Used to refer to a time rather than an aesthetic, Contemporary art generally describes pieces created after 1970 or being made by living artists anywhere in the world. This immediacy means it encompasses art responding to the present moment through diverse subjects, media and themes. Contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, performance, digital art, video and more frequently includes work that is attempting to reshape current ideas about what art can be, from Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s use of candy to memorialize a lover he lost to AIDS-related complications to Jenny Holzer’s ongoing “Truisms,” a Conceptual series that sees provocative messages printed on billboards, T-shirts, benches and other public places that exist outside of formal exhibitions and the conventional “white cube” of galleries.
Contemporary art has been pushing the boundaries of creative expression for years. Its disruption of the traditional concepts of art are often aiming to engage viewers in complex questions about identity, society and culture. In the latter part of the 20th century, contemporary movements included Land art, in which artists like Robert Smithson and Michael Heizer create large-scale, site-specific sculptures, installations and other works in soil and bodies of water; Sound art, with artists such as Christian Marclay and Susan Philipsz centering art on sonic experiences; and New Media art, in which mass media and digital culture inform the work of artists such as Nam June Paik and Rafaël Rozendaal.
The first decades of the 21st century have seen the growth of Contemporary African art, the revival of figurative painting, the emergence of street art and the rise of NFTs, unique digital artworks that are powered by blockchain technology.
Major Contemporary artists practicing now include Ai Weiwei, Cecily Brown, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker.
Find a collection of Contemporary prints, photography, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
Purple Nurple - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of a Purple-Colored Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
A small octopus is inked in the Japanese style of Gyo-Tako print making. Using sumi ink to "print" the octopus, the artist then embellishes it with colored pencil to convey an extra...
Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil
$920Sale Price|20% Off
Three Fish Watercolor on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
Three Fish Watercolor on Paper Lively watercolor of three fish by unknown Japanese artist "Eichito" (20th Century). The fish are swimming from left to...
Paper, Watercolor
Korean Contemporary Art by Kim Soo Young - Face of Women with Insects
Located in Paris, IDF
Hand drawing with pencils, posca and acrylic on paper Optional frame upon simple request Kim Soo Young is a Korean artist born in 1978 who lives and works in Seoul, South Korea. Thr...
Paper, Acrylic, Pencil
Korean Contemporary Art by Kim Soo Young - Face of Women with Insects
Located in Paris, IDF
Hand drawing with pencils, posca and acrylic on paper Optional frame upon simple request Kim Soo Young is a Korean artist born in 1978 who lives and works in Seoul, South Korea. Thr...
Paper, Acrylic, Pencil
Waving Bear
By Adonna Khare
Located in Bozeman, MT
Adonna Khare is an American master carbon-pencil artist. Her style has been compared to the photo-realistic illustrations of Audubon, but the surreal worlds and strange inhabitants s...
Paper, Carbon Pencil
Japanese Contemporary Art by Minako Asakura - Sunny Moment
Located in Paris, IDF
Acrylic & watercolor on paper with frame Minako Asakura is a Japanese artist born in 1973 who lives & works in Tokyo, Japan. As graphic designer & art director, she was involved f...
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor
"Two Spigole" watercolor painting of two fish with blue behind
Located in Edgartown, MA
Wendy Artin is an American contemporary artist who works primarily in watercolor and charcoal. Her work is figurative and classical and explores the timele...
Paper, Watercolor
Donkey Boogie Woogie, limited color mixed media woman animals
By Jenny Toth
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This is drawing made with pen, pencil and watercolor on wood done from life of donkeys the artist observed in Mexico, and cacti, and a woman holding up the hoof of one donkey. Whims...
Watercolor, Ballpoint Pen, Pencil, Archival Paper
L'Ucello Study - Original Charcoal Study of a Bird on Toned Paper, Framed
Located in Chicago, IL
Tina Figarelli is a classically trained artist whose favorite subject matter in her artwork is ideas with a strong narrative. Tina leaves the viewer hin...
Chalk, Charcoal, Archival Paper
Korean Contemporary Art by Kim Soo Young - Queen Wearing an Octopus Crown
Located in Paris, IDF
Mixed media on Hanji Korean traditional paper 39.5 x 28.4 x 0.1 cm without space + white frame Kim Soo Young is a Korean artist born in 1978 who lives and works in Seoul, South Kore...
Paper, Mixed Media
Japanese Contemporary Art by Minako Asakura - Flowers
Located in Paris, IDF
Acrylic & watercolor on paper with wood panel Minako Asakura is a Japanese artist born in 1973 who lives & works in Tokyo, Japan. As graphic designer & art director, she was involv...
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor, Wood Panel
Korean Contemporary Art by Kim Soo Young - Queen Holding up the Earth with
Located in Paris, IDF
Mixed media on Hanji Korean traditional paper 39.5 x 28.4 x 0.1 cm without space + white frame Kim Soo Young is a Korean artist born in 1978 who lives and works in Seoul, South Kore...
Paper, Mixed Media
Korean Contemporary Art by Kim Soo Young - Face of Women with Insects
Located in Paris, IDF
Hand drawing with pencils, posca and acrylic on paper Optional frame upon simple request Kim Soo Young is a Korean artist born in 1978 who lives and works in Seoul, South Korea. Thr...
Paper, Acrylic, Pencil
Korean Contemporary Art by Kim Soo Young - Queen Crowned in a Rooster
Located in Paris, IDF
Mixed media on Hanji Korean traditional paper Optional frame upon simple request Kim Soo Young is a Korean artist born in 1978 who lives and works in Seoul, South Korea. Through ove...
Paper, Mixed Media
Japanese Contemporary Art by Minako Asakura - Unicorn
Located in Paris, IDF
Acrylic, watercolor, crayon & pencils on paper + frame
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor
American Contemporary Art by Michael Alan - The Layers Get to Me
By Michael Alan
Located in Paris, IDF
Original artwork on paper Michael Alan is an American artist born in 1977 who lives & works in New York, USA. As a multidisciplinary artist. His work has been featured in many solo ...
Paper, Ink
"Ancient Desert Rabbit, " Ink on Handmade Paper signed by Miguel Castro Leñero
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Ancient Desert Rabbit" is an original ink on handmade amate paper by Miguel Castro Leñero. The artist initialed the piece lower right. This piece...
Ink, Handmade Paper
Japanese Contemporary Art by Minako Asakura - Rabbit & Flowers
Located in Paris, IDF
Acrylic & watercolor on paper with wood panel Minako Asakura is a Japanese artist born in 1973 who lives & works in Tokyo, Japan. As graphic designer & art director, she was involv...
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor, Wood Panel
$4,500
My Lovebird and I, Original Contemporary Portrait, Ink and Acrylic, Yellow Bird
Located in Carmel, CA
Devie Elzafon (Israeli, born 1957) "My Lovebird and I" 2025 Ink and acrylic paint on paper Signed in the right corner. "My Lovebird and I" is a tender and playful work by Devie that...
Paper, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor
Korean Contemporary Art by Kim Soo Young - Queen 26-2-01
Located in Paris, IDF
Mixed media on Hanji Korean traditional paper Kim Soo Young is a Korean artist born in 1978 who lives and works in Seoul, South Korea. Through over two decades of deep immersion in ...
Paper, Mixed Media
Korean Contemporary Art by Kim Soo Young - Queen 26-0-7
Located in Paris, IDF
Mixed media on paper Kim Soo Young is a Korean artist born in 1978 who lives and works in Seoul, South Korea. Through over two decades of deep immersion in French artistic tradition...
Paper, Mixed Media
"The Heart Of America I" Bison Bull Buffalo Charcoal Drawing, Steffen Bue
By Steffen Bue
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
Title: The Heart of America I Date: 2023 Artist: Steffen Bue (Danish, 1948 - ) Medium: Charcoal on handmade paper Dimensions with frame: 26,5in (W) x 19in (H) / 67,5cm (W) x 48,5cm (...
Charcoal, Handmade Paper
Japanese Contemporary Art by Minako Asakura - Jewel Tree, Rabbit
Located in Paris, IDF
Acrylic & watercolour on marouflaged paper with wooden panel
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor, Wood Panel
Japanese Contemporary Art by Minako Asakura - Inner Flowers
Located in Paris, IDF
Acrylic & watercolor on paper + frame Minako Asakura is a Japanese artist born in 1973 who lives & works in Tokyo, Japan. As graphic designer & art director, she was involved for mo...
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor, Wood Panel
"Whale in a Sea of Symbols, " Drawing on Handmade Paper by Miguel Castro Leñero
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Whale in a Sea of Symbols" is an original ink and charcoal on handmade amate paper by Miguel Castro Leñero. The artist initialed the piece lower right. This piece features an abstra...
Charcoal, Ink, Handmade Paper
Fidelio - Drawing By Reynold Arnould - 1977
Located in Roma, IT
Fidelio is a China Ink Drawing realized by Reynold Arnould (Le Havre 1919 - Parigi 1980). Good condition on a yellowed little paper. Monogrammed, titled and dated on the lower mar...
Paper, Ink
RIC: Random Internet Cat #10
Located in New York, NY
Random Internet Cats Robotically-fabricated drawings on paper, these series formally deal with mediation from screen image to ‘drawing’ while using a computer-controlled pen plotte...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper
$2,640
Khnum
By John Selburg
Located in Columbia, MO
John Selburg was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. He holds a BFA from Bradley University (2006) and an MFA from the University of Missouri-Columbia (2009). He is Associate Profes...
Charcoal, Watercolor, Archival Paper
Indication
By John Selburg
Located in Columbia, MO
John Selburg was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. He holds a BFA from Bradley University (2006) and an MFA from the University of Missouri-Columbia (2009). He is Associate Profes...
Charcoal, Watercolor, Archival Paper
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
'White Tiger, ' By Vojna Bastovanovic Casteel, Watercolor on Paper, 2021
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
'White Tiger,' by Vojna Bastovanovic Casteel, is a framed Watercolor on Paper painting from 2021. The work on paper features an image of a white tiger drinking from a pool of water. The tiger is rendered in cool tones of mostly grays and blues. The same blue values of the Tiger's one visible eye are used in the rendering of the pool. Award-winning Serbian artist Vojna Bastovanovic Casteel is known for artworks with natural elements, like people and animals (usually wild tigers and lions), that show selective flashes of realism often distorted by an abstract background. In her professional career, she has created hundreds of square meters of portrait mosaics for public spaces and large churches...
Watercolor, Paper
Work Boots
By Joel Sager
Located in Columbia, MO
Joel D. Sager (b. 1980) is a contemporary American painter of landscapes, still-life and portraiture. Often drawing on such standard subject matter with economy and singularity— a so...
Archival Paper, Graphite
"The Heart Of America VI" Bison Bull Buffalo Charcoal Drawing, Steffen Bue
By Steffen Bue
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
Charcoal drawing of a bison bull by Steffen Bue. This portrait of a bison bull is part of Steffen Bue's "The Heart of America" series, an intimate exploration of the bison bull, a cr...
Charcoal, Handmade Paper
Bird - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1971
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Bird is an original drawing in ink and pastel realized by Leo Guida in 1971. Good condition. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artistic movements and historica...
Pastel, Ink
Femmes - Original Drawing by Helène Neveur - Mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Sketch in The Garden is an original drawing in China Ink by Hélène Neveur in the mid-20th Century. Good conditions. The artwork is depicted through str...
Pen
"In a Brown Study, " Watercolor Portrait of a Hen signed by Julia Taylor
By Julia Taylor
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"In a Brown Study" is an original watercolor by Julia Taylor. This golden hen has her eye on you. Behind her is a splattering of blue paint and swirls of purple. Image: 30 x 22 in ...
Watercolor
The Bird - Ink and Watercolor by Maria Ginzburg - 2000s
Located in Roma, IT
The Bird is an original drawing in Ink and Watercolor, realized by Maria Ginzburg the 2000s. The status of preservation Good. The artwork is depicted skillfully through confident a...
Ink, Watercolor
Portrait of Cats - Drawing by Helène Neveur - 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of Cats View is an original drawing in pen realized by Helène Neveur in the 1970s. Good conditions. The artwork is depicted through confident ...
Pen
Sketch of Cat - Original Drawing by Helène Neveur - 1980
Located in Roma, IT
Sketch of Cat View is an original drawing in pen realized by Helène Neveur in 1980. Good conditions. The artwork is depicted through confident strokes ...
Pen
Loneliness - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1971
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Loneliness is an original drawing in china ink, watercolor, and pastel realized by Leo Guida in 1971. Good condition. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artisti...
Pastel, Ink, Watercolor
Lemur - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1971
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Lemur is an original drawing in ink realized by Leo Guida in 1971. Good condition. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artistic movements and historical techniqu...
Ink
Monkey - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1970s
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Monkey is an original drawing in ink realized by Leo Guida in the 1970s. Good condition. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artistic movements and historical te...
Ink
Monkey - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1970
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Monkey is an original drawing in pastels and ink realized by Leo Guida in 1970. Good condition. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artistic movements and histor...
Ink, Pastel
Monkey - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1970
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Monkey is an original drawing in pastels and ink realized by Leo Guida in 1970. Good condition. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artistic movements and histor...
Ink, Pastel
Lemur - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1971
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Lemur is an original drawing in ink realized by Leo Guida in 1971. Good condition. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artistic movements and historical techniqu...
Ink
Composition - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1974
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Composition is an original drawing in china ink and watercolor realized by Leo Guida in 1974. Good condition except for foxings and decoloring on the right margin. Leo Guida (1992...
Ink, Watercolor
Loneliness - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1970
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Loneliness is an original drawing in ink realized by Leo Guida in 1970. Good condition. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artistic movements and historical tec...
Ink
Bird - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1972
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Bird is an original drawing in ink realized by Leo Guida in 1972. Good condition. Hand-signed. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artistic movements and histor...
Ink
Japanese Contemporary Art by Minako Asakura - Jewel Tree, Bambi
Located in Paris, IDF
Acrylic & watercolour on marouflaged paper with wooden panel
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor, Wood Panel
Monster Bird Drawing in Ink and Watercolor, Contemporary, Signed, 1972
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Monster Bird is an original drawing in ink and watercolor realized by Leo Guida in 1972. Good condition. Hand-signed. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artist...
Ink, Watercolor
Lemur Drawing in Pencil, Contemporary Style, Circa 1970s, Unframed
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Lemur is an original drawing in pencil realized by Leo Guida in 1970s. Good condition. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artistic movements and historical tech...
Pencil
Rapacious - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1972
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Rapacious is an original drawing in china ink realized by Leo Guida in 1972. Good condition. Hand-signed. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artistic movements...
Ink
Spider Bird - Drawing by Leo Guida - 1972
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Spider Bird is an original drawing in pencil on paper realized by Leo Guida in 1972. Good condition. Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Sensitive to current issues, artistic movements and h...
Pencil
The Bird - Drawings by Leo Guida - 1970s
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
The Bird is an original artwork realized in the 1970s by the Italian Contemporary artist Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Original drawings in pencil on paper. Good conditions but aged....
Pencil
"The Fish, " Colorful Mixed Media Abstract Collage by Dan Muller
By Dan Muller
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"The Fish" is an original mixed media artwork on paper by Dan Muller. The artist signed the piece. The artist used watercolor, cut & pasted paper, and india ink to create this co...
India Ink, Paper, Mixed Media, Watercolor
Japanese Contemporary Art by Minako Asakura - Fancy Forest
Located in Paris, IDF
Acrylic & watercolour on marouflaged paper with wooden panel
Paper, Acrylic, Watercolor, Wood Panel
The Crow - Pencil Drawing by Leo Guida - 1972
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
The Crow is an original Contemporary artwork realized in 1972 by the italian artist Leo Guida. Original Pencil Drawing on paper. Dated and Hand-signed in pencil on the lower right...
Pencil
Homage to Paul Kee - Ink and Tempera by Sergio Barletta - 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Homage to Paul Kee is an original drawing artwork in ink and tempera, realized by Sergio Barletta in 1960s. Hand-signed and date on the lower right. In good conditions. Sergio Ba...
Ink, Tempera
Chinese Contemporary Art by Qui Shui - Distance
By Qiu Shui
Located in Paris, IDF
Ink on paper Kui Shui is a Chinese artist born in 1970 who lives and works in Shenzhen, China. Over the years, he researched the combination of animal spirit and image spirit to fin...
Paper, Ink
Elephant - Charoal Drawing by J.-R. Delpech - Mid 20th Century
By Jean Delpech
Located in Roma, IT
Elephant is an original drawing in charcoalon paper, realized by Jean Delpech (1988-1916). The state of preservation of the artwork is very good. Sheet dimension: 27x21cm. The art...
Charcoal
American Contemporary Art by Michael Alan - Plexeraptus
By Michael Alan
Located in Paris, IDF
Marker, Paint, Mixed Media on collectable trading card Michael Alan is an American artist born in 1977 who lives & works in New York, USA. As a multidis...
Paper, Pencil, Mixed Media, Permanent Marker