer 140 x 200 cm (not framed) oil on canvas On the pictures we also show you the artist receiving the flowers on our opening of this exhibition september 3th 2023 i...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
"Remy" by Yulia Kim; Framed Oil on Linen Panel, 22" x 18"; 2025
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 20" x 16" oil on linen panel by Kazakhstan-born, Oklahoma-based artist Yulia Kim is a testament to the artist's technical skill and particularly successful portrayal of l...
Linen, Oil
$2,850
Unspoken Bond - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern Women
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 The...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
In My White Boots - Colorful Abstract Feminine Figurative Still Life Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Southern California native Courtney Simone seamlessly blends her passion for abstract art with the exploration of everyday beauty, resulting in exuberantly inspired abstract figurati...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
After the Game (Figurative Painting, Two Men in Athletic Uniforms by Mark Beard)
By Mark Beard
Located in Hudson, NY
Academic style figurative portrait painting of a handsome young men "After the Game", By Mark Beard as Bruce Sargeant (pseudonym in homage to the fashion photographer, Bruce Weber, a...
Canvas, Oil
3 CASES by Ramon Enrich - Architecture and Landscape Painting
By Ramon Enrich
Located in Paris, FR
3 CASES is a painting by Spanish contemporary artist Ramon Enrich. Acrylic on canvas: H 39.4 × L 51.2 in inches / H 100 × L 130 cm. The artwork is sold framed (brown floating frame)...
Acrylic, Canvas
Contemporary Landscape Diptych Painting with Pine Trees by Carol Moreno
By Carol Moreno
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The total size of the two works is 90x180 cm. At Escat Gallery we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork i...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Culture Identity 1 - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative Modern Women Painting
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 The...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Passport 1 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Neo-Expressionism, Modern
By Wisdom Uche
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique; this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Ar...
Canvas, Acrylic
$650
Nicole - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Neo-Expressionism, Africa, Love
By Wisdom Uche
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique; this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Ar...
Canvas, Acrylic
Talking with You
By Jacob Burda
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting reflects a quiet moment shared by two people whose conversation seems untouched by time. They may be close friends or perhaps a couple — the kind of connection where wo...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,003
Cow #2
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 95×95 cm (overall size with stretching 105×105 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled Cow #2 continues the exploration of simplicity, color, and the joy ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Culture Identity 4 - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative Modern Women Painting
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 The...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$450
With You - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Modern, 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. About Artist Tos...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Pugna 061 by Chidy Wayne, Minimalist Style, Large Format
By Chidy Wayne
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Chidy Wayne (b. 1981, Spain) is an artist based in Barcelona. Over the years, he has established himself as a recognized figure in the art world, developing a personal artistic langu...
Mixed Media, Textile
Weightless - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern, Africa Men
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Weightless captures a suspended moment between control and release. His posture suggests not defeat, but acceptance, a letting go of tension, burden, and the unseen trials that pres...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Guy - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Neo-Expressionism, Africa, Love
By Wisdom Uche
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique; this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Ar...
Canvas, Acrylic
Culture Identity 9 - 21st Century Contemporary Figurative Modern Women Painting
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 The...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Diogenes, Semi-Nude Portrait of Greek Philosopher, Oil on Panel, Framed
Located in Chicago, IL
Diogenes is a compelling oil portrait that reimagines the legendary Greek philosopher through the lens of classical beauty and symbolic expression. The contemplative figure, crowned ...
Oil, Panel
Being Present
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 95×120 cm (overall size with stretching 105×130 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled A white dog resting on a soft pink armchair becomes an image of q...
Acrylic, Canvas
Pleasure - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Women
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.
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Waiting To Blossom -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Mixed Media, Fabrics
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Bakare Babatund...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Delight of Waves by Marylin Cavin - acrylic contemporary people painting
Located in DE
Marylin Cavin is a French-Swiss artist who completed her art studies in Paris, where she lived for about thirty years. For the past 25 years, she has regularly exhibited in galleries...
Canvas, Acrylic
Oostdijk Silence 1 - 21st Century Contemporary seascape painting
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Joost Verhagen Oostdijk Silence 1 100 x 140 cm Acrylic paint on canvas Shipping on a roll in a tube we can offer, worldwide, for free. Because of the constantly changing prices we ...
Acrylic, Canvas
"Rye", Small-Scale Contemporary Oil Painting of a Cat
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Rye" is an original piece by Kay Seohyung Lee made from oil on panel. This piece measures 10"h x 8"w x 0.5"d and comes with a gallery-issued Certificate of Authenticity and is signe...
Oil, Wood Panel
Protected Truth -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Mixed Media
By Bakare Abubakri-sideeq Babatunde
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube. This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Bakare Babatund...
Fabric, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Mistress of the Autumn Garden
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, the artist creates the image of a woman as the keeper of the harvest, of space, and of the rhythms of nature. Her figure rises from the earth as naturally as the ap...
Canvas, Acrylic
Mixed Feeling 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Modern, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
“Mixed Feelings” is a visual series that captures the emotional complexity of Black womanhood, strength, softness, pride, visibility, and invisibility. Each portrait in this series h...
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic