How did abstract art come about?

Abstract art grew out of the desire by artists in the early 20th century, like Wassily Kandinsky, to create “pure art,” grounded not in visual reality but in the artist’s imagination.

How do you describe abstract art?

To describe abstract art, focus on its elements. Take notice of the types of lines and shapes the work features. Discuss its color and value, the term for the interplay between light and dark in a piece. You can also consider its texture, the materials used to produce it and how it fits into the space that surrounds it. Find a wide range of abstract art on 1stDibs.

What is an abstract piece of art?

A%20definition%20of%20abstract%20art%20is%20art%20through%20which%20the%20artist%20doesn't%20attempt%20a%20visual%20depiction%20of%20the%20world.%20%20The%20artist%20may%20have%20other%20intentions%20%3A%20conveying%20a%20pure%20emotion%2C%20or%20achieving%20what%20(s)he%20perceives%20as%20visual%20perfection%2C%20etc.%20%20There%20are%20many%20kinds%20of%20abstract%20art%20%3A%20lyrical%20abstraction%2C%20geometrical%20abstraction%2C%20action%20painting%E2%80%A6%20%20There%20is%20also%20an%20infinite%20spectrum%20between%20hyperrealism%20and%20pure%20abstraction%2C%20since%20one%20can%20argue%20that%20any%20brush%20stroke%20is%20by%20itself%20an%20abstraction%20of%20the%20reality%20%E2%80%94%20let%20alone%20flat%20color%20patches.

What influenced abstract art?

Abstract art was influenced by Postimpressionism.

Can abstract art be representational?

No, abstract art , by definition, is not representational. Although the shapes in an abstract composition may be based on real world objects, these objects are not recognizable in the finished work.

Who was the father of abstract art?

Wassily Kandinsky is the father of abstract art .

What does abstract mean in art?

Abstract, in art, refers to art that rejects visual reality. Instead, abstract arts utilizes shapes, colors, forms and other gestural marks to convey a certain feeling and reality.

What are the six elements of abstract art?

The six elements of abstract art are color, form, line, shape, texture and value. Color refers to the various hues featured in a composition, while form refers to the subjects or elements of a piece. Lines and shapes are the components that make up the artwork. Textures include both physical differences in the surface of a work and effects that create the illusion of textural variations. Value, the final element, describes how light or dark the colors are. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of abstract art.

What makes good abstract art?

What makes good abstract art is largely subjective. People tend to think of abstract art as good when it evokes an emotional response in them. Critics may judge abstract art based on its originality and creativity, as well as on the skill and technique of the artist. Shop a diverse assortment of abstract art on 1stDibs.

Why do people like abstract art?

The reasons why people like abstract art vary. Some like the fact that they can interpret abstract pieces however they desire and enjoy using their imaginations to find meaning in various works. Others experience an emotional reaction when viewing abstract art and consider it to be moving as a result. In addition, people may appreciate the creativity and inventiveness that the creation of abstract art requires. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of abstract art.

Is Cubism a form of abstract art?

Yes, Cubism is a form of abstract art .

What are three characteristics of abstract art?

Abstract art is meant to achieve an effect as opposed to representing an object, person, or a scene. Three characteristics of abstract art include: being non-representational art; valuation of shapes, colors, lines, and textures; and subjective art. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original abstract artwork from top artists.

Why was Kandinsky called the Father of Abstract Art?

Kandinsky was called the Father of Abstract Art because he was part of a crucial moment in art history. He was influenced by styles ranging from Surrealism to Fauvism and was a leading figure in bringing together Der Blaue Reiter, a group of avant-garde artists in Munich who explored spiritual concepts through their art as a response to the materialism of the time. Wassily Kandinsky also led courses on analytical drawing and color at the Bauhaus after being appointed by founder and architect Walter Gropius to teach in Weimar in 1922. He taught at all three of the legendary school’s locations and remained with the institution until its forced closure by the Nazis in 1933. Through his work, Kandinsky pushed modern art closer to total abstraction and inspired artists like Willem de Kooning and Joan Mitchell. Explore a range of Wassily Kandinsky art on 1stDibs.

Which painter experimented with abstract art and Cubism?

There is no single painter who experimented with abstract art and Cubism. A number of artists worked in Cubism, a style of abstract art in which reality was fragmented into flat, geometric forms. Historians generally credit Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso as being the fathers of Cubism. Other Cubist painters include Fernand Léger, Alexander Archipenko, Marcel Duchamp, Juan Gris and Jean Metzinger. Shop a collection of Cubist art on 1stDibs.

Abstract Action Art

Joan Miller LinsleyAbstract Action Painting in Vibrant Colors, 1961

$2,450

Abstract Action Painting in Vibrant Colors

Located in San Francisco, CA

This abstract painting is a work by Joan Miller Linsley (1922–2000), an American artist recognized for her contributions to the Washington, D.C. art scene and her powerful social com...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Jérémie RebourgeardFrench Abstract Contemporary Art by Jérémie Rebourgeard - L'Action de l'Esprit, 2020

$300

French Abstract Contemporary Art by Jérémie Rebourgeard - L'Action de l'Esprit

By Jérémie Rebourgeard

Located in Paris, IDF

Shipped in a tube Acrylic on Canson paper 300 g Artwork signed at the bottom right & countersigned on verso Born in 1983 in Chinon, France Lives & works in Paris, France Jérémie Re...

Category

2010s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

$7,700

Action - tall, dynamic, reflective, geometric, abstract, steel outdoor sculpture

By Ry Van Der Hout

Located in Bloomfield, ON

With Action, Canadian artist Ryan Van Der Hout creates a sense of motion in rigid steel. Paying homage to Eadweard Muybridge's seminal photographs, which first captured frame-by-fram...

Category

2010s Abstract Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Materials

Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic

$10,000Sale Price|20% Off

Large Mid Century Modern Texas Artist Abstract Expressionist Action Painting

By Duanye Hatchett

Located in Buffalo, NY

An abstract expressionist painting by Duayne Hatchett . Oil on canvas, circa 1990. Signed verso. Framed. Image size, 60"H x 56"L. Duayne Hatchett was a visual artist whose work...

Category

1990s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Betty EffersonAction Please, Abstract Painting, Acrylic and Archival Ink on Paper, 24x20

$560Sale Price|20% Off

Action Please, Abstract Painting, Acrylic and Archival Ink on Paper, 24x20

By Betty Efferson

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

Action Please is one of my pieces that truly depicts how much energy and fun I have when I paint. With its brash strokes and splashes of color, this paper piece would make an eye-cat...

Category

2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic, Archival Ink

Marc RaphaelNew York Taxi - Abstract Textural Colorful Layered Action Painting on Canvas, 2024

$1,345

New York Taxi - Abstract Textural Colorful Layered Action Painting on Canvas

By Marc Raphael

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles artist Marc Raphael's abstract expressionism paintings are influenced by New York's abstract expressionist movement. After encountering Jackson Pollock’s work for the fir...

Category

2010s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

$4,500

1.0 M (DETECTIVE COMICS), 3.2 M (ACTION COMICS) and 1.2M BAT MAN, Triptych

By Rodrigo Spinel

Located in Miami Beach, FL

As a reflection on the value we give to objects, this series exposes examples of objects that we use daily and for different reasons ended up gaining very high prices. By redrawing t...

Category

2010s Abstract Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, India Ink

Recent Sales

Carlos TiradoActions, 2019

Unavailable

Unavailable

H 84 in W 52 in D 1.5 in

Experience in Action

By Aleta Pippin

Located in Santa Fe, NM

Experience in Action by Aleta Pippin oil on linen 84" x 52" 2013 Santa Fe abstract painter, Aleta Pippin, is known for her vibrantly energetic abstract paintings. Her work has a spi...

Category

2010s Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Rosalind BreenFast Action, acrylic on canvas, 2018

Unavailable

H 48 in W 36 in D 1.5 in

Fast Action, acrylic on canvas

By Rosalind Breen

Located in New York, NY

Last chance! This item will shortly no longer be available. This is an acrylic on canvas painting from the artist's newest body of work that focuses on the sensual nature of paint ...

Category

2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Consequences of Action, 2023, 2023

Unavailable

H 3 in W 2.25 in D 2 in

Consequences of Action, 2023

Located in Orange, CA

Consequences of Action, 2023 Additional information: Medium: Glass Dimensions: 3 x 2 1/4 in x 2 in Heidi Schwegler explores a wide range of materials in the service of her subject ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Glass

Ieva MediodiaAction Potential Point 2, 2008

Unavailable

H 39 in W 32 in

Action Potential Point 2

By Ieva Mediodia

Located in Lake Worth, FL

Ieva Mediodia envisions a map of thoughts and feelings which pass through the mind in form of electrochemical firing in between neurons. She makes a connection between this map and h...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Acrylic

Ieva MediodiaAction Potential Point 1, 2008

Unavailable

Sold

H 30 in W 26 in D 2 in

Abstract Action Painting

Located in Buffalo, NY

A modernist oil on canvas, circa 1960. Unsigned. Displayed in a black modernist frame. Image size, 20"L x 24"H.

Category

1950s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Frederic KarolyLundi (Abstract Expressionist Action Drip Painting), 1963

Sold

H 49 in W 52 in D 1 in

Lundi (Abstract Expressionist Action Drip Painting)

By Frederic Karoly

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Fredric Karoly (1898-1987). Lundi, 1963. Oil on canvas measures 49 x 52 inches. Unframed. Signed, dated and titled on reverse. Excellent condition with no damage or restoration. Bi...

Category

1960s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Abstract Expressionist Action Painting New York School Abstract Oil Painting, 1965

Sold

H 32 in W 62 in D 2 in

Abstract Expressionist Action Painting New York School Abstract Oil Painting

Located in Buffalo, NY

Antique American modernist abstract painting. Oil on canvas, circa 1965. Unsigned. Displayed in a period modernist frame.

Category

1960s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Murray HantmanUntitled (Abstract Expressionist mid-century gestural action painting), 1952

Sold

H 12 in W 18.5 in

Untitled (Abstract Expressionist mid-century gestural action painting)

By Murray Hantman

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Throughout the 1950s, he experimented with Action Painting, color, form and expression. By the late 1950s, Hantman’s mature style had developed into abstract works of pure color mas...

Category

1950s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Bill Barrett"Action Abstraction", Abstract, Bronze Metal Sculpture by Bill Barrett

Sold

H 120 in W 144 in D 96 in

"Action Abstraction", Abstract, Bronze Metal Sculpture by Bill Barrett

By Bill Barrett

Located in New York, NY

"Action Abstraction" by Bill Barrett Fabricated bronze Bill Barrett is considered a central figure in the second generation of American metal sculptors and is internationally known ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Margo HoffAction Series - Cycle

Sold

H 58 in W 46 in D 1.25 in

Action Series - Cycle

By Margo Hoff

Located in Denver, CO

In 1933 she moved to Chicago and attended the National Academy of Art and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Category

20th Century Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Fritz BultmanActeon or Another Action, 1946

Sold

H 40 in W 32 in

Acteon or Another Action

By Fritz Bultman

Located in New Orleans, LA

Fritz Bultman set himself apart from other Abstract Expressionists with his meticulously organized abstract compositions, use of sculpture, and the adoption of collage as a core prac...

Category

1940s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Anna Masiul-GozdeckaTendency of actions - Contempory abstract, Oil, Pink & silver, colorful, 2020

Sold

H 39.38 in W 31.5 in

Tendency of actions - Contempory abstract, Oil, Pink & silver, colorful

By Anna Masiul-Gozdecka

Located in Warsaw, PL

ANNA MASIUL-GOZDECKA Graduated from Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts in 2000. She studied painting at prof. Krzysztof Wachowiak`s atelier, photography under the guidance of prof. Rosław S...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Dadodu Action - Giclée by Dadodu - 2003, 2003

Sold

H 27.56 in W 27.56 in D 0.04 in

Action - Giclée by Dadodu - 2003

By Dadodu

Located in Roma, IT

Action is an interesting giclée print realized by the contemporary artist Dadodu in 2003. This original artwork represents various chaotically overlapping shapes of different colo...

Category

Early 2000s Abstract Abstract Prints

$200

H 12 in W 9 in D 0.1 in

Abstract 1, Abstract Oil Painting

By Dorothy Gaziano

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Green, blue, and orange with black accents create a dynamic abstract composition. Scratches and marks add texture and energy. Artist Dorothy Gaziano used oil pa...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

1950's Mid-Century Abstract Expressionist painting, ca. 1955

$1,300Sale Price|35% Off

H 36 in W 40 in D 1.5 in

1950's Mid-Century Abstract Expressionist painting

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Stunning abstract expressionist painting, ca. 1955. Oil on Canvas, measuring 36 x 40 inches. Some natural cracking and paint loss due to heavy impasto technique. Unsigned. Art su...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Desmond McLeanMid-century Untitled Abstract Expressionist painting, ca. 1960's

$550

H 10.63 in W 8.13 in D 1.22 in

The Spanish Mediterranean Islands Cookbook

Located in New York, NY

Explore the diverse cuisine of Spain’s Balearic Islands – Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera – through 155 authentic home cooking recipes. Located off the Spanish Mediterranea...

Category

2010s Books

Materials

Paper

$800

H 27.96 in W 35.44 in D 1.19 in

Ramón Llovet “Atravesant Espais” Symbolic Figurative Oil Painting, 1978

Located in Sant Celoni, ES

**Ramón Llovet “Atravesant Espais” Symbolic Figurative Oil Painting, 1978** Oil on canvas. Signed, dated and titled. Original oil on canvas by Catalan artist Ramón Llovet Miserol, ...

Category

1980s Modern Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Rebecca NewportGreen Daze, Contemporary Abstract Painting, original painting

$929

H 20.08 in W 16.15 in D 0.79 in

Green Daze, Contemporary Abstract Painting, original painting

By Rebecca Newport

Located in Deddington, GB

Rebecca's work is inspired by a lifelong love of nature, colour, and pattern. Growing up in Kew, she was deeply influenced by the beauty of Kew Gardens and its rich abundance of bota...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

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Abstract Action Art For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate piece of abstract action art for your needs in our varied inventory. You can easily find an example made in the Contemporary style, while we also have 6 Contemporary versions to choose from as well. You’re likely to find the perfect item from our selection of abstract action art among the distinctive items we have available, which includes versions made as long ago as the 20th Century as well as those made as recently as the 21st Century. Adding a choice in our collection of abstract action art to a room that is mostly decorated in warm neutral tones can yield a welcome change — find a piece on 1stDibs that incorporates elements of gray, brown, beige, blue and more. Finding an appealing object in our assortment of abstract action art — no matter the origin — is easy, but Damien Hirst, Margo Hoff, Anne Kramer, Murray Hantman and Bill Barrett each produced popular versions that are worth a look. Frequently made by artists working in paint, canvas and fabric, these artworks are unique and have attracted attention over the years.

How Much is a Abstract Action Art?

The price for an artwork of this kind can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — a piece of abstract action art in our inventory may begin at $400 and can go as high as $85,000, while the average can fetch as much as $4,550.

A Close Look at Abstract Art

Beginning in the early 20th century, abstract art became a leading style of modernism. Rather than portray the world in a way that represented reality, as had been the dominating style of Western art in the previous centuries, abstract paintings, prints and sculptures are marked by a shift to geometric forms, gestural shapes and experimentation with color to express ideas, subject matter and scenes.

Although abstract art flourished in the early 1900s, propelled by movements like Fauvism and Cubism, it was rooted in the 19th century. In the 1840s, J.M.W. Turner emphasized light and motion for atmospheric paintings in which concrete details were blurred, and Paul Cézanne challenged traditional expectations of perspective in the 1890s.

Some of the earliest abstract artists — Wassily Kandinsky and Hilma af Klint — expanded on these breakthroughs while using vivid colors and forms to channel spiritual concepts. Painter Piet Mondrian, a Dutch pioneer of the art movement, explored geometric abstraction partly owing to his belief in Theosophy, which is grounded in a search for higher spiritual truths and embraces philosophers of the Renaissance period and medieval mystics. Black Square, a daringly simple 1913 work by Russian artist Kazimir Malevich, was a watershed statement on creating art that was free “from the dead weight of the real world,” as he later wrote.

Surrealism in the 1920s, led by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Meret Oppenheim and others, saw painters creating abstract pieces in order to connect to the subconscious. When Abstract Expressionism emerged in New York during the mid-20th century, it similarly centered on the process of creation, in which Helen Frankenthaler’s expressive “soak-stain” technique, Jackson Pollock’s drips of paint, and Mark Rothko’s planes of color were a radical new type of abstraction.

Conceptual art, Pop art, Hard-Edge painting and many other movements offered fresh approaches to abstraction that continued into the 21st century, with major contemporary artists now exploring it, including Anish Kapoor, Mark Bradford, El Anatsui and Julie Mehretu.

Find original abstract paintings, sculptures, prints and other art on 1stDibs.

Questions About Abstract Action Art

How did abstract art come about?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Abstract art grew out of the desire by artists in the early 20th century, like Wassily Kandinsky, to create “pure art,” grounded not in visual reality but in the artist’s imagination.
How do you describe abstract art?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024
To describe abstract art, focus on its elements. Take notice of the types of lines and shapes the work features. Discuss its color and value, the term for the interplay between light and dark in a piece. You can also consider its texture, the materials used to produce it and how it fits into the space that surrounds it. Find a wide range of abstract art on 1stDibs.
What is an abstract piece of art?
1 Answer
La ChrysomeleFebruary 23, 2021
A definition of abstract art is art through which the artist doesn't attempt a visual depiction of the world. The artist may have other intentions : conveying a pure emotion, or achieving what (s)he perceives as visual perfection, etc. There are many kinds of abstract art : lyrical abstraction, geometrical abstraction, action painting… There is also an infinite spectrum between hyperrealism and pure abstraction, since one can argue that any brush stroke is by itself an abstraction of the reality — let alone flat color patches.
What influenced abstract art?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Abstract art was influenced by Postimpressionism.
Can abstract art be representational?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
No, abstract art, by definition, is not representational. Although the shapes in an abstract composition may be based on real world objects, these objects are not recognizable in the finished work.
Who was the father of abstract art?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Wassily Kandinsky is the father of abstract art.
What does abstract mean in art?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
Abstract, in art, refers to art that rejects visual reality. Instead, abstract arts utilizes shapes, colors, forms and other gestural marks to convey a certain feeling and reality.
What are the six elements of abstract art?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
The six elements of abstract art are color, form, line, shape, texture and value. Color refers to the various hues featured in a composition, while form refers to the subjects or elements of a piece. Lines and shapes are the components that make up the artwork. Textures include both physical differences in the surface of a work and effects that create the illusion of textural variations. Value, the final element, describes how light or dark the colors are. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of abstract art.
What makes good abstract art?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 30, 2024
What makes good abstract art is largely subjective. People tend to think of abstract art as good when it evokes an emotional response in them. Critics may judge abstract art based on its originality and creativity, as well as on the skill and technique of the artist. Shop a diverse assortment of abstract art on 1stDibs.
Why do people like abstract art?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 30, 2024
The reasons why people like abstract art vary. Some like the fact that they can interpret abstract pieces however they desire and enjoy using their imaginations to find meaning in various works. Others experience an emotional reaction when viewing abstract art and consider it to be moving as a result. In addition, people may appreciate the creativity and inventiveness that the creation of abstract art requires. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of abstract art.
Is Cubism a form of abstract art?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
Yes, Cubism is a form of abstract art.
What are three characteristics of abstract art?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Abstract art is meant to achieve an effect as opposed to representing an object, person, or a scene. Three characteristics of abstract art include: being non-representational art; valuation of shapes, colors, lines, and textures; and subjective art. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original abstract artwork from top artists.
Why was Kandinsky called the Father of Abstract Art?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024
Kandinsky was called the Father of Abstract Art because he was part of a crucial moment in art history. He was influenced by styles ranging from Surrealism to Fauvism and was a leading figure in bringing together Der Blaue Reiter, a group of avant-garde artists in Munich who explored spiritual concepts through their art as a response to the materialism of the time. Wassily Kandinsky also led courses on analytical drawing and color at the Bauhaus after being appointed by founder and architect Walter Gropius to teach in Weimar in 1922. He taught at all three of the legendary school’s locations and remained with the institution until its forced closure by the Nazis in 1933. Through his work, Kandinsky pushed modern art closer to total abstraction and inspired artists like Willem de Kooning and Joan Mitchell. Explore a range of Wassily Kandinsky art on 1stDibs.
Which painter experimented with abstract art and Cubism?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
There is no single painter who experimented with abstract art and Cubism. A number of artists worked in Cubism, a style of abstract art in which reality was fragmented into flat, geometric forms. Historians generally credit Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso as being the fathers of Cubism. Other Cubist painters include Fernand Léger, Alexander Archipenko, Marcel Duchamp, Juan Gris and Jean Metzinger. Shop a collection of Cubist art on 1stDibs.

At 89, Artist Lucio Pozzi Is Reaching New Career Heights

The Italian-American’s 2020 abstract painting “The Hoe” personifies his “art of not knowing.”

Joan Mitchell’s Rare, Late-Career Diptych Buzzes with Life

Beneath the inky blackness, the painter’s irrepressible energy electrifies this pair of intaglio prints.

Roberto Burle Marx’s Bold Brazilian Landscape Design Comes to New York

The New York Botanical Garden, in the Bronx, has mounted a multifaceted show honoring the polymath modernist's legacy, including new work by contemporary landscape maker Raymond Jungles.