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Modern Contemporary Art

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Color:  Pink
Leave the Burden for the Next Generation by Amela Rasi, Germany 2022
Located in Chicago, IL
A large scale abstract mixed media painting by German artist Amela Rasi. This piece is presented on a cotton and linen canvas + was created using pigments a...
Category

2010s German Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paint, Canvas

"Red Eyes" Pair Handcrafted Knit/Crochet Multicoloured Wall Hanging
Located in London, GB
Textile Art, handcrafted, Knit and Crochet Art Blanket, Knitted Tapestry, Wall Hanging, Affordable Art. A pair of non identical multicoloured Pinkish red P...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Textile, Wool, Thread, Yarn

Childhood Odyssey 1989 HQ Print
Located in Mexico City, Delegación Cuauhtémoc
HQ Digital Print on art paper Fabriano numbered and signed by the artist.
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

Dream Loop
Located in Helsinki, FI
One of a kind wall sculpture, signed by the artist.
Category

2010s Finnish Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Ceramic

Bonnie Edelman "Marrakech Sunset" Photograph, Scapes Series, 2012
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Bonnie Edelman's "Marrakech Sunset" was photographed in 2012 and is part of the Sky Scapes Series. As her most recognized collection "Scapes" consists of landscapes, seascapes and skyscapes whose specific forms have been blurred in order to direct viewers’ focus toward colors and compositions. Sublime and abstract, the photographs capture grain fields, sea horizons, and sunsets from around the world. This photograph is being offered as a C-print face-mounted onto 1/8” non glare plexi with a custom maple floating frame (1/2" face x 2" deep with 3/8" gap). It will ship directly from the artist's printmaking studio with a signed certificate of authenticity. About the artist: Bonnie Edelman was born in New York City. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Connecticut College on an academic and athletic scholarship. Having been raised in a family of artists and architects, Bonnie was always creating. Whether it was sculpture, painting, jewelry making and interior design, she has always had an intense need to express herself through creativity. Fashion was an all encompassing self expression so it was because of this idea of materializing thoughts, desires and inspirations that she decided to devote her career to the editorial side of the fashion industry. After an internship at Rolling Stone Magazine and then formally starting her career as the assistant to the Fashion Director at Seventeen Magazine, Bonnie moved through the ranks at Glamour Magazine and MTV. She then settled into the position of Travel Editor at Sports Illustrated, where she navigated the world producing exotic and inspiring photo shoots for the magazine’s annual Swimsuit Issue. It was during this time spent in The Islands of the Maldives, Ecuador, Venezuela and Kenya, to mention a few, while working closely with photographers like Sante D’Orazio, Russell James...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

Peter Gee Pop Art Silkscreen
Located in New York, NY
Pop Art screen-print on silver metallic board featuring graphic magenta, blue, orange bullseye targets. Signed Peter Gee 1967. Professionally framed in a white wood frame with glare ...
Category

20th Century American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paint, Paper

Michel Carrade, 1991
Located in Wallkill, NY
Contemporary painting by Michel Carrade: Original painting signed and dated 1991 Artist biography: Michel Carrade is a contemporary artist considered ...
Category

1990s French Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Natural Fiber

Childhood Odyssey 1989 Rare Piece
Located in Mexico City, Delegación Cuauhtémoc
Acrylic on Fabriano paper by artist "1989".
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Acrylic

" Erotic Mind IV " 2018 Utopian Sculptures Serial Prints by Fernando Crespo #100
Located in Coimbra, PT
F. Crespo author of a world-famous giant sculpture Pope Francis Heart. makes a first edition of his private and utopian projects. Fernando Crespo is a recognized artist in Portugal....
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Other

Shu Takahashi Painting
By Shu Takahashi
Located in Chicago, IL
Artist and professor of Kurashiki University of Science and The Arts. Born 1930 in Fukuyama-city, Hiroshima Prefecture. Awarded the Yasui Prize for his work "Tsuki no Michi" (The Moo...
Category

1970s Japanese Vintage Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

"Spindle, " 1991 Framed 30" Pastel on Paper by Jim Waid, Companion Available
Located in New York, NY
In "Spindle, 1991" artist Jim Waid through his mastery of pastel on paper, reflects a microcosmic view of nature that would otherwise be purely abstracted without the sporadic inclus...
Category

1990s American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Other

Emerson Woelffer Lithograph, 50/50 Signed, Dated, Unframed, Modern 74
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice lithograph, of the well-known modernist artist Emerson Woelffer. Signed, numbered 50/50. Dated 74.
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

Australian Aboriginal painting by Minnie Pwerle
By Minnie Pwerle
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking painting by famed Australian aboriginal artist Minnie Pwerle depicting her country "Awelyewe- Atnwengerrp". Intense colors, subtle hues transition and strong composition m...
Category

Early 2000s Australian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Large, Signed, Framed Livio De Simone Original Hand Painted Flower on Fabric
Located in New York, NY
Large, signed, framed Livio de Simone original hand painted flower on cotton fabric. Made in Italy. Nice vibrant and bold colors. Livio de Simone - D...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Cotton

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"Love Saves The Day" Harland Miller, 2014 15 Color Silkscreen Print
Located in London, GB
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Previously Available Items
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DV, Acrylic on Paper
DV, Acrylic on Paper
Free Shipping
H 12 in W 9 in D 0.1 in
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"Venice" by Brady Legler, 2015
"Venice" by Brady Legler, 2015
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Modern contemporary art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern contemporary art 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 contemporary art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, decorative objects, mirrors and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern contemporary art made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Portugal pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original contemporary art, popular names associated with this style include sicis, Louise Heighes, Las Animas, and Sabrina Landini. 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 contemporary art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $110 and tops out at $191,803 while the average work can sell for $3,868.

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