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Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

CONTEMPORARY STYLE

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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Style: Contemporary
Village 1
Located in Barcelona, ES
Tinta china, acuarela, tinta acrílica sobre papel artístico Canson
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper

Desire in Blue
Located in Boxholm, SE
Desire in Blue – Jolanta Johnsson, experienced Polish artist, graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, PhD of fine arts, university teacher. She currently lives in Sweden. Thi...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Monoprint

Fade to #21
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Color Pencil

Untitled I
Located in MADRID, ES
Oil pastel on 350 g/m2 textured paper. With thoughts on 21st century humans and their future, João Cardoso concludes that technology brings tools for two extremes. Thus, technology,...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel

Fade to #3
Located in MADRID, ES
Colour pencil on Canson 300 g/m2 paper.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Color Pencil

Four Chairs at Poolside
Located in Miami, FL
This work is the study for Pool Chairs. It is different chairs and also brightly colored but painted on board and framed. This work is an indoor work only and is beautifully framed...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Oil Pastel, Watercolor

Shadow of a Doubt
Located in Boxholm, SE
Jolanta Johnsson, experienced Polish artist, graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, PhD of fine arts, university teacher. She currently lives in Sweden. This is how she writ...
Category

1990s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink, Acrylic, Pen

Checkered Blanket
Located in Boxholm, SE
Jolanta Johnsson, experienced Polish artist, graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, PhD of fine arts, university teacher. She currently lives in Sweden. This is how she writes about the drawing: When it comes to purchasing a blanket, many of us are drawn to the timeless appeal of a plaid pattern, which is often present in abstract art. Have you ever wondered why this particular design is so popular? I must admit, I don't have the answer. However, picture this: two individuals lying on a checkered...
Category

1990s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink, Acrylic, Pen

Preisung der Unzucht II
By Felix Waske
Located in Wien, 9
Signed, dated and titled lower left. Felix Waske was born in Vienna in 1942. From 1958 to 1967, he studied at the University of Applied Arts under Prof Eduard Bäumer and at the Acad...
Category

1970s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Graphite, Pencil

Indigo and gold leaf miniature painting on handmade paper, framed
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Olivia Fraser Temple II, 2022 Pigment, Arabic gum & gold leaf on handmade paper 35 x 35 inches 88.9 x 88.9 cm OF041 Olivia Fraser (b. 1965, London) is a...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

NAL KWON (Flying martial arts)
Located in Seoul, KR
About ‘Nal Kwon’ Nal Kwon is a phonetic representation of the Korean characters 날 and 권 . The character 날(Nal) is derived from the verb 날다 which means fly and Kwon refers to a kind o...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

Big Hibiscus II
Located in Fairfield, CT
Making art is my greatest form of escapism. Although often hard work, it is for me like a portal into another world where I envision a better place than where we are. Whether working...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

Figurative Ink Painting N.2 'Vessels II' by Dmitry Samygin
Located in Paris, FR
Figurative Ink on Cotton paper Painting N.1 'Vessels II' by Dmitry Samygin H.27 x 19.5 cm About Dmitry Samygin Furniture and Product Designer. His approach relies on simple forms and clarity in ideas with carefully chosen materials to expose the essence of an object. His products exemplify humanistic design, comfort in everyday use and ergonomic function. He is a prize-winner in international competitions. He has taken part in exhibitions in Paris, Milan and Moscow, collaborates with European and Russian production, architectural and design companies. Since 2021 Dmitriy's design has been presented in a permanent exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Moscow. Dmitry's graphics and designs are in private collections all over the world. Samygin's Awards 2023 I+D / Design Now / winner (product design & decor) 2021 Red dot / Modul 2021 I+D magazine award / Shelter (covers for the sculptures of Moscow State Architectural Museum) 2020 Best 2020 AD Russia 2019 Andrew World...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Cotton, Paper, Ink

Love in spring
Located in Fairfield, CT
In paintings, drawings and prints, Michael Rich explores the beauty and irascibility of the natural world through an approach to painting that is visceral, physical and colorful. Of...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Paper

Shooo-(I)
Located in Seoul, KR
ARTIST STATEMENT My work focuses on the relationship between ‘Writing and Drawing’. From a distance, it appears to be a drawn image but a closer look reveals innumerable minute handw...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink, Paper

Electromagnetic Power Station
Located in New York, NY
This is an imagined view of an Electromagnetic Power Station charging away somewhere in the multiverse. The image measures 9" H x 12" W; the paper measures 11" H x 15" W. I am both ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Rag Paper, Other Medium

Blossom Moon Jar Drawing 9
Located in Seoul, KR
ABOUT THE ARTWORK Cut-outs on A4 paper/ Collage work for Blossom Moon Jars Series. About Moon Jars The characteristic of the method of making moon jars is the technique of making an...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Glue

Shooo-(II)
Located in Seoul, KR
ARTIST STATEMENT My work focuses on the relationship between ‘Writing and Drawing’. From a distance, it appears to be a drawn image but a closer look reveals innumerable minute handw...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

"Summer Idling" Figurative painting, Nude, Watercolor on Paper, Framed
Located in New York, NY
Painting: Watercolor on Paper, Framed Dimensions: 18 in x 24 in, Framed 23 in x 29 in Unique Signed on Verso, includes a certificate of authenticity. Elena Chestnykh was born in Nov...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

"Sparkling Day" Landscape Painting, Beach, Watercolor on Paper, Framed
Located in New York, NY
Painting: Ink and Watercolor on Paper, Framed Dimensions: 41 in x 52 in, Framed 42 in x 55 in Unique Signed on Verso, includes a certificate of authenticity. Elena Chestnykh was bor...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

"One Summer Day" Figurative Painting, Watercolor, Beach, Landscape, Framed
Located in New York, NY
Painting: Watercolor on Paper, Framed Dimensions: 9 in x 12 in, Framed 12 in x 16 in Unique Signed on Verso, includes a certificate of authenticity. Elena Chestnykh was born in Novo...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

"Summer Heaven" Figure Painting, Watercolor, Watercolor on Paper
Located in New York, NY
Painting: Watercolor on Paper, Framed Dimensions: 26 in x 32 in, Framed 29 in x 37 in Unique Signed on Verso, includes a certificate of authenticity. Elena Chestnykh was born in Nov...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

"Flowers and Butterflies" Figurative Painting, Nude, Nature, Framed
Located in New York, NY
Painting: Ink and Watercolor on Paper, Framed Dimensions: 24 in x 20 in, 29 in x 25 in Unique Signed on Verso, includes a certificate of authenticity. Elena Chestnykh was born in No...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

Ink and Watercolor Painting by Kate Roebuck 'Greek Key'
Located in White Plains, NY
'Greek Key' 2022 by Kate Roebuck. Ink and watercolor on handmade watercolor paper. 40 x 60 inches. This work features classic greek forms in white exposed...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

"Wild Rosehip" Landscape, Forest, Watercolor, Framed
Located in New York, NY
Painting: Ink and Watercolor on Paper, Framed Dimensions: 16 in x 20 in, Framed 21 in x 27 in Unique Signed on Verso, includes a certificate of authenticity. Elena Chestnykh was bor...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

Cloudline I
Located in Fairfield, CT
Raised in an extended family of artists, I have always been surrounded by the nuances of line, color and observation. Time spent at my grandparents’ working farm along the Connecticu...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink, Synthetic Paper

Cloudline 4
Located in Fairfield, CT
Raised in an extended family of artists, I have always been surrounded by the nuances of line, color and observation. Time spent at my grandparents’ working farm along the Connecticu...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink, Synthetic Paper

"Rainy Day on the Beach" Painting, Watercolor on Paper, Beach, Tropical, Framed
Located in New York, NY
Painting: Watercolor on Paper, Framed Dimensions: 24 in x 30 in, Framed 29 in x 35 in Unique Signed on Verso, includes a certificate of authenticity. Elena Chestnykh was born in Nov...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Stay weird
Located in Oslo, 03
Unique artwork. Pencil and watercolor.
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Pencil

Tropical fusion VII
Located in Fairfield, CT
watercolor on arches paper, unframed
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

"Dove Diptych" Black and White Diptych Painting, Watercolor on Board, Framed
Located in New York, NY
Annika Connor is a modern-day Renaissance woman. Primarily known as a Contemporary Romantic painter, her work uses strong symbolism and passionate imagery to ignite the imagination. ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Paint, Board

Fat Lady
Located in Wien, 9
The artist has worked with various materials, but many of his works were created on paper. Although he began painting abstractly at an early age, Staudacher’s roots lie in the figura...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Pencil

Rave Heads X
Located in London, GB
Rafael Melendez's artwork titled "Mosh Pit X" is a captivating exploration of human interaction and the juxtaposition between the energetic atmosphere of a mosh pit and the confines ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor

In the Box
Located in Wien, 9
Drawing is the central medium in the works of Simon Vith. The immediacy of drawing and the narrative aspect, as well as the concentration on one line, inspire him. The deliberate use...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Mixed Media

He who goes hunting... Caroline Veith Contemporary drawing red hunt war ink art
Located in Paris, FR
Acrylic paint and ink on tracing paper Hand-signed and dated lower left
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Acrylic

Cloud #32
Located in Fairfield, CT
Watercolor and natural mineral pigments on handmade paper. Framed dimensions 11.25" x 11".
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Handmade Paper, Pigment

"Distorted Portrait #4" Figurative Painting, Watercolor on Paper, Wood Panel
Located in New York, NY
This artwork was featured in The INNOVATE Exhibition at The Untitled Space from September 12 - October 2, 2021. Martha Zmpounou is a visual artist and a lecturer (University of the A...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paint, Paper, Watercolor, Wood Panel

Winterreise
Located in Wien, 9
In his painting, Robert Hammerstiel is in constant search of the balance and harmony of form. In his drastic reduction to the physical essentials and the colourful placarding, he cre...
Category

1990s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Graphite, Color Pencil

"Dancing in the Dark" Intaglio Etching on Cotton Paper, Hand-Inked, Framed
Located in New York, NY
Indira Cesarine is a multidisciplinary artist who works with photography, video, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. A graduate of Columbia University with a triple major in Art Hi...
Category

1990s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Cotton, Paper, Etching, Intaglio

Fly Over New York City Illustration - Optimism - Empire State Building
Located in Miami, FL
If people don't swat you . . . then something else happens." Illustration for Blechman's popular book Franklin the Fly (Mankato, MN: Creative Editions, 2007). Watercolor, pen and ink...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Pen

No. 13
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Piccillo is a skilled draftsman, and his nuanced use of shadow and scale highlight this ability. Joseph Piccillo’s signature graphite and charcoal drawings...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Graphite

Rituals #1 Hélène Duclos, 21st Century Contemporary figurative art, orange green
Located in Paris, FR
Gouache, color pencil and graphite on paper Signed lower right Unique work 1 / Hélène DUCLOS, 2016 – Artist Statement “Questioning the human condition and the position of being ali...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Color Pencil, Graphite

Swimmers and Divers - Women Illustrators
Located in Miami, FL
Barbara Nessim is an artist/ illustrator who has contributed to Harper's  Bazaar, Esquire, New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, Time, Ms among others. She ...
Category

1990s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Ink

Megalopolis Lights - 21st Century, Contemporary, Landscape, Watercolor on Paper
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
Atmosphere -masses of evaporating water in the air- describes Ekaterina Smirnova's paintings best. Working in watercolour, Smirnova has a unique approach to this traditional medium. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Downtown Blue - 21st Century, Contemporary, Landscape, Watercolor on Paper
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
Atmosphere -masses of evaporating water in the air- describes Ekaterina Smirnova's paintings best. Working in watercolour, Smirnova has a unique approach to this traditional medium. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Perfect World
Located in Gloucester, MA
Gabrielle Barzaghi's drawing "Perfect World" is part of a series also called "Perfect World," which engage with themes of utopia and dystopia. This work is unframed. Though we can provide a good frame at reasonable cost, safely shipping larger works on paper...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pastel

Special Place - 21st Century, Contemporary, Landscape, Watercolor on Paper
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
Watercolor on paper
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

"Ghostly Meditations (waltzing with the forgotten)" drawing collage figures text
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Enrique Chagoya Ghostly Meditations (waltzing with the forgotten), 2012 acrylic and India ink on de-acidified 19th century paper (facing pages of etchings from a 19th century book) 1...
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, India Ink, Acrylic

Woman and Taurus - Lajos Szalay, 20th Century, Figurative drawing
Located in Paris, FR
Ink on paper Signed lower right by the artist Unique work Framed This work was executed by the Hungarian artist circa 1970. Pablo Picasso said about Lajos Szalay : "He is the best ...
Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

Eklo Haude Bernabé 21st Century drawing Africa pastel colour flora art
Located in Paris, FR
Ink on paper Signed and dated lower left by the artist
Category

2010s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

Diagonal I - 21st Century, Contemporary, Architecture, Watercolor on Paper
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
Watercolor on paper Atmosphere -masses of evaporating water in the air- describes Ekaterina Smirnova's paintings best. Working in watercolour, Smirnova has a unique approach to this ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Esther
Located in Belgravia, London, London
Pencil on paper Paper size: 16 x 10 inches Framed size: 25.75 x 19.25 inches Signed lower right
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pencil

Composition in Shades of White
Located in London, GB
EDIK EDWARD ARCADIEVICH STEINBERG b. 1937 born in Moscow 1937 (Russian) Title: Composition in Shades of White, 1997 Technique: Original Hand Signed and Dated Gouache Painting on cardboard size: 76.5 x 57.5 cm / 30.1 x 22.6 in Additional information: This original painting is hand signed and dated by the artist. It was painted in 1997. Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by the previous owner. Exhibited: Paris & Tel Aviv, Galerie Le Minotaure...
Category

1990s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Elm Along The Bayou
Located in Houston, TX
Beth Secor, Elm Along The Bayou, 2014-2015 Ink, gouache and pencil on paper overall diptych 20 x 28 inches 20 x 14 inches each Beth Secor understands tr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Archival Paper, Gouache, Ink

Si Las Paredes Hablaran - 21st Century, Contemporary Figurative Charcoal Drawing
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
Years of collecting books, travel archives and studying art in Europe, went hand in hand with visiting historical monuments and grand palaces, remnan...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic

Salón Rojo - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Drawing, Charcoal
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
Years of collecting books, travel archives and studying art in Europe, went hand in hand with visiting historical monuments and grand palaces, remnants of past golden eras. This nostalgic raking over the past encompasses these inspirational elements, weaved together with her own curiosity in loose charcoal lines depicting Baroque, whimsical and once decadent interiors. “The rooms in my paintings are small trips to the past. I look for an alternative reality through a fictional scenario, represented by a dystopian era of booms and declines.” Francisca Ahlers...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic

The Forgiveness
Located in London, GB
THEOPHILE ALEXANDRE STEINLEN 1859-1923 Lausanne 1859-1923 Paris (Swiss/French) Title: The Forgiveness, ca. 1901 Technique: Original Stamped Pencil Drawing on paper. size: 21 x 2...
Category

Early 1900s Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Pencil

The Big Garden - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Drawing, Charcoal
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
Years of collecting books, travel archives and studying art in Europe, went hand in hand with visiting historical monuments and grand palaces, remnants of past golden eras. This nostalgic raking over the past encompasses these inspirational elements, weaved together with her own curiosity in loose charcoal lines depicting Baroque, whimsical and once decadent interiors. “The rooms in my paintings are small trips to the past. I look for an alternative reality through a fictional scenario, represented by a dystopian era of booms and declines.” Francisca Ahlers...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Acrylic

Contemporary drawings and watercolor paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Contemporary drawings and watercolor paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add drawings and watercolor paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, orange, purple, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Leo Guida, Reginald K. Gee, David Barnett, and Luis Miguel Valdes . Frequently made by artists working with Paper, and Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Contemporary drawings and watercolor paintings, so small editions measuring 0.79 inches across are also available. Prices for drawings and watercolor paintings made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $60 and tops out at $295,000, while the average work sells for $1,201.

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