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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chair — crafted 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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Item Ships From: Europe
Style: Modern
Handmade Artistic Marble Mosaic Rug Dimension and Colors Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Making Artistic Mosaic, design of unparalleled beauty, inventing ' tromp l'oeil' thanks to the endless colors of the glass mosaic collections, all this allowed us to produce and divu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Marble
Handmade Artistic Marble Mosaic Rug Dimension and Colors Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Making Artistic Mosaic, design of unparalleled beauty, inventing ' tromp l'oeil' thanks to the endless colors of the glass mosaic collections, all this allowed us to produce and divu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Marble
21st Century Italy, Harvest White Panel, Ceramica Gatti, Designer A. Anastasio
Located in Faenza, IT
The public buildings, the noble ones but also the more modest residences, have been decorated for centuries with decorative panels cemented on the facades. Bottega Gatti archive on i...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Ceramic
Handmade Artistic Marble Mosaic Rug Dimension and Colors Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Making Artistic Mosaic, design of unparalleled beauty, inventing ' tromp l'oeil' thanks to the endless colors of the glass mosaic collections, all this allowed us to produce and divu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Marble
László Ottó (1966): ORIGO METRUM FLUX [20220716]
Located in Budapest, HU
László Ottó (born October 30, 1966, in Pécs) is a Hungarian painter, recognized as a prominent figure in Hungarian geometric painting and respected in both international concrete-constructive art and Hungarian sacred geometry painting...
Category
2010s Hungarian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
![László Ottó (1966): ORIGO METRUM FLUX [20220716]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/archivesE/upload/1121189/f_401795221718450032906/40179522_datamatics.jpg?width=240 "László Ottó (1966): ORIGO METRUM FLUX [20220716]")
Handmade Artistic Marble Mosaic Rug Dimension and Colors Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Making artistic mosaic, design of unparalleled beauty, inventing ' tromp l'oeil' thanks to the endless colors of the glass mosaic collections, all this allowed us to produce and divu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Marble
Handmade Artistic Marble Mosaic Rug Dimension and Colors Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Making Artistic Mosaic, design of unparalleled beauty, inventing ' tromp l'oeil' thanks to the endless colors of the glass mosaic collections, all this allowed us to produce and divu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Marble
Handmade Artistic Marble Mosaic Rug Dimension and Colors Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Making Artistic Mosaic, design of unparalleled beauty, inventing ' tromp l'oeil' thanks to the endless colors of the glass mosaic collections, all this allowed us to produce and divu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Marble
Handmade Artistic Marble Mosaic Rug Dimension and Colors Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Making Artistic Mosaic, design of unparalleled beauty, inventing ' tromp l'oeil' thanks to the endless colors of the glass mosaic collections, all this allowed us to produce and divu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Marble
Stylish Wall Art Work Polished or Matt Ebony Mosaic Insert Customizable
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Making Artistic mosaic, design of unparalleled beauty, inventing ' tromp l'oeil' thanks to the endless colors of the glass mosaic collections, all this allowed us to produce and divu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Ebony, Glass
21st Century Italy, Deer Light Blue Panel, Ceramica Gatti, Designer A. Anastasio
Located in Faenza, IT
The public buildings, the noble ones but also the more modest residences, have been decorated for centuries with decorative panels cemented on the facades. Bottega Gatti archive on i...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Ceramic
20th Century Pop Art, Oil on Canvas Signed by Artist Keir, Germany
Located in Munich, DE
Very dynamic and modern painting with rich colours, natural wooden frame.
Need we say more? This is a very radical expressive work done by a German artist. We have not been able to ...
Category
Late 20th Century German Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Acrylic
Fine Painting, Signed "K.J. Kolding 1976"
Located in Aalsgaarde, DK
Fine painting, signed on the back "K.J. Kolding 1976", oil on canvas.
Category
1970s Danish Vintage Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Canvas
Handmade Ceramic Accessories Dragonfly Blue
Located in Lisbon, PT
These handmade decorative accessories combine the traditional Portuguese ceramic and glazing techniques in a modern approach of shapes and color, as they bring such brightness and jo...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Brass
“Skull on Love Letters” by Aaron Bueso Contemporary Painting Civil War Ephemera
Located in Madrid, ES
A striking contemporary artwork by Spanish artist Aaron Bueso, painted directly on authentic love letters exchanged during the Spanish Civil War. The piece contrasts the enduring int...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Acrylic, Paper
Day 16 - Emotional Layers Collection by Michele Bagnod
Located in London, GB
Day 16 - Emotional Layers Collection by Michele Bagnod
Michele’s collection “emotional layers” it’s a self-discovery through layers of colors. Nothing is prepared before and everyth...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century Italy, Flowers Blue Panel, Ceramica Gatti, Designer A. Anastasio
Located in Faenza, IT
The public buildings, the noble ones but also the more modest residences, have been decorated for centuries with decorative panels cemented on the facades. Bottega Gatti archive on i...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Ceramic
Milan Klimes ii Mixed Technique on Cardboard, 1970, Czech Republic
Located in Munich, DE
This is a very vibrant & expressive work from Milan Klimes (1945 – 2013), Czech artist created in the 70s, it is a mixed technique on cardboard with a new cedar wooden frame.
The ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Other
Milan Klimes Mixed Technique on Cardboard, 1970, Czech Republic
Located in Munich, DE
This is a very vibrant & expressive work from Milan Klimes (1945 – 2013), Czech artist created in the 70s, it is a mixed technique on cardboard with a new cedar wooden frame.
The ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Other
21st Century Italy, Green Panel, Ceramica Gatti, Designer A. Anastasio
Located in Faenza, IT
The public buildings, the noble ones but also the more modest residences, have been decorated for centuries with decorative panels cemented on the facades. Bottega Gatti archive on i...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Ceramic
Atomic scan relief on panel by Stefano Bersani, 2000s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Relief panel obtained with 25 lithographic passages in the lower left corner, metal mesh frame, silver lacquered background.
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Floral Watercolor Painting
By Buenaventura
Located in Madrid, ES
This charming and sophisticated wall decoration has been entirely hand-painted on 100% natural cotton paper, using the sumi-e technique inspired by ancient Korean paintings. Particul...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Cotton, Acrylic, Paper
Night Rose
By Buenaventura
Located in Madrid, ES
This charming and sophisticated wall decoration has been entirely hand-painted on 100% natural cotton paper, using the sumi-e technique inspired by ancient Korean paintings. Particul...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Cotton, Acrylic, Paper
Original Bamboo Watercolor
By Buenaventura
Located in Madrid, ES
This charming and sophisticated wall decoration has been entirely hand-painted on 100% natural cotton paper, using the sumi-e technique inspired by ancient Korean paintings. Particul...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Cotton, Acrylic, Paper
Stick Insect Watercolor Painting
By Buenaventura
Located in Madrid, ES
This charming and sophisticated wall decoration has been entirely hand-painted on 100% natural cotton paper, using the sumi-e technique inspired by ancient Korean paintings. Particul...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Cotton, Acrylic, Paper
Scarabeo Watercolor Painting
By Buenaventura
Located in Madrid, ES
This charming and sophisticated wall decoration has been entirely hand-painted on 100% natural cotton paper, using the sumi-e technique inspired by ancient Korean paintings. Particul...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Cotton, Acrylic, Paper
Painting Blue Black Contemporary Geometric Futuristic Acrylic Spray on Wood A-12
By Las Animas
Located in Seville, ES
"ATLAS 12"
"Atlas" proposes a disruptive vision of the space-time concept, as a reflection between the ancestral and the comic, making us wander about the connection between both ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
Painting Green Black Contemporary Geometric Futuristic Acrylic Spray on Wood A14
By Las Animas
Located in Seville, ES
"ATLAS 14"
"Atlas" proposes a disruptive vision of the space-time concept, as a reflection between the ancestral and the comic, making us wander about the connection between both ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
Painting Green Pink Contemporary Geometric Futuristic Acrylic Spray on Wood
By Las Animas
Located in Seville, ES
ATLAS 04
"Atlas" proposes a disruptive vision of the space-time concept, as a reflection between the ancestral and the comic, making us wander about the connection between both and t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
21st Century Plate "Portrait VI" Kiasmo designer Vincenzo D'alba +Antonio Marras
Located in Ruffano, IT
The series Portrait consists of six plates where the plasticity of the figures merges with the geometries placed in the background. A language where realistic descriptions become dec...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Ceramic
Painting Black Color Contemporary Geometric Futuristic Acrylic Spray on Wood
By Las Animas
Located in Seville, ES
ATLAS 01
"Atlas" proposes a disruptive vision of the space-time concept, as a reflection between the ancestral and the comic, making us wander about the connection between both and t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
21st Century Watercolor Giraffe
By Buenaventura
Located in Madrid, ES
This charming and sophisticated wall decoration has been entirely hand-painted on 100% natural cotton paper, using the sumi-e technique inspired by ancient Korean paintings. Particul...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Cotton, Acrylic, Paper
Watercolor "Golden Poppies"
By Buenaventura
Located in Madrid, ES
We present here a unique piece that is part of a set of 3 watercolours painted on 100% cotton paper of 190 gms. They are unique and unrepeatable pieces as they are preliminary studie...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Cotton, Paper, Acrylic
Set of 456 Painted Panels “Ändlös Vägg”/”Endless Wall” by Einar Höste, Sweden
By Einar Höste
Located in Stockholm, SE
Set of 456 painted panels “Ändlös Vägg”/”Endless Wall” by Einar Höste, Sweden, 1970s.
Painted wooden panels.
This is the artist's most significant work...
Category
1970s Swedish Vintage Modern Contemporary Art
Materials
Wood
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.