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Post-Modern Contemporary Art

POSTMODERN STYLE

Postmodern design was a short-lived movement that manifested itself chiefly in Italy and the United States in the early 1980s. The characteristics of vintage postmodern furniture and other postmodern objects and decor for the home included loud-patterned, usually plastic surfaces; strange proportions, vibrant colors and weird angles; and a vague-at-best relationship between form and function.

ORIGINS OF POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

  • Emerges during the 1960s; popularity explodes during the ’80s
  • A reaction to prevailing conventions of modernism by mainly American architects
  • Architect Robert Venturi critiques modern architecture in his Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture (1966)
  • Theorist Charles Jencks, who championed architecture filled with allusions and cultural references, writes The Language of Post-Modern Architecture (1977)
  • Italian design collective the Memphis Group, also known as Memphis Milano, meets for the first time (1980) 
  • Memphis collective debuts more than 50 objects and furnishings at Salone del Milano (1981)
  • Interest in style declines, minimalism gains steam

CHARACTERISTICS OF POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

  • Dizzying graphic patterns and an emphasis on loud, off-the-wall colors
  • Use of plastic and laminates, glass, metal and marble; lacquered and painted wood 
  • Unconventional proportions and abundant ornamentation
  • Playful nods to Art Deco and Pop art

POSTMODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

VINTAGE POSTMODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

Critics derided postmodern design as a grandstanding bid for attention and nothing of consequence. Decades later, the fact that postmodernism still has the power to provoke thoughts, along with other reactions, proves they were not entirely correct.

Postmodern design began as an architectural critique. Starting in the 1960s, a small cadre of mainly American architects began to argue that modernism, once high-minded and even noble in its goals, had become stale, stagnant and blandly corporate. Later, in Milan, a cohort of creators led by Ettore Sottsass and Alessandro Mendinia onetime mentor to Sottsass and a key figure in the Italian Radical movement — brought the discussion to bear on design.

Sottsass, an industrial designer, philosopher and provocateur, gathered a core group of young designers into a collective in 1980 they called Memphis. Members of the Memphis Group,  which would come to include Martine Bedin, Michael Graves, Marco Zanini, Shiro Kuramata, Michele de Lucchi and Matteo Thun, saw design as a means of communication, and they wanted it to shout. That it did: The first Memphis collection appeared in 1981 in Milan and broke all the modernist taboos, embracing irony, kitsch, wild ornamentation and bad taste.

Memphis works remain icons of postmodernism: the Sottsass Casablanca bookcase, with its leopard-print plastic veneer; de Lucchi’s First chair, which has been described as having the look of an electronics component; Martine Bedin’s Super lamp: a pull-toy puppy on a power-cord leash. Even though it preceded the Memphis Group’s formal launch, Sottsass’s iconic Ultrafragola mirror — in its conspicuously curved plastic shell with radical pops of pink neon — proves striking in any space and embodies many of the collective’s postmodern ideals. 

After the initial Memphis show caused an uproar, the postmodern movement within furniture and interior design quickly took off in America. (Memphis fell out of fashion when the Reagan era gave way to cool 1990’s minimalism.) The architect Robert Venturi had by then already begun a series of plywood chairs for Knoll Inc., with beefy, exaggerated silhouettes of traditional styles such as Queen Anne and Chippendale. In 1982, the new firm Swid Powell enlisted a group of top American architects, including Frank Gehry, Richard Meier, Stanley Tigerman and Venturi to create postmodern tableware in silver, ceramic and glass.

On 1stDibs, the vintage postmodern furniture collection includes chairs, coffee tables, sofas, decorative objects, table lamps and more.

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Style: Post-Modern
Period: 1990s
Damien Hirst Butterfly Original Drawing on Paper, ca. 1990’s
Located in Hampstead, QC
Damien Hirst (b. 1965) is a British conceptual artist and provocateur who rose to prominence as one of the Young British Artists (YBA) movement of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. ...
Category

1990s English Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

Old artwork - 1993
Located in PAU, FR
Important and old painting by Claude Viallat. Very colorful and bright Green background with shades of red and yellow, and the famous Monsieur Viallat pattern in blue. Quite atypical...
Category

1990s French Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Acrylic

Crochets pour l’été
Located in PAU, FR
Jean Messagier Oil on canvas titled "Crochets pour l'été" dated 1991 Bright colors, a little material and transparency on the canvas. 82 x 102cm
Category

1990s French Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Acrylic

Ed Moses Signed Limited Edition Screenprint "Ikuru Speak-No" 11/250, 1990
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful and rivetting work by American/ California artist Ed Moses titled "Ikuru Speak-No". This work is on wove and Japanese paper (The print was made with two attached sheets...
Category

1990s American Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Jeff Koons Puppy Plate, 1992, Limited Edition
Located in Austin, TX
A darling and charming Jeff Koons limited edition Puppy plate or platter, by Porzellanfabrik Langenthal AG for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 1992. Signed and numbered. The...
Category

1990s Swiss Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Porcelain

Untitled, the Show Is over / Christopher Wool & Felix Gonzalez-Torres, 1993
By Christopher Wool
Located in London, GB
United Kingdom - Offset Lithograph on Paper, from the original show 1993 Christopher Wool’s paintings and prints explore the confluence of image, text, and pattern. They often feature enigmatic, confrontational found phrases or illegible scribbles, which are either stencilled or plastered in black across flat white fields. The artist occasionally covers the compositions with spray-paint marks and screen-printed elements (some taken from his previous works), erasing and relayering as he goes. His process—which focuses on the possibilities of reproduction, appropriation, and accretion—is as important as the results themselves. Wool studied at Sarah Lawrence College and the New York Studio School. New York’s vibrant 1970s downtown No Wave and punk scenes became major influences, and Wool reached his mature style in the mid-1980s. Wool has exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Paris, Tokyo, Berlin, and beyond, and his work belongs in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou, and the Tate. His work has achieved eight figures on the secondary market. Drawing from Minimalism and Conceptualism, Felix Gonzalez...
Category

1990s British Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Glass, Hardwood, Paper

Regina Heinz Wallpiece Pottery Monumental Entrance
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Regina Heinz B. 1957 ENTRANCE 1999 Monumental wall piece made in six sections Regina's award winning work has been purchased by the National Art Collector's Fund and is presented in collections worldwide, including the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, the Museum of Contemporary Ceramics in Gifu, Japan, the International Ceramics Museum in Faenza, and the Yingge County Ceramics Museum in Taipei. With degrees in painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and in ceramics from Goldsmiths’ College, London, Regina combines in her work the sensibility of a fine artist with outstanding expertise in ceramics. As an artist, Regina draws on her love for her native countryside and her background as a painter. Her passion for colour, form and beautiful ceramic surfaces led her to set up her architectural ceramics practice in 2011 to explore the integration of art, architecture and landscape. Regina regularly works with international interior designers, art consultants and private clients world-wide. Her portfolio includes an exclusive 3D tile line for the American tile retailer Ann Sacks...
Category

1990s English Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Pottery

Rodney Blumenfeld Pottery Square Platter, 1998
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Rodney Alan Blumenfeld South African B.1953. Square Earthenware Platter Earthenware clay, press moulded, with metalic oxides and matt glazes South African B.1953. Rodney Alan Blumenfeld creates deeply textured, sensual and motif-laden ceramic forms. Each innovative and unique art piece strives to maintain a traditional tribal identity transposed into contemporary art,craft and design. Within each singular expression of creativity lies a precious reminder of ritual and custom, exuding presence of age-old mystery while spontaneously arousing vital powers of the imagination. Training Bachelor of Architecture – University Natal South Africa, 1980 Ceramic Science – Technikon, Durban, Natal, 1986 Awards Judges Award – Ceramic Artists Association of W.A. Annual Exhibition – September 2009 City of Melville Art Awards – Highly Commended 2009 – WA Longhouse Reserve – New York – USA Klenot/Dekora – Palace of Culture, Prague – Czechoslovakia 2000 Art for Asia – Hong Kong – China 1997 Design Award National Ceramics Biennale 1996 – South Africa 1st Prize Corobrik Ceramic Expo – South Africa 1989 Private Collections Bill Clinton – Former President USA Nelson Mandela – Former President of South Africa Tina Turner – Singer and song writer Peter Gabriel – Musician King Goodwill Zwelitini – King of the Zulu Nation Sir Niall Fitzgerald – Global Chairman Unilever – UK Public & Corporate Collections K.H. Eberle Museum – Basel Switzerland Longhouse Reserve – New York Museum of Modern Art – Montreal Canada Fort Lauderdale Airport – Florida USA Durban Art Gallery – Johannesburg Art Gallery Hilton Hotel – Johannesburg Hyatt Regency Hotel – Johannesburg Unilever Corporate Headquarters – South Africa U.S. Embassy – Pretoria, South Africa Ernst & Young – La Lucia Ridge – South Africa Sibaya Casino Complex – Natal, South Africa Exhibitions T.V.H.Gallery – Sydney – September 2009 Fremantle Contemporary Art Gallery – Fremantle W.A. Margaret River Gallery – Margaret River W.A. Aspects of Kings Park – Perth W.A. “Klostere” Gallery – Freiburg – Germany 2002 Longhouse Reserve – The Hamptons – New York – USA Klenot / Dekora – Palace of Culture – Prague – Czechoslovakia 2000 The Westminster Craft Show – London – UK 1999 Art for Asia – Hong Kong – China 1997 Casa...
Category

1990s South African Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Pottery

Dish Rodney Blumenfeld Pottery Round Platter, 1998
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Rodney Alan Blumenfeld South African B.1953. Round earthenware platter, 1995. Earthenware clay, press moulded, with metalic oxides and matt glazes. Rodney Alan Blumenfeld South African B.1953. creates deeply textured, sensual and motif-laden ceramic forms. Each innovative and unique art piece strives to maintain a traditional tribal identity transposed into contemporary art,craft and design. Within each singular expression of creativity lies a precious reminder of ritual and custom, exuding presence of age-old mystery while spontaneously arousing vital powers of the imagination. Training Bachelor of Architecture – University Natal South Africa, 1980. Ceramic Science – Technikon, Durban, Natal, 1986. Awards Judges Award – Ceramic Artists Association of W.A. Annual Exhibition – September 2009. City of Melville Art Awards – Highly Commended 2009 – WA. Longhouse Reserve – New York – USA. Klenot/Dekora – Palace of Culture, Prague – Czechoslovakia 2000. Art for Asia – Hong Kong – China 1997. Design Award National Ceramics Biennale 1996 – South Africa. 1st Prize Corobrik Ceramic Expo – South Africa 1989. Private Collections Bill Clinton – Former President USA. Nelson Mandela – Former President of South Africa. Tina Turner – Singer and song writer. Peter Gabriel – Musician. King Goodwill Zwelitini – King of the Zulu Nation Sir Niall Fitzgerald – Global Chairman Unilever – UK. Public & Corporate Collections K.H. Eberle Museum – Basel Switzerland Longhouse Reserve – New York Museum of Modern Art – Montreal Canada Fort Lauderdale Airport – Florida USA Durban Art Gallery – Johannesburg Art Gallery Hilton Hotel – Johannesburg Hyatt Regency Hotel – Johannesburg Unilever Corporate Headquarters – South Africa U.S. Embassy – Pretoria, South Africa Ernst & Young – La Lucia Ridge – South Africa Sibaya Casino Complex – Natal, South Africa Exhibitions T.V.H.Gallery – Sydney – September 2009 Fremantle Contemporary Art Gallery – Fremantle W.A. Margaret River Gallery – Margaret River W.A. Aspects of Kings Park – Perth W.A. “Klostere” Gallery – Freiburg – Germany 2002 Longhouse Reserve – The Hamptons – New York – USA Klenot / Dekora – Palace of Culture – Prague – Czechoslovakia 2000 The Westminster Craft Show – London – UK 1999 Art for Asia – Hong Kong – China 1997 Casa Nova...
Category

1990s South African Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Pottery

Set of 4 Signed Abstract Intaglio Prints by Kazuko Watanabe, Framed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4 signed abstract intaglio prints by Kazuko Watanabe, framed. Signed in pencil by the artist and numbered 16/30, 19/20, 7/10, 9/10. Kazuko Watanabe is a graduate of the San F...
Category

1990s American Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper, Wood, Glass

1996 Atelier Micmac by Bea Schröder, Pictographic Abstract Painting in Red
Located in Frome, GB
This vivaciously spirited and tactile composition is by German artist Bea Schröder from Atelier MicMac, Düsseldorf, Germany. This particular piece is an earlier work that incorporate...
Category

1990s German Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Miquel Arnal Contemporary Photography, Circa 1990
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Photography by Miquel Arnal. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. Material: Photographic paper About the artis...
Category

1990s Spanish Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Paper

Set of 4 Signed Abstract Intaglio Prints by Kazuko Watanabe, Framed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4 signed abstract intaglio prints by Kazuko Watanabe, framed. Signed in pencil by the artist and numbered 16/30, 19/20, 7/10, 9/10. Kazuko Watanabe is a graduate of the San...
Category

1990s American Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Wood, Glass, Paper

Set of 4 Signed Abstract Intaglio Prints by Kazuko Watanabe, Framed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4 signed abstract intaglio prints by Kazuko Watanabe, framed. Signed in pencil by the artist and numbered 16/30, 19/20, 7/10, 9/10. Kazuko Watanabe is a graduate of the San...
Category

1990s American Post-Modern Contemporary Art

Materials

Wood, Glass, Paper

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Contemporary Large Abstract Oil Painting by Nora Mendoza Paul Jenkins Style
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Great pop art imagination by the well known artist, Jeff Koons. 213/250 and 1995.
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Post-modern contemporary art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Post-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, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Post-Modern contemporary art made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original contemporary art, popular names associated with this style include Gail Folwell, José 'Jojo' Legaspi, Jeff Koons, and Peter Shire. 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 $250 and tops out at $19,600 while the average work can sell for $4,200.

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