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21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze, Steel
1970s Pop Art Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Still-life Sculptures
Mixed Media
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Antique Late 19th Century French Romantic Collectibles and Curiosities
Rattan, Linen
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco More Furniture and Collectibles
Steel
2010s American Modern Table Lamps
Cement
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Silver
Early 2000s American Busts
Antique Late 18th Century English Chinoiserie Ceramics
Porcelain
1990s American Expressionist Books
Paper
Early 20th Century Fauvist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors
Crayon, Paper, Pastel
1880s Academic Portrait Paintings
Oil
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Historical Memorabilia
Metal, Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Umbrella Stands
Silver
1920s Naturalistic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique Early 1900s American Late Victorian Umbrella Stands
Iron
2010s Italian Sculptures and Carvings
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Victorian Collectible Jewelry
Platinum
Antique 18th Century Chinese Tea Sets
Porcelain
Recent Sales
1980s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1980s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1990s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1990s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
1990s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
A Close Look at Contemporary Art
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.
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