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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Bonnie Edelman "Glass Pool in New Canaan" Photograph, Scapes Series, 2012
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Bonnie Edelman's "Glass Pool in New Canaan" was photographed in 2012 and is part of the Land Scapes Series. As her most recognized colle...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

"Race", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian
Located in Belmont, MA
Mid-century inspired, contemporary artwork entitled, "Race", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian. Acclaimed American Armenian artist and designer, Shahen Zarookian, ties togeth...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

Joe Eula Watercolor of a Sunflower
Located in New York, NY
From the 1950s to the 80s, Joe Eula cut quite a figure on the New York scene as a graphic, costume, fashion, stage-set, and film-set designer, as well as a stylist, party giver, and, briefly, a model agency macher. In addition, he was an artist. You could say that Eula was the art director extempore of Manhattan. And if you’ve never heard of Eula (or hadn’t before David Pittu played him in the recent Netflix Halston series), it’s because he was famous as an eminence grise, to employ a contradiction in terms. That’s why Andy Warhol called him, in typical Warholian hyperbole, “the most important man in New York.” Eula came from a hardscrabble background in South Norwalk, Connecticut. After serving in World War II, he took classes on the GI Bill at the Art Students League, and formed a partnership with photographer Milton Greene to produce features for Life and Look magazines, and a couple of films, with Greene behind the camera, and Eula painting backdrops and styling. On his own, Eula illustrated Eugenia Sheppard’s famous newspaper fashion column, did illustration work for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, designed ballet costumes and sets for Jerome Robbins, an album cover for Miles Davis, and a benefit invitation for Cesar...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

John Mackay Original Abstract Oil Painting
Located in London, GB
A fantastic and striking original oil on board painting by the renowned artist John Mackay. This is signed and dated from 2012. It is a great size and b...
Category

2010s British Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paint

Ron Schmidt Wall Sculpture Iron, Nail & Brass Brutalist Sculpture
Located in Toledo, OH
Mid-Century Modern iron, brass and nail Brutalist wall sculpture by Ron Schmidt circa 1960's. Fan pinwheel pattern. Very nice condition. Dimensions: 3.5" d...
Category

1960s Vintage Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Iron

Bosco Sodi Contemporary Mixed-Media on Canvas Red Artwork, 2012
By Bosco Sodi
Located in Ibiza, Spain
"GAA21 – 12 / BS 0147" Bosco Sodi, 2012 Mixed-media on canvas Measures: 186 x 186 cm. Bosco Sodi (No. 1970, Mexico City) is known for its large-sc...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

Striking Monumental JK Lamkin Painting on Canvas of Santa Fe Building Exterior
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Striking and bold exterior by listed Santa Fe artist JK Lamkin who died last year, having sizzling color palette of purple, magenta, orange, white and turquo...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

John Mackay Original Oil Painting
Located in London, GB
A fantastic and striking original oil on board painting by the renowned artist John Mackay. This is signed and dated from 2011. It is a great size and b...
Category

2010s British Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paint

Mario Schifano "Acerbi" Materic Serigraph with frame
Located in Brescia, IT
Mario Schifano "Acerbi" Year: 1990s Medium: Materic serigraph Edition: 99/199 Frame size: 110 x 80 x 5 cm Signed and numbered.
Category

1990s Italian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

Willi Siber Wall Object
Located in New York, NY
Willi Siber wall object . Matte black finish with concave shapes. Signed on the back.   
Category

2010s German Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Wood

Contemporary Monument Forms Abstract Art Print with black, red & purple
Located in London, GB
Monument Forms are a series of modern abstract paintings by Louis Jobst experimenting with form and color. Focusing on the composition of two black silhouettes...
Category

2010s British Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Acrylic, Paper

Peter Buchman "Just another thing hanging over your head.", 2017
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary New York artist Peter Buchman's "Just another thing hanging over your head." is made of enamel, house paint, pla...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Enamel, Gold Leaf

Geometric Abstract Multi Color Dutch Painting
Located in London, GB
Dynamic geometric abstract painting on canvas by Dutch artist Eric Pool 2009 titled; 'T.H.E. Typical Heroic Exclusive'. The geometric pattern is like a quilt or patchwork of refined ...
Category

Early 2000s Dutch Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Lithograph Signed by Robert Natkin
Located in Locust Valley, NY
Abstract lithograph signed by Robert Natkin in quilt motif.
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

21st Century Italy, Flowers Purple 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...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Ceramic

21st Century Italy, Christ Pink 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...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Ceramic

"Los Angeles Abstract Skyline", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian
Located in Belmont, MA
Mid-century inspired, contemporary artwork entitled, "Los Angeles Abstract Skyline", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian. Acclaimed American Arm...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

Oil Painting on Board by Igor Melnikov ‘Fly Away I’ with Artist Painted Frame
Located in Dallas, TX
Oil on board by Russian painter Igor Melnikov titled “Fly Away I” in 1996. Referenced in the Book on Melnikov’s work titled ‘Pictures’. Of the modern period.
Category

Late 20th Century Russian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paint

LITHEA/Corbulas 70 Wall Light in Three-Dimensional Stone Panel by Pierluigi Piu
Located in Patti, IT
Corbulas 70 This superb, three-dimensional round panel is fashioned of Crema Tunisi stone. The pattern reproduced on the surface evokes the elaborate underside of traditional Sardin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Stone, Limestone, Marble, Steel

Stef Duffy, “Flesh Totes!” Series No.2/8 Figurative Oil Painting, 2018
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Stef Duffy was born in New York, NY, and studied illustration, figurative painting, sculpture and ceramics at Parsons, FIT, Skidmore and NYAA. Drawing inspiration from both the ma...
Category

2010s American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Acrylic, Paint

"Interactive", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian
Located in Belmont, MA
Mid-century inspired, contemporary artwork entitled, "Interactive", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian. Acclaimed American Armenian artist and designer, Shahen Zarookian, ties...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

"Tomorrow", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian
Located in Belmont, MA
Mid-century inspired, contemporary artwork entitled, "Tomorow", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian. Acclaimed American Armenian artist and designer, Shahen Zarookian, ties tog...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

Small Abstract Wall Art Leonardo Nierman Lithograph #2 Signed 184/250
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a vintage small lithography by Leonardo Nierman. Signed on pencil in the lower right. Inscription in the lower left “ 184/250”. Beautiful abstract with dom...
Category

1980s Mexican Vintage Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

John Baldessari: in collaboration with among others Kaws, Ed Ruscha and Ai Weiei
Located in Stamford, CT
VISIONAIRE/64 ART: JOHN BALDESSARI This project by Visionaire in collaboration with John Baldessari exploits the current ease of digital assemblage and self-portraiture. Visionaire paired legendary conceptual artist John Baldessari with celebrities and artists. Cameras were given to: James Franco, Miley Cyrus, Marina Abramovic, Ranveer Singh, Yuna Kim, Karlie Kloss, Pedro Almodovar, Drew Barrymore, G-Dragon, Ed Ruscha, Gisele Bündchen , Maurizio Cattelan, Drake, Julianne Moore, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Cunningham & Antonio Lopez, Neil Patrick Harris, John Waters, Lionel Messi and Yoko Ono, Lupita Nyong’o, Ai Weiwei, Kate Upton, Dustin Hoffman, Psy, Kirsten Dunst...
Category

2010s American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

1974 Captain Beefheart Magic Band Unconditionally Guaranteed Promo Poster
Located in Dayton, OH
"Original 1970’s promotional poster for Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band for Unconditionally Guaranteed, featuring his often used salutation: Love ...
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

Neil Welliver Nocturnal Grace Limited Edition Aquatint, 20th Century
By Neil Welliver
Located in New York, NY
A fine Neil Welliver aquatint on embossed Rives BFK paper, pencil signed, titled and numbered 32/500 in the lower margin. Professional framing in a natural wood frame and matting in ...
Category

20th Century American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

"Golden Autumn", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian
Located in Belmont, MA
Mid-century inspired, contemporary artwork entitled, "Golden Autumn", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian. Acclaimed American Armenian artist an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

John Mackay Original Oil Painting
Located in London, GB
A fantastic and striking original oil on board painting by the renowned artist John Mackay. This is signed and dated from 2014. It is a great size and b...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paint

Wall panel modern red art decoration handmade in Italy by Cupioli available
Located in Rimini, IT
Scagliola art panel decoration in relief realised on a wooden support and with a white wooden frame. "Preposition with which the Heraclitis express the eternal becoming of reality, comparing the latter to a river that only apparently remains one and identical, but which in fact continually renews itself and transforms itself, so that it is not given to dive into it more than once, because the second time strictly speaking it is not the same river as the first one. This conception constitutes the antithesis of that of the absolute eternal unity and immutability of being. In one fragment Heraclitus emphasizes that man can never experience twice as much, since every entity, in its apparent reality, is subjected to the inexorable law of change Artistical Technique: Scagliola art on wood panel...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Scagliola, Wood

African Textile Panel with Shells
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Old African textile panel with shells,: You can mount on a panel for wall, or place on table, or mount as lampshade. Its colors are sunny. It's wonderful for a sea-house ! B/1677-1   
Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Raffia

21st Century Italy, Light Pink 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

"Jazz Trio", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian
Located in Belmont, MA
Mid-century inspired, contemporary artwork entitled, "Jazz Trio", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian. Acclaimed American Armenian artist and designer, Shahen Zarookian, ties t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

"Lineart Tree", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian
Located in Belmont, MA
Mid-century inspired, contemporary artwork entitled, "Lineart Tree", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian. Acclaimed American Armenian artist and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

"Harvard Square Newsstand", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian
Located in Belmont, MA
Mid-century inspired, contemporary artwork entitled, "Harvard Square Newsstand ", Mixed Media on Canvas by Shahen Zarookian. Acclaimed American Armeni...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

Contemporary Verso Signed Abstract Oil on Canvas
Located in Sheffield, MA
Oil painting is composed of vibrant orange tones mingled with neutral brown and grey tones. Verso is titled and signed illegibly. Canvas measures approximate 20 inches squared in height and width. Signed original artwork, abstract Modernist art...
Category

20th Century American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas

"Azrael" Mosaic by Toyoharu Kii
Located in Chicago, IL
In the series “Heavenly,” Toyoharu Kii honors the fullness of life and its continual rebirth. In some works, white tesserae assume abstract profiles. In others, irregular shapes cont...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Marble

Modern Abstract Painting of Acrylic and Gold Leaf Signed Frenchy
Located in Charleston, SC
Very cool modern abstract painting made of acrylic and hood lead signed by artists titled “Frenchy”.
Category

2010s American Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Painting on Board by Igor Melnikov ‘Horizon Line’ with Artist Painted Frame
Located in Dallas, TX
Contemporary acrylic painting on board by Igor Melnikov titled “Horizon Line” completed in 2005. Featured in the Book on Melnikov’s work titled ‘Pictures’. Of the modern period.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Russian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paint

Hoi Lebadang Signed Vietnamese French Lithograph Print of Owl
Located in Studio City, CA
A rare and hard to find owl image by Vietnamese born renowned French printmaker / artist Hoi Lebadang. The print is pencil signed and noted as artist proof in French by the artist...
Category

20th Century French Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

Faces in My Head, Outsider Artist Drew, 2020
Located in Hastings, GB
This piece is titled Faces In My Head, painted in 2020 during lockdown and using plywood as the medium. Measuring 182cm wide x 75cm Height Drew is an 'Outsider' artist based on the Romney Marsh in Kent. Painting from his self built studio in the rural village of Lydd, Drew's creativity sees the use of found and salvaged materials and media throughout his work. This sustainable creativity sees the recycling of abandoned paints, varnishes and substitute base materials such as metal and wooden panelling...
Category

2010s British Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Wood

Rocky Schenck Signed Toned Silver Gelatin Photograph Print Nude with Crutches
By Rocky Schenck
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful and evocative work by Texas artist/ photographer Rocky Schenck. Schenck's beautiful, dream-like, ethereal images can be found in private collections, museums, and gall...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

Contemporary Design 'Sun Rise Wall Piece, by Andredottir & Bobek
Located in copenhagen, DK
One-off a kind - contemporary design, sun rise wall piece, embody the surface of the sun. Made by the art and design duo Andredottir & Bobek They have in ...
Category

2010s Danish Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Foam

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

Modern Circular Wall Art Bas-Relief in Birch Wood and Glass
Located in London, GB
The Abyss Wall is a captivating modern piece of wall art for the home. Christopher Duffy casts his gaze into the heart of ancient ocean depths to dream up a dramatic Wall Sculpture, creating an Abyssal art piece that instantly put you in mind to stories of a flat earth...
Category

2010s British Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Glass, Wood

Abel, Limited and Numbered Portrait Print with Matte Frame
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2) Limited and numbered portrait print with matte frame "Certifi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Aluminum

Artistic Mosaic Handmade Dimension and Colors Customizable
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...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Aluminum

21st Century Italy, Flowers 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

Original Marcel Vertes Large-Scale Gouache of Lily Pons
Located in New York, NY
An original artwork by Marcel Vertes for a poster of Lily Pons (1898-1976) the famous coloratura soprano for a concert at Carnegie hall. The medium is gouach...
Category

1950s North American Vintage Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Giltwood, Paint

21st Century Italy Flower Lilac 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...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Ceramic

Colleen Parker 'Australian', Oil on Board, Emus and Crows, circa 1980
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Colleen M. Parker (1944-2008) Australia, emus and crows, oil on board, signed lower right. Educated at P.L.C. Pymble, studying art at school but otherwise largely a self taught ar...
Category

Late 20th Century Australian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Masonite

Artistic Mosaic Handmade Dimension and Colors Customizable
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

Aluminum

21st Century Italy, Flowers Red 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...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Ceramic

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

Jason Fascination Abstract Expressionist Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Located in Dayton, OH
Large abstract modern expressionist painting by Jason Fascination. Painted in acrylic with a colorful mixture of vibrant shades. Canvas mounted to wood frame, painted on sides. Measu...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Paint

21st Century Italy, Grouse Reflex 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...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Ceramic

21st Century Italy, Harvest Reflex 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

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

21st Century Italy, Reindeer Reflex 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...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Ceramic

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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