Surely you’ll find the exact abstract expressionist pastel you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. There are many
Abstract,
Expressionist and
Contemporary versions of these works for sale. You’re likely to find the perfect abstract expressionist pastel 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. When looking for the right abstract expressionist pastel for your space, you can search on 1stDibs by color — popular works were created in bold and neutral palettes with elements of
gray,
beige,
brown and
blue. Finding an appealing abstract expressionist pastel — no matter the origin — is easy, but
Karina Gentinetta,
Reginald K. Gee,
Magdalena Morey,
Ahmed Gaafary and
Suki Maguire each produced popular versions that are worth a look. Artworks like these of any era or style can make for thoughtful decor in any space, but a selection from our variety of those made in
crayon,
paint and
oil pastel can add an especially memorable touch. A large abstract expressionist pastel can be an attractive addition to some spaces, while smaller examples are available — approximately spanning 5.51 high and 4.53 wide — and may be better suited to a more modest living area.
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.