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.
Orchids 蘭 in Purple Mists-hand painted Limited Edition #6 of 10-British Artist
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This is a rare hand-painted Limited Edition by contemporary artist Shizico Yi, hand painted on a Giclee deluxe matte-finish giclée aluminium panel. Each edition is 90% hand-painted w...
Metal
$675
Earth in Gold - Original Minimalist Contemporary Abstract Painting on Raw Canvas
By Clara Berta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clara Berta’s acrylic and mixed-media paintings blend texture and color to create harmony, mystery, and depth on the painted surface. Her paintings transform spaces into Zen environm...
Canvas, Acrylic
Eternal Abstract Expressionist Painting, XXL Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
Located in London, London
full size 211x159cm stretched size 200xx150cmx10cm All custom charges are included in the final price agreed. unframed, shipped rolled XXL, Extra-large painting, large painting, ab...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
A Place of My Own
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Size: 92×92 cm (overall size with stretching 102×102 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: ready to hang Soft Power explores the contrast between physical strength ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,700
Tide Washing abstract landscape coastal impressionist painting original artwork
Located in COOMERA, QLD
"Tide Washing In" Wild coastal waters abstract. Contemplate the vastness of the ocean and the sky, bring the mother nature inside. Painted in soft blues, creams, and whites, spontane...
Canvas, Acrylic
The In-Between
By Kseniya Rai
Located in Zofingen, AG
"The work presents a fragmented view of a place that feels familiar yet difficult to fully locate. Architectural planes, water and distant fragments of landscape overlap, creating a ...
Canvas, Oil
$2,800
Blue oceanscape minimalist abstract painting ocean clear sky light blue waters
Located in COOMERA, QLD
"Still Blue Waters" This piece speaks to the soul's longing for peace and the ever-present dialogue between the earth, sky, and ocean. It will infuse any home with a sense of calm ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Abstract Composition, "Nocturnal", Signed Oil on Canvas
Located in Stockholm, Stockholm
Abstract Composition, "Nattligt" (Nocturnal) possibly from Blidö, Swedish island in the archipelago. Oil on canvas laid on panel, signed with monogram lower centre "UW". The present...
Canvas, Oil, Panel
Original Abstract Painting Serg Graff "Butterfly Madness " Surreal Fantasy, COA
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
“Butterfly Madness” is an original 2026 painting by contemporary artist Serg Graff, bursting with color, humor, movement, and an extraordinary collection of imaginary characters. Th...
Acrylic
Still Summer
By Kseniya Rai
Located in Zofingen, AG
A summer place, reconstructed from fragments — water, architecture, colour, two empty chairs. Nothing quite follows the logic of a real location, yet everything feels strangely fami...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
$22,909
DAMIEN HIRST - THE CURRENCY. Original work The Currency Project. Dots. Colors
By Damien Hirst
Located in Madrid, Madrid
DAMIEN HIRST - THE CURRENCY: 6274. NOBODY SHOULD HEAR IT Date of creation: 2016 Medium: Enamel paint on handmade paper Edition: 5.149 unique works on paper Size: 21.5 x 30 cm Conditi...
Enamel
Exodo 2, Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, Signed 31 x 30 Inches
Located in Bogotá, Bogotá
*Exodo 2* es una pintura al óleo abstracta original sobre lienzo del artista colombiano Luis Xiua que presenta un paisaje simbólico compuesto por campos saturados de rojo, naranja, t...
Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Original-Between Sun and Moon-Dahlias Feild-British Awarded Artist-Impasto-gold
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
Between Sun and Moon is Shizico Yi's latest painting created in her garden en plein air, she painted the Dahlias Collection in her garden green house during the early autumn. This p...
Gold Leaf
Flower Field I - Large Scale Colorful Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Khoury's art is characterized by her masterful use of vivid fluorescent colors, dark tones, and high-contrast compositions that are both striking and visually compelling. She employs...
Canvas, Pastel, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic
The Thread Between Us Gaetan de Seguin - Figurative contemporary Painting
Located in DE
Contemporary figurative painting with lots of details and movement. Beautiful statement piece for any art collection. Combining a lot of different colors in any interiors and setting...
Canvas, Acrylic
Lost and Found - Large Scale Colorful Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Reconnecting with her parent's native language, Khoury incorporates elements of Arabic writing that give it its charm. Although nothing is explicitly written, she emphasizes the curv...
Spray Paint, Pastel, Acrylic, Mixed Media, Canvas
$2,863
Where Wonder Remains. Large Abstract Expressionist Painting, Soft Pastel Palette
Located in Oslo, NO
Tatiana said following about this artwork. "I created Where Wonder Remains as a reflection on the part of us that remains connected to childhood, dreams, imagination, and the simple...
Canvas, Acrylic
Enchanted - Joy-bringers in Pink, Acrylic Abstract Painting, 61x91 cm
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Enchanted - Joy-bringers in Pink - Floral Meadow Flowers Soft Abstract Invest Nature Joy Stillness In this vibrant acrylic painting, I've poured my passion for the abstrac...
Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Stretcher Bars
$8,000
Cerulean Blue extra large abstract cloud landscape painting original artwork
Located in COOMERA, QLD
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the Australian coast with "Everything Everywhere All at Once: Cerulean Blue." This captivating acrylic on canvas painting is a masterfu...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,200
"A Day in Giverny - Monet Lily Pads" Impressionistic Oil Painting Canvas Framed
By Cindy Shaoul
Located in New York, NY
This painting depicts an impressionistic scene of Monet's Lily Pond in Giverny, a poetic piece with beautiful details. The work reminds us of Claude Monet, with impressions captured ...
Oil, Canvas
"Artist Pallet " Abstract Oil Painting on Wood Panel in Shadow Box Frame
By Cindy Shaoul
Located in New York, NY
"Artist Pallet" is an oil on wood board painting inspired by use of the artist pallet. With layers of bright oils, whisking brush strokes, and mixed paint, Shaoul captures a love st...
Oil, Wood Panel
Dream, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Metallic gold paint creates the illusion of glitter and shimmering reflections in this abstract composition. Turquoise accents add contrast to the dominant warm...
Acrylic
Vertigo, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Patrick O'Boyle uses blue, hot pink, neon yellow, and white gestural strokes to visualize the disorientation that comes with major shifts in perspective....
Acrylic
Steven Baris, Chunkchain A9 -2, oil on mylar, 20 x 27 inches, 2026
By Steven Baris
Located in Darien, CT
This is a commissioned series of three new mylar paintings based on Chunkchain A9- 1, 2, and 3. These paintings are oil on mylar. This is #2 of 3 in the new composition Much of Bari...
Mylar, Oil
Golden Hour in Napa - Large Scale Abstract Expressive Landscape Mixed Media Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The paintings of Bruce Rubenstein seamlessly marry sophistication with accessibility. Rubenstein’s original art merges the creative attitudes of New York and Los Angeles, combining s...
Canvas, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
#116, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket of realism to...
Pigment
Abstract Head in Profile
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Edwin Kosarek (b.1929). Abstract Head in Profile, 1953. Oil on canvas, 12 x 16 inches. Signed and dated on verso. As found condition. The piece would b...
Oil, Canvas
Original Praying Hands in Violet, Large Spanish Expressionist Figurative Artwork
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Praying Hands in Violet, Large Spanish Expressionist Figurative Artwork Artist: Vicent Calbet Riera (Spanish, 1940–1994) Title: Praying Hands (Descriptive Title) Date: 1993 Medium: ...
Mixed Media, Oil, Watercolor
$859
"Vase of light" Contemporary abstract expressionist still life floral painting
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
Acrylic painting on heavyweight professional acid-free paper, varnished for protection · 50 × 65 cm (19.7 × 25.6 in) “Vase of Light” is a vibrant contemporary floral painting by Fre...
Paper, Acrylic
$1,600
Constructed Memory by Murray Duncan, 2026, Mixed Media on Board, Gilded Frame
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Constructed Memory is an original mixed-media work by Murray Duncan, built from layered charcoal-blue geometric forms, neutral fields and expressive linear marks. The composition exp...
Glaze, Oil Crayon, Acrylic, Pencil
Landscape –Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, Earth Tones, 2026, Marilina Marchica
Located in Agrigento, AG
Landscape is an original abstract oil painting by Italian artist Marilina Marchica. Warm beige, ochre and brown tones surround a delicate horizon line, evoking an imagined landscape....
Cotton, Oil Pastel, Oil
$18,000
Memory Wall #12 : Maximalist Multicolored Abstract Color Field Painting w/ Wax
Located in Hudson, NY
Large, brightly saturated red color field abstract geometric painting in various shades of bright green, blue, purple and deep red. "Memory Wall #12" made by Hudson Valley artist, Vi...
Plaster, Wax, Acrylic, Panel, Pigment
Sultry Summer Blue extra large abstract ocean landscape painting original
Located in COOMERA, QLD
This large-scale painting captures the essence of a sultry Japanese summer. Inspired by the artist residency, the artwork evokes the hazy, hot, and steamy atmosphere of Itoshima duri...
Canvas, Acrylic
Sunset by the Sea
Located in Zofingen, AG
Sunset by the Sea What makes us feel happy and truly alive? Often, it is the simplest things: traveling, discovering beautiful places, being close to nature, and experiencing moments...
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Oil
Dinner for Two
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 92×92 cm (overall size with stretching 102×102 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: ready to hang Dinner for Two transforms an intimate domestic scene into a ...
Canvas, Acrylic
In the Garden
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 92×92 cm (overall size with stretching 102×102 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: ready to hang The painting "In the Garden" invites the viewer into a secl...
Canvas, Acrylic
Soft Surrender: Original Impressionism Floral Painting, Iris, Daisies, Light
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Soft Surrender Flowers Landscape Unique Original Painting Peace Kindness Abundance This is a one-of-a-kind artwork by the established contemporary artist, Karnish. "Soft Su...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Interwoven II, 2026 — Original Abstract Mixed Media on Paper, Murray Duncan
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Interwoven II, 2026 - mix media on paper, 32" x 44", signed Interwoven Forms is an original mixed-media work on paper by Canadian artist Murray Duncan. Layered gestural forms and fi...
Glaze, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Pencil
Horses and Riders in a Botanical Landscape Tapestry (Fabric Wall Panel)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Éva Németh (1930–2019) Riders in a Botanical a Landscape, ca. 1970. Dyed woven wool, panel measures 79 x 54 inches. Signed in the weave with artist's monogram, lower right. Exc...
Wool
Original-Roses in Blue Mist-British Awarded Artist-Oil on Canvas-plein air
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
Roses in Blue Mist is a part of Summer Bloom Series by British artist Shizico Yi. She created the painting in her garden painted plein air during Summer in her garden, trying to se...
Gesso, Oil, Acrylic, Cotton Canvas
$7,550
Burning Memories - Large Scale Contemporary Warm Tone Abstract Oil Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Harrison Gilman's large original artworks begin with a layer of fast-paced gestural abstraction followed by organic shapes and geometric structures. Some of his paintings remain in t...
Canvas, Oil
$3,411Sale Price|50% Off
Kinko Abstract Expressionist Painting, Oil & Acrylic, 21st Century
Located in London, London
Artist: Katarina Joys 98x198cm(canvas full size 104x203cm) 2026 The item is located in central London, United Kingdom. The painting will be shipped rolled. Certificate of authentic...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Beyond the Sea, Abstract Painting
By Alicia Dunn
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
In this abstract painting, shades of blue, green, and grey suggest a calm seascape. The blend of deep colors creates a hazy, dramatic atmosphere, while a yellow...
Acrylic
Large French 20th Century Abstract Expression Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition by Marie Deloume (French born 1942) signed oil painting on paper stuck on canvas, unframed canvas size: 20 x 24 inches condition: overall very good...
Canvas, Paper, Oil
Tangence, Contemporary Geometric Abstract Painting, Oil on Linen, 2026
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Tangence explores the meeting point between geometric abstraction and suggested presence. Curved forms, vertical structures and overlapping planes interact within a composition that ...
Oil
Just After Sunset
By Oksana Reva
Located in Zofingen, AG
Just After Sunset Oil on canvas Artwork size: 110 × 110 cm Framed size: 112 × 112 cm The artwork is sold framed in a natural oak floating frame, creating an elegant “floating” effec...
Oil, Linen
Small Gypsy Girl 31 - Small Abstract Acrylic Painting, Signed European School
By SOOS TIBERIU
Located in Zofingen, AG
READY TO HANG with the edges painted. Gallery 3D quality. The technique I used is: palette knife, professional varnished acrylic pigments, neon acrylics on stretched canvas. At the e...
Acrylic
Lavender Horizons
By Oksana Reva
Located in Zofingen, AG
Lavender Distances From the “Mists” series Oil on canvas The artwork is sold unframed and unstretched. It will be carefully rolled and shipped in a protective tube. Lavender Dista...
Canvas, Oil
Sea glow
Located in Edinburgh, GB
An atmospheric, captivating, and warmth-filled artwork that transports the viewer to a southern coast bathed in the glow of a setting sun. Against the backdrop of deep turquoise-blue...
Acrylic
Original Abstract Painting Serg Graff "UFO" Surreal Fantasy Pop Art, COA
By Serg Graff
Located in Palm Coast, FL
“UFO” is an original 2026 painting by contemporary artist Serg Graff, created as a densely layered visual universe filled with color, movement, humor, and unexpected imagery. Rather...
Acrylic
$795
Partial Light - Contemporary Original Framed Abstract Landscape Mixed Media Art
By Lee Herring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lee Herring focuses his contemporary paintings on vibrant, textured, and abstract landscapes that convey fleeting moments. Herring's energetic artworks are inspired by everyday momen...
Mixed Media, Board
Dolce Vita
Located in Zofingen, AG
Size: 92×92 cm (overall size with stretching 102×102 cm) Year: 2026 Materials: acrylic on canvas Shipping: rolled An ironic and sophisticated homage to the aesthetic of Italian reso...
Canvas, Acrylic
"umbrella girl series" Gold Edition No.19 , Abstract, 21st Century, Acrylic
By Roger König
Located in Dessau-Rosslau, Sachsen Anhalt
A solitary female figure beneath an umbrella emerges from a deeply textured dark blue surface. Rich golden accents define the figure and umbrella, creating a striking contrast with t...
Clay, Acrylic
Sienna by Gabriela Azar Schreiner.
Located in Mentone, AU
This painting is unstretched and unframed. It will be carefully rolled and shipped in a tube. "Creating large-scale abstract paintings that evoke tranquility and presence in any spa...
Acrylic
Early 20th Century French Expressionist Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Holywell, GB
Early 20th Century Expressionist Landscape – “Le pique-nique” A vibrant landscape executed in the expressive style of early 20th-century Expressionism. Bold, confident brushstrokes ...
Oil
$435
HandPainted Artist's Proof-Strawberry Moon Field-Awarded British Artist-GoldLeaf
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This stunning hand-painted Artist Proof ( the last Proof available, the No 2 of Two) is made on a premium metal/aluminium panel. All the gold-leaf and gesso back ground are hand-pain...
Metal, Gold Leaf
$435
"Joyful blooms" Contemporary abstract expressionist floral still life painting
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Joyful Blooms" is an original contemporary floral still life by French artist Natalya Mougenot, painted in her distinctive metamodern expressionist style with acrylic paint and acry...
Paper, Acrylic
$5,498
Imbrication, French Contemporary Geometric Abstract Painting by Sophie Dumont
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
French contemporary artist Sophie Dumont has been developing her distinctive approach to oil painting since the early 1990s. Born in Paris in 1964 and based in Normandy, she creates ...
Canvas, Oil
$4,650
800 Circles - Large Original Contemporary Colorful Abstract Geometric Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brandon Neher is a California artist whose original paintings embody a profound exploration of space, structure, and balance, infused with a touch of modern minimalism. Drawing inspi...
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
"Daydreaming 1", Original Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
Light-filled and lyrical, this original floral abstract "Daydreaming 1" by Sandy Palasti captures the fleeting beauty of blossoms suspended between memory and imagination. Layers of ...
Canvas, Acrylic
The Italian-American’s 2020 abstract painting “The Hoe” personifies his “art of not knowing.”
In his current show at New York's Lehmann Maupin gallery, the Puerto Rican–born talent reveals new paintings with a semiautobiographical aspect.