Howlin Wolf
21st Century and Contemporary Portrait Prints
Giclée
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Graphite, Paper
1960s Contemporary Black and White Photography
Silver Gelatin
Early 2000s Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Mixed Media
Early 2000s Contemporary Abstract Paintings
Mixed Media
People Also Browsed
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Post-Modern Moroccan and North African Rugs
Wool
1970s Pop Art Black and White Photography
Inkjet
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Fiberglass, Rosewood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Quilts
Cotton
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
Pottery
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Brass, Copper
Vintage 1980s Hungarian Modern Abstract Sculptures
Acrylic
1990s American Posters
Paper
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Quilts and Blankets
Cotton
2010s Contemporary Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century American Modern Abstract Prints
Etching
1970s Post-Modern Figurative Paintings
Board, Oil
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.
Read More
11 of Annie Leibovitz’s Most Talked-About Photographs
See why the famed photographer's celebrity portraits have graced magazine covers and become headline grabbers in their own right for five decades and counting.
Tom Price Sculpted One of These Benches from Resin, the Other from Coal
Part art, part seating, they offer a fascinating meditation on life’s dualities.
The Stories behind the Most Famous Luxury Fashion Logos
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.
Brooklyn’s Ground Floor Gallery Spotlights a Diverse Range of Emerging Artists
Cofounders Krista Scenna and Jill Benson highlight the work of underexposed talents and connect them with new collectors.
The Layered Story behind the Iconic Jewels of London’s Stephen Webster
On the 25th anniversary of his innovative Crystal Haze collection, the designer revisits its origins.
The Story behind James Banks’s Jewels Is As Dreamy As the Designs
Brought together by a love of jewelry with meaning, Adam Shulman and Heidi Nahser Fink built a brand that celebrates ingenious design and fine craftsmanship.
Photographer to Know: David Bailey
British portraitist David Bailey gets up close to his celebrity subjects.
High-Society Hijinks Fill the Imagination of Illustrator Tug Rice
The Pennsylvania-born, New York–based artist's whimsical creations affectionately satirize the foibles of his fellow Upper East Siders.