Steven Kinder is a painter who uses geometric abstraction to convey energy, form and movement. Through colors and shapes, he creates tension and elicits an emotional response from his viewers. He has made drawings, paintings and large-scale work for over 40 years expressing these ideas.
Born in Queens, New York, Kinder studied at the Cooper Union in the 1970s. Early in his career, Kinder used flat house paint on raw, unprimed canvas. Unsatisfied, he added warm water, trying to achieve a transparent quality, before discovering raw pigment and linen. Translucent and vivid, the mix of materials allowed Kinder to develop his signature look, giving his geometric shapes new meaning and depth.
He developed a style that involves angular shapes in unison with emotive colors, similar to those used by American abstract painter Mark Rothko. His work also echoes the sorrowful sentiments conveyed by British painter Francis Bacon, a source of inspiration. Kinder’s communication solely through color choice and abstract forms, meanwhile, is an approach akin to that of Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky.
Kinder has several distinctive painting practices, including placing blue painter’s tape around the perimeter of a work to help confine his art to a designated space. The textural difference adds a physical barrier that also catches the end of brush strokes, extending the piece softly over its border.
When translating drawings into monumental projects like murals, he uses the drawing as a reference rather than projecting it or using graphs to scale it. By working free-hand on these large projects, Kinder can adapt his art to a space and play with translucency and color.
Today, he is based in both Brooklyn and Watermill, New York. He is represented by the George Billis Gallery.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Steven Kinder’s paintings and mixed media pieces.
GBG 014-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wants his work to call out in some way. He is inspi...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$17,000
RD 03-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NY & LA -- Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it....
Canvas, Mixed Media
$10,200
RD 013-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wants his work to call out in some way. He is inspi...
Canvas, Mixed Media
GBG 015-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wants his work to call out in some way. He is inspi...
Canvas, Mixed Media
RD 020-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wants his work to call out in some way. He is inspi...
Canvas, Mixed Media
GH001-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NY & LA -- Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it....
Mixed Media
RD 022-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wants his work to call out in some way. He is inspi...
Canvas, Mixed Media
GH002-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wants his work to call out in some way. He is inspi...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$10,200
RD 011-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wants his work to call out in some way. He is inspi...
Canvas, Mixed Media
RD 021-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wants his work to call out in some way. He is inspi...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$17,000
RD001-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NY & LA -- Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. H...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$10,200
RD011-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wants his work to call out in some way. He is inspi...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$10,200
RD013-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NY & LA -- Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it....
Canvas, Mixed Media
$6,200
RD20-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wants his work to call out in some way. He is inspi...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$2,200
H 26 in W 51 in D 2 in
Indian Contemporary Art by Sumit Mehndiratta - Nailed it Series No.98
By Sumit Mehndiratta
Located in Paris, IDF
Silk thread on wooden panel - artwork can be shipped only framed in a crate
Wood, Mixed Media
$15,500
H 40 in W 50 in D 1.5 in
"Love for Meadow VIII", Colorful Bright Abstract Painting, Textured Impasto
By Sveta Hessler
Located in Carmel, CA
Sveta Hessler (Russian, born 1973) "Love for Meadow VIII" 2026 Acrylic and mixed media on stretched canvas Signed on verso. "Love for Meadow VIII" is a richly textured contemporary ...
Canvas, Stretcher Bars, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$20,000
H 50 in W 40 in D 2 in
'Untitled' Original Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media On Canvas by Steven
By Steven H. Rehfeld
Located in Carmel, CA
Steven is now one of the top emerging artists in the U.S. His works are groundbreaking, bold, and imbued with unflinching disregard for painting conventions. ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$21,700
H 63 in W 38 in D 0.75 in
"Framed & Draped: Material Collection" Lia Cook, Contemporary Wall Textile
By Lia Cook
Located in Wilton, CT
"Framed and Draped: Material Collection", acrylic on abaca, dyes on rayon; woven, 63" x 38", 1989. This contemporary abstract mixed media tapestry was done by California-based Ameri...
Fabric, Tapestry, Thread, Dye, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$38,000
H 84 in W 72 in D 2.5 in
From the Series 'La Cola Infinita' - Mixed Painting by Cuban Master Hector Frank
By Hector Frank
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Figurative Paintings Portraits of Cuban History - Painted by Hector Frank. Unique Painting with a certificate of authenticity, signed and dated by the Artist. Signed in the lower r...
Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
The Accordian Player
By Max Papart
Located in New York, NY
deluxe limited edition of 25 medium: etching, aquatint, with carborundum, collage on paper year: 1980 paper size: 58" x 38" image size: 58" x 38" (145 x 98 cm.) frame size: 65.5" x...
Mixed Media, Etching, Aquatint, Lithograph
$1,639
H 28.15 in W 7.09 in
'Dawn on silk'. Abstract naturalistic pink cherry blossom blue sky sakura season
By Sophia Milligan
Located in Penzance, GB
'Dawn on Silk' Original Artwork, Unframed _________________ Capturing the pulse and flush of fleeting youth. Sap rising through branches, buds, blossoms; like blood through the vein...
Gold Leaf
$1,024
H 24.02 in W 28.75 in D 0.2 in
'Avon Walk' AvonCliff ' no 8' mixed media , signed original work , circa 2009.
By Andy Gradwell
Located in Frome, Somerset
' Avon Walk . no 8 ; Avoncliff' ,mixed media original painting by Gradwell. circa 2009. signed and dated work by the artist.. Painting : 35cm x 48cm. Silver giltwood glazed frame: ...
Mixed Media
$11,000
H 24 in W 24 in D 1.5 in
'Surge' by Steven H. Rehfeld - Orange, Blue, and White Mixed Media Abstract Art
By Steven H. Rehfeld
Located in Carmel, CA
Steven H. Rehfeld (American, born 1954) 'Surge' 2007 Oil paint, pencil, tape, glue, wax, canvas, stretcher bars The artist signed the back of the painting. Steven Rehfeld's 'Surge' ...
Canvas, Oil, Mixed Media, Tape, Glue, Pencil, Stretcher Bars, Wax
$19,000
H 50 in W 40 in D 1.5 in
"Fragments" - Vibrant Mixed Media Contemporary Abstract in Warm Pastel Palette
By Steven H. Rehfeld
Located in Carmel, CA
Steven H. Rehfeld (American, born 1954) "Fragments", 2022 Oil paint, Newsprint, Ink, Mixed Media, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the back of the painting. "Fragments" is a...
Canvas, Oil, Mixed Media, Ink, Newsprint, Stretcher Bars
$38,000
H 84 in W 72 in D 2.5 in
From the Series 'Estampida' - Mixed Media Painting by Cuban Master Hector Frank
By Hector Frank
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Figurative Multiple Portrait Cuban store by Cuban Master Painter Hector Frank. Unique Painting with a certificate of authenticity. Height 84 by 72 Length in Inches Despite interna...
Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$8,500
H 24 in W 24 in D 1.25 in
"Centrifuge" - Contemporary Abstract Collage with Figure and Chinese Print
By Steven H. Rehfeld
Located in Carmel, CA
Steven H. Rehfeld (American, born 1954) "Centrifuge" 1998 Oil paint, paper, newsprint, mixed media, on canvas stretched over a wood panel The artist signed the back of the painting. ...
Canvas, Oil, Resin, Mixed Media, Wood Panel, Newsprint, Stretcher Bars
$2,186
H 23.82 in W 30.71 in
'Louisiana Irises.' blue white yellow green tropical nature flower abstract
By Sophia Milligan
Located in Penzance, GB
'Louisiana Irises (I Burned As You Bloomed)' Original artwork. Framed, ready to hang ___________________ Blazing heat and azure sky, glamorous flamboyant blooms, the exquisite flush...
Paint, Paper, Ink, Mixed Media
$24,000
H 60 in W 48 in D 1.5 in
"Challenge 16" - Energetic Abstract Expressionist in Blue, Red, Black, and White
By Masri Hayssam
Located in Carmel, CA
Masri Hayssam (Lebanese, born 1965) "Challenge 16" 2019 Oil paint, Acrylic paint, Mixed Media, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the bottom right and the back of the painting....
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$6,500
H 24 in W 36 in D 1.5 in
"Journey to Red Rocks" by Poroy - Abstract Landscape - Red Trees and Gold Leaf
By Maria Poroy
Located in Carmel, CA
Maria Poroy (American, born 1952) "Journey to Red Rocks" 2023 Acrylic Paint, Gold Leaf, Mixed Media, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the bottom right of the painting. "Jour...
Gold Leaf
RD 001-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NY & LA -- Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it....
Canvas, Mixed Media
RD 012-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NY & LA -- Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it....
Canvas, Mixed Media
RD002-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wants his work to call out in some way. He is inspi...
Canvas, Mixed Media
RD010-17
By Steven Kinder
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NY & LA --Steven Kinder talks a lot about energy, form and movement and getting at the essence of something. Getting to the middle of it. He wa...
Canvas, Mixed Media