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Modern Paintings

MODERN STYLE

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”

Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.

Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chaircrafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.

It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.

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Style: Modern
Period: 21st Century and Contemporary
Jan Erika "Island"
Located in Hudson, NY
The "Island" fine art print, shown here, is by UK artist Jan Erika. Unlike her exuberantly colored abstracts, this image reveals a more subtle approach to color and form. The Gicle...
Category

2010s British Modern Paintings

Materials

Wood, Paper

Pink and Copper Hand Guilded Wallpaper, Non-Repeating Mural, Made by Hand in UK
Located in London, GB
Igneous is a design made from carbon powder and using Custhom’s innovative process of hand-foiling wallpapers, creates a unique distressed or highly polished finish in a wide range o...
Category

2010s English Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Granite and Gold Hand Guilded Wallpaper, Non-Repeating Mural, Made by Hand in UK
Located in London, GB
Igneous is a design made from carbon powder and using Custhom’s innovative process of hand-foiling wallpapers, creates a unique distressed or highly polished finish in a wide range o...
Category

2010s English Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Black and Gold Hand Guilded Wallpaper, Non-Repeating Mural, Made by Hand in UK
Located in London, GB
Igneous is a design made from carbon powder and using Custhom’s innovative process of hand-foiling wallpapers, creates a unique distressed or highly polished finish in a wide range o...
Category

2010s English Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Aboriginal Diptyque Paintings by Raelene Kerinauia
By Raelene Kerinauia
Located in Atlanta, GA
A lovely diptyque paintings by Australian Aboriginal artist Raelene Kerinauia (1962- ). Born in 1962 (Tiwi People), Wurrumiyanga, Mantiyupwi Country, Bathurst Island, Northern Terri...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Large Percisionist ModerN Oil Painting on Canvas by Allan Lorne Hecker
By Allan & Co.
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large Percisionist ModerN Oil Painting on Canvas by Canadian artist Allan Lorne Hecker,,Titled "A Calder walking to the park" Hand executed.. Great use of color, TEXTURE and space..
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Paint

Contemporary Australian Aboriginal Painting by Walangkura Napanangka
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking abstract painting by Australian Aboriginal painter Walangkura Napanangka (1940-2014), one of the matching pair painted in 2007 in Alice Spring. Entitled "Kutungka", acrylic on Belgium linen, inscribed on reverse with gallery catalog no. "Kutungka" depicts the landscape of a country where an old woman named "Kutungka" travelled from Malparingya to Kaltarra in Western Desert during the Dreamtime creation. The highly abstract forms are the dreamtime memory of the land features, such as rock piles and waterholes. Provenance: Grasstree Gallery, Australia. It comes with a COA from the gallery as well as progressive photos taken during the creation of this painting by the artist in 2007. Brief biography From Australian Art Gallery artist...
Category

Early 2000s Australian Modern Paintings

Materials

Linen, Acrylic, Wood

Precious Shadows
Located in Jersey City, NJ
With its rich cultural heritage and growing global recognition, African art is increasingly becoming a sought-after commodity for collectors and investors alike. Having been born ...
Category

2010s Angolan Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Precious Shadows
Located in Jersey City, NJ
With its rich cultural heritage and growing global recognition, African art is increasingly becoming a sought-after commodity for collectors and investors alike. Having been born ...
Category

2010s Angolan Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Precious Shadows
Located in Jersey City, NJ
With its rich cultural heritage and growing global recognition, African art is increasingly becoming a sought-after commodity for collectors and investors alike. Having been born ...
Category

2010s Angolan Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Precious Shadows
Located in Jersey City, NJ
With its rich cultural heritage and growing global recognition, African art is increasingly becoming a sought-after commodity for collectors and investors alike. Having been born ...
Category

2010s Angolan Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Precious Shadows
Located in Jersey City, NJ
With its rich cultural heritage and growing global recognition, African art is increasingly becoming a sought-after commodity for collectors and investors alike. Having been born ...
Category

2010s Angolan Modern Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Precious Shadows
Located in Jersey City, NJ
With its rich cultural heritage and growing global recognition, African art is increasingly becoming a sought-after commodity for collectors and investors alike. Having been born ...
Category

2010s Angolan Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Jonathan Allmaier American Framed Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, "Pink Bumps"
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary American Framed Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas, \"Pink Bumps\" (JONATHAN ALLMAIER).
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Paintings

Domenick Capobianco Plane Abstract Wall Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Domenick Capobianco (American, born 1938) abstract acrylic, wood and wire wall sculpture, depicting an outline of a plane, apparently unsigned, stamped "Studio Domenick Capobianco" t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Paintings

Materials

Wire

Lawrence Glickman Clouds Acrylic on Canvas & Wood
Located in New York, NY
Lawrence Glickman (American, XX- XXI), Clouds, acrylic on canvas and wood, signed on reverse, which was a previous painting that was covered in white...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Paint

Lawrence Glickman Abstraction Acrylic on Canvas
Located in New York, NY
Lawrence Glickman (American, XX- XXI), Abstraction, acrylic on canvas, of interwoven forms in a multitude of colors, signed on reverse, unframed. 36"...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Kayo Lennar "New York" Collage
Located in New York, NY
Kayo Lennar (French/American, b. 1923), "New York," collage, June 2008, signed and dated on reverse. Image: 21" H x 17" W; frame: 22.5" H x 18.5" W. Proven...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Kayo Lennar "Promising trips..." Collage
Located in New York, NY
Kayo Lennar (French/American, b. 1923), "Promising trips...," collage, 2008, initialed lower right, signed and dated on reverse. Image: 21.25" H x 16" W; f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Herman Hershel Kahan Abstract Acrylic on Canvas
Located in New York, NY
Herman Hershel Kahan (XX-XXI) abstract acrylic on canvas, 2021, signed with artist's monogram lower right, signed and dated on canvas reverse, unf...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Contemporary Australian Aboriginal Painting by Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa
Located in Atlanta, GA
Entitled "Two Kuniya (Pythons) During Tingari Cycle", this mesmerizing painting was painted by Australian aboriginal artist Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa (1950-2020) in 2004. The image...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Paintings

Materials

Linen, Acrylic

Danese Milano Due, La Pera Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
La Pera is a two-colour silkscreen print and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The choice of this archetypal subject matter and the form and t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Contemporary Australian Aboriginal Painting by Walangkura Napanangka
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking abstract painting by Australian Aboriginal painter Walangkura Napanangka (1940-2014), one of the matching pair painted in 2007 in Alice Spring. Entitled "Kutungka", acrylic on Belgium linen, inscribed on reverse with gallery catalog no. "Kutungka" depicts the landscape of a country where an old woman named "Kutungka" travelled from Malparingya to Kaltarra in Western Desert during the Dreamtime creation. The highly abstract forms are the dreamtime memory of the land features, such as rock piles and waterholes. Provenance: Grasstree Gallery, Australia. It comes with a COA from the gallery as well as progressive photos taken during the creation of this painting by the artist in 2007. Brief biography From Australian Art Gallery...
Category

Early 2000s Australian Modern Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Linen, Wood

Australian Aboriginal Painting Tjukurla Country Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning abstract painting by Australian Aboriginal artist Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa (also known as Mrs. Bennett; 1935-2013). Entitled "Tjukurla Country", this work was acrylic on Be...
Category

Early 2000s Australian Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Life and Warmth Hand-Signed Oil on Canvas Painting by Henri, France
Located in Voorburg, NL
Exquisite oil painting on Canvas, painted and hand-signed by Henri in France. Titled ‘Life and Warmth’ and part of his ‘Life’ collection. Sophisticated and charming painting in beaut...
Category

2010s French Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Paint

Danese Milano Uno, La Mela Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
La Mela is a two-colour silkscreen print and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The choice of this archetypal subject matter and the form and t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

VINC, Bibendum, 2021, Acrylic on Hood of 4CV
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Artist VINC 4 CV Bibendum Acrylic on hood of 4CV from 1960 ( French car) Circa 2021 H 83 x W 100 X D 22 cms Signed by the artist Unique and original a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Paintings

Materials

Metal

Danese Milano Quattro, La Pantera Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
La Pantera is a four-colour silkscreen print and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The print is part of a study to transform an image into ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Copper Metallic Hand Guilded Botanical Wallpaper, Made by Hand in Uk
Located in London, GB
Rye features bold oversized leaves, complementing the bestselling metallic Columbia Road design of large eucalyptus stems. Inspired by the Barbican Conservatory in London Rye offers ...
Category

2010s English Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Green and Copper Hand Guilded Wallpaper, Non-Repeating Mural, Made by Hand in UK
Located in London, GB
Igneous is a design made from carbon powder and using Custhom’s innovative process of hand-foiling wallpapers, creates a unique distressed or highly polished finish in a wide range o...
Category

2010s English Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Tre, La Mela E La Pera Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
La Mela e la Pera is a three-colour silkscreen print and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The choice of these archetypal subjects and the for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Sei, L’orso Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
L’Orso è is a three-colour silkscreen print and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The print is part of a study to transform an image into a symbol through the system...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Quindici, Il Gorilla Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Il Gorilla is a silkscreen print tones of brown and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The print is part of a study to transform an image into a symbol through the sy...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Le Porte Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Le Porte is a four-colour silkscreen print. The relationship between colour and volume shows a transition from real space to abstraction. The sequence of coloured shapes gives volume...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Inside Painted Crystal, "Scholars in Jiangnan" Snuff Bottle by Li Yingtao 2016
Located in Tainan, TW
Li Yingtao, an owner of Yizhenzhai, was born in Hengshui City in 1963. He was praised as a Chinese master of splashing color in inside painting, a Master of Arts and crafts in Hebei Province, and the founder of splashing color techniques in inside painting. By now, he has been teaching and passing down this technique to his students. Mr, Li Yingtao is one of the most outstanding disciples of the master of Chinese arts and crafts...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Modern Paintings

Materials

Rock Crystal

Inside Painted Crystal, "Rainy Day" Snuff Bottle by Zhang Zenlou, 2012
Located in Tainan, TW
Zhang Zenglou was born in Hebei Province in 1956. He is a master of contemporary Chinese inside painted snuff bottle in Ji school. He is cu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Modern Paintings

Materials

Rock Crystal

Inside Painted Crystal, "Harvest Year" Snuff Bottle by Zhang Zenlou, 2018
Located in Tainan, TW
Zhang Zenglou was born in Hebei Province in 1956. He is a master of contemporary Chinese inside painted snuff bottle in Ji school. He is cu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Modern Paintings

Materials

Crystal

Danese Milano Undici, Onde Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Simboli sinsemantici are monochromatic silkscreen prints of six symbols. The aim of the series was to bring art into the home by rendering it more accessible to a wider public. The f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Undici, Luna Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Simboli sinsemantici are monochromatic silkscreen prints of six symbols. The aim of the series was to bring art into the home by rendering it more accessible to a wider public. The f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Le Stanze Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Le Stanze is an eight-colour silkscreen print. The relationship between colour and volume shows a transition from real space to abstraction. The sequence of coloured shapes give volu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Inside Painted Crystal, "After Rain" Snuff Bottle by Fu Guoshun, 2014
Located in Tainan, TW
Fu Guoshun was born at Hebei in 1954. He was complimented as a Master of Chinese arts and crafts in 2012. It is the highest honor for an inside painting artist. There are only ten artists who earned this glory. He is also the director of China International Painting and Calligraphy Association, vice chairman of China Snuff Bottle Professional Committee, and vice-chairman of Hebei Inside painted snuff bottle Association. Since 1977, he has been studying the art of inside painting under Wang Xisan. Fu Guoshun is one of the best artists in Ji school. Mr Fu Guoshun's inside paintings are exquisite. His works include landscapes, figures, animals, flowers, and birds to calligraphy with comprehensive skills. In addition, his professions are known for their elegance, flexibility, and light. With the three superb skills of poetry, calligraphy, and painting, there are only a handful of artists who can match up in the field of snuff bottles. It is difficult to find other artists who could compare his paintings from an artistic perspective when it comes to inside painted snuff bottles...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Modern Paintings

Materials

Crystal

Danese Milano Otto, L’oca Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
L’Oca is a four-colour silkscreen print and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The print is part of a study to transform an image into a symbol through the systematic...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Undici, Trifoglio Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Simboli sinsemantici are monochromatic silkscreen prints of six symbols. The aim of the series was to bring art into the home by rendering it more accessible to a wider public. The f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Quattordici, La Rana Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
La Rana is a three-colour silkscreen print and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The print is part of a study to transform an image into a sym...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

"Long Lost" Is a Unique Spiritual Icon Painting Created in 2007
Located in Copenhagen, DK
An original signed acrylic painting on canvas by Danish-Grenadian artist Boris de Freitas (1969-) titled "long lost", 2007.
Category

Early 2000s Danish Modern Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Danese Milano Sette, Il Leone Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Il Leone is a four-colour silkscreen print and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura) The print is part of a study to transform an image into a symbol through the systemat...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Diciotto, Il Porcello Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Il Porcello is a three-colour silkscreen print and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The print is part of a study to transform an image into a symbol through the sys...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Undici, Freccia Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Simboli sinsemantici are monochromatic silkscreen prints of six symbols. The aim of the series was to bring art into the home by rendering it more accessible to a wider public. The f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Undici, Stella Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Simboli sinsemantici are monochromatic silkscreen prints of six symbols. The aim of the series was to bring art into the home by rendering it more accessible to a wider public. The f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Undici, Cubo Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Simboli sinsemantici are monochromatic silkscreen prints of six symbols. The aim of the series was to bring art into the home by rendering it more accessible to a wider public. The f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Scrittura Illeggibile Brown Print by Bruno Munari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Scrittura illeggibile ocra is a three-colour silkscreen print and is part of the collection “Edizioni d’arte” (Art Editions). The concept is based on the idea of observing writings w...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano I Volti, Quattro Signed Print by Mimmo Paladino
Located in Hicksville, NY
I volti, quattro is a Limited Edition three-colour silkscreen print. The series of prints entitled “I Volti” is inspired by the video “Giocosa Mente”, “a work for moving images” crea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Art Sculpture Wheel by Robert Loughlin '1949 – 2011'
Located in Voorburg, NL
Magnificent art work, acrylic on wooden wheel, painted by outsider artist extraordinaire Robert Loughlin in 2005. In very good condition, comes on a metal standard. Signed to verso ‘RL’. A certificate of originality is available on request. In life, Mr. Loughlin was a furniture picker who sold Paul Evans tables to New York’s swankiest midcentury furniture shops. In death, he has gained a measure of immortality for his Dadaesque series of paintings, “The Brute,” which depicts a kind of Cro-Magnon James Dean with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He is the misanthropic muse whose sole pleasures in life, aside from nicotine consumption, are plaid shirts, sex and a stiff drink. Ostensibly, the Brute was inspired by Gary Carlson, a strapping Vietnam War veteran. In September 2011, while in the middle of a bender, Mr. Loughlin, 62, was hit by a car as he crossed the highway near the Airstream trailer...
Category

Early 2000s American Modern Paintings

Materials

Wood

Danese Milano I Volti, Tre Print by Mimmo Paladino
Located in Hicksville, NY
I volti, tre is a Limited Edition two-colour silkscreen print. The series of prints entitled “I Volti” is inspired by the video “Giocosa Mente”, “a work for moving images” created by...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano I Volti, Quattro Print by Mimmo Paladino
Located in Hicksville, NY
I volti, quattro is a Limited Edition three-colour silkscreen print. The series of prints entitled “I Volti” is inspired by the video “Giocosa Mente”, “a work for moving images” crea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Scrittura Illeggibile White Print by Bruno Munari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Scrittura illeggibile bianco is a four-colour silkscreen print and is part of the collection “Edizioni d’arte” (Art Editions). The concept is based on the idea of observing writings ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Ricostruzione Teorica Rosa Print by Bruno Munari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ricostruzione teorica rosa is a five-colour silkscreen print and is part of the collection “Edizioni d’arte” (Art Editions). The concept is the theoretical reconstruction of imaginar...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano I Volti, Uno Signed Print by Mimmo Paladino
Located in Hicksville, NY
I volti, uno is a Limited Edition seven-colour silkscreen print. The series of prints entitled “I Volti” is inspired by the video “Giocosa Mente”, “a work for moving images” created ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

Modern paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern paintings for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage paintings created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, wall decorations, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern paintings made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original paintings, popular names associated with this style include Danese Milano, Enzo Mari, Mimmo Paladino, and Custhom. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for paintings differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $75 and tops out at $50,000 while the average work can sell for $900.

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