Beginning in the early 20th century, abstract art became a leading style of modernism. Rather than portray the world in a way that represented reality, as had been the dominating style of Western art in the previous centuries, abstract paintings, prints and sculptures are marked by a shift to geometric forms, gestural shapes and experimentation with color to express ideas, subject matter and scenes.
Although abstract art flourished in the early 1900s, propelled by movements like Fauvism and Cubism, it was rooted in the 19th century. In the 1840s, J.M.W. Turner emphasized light and motion for atmospheric paintings in which concrete details were blurred, and Paul Cézanne challenged traditional expectations of perspective in the 1890s.
Some of the earliest abstract artists — Wassily Kandinsky and Hilma af Klint — expanded on these breakthroughs while using vivid colors and forms to channel spiritual concepts. Painter Piet Mondrian, a Dutch pioneer of the art movement, explored geometric abstraction partly owing to his belief in Theosophy, which is grounded in a search for higher spiritual truths and embraces philosophers of the Renaissance period and medieval mystics. Black Square, a daringly simple 1913 work by Russian artist Kazimir Malevich, was a watershed statement on creating art that was free “from the dead weight of the real world,” as he later wrote.
Surrealism in the 1920s, led by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Meret Oppenheim and others, saw painters creating abstract pieces in order to connect to the subconscious. When Abstract Expressionism emerged in New York during the mid-20th century, it similarly centered on the process of creation, in which Helen Frankenthaler’s expressive “soak-stain” technique, Jackson Pollock’s drips of paint, and Mark Rothko’s planes of color were a radical new type of abstraction.
Conceptual art, Pop art, Hard-Edge painting and many other movements offered fresh approaches to abstraction that continued into the 21st century, with major contemporary artists now exploring it, including Anish Kapoor, Mark Bradford, El Anatsui and Julie Mehretu.
Find original abstract paintings, sculptures, prints and other art on 1stDibs.
$850
A Lively, Abstract 1950s Mid-Century Modern Sporting Themed Painting, "Swimmers"
Located in Chicago, IL
A Lively 1950s Surrealist Mid-Century Modern Sporting- Themed Abstract Painting, "Swimmers", by Notable Chicago Artist, Harold Haydon (Am. 1909-1994). Oil on Masonite, dating from 1...
Masonite, Oil
#200, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece in this size More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket ...
Pigment
Time of change
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting explores an inner sense of trust that is shaped through closeness, support, and growing up. It speaks about the moment when a person learns to find safety within themse...
Canvas, Acrylic
$556Sale Price|20% Off
Original Set-Jardin d'Hiver-le bleu series-British Awarded Artist-work on paper
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This Set of 2, work on paper, named Le Bleu are a part of Jardin d'Hiver Series by award winning British artist Shizico Yi. She created the series in her winter studio while longing...
Gold Leaf
$680
Untitled #537 by Murray Duncan – Original Contemporary Mixed Media on Paper
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Untitled #537 by Murray Duncan – Contemporary Mixed Media on Paper Size: 32" x 40" Unframed, signed on the back A striking exploration of form and movement, Untitled #527 by Murray ...
Oil Crayon, Acrylic, Pencil
$8,836
Geometrie de la pensee- Large Abstract Library – Oil on canvas, Contemporary art
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Oil on canvas – 39.37 × 39.37 in (100 × 100 cm) Framed: approx. 42.13 × 42.13 in (107 × 107 cm) Frame options: natural wood or black collector's choice Year: 2025 – Signed front Cert...
Oil, Canvas
Dance of Life
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Dance of Life” From the series “Metamorphoses of the Spirit” This work explores life as continuous movement — fragile, sensual, yet filled with inner strength. Through organic forms...
Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$8,000
"The Botanist's Table" Porcelain White Vase with Colorful Flowers Oil Painting
By Eric Alfaro
Located in New York, NY
An impressionistic depiction of a white porcelain vase with a burst of white, pink, orange, yellow and light red flowers exploding with color and bold marks. Alfaro bridges the Baroq...
Oil, Canvas
The Blue Dress 3 - Minimalist Figurative Original Ink Painting on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bettina Mauel expresses vitality and sensuality in her abstract and figurative paintings. “I paint what I experience,” she articulates. “This includes landscapes, dancers and people ...
Linen, Ink, Mixed Media
Still Life Interior
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Frederick Serger (1889-1965). Still Life, ca. 1950. Oil on gessoed paper mounted to illustration board. Image measures 16 x 17 inches. Framed measurement: 25.5 x 25.5 inches. ...
Paper, Oil
Creation, Oil and acrylic on canvas, Iranian Contemporary Painting
Located in London, GB
Firoozeh Akhlaghi 1968 - Current Creation, 2022 Oil and acrylic on canvas 150 x 210 cm 59 x 82 5/8 in
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$160Sale Price|20% Off
Original Modern Contemporary painting on canvas, Abstract, Fantasy style, Framed
Located in Palm Coast, FL
Up for sale Original Abstract Acrylic Painting on canvas in a fantasy abstract style. A unique technique, very colorful. An unusual combination of colors, a flow from sharp to soft s...
Acrylic
$8,500
"Try Not to Dream", Abstract Expressionist, Figures, Yellow, Gray, Oil Painting
By Sorin Bica
Located in Franklin, MA
Sorin Bica's "Try Not to Dream" is a 82 x 76 x 2 inch abstract expressionist oil painting on canvas. It features elongated figures in bold yellow, white, gray, and red, with expressi...
Canvas, Oil
Open Spaces, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Soft whites and cool blues create a tranquil, expansive space. Accents of orange and fine linework bring contrast and gentle energy. Minimalist abstract forms i...
Acrylic
$975Sale Price|20% Off
Vibrant Abstract, Blue, Colourful Oil Painting, Original
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Vibrant Abstract, Blue, Colourful Oil Painting, Original By French artist 'L.Polevin', 20th Century Signed indistinctly and dated '1986', signed verso Oil painting on canvas, unframe...
Oil
Energized, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Dorothy Gaziano presents an abstract painting in various shades of blue, ranging from light turquoise to deep navy. The composition features layered, tex...
Acrylic
"Wrapper" Contemporary Abstract Mixed Media Painting
Located in Brecon, Powys
Provenance – Annely Juda Fine Art (label verso) Sotheby’s June 2006 – 20th Century British Art (labels verso) Personal Collection of Jonathan Grimble Image 24" x 19.5". Framed 28....
Mixed Media
Original-Primary Blue-Sunlit Series-Gold Leaf-British Awarded Artist
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
Primary Colour Series- Blue is Shizico Yi's on going project, inspired by Japanese woodblock Print and the a nod to calligraphy tradition. The series is a continuation of her "Sunli...
Gold Leaf
Persian Morning II (Abstract expressionist mid-century Indiana artist painting)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Mary Ann Robertson (1923-1911). Persian Morning II, 1964. Oil and paper on canvas. 25 x 36 1/2 inches. overall frame size 37 1/2 x 26 inches. notes: Nashville, IN woman artist....
Oil, Handmade Paper
You brought Sunshine and Summer: Original Floral Painting, Blue vase, Geese.
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: You brought Sunshine and Summer Original Floral Painting, Blue vase, Geese, Heron, Unique, One-of-a-kind. "You brought Sunshine and Summer" is a painting that portrays a dee...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$3,900Sale Price|56% Off
Light Thoughts, 2024 Mixed Media on Artist Board, Abstract Geometric Art
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Light Thoughts, 2024 Mix Media on artist board Size - 72" height x 84" width x 1.75" depth Signed Murray Duncan is a self-taught creative visionary. Know for his large-scale, expres...
Glaze, Oil Crayon, Acrylic
When Love Lingers: Contemporary Figurative Painting, 89x130cm
Located in DE
Contemporary figurative painting with lots of details and movement. Beautiful statement piece for any art collection. Combining a lot of different colors in any interiors and settin...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,855Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 2558
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I poured my emotions into a dance of textures and soft hues. The creamy creams, gentle pinks, and calming blues blend with unexpected bursts of black to evoke a serene...
Oil, Acrylic
Wonderful colorful cactus project - abstract vs figurative painting
Located in New York, NY
This painting will be shipped rolled in a tube and is not stretched! A playful fusion of botanical imagery and urban expression, "Wonderful Colorful Cactus Project" transforms the r...
Canvas, Acrylic
Abstract 5, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Patches of cream, turquoise, and grey fill this abstract painting. Blue and orange accents, along with black lines, create contrast. Scratches and marks bring...
Oil
$541Sale Price|25% Off
Original Drawing on Wood-Breakfast with Cat-British Awarded Artist-Large panel
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This special large drawing on wood board (ready to hang) created by Shizico in early autumn where her Cat and the garden take centre stage. The pictorial language in this series pays...
Wood Panel, Charcoal, Carbon Pencil
$8,716
Topographie du reve, Large Abstract Geometric, Framed, Expressionism, French
Located in LANGRUNE-SUR-MER, FR
Title: Topographie du Rêve Oil on canvas – 39.37 × 39.37 in (100 × 100 cm) Framed: 42.13 × 42.13 in (107 × 107 cm) – Natural wood floater frame (black optional) Year: 2025 – Signed l...
Oil
#123, Abstract, Photography, Painting, Expressionism
Located in München, BY
Unique piece More sizes and an Essay from Lyle Rexer about this series on request. Joachim Schmeisser’s work rescues photography from the centuries-old straightjacket of realism to...
Pigment
Bound in Layers: Contemporary Figurative Painting, 70x50 cm
Located in DE
Contemporary figurative painting with lots of details and movement. Beautiful statement piece for any art collection. Combining a lot of different colors in any interiors and settin...
Canvas, Acrylic
$200Sale Price|50% Off
#38 After the Rains
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Douglas M. Olsen (b. 1960). #38, After the Rains, 1980. Watercolor on rag paper, 22 x 22 inches. Signed lower margin and on verso.
Watercolor, Rag Paper
Bluey - Impasto Blue Green Thick Paint Abstract Painting on Paper
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Impasto-painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Her paintings are flooded with texture through the layering of acrylic paint i...
Paper, Acrylic
$15,000Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract Landscape, large mid-century green painting, COBRA art movement
Located in Beachwood, OH
Erik Ortvad (Danish, 1917 - 2008) Abstract Landscape, 1946 Oil on canvas Signed and dated lower right 32 X 37.5 inches 35 x 40.5 inches, framed Born in 1917 in Copenhagen, Erik Ortvad was a surrealist painter and a founding member of the COBRA art...
Oil
Large Vintage American Modernist Cubist Portrait Original MCM Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist oil painting. Oil on canvas. Unsigned. Measuring: 34 by 22 inches overall. Excellent condition, ready to hang and enjoy.
Oil, Canvas
Source of Renewal
Located in Zofingen, AG
This work captures a moment of absolute tranquility-a private paradise bathed in light and hidden behind a dense veil of emerald greenery. Horses gathered at the water's edge in the ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Blossoms of Abstraction, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Bold, expressive strokes present an abstract interpretation of a flower. Thick paint and dynamic application evoke a sense of vitality and spontaneity. Subtle h...
Oil
2303 - Original Figurative Neutral Abstract Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Swiss artist Edith Konrad paints figurative abstract compositions with mixed media on canvas. She layers her expression of her emotional response to the subjects with dynamic texture...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Love Loves Silence - Abstract Figurative Blue Tone Textured Impasto Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ekaterina Ermilkina’s original, abstract fine art paintings are created using a skillful combination of applying and removing oil paint with a palette knife on canvas. Her inspiratio...
Canvas, Oil
Immersion -Original contemporary abstract painting- modern artwork- decor art
By Roman Goss
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Oil
The Fondest Memories
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 20 x 20 x 1.5 2025 Edges painted white, back wired, ready to hang. Sarah Trundle is a Charlottesville, Va. painter who, after beginnings in repres...
Acrylic
City of Angels - Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Abstract, 48in x 60in
By Mario Angel
Located in Mississauga, CA
This striking acrylic on canvas by Mario Angel, titled "City of Angels," offers a compelling journey into figurative abstraction, where the artist masterfully weaves together themes ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$108Sale Price|20% Off
French Expressionist Abstract Original Painting Artists Studio Provenance
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Expressionist Composition by Jacques COULAIS (1955-2011) gouache painting on paper/ card unframed: 10.75 x 8.5 inches condition: excellent provenance: all the paintings we h...
Oil
Abstract Action Painting in Vibrant Colors
Located in San Francisco, CA
This abstract painting is a work by Joan Miller Linsley (1922–2000), an American artist recognized for her contributions to the Washington, D.C. art scene and her powerful social com...
Canvas, Oil
$764Sale Price|20% Off
Original-Sunset Song-British Awarded Artist-Impressionism-Plein Air evening oil
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
Sunset Song Series stands as one of the most iconic works featured in the upcoming Summer Exhibition UK, 2025—a rare and luminous collection of latest artworks we’re thrilled to pres...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
$15,500
"I Dream in Flowers", Vibrant Colorful Heavily Textured Mixed Media Abstract
Located in Carmel, CA
Sveta Hessler (Russian, born 1973) "I Dream in Flowers" 2025 Oil and mixed media on stretched canvas Signed on verso. “I Dream in Flowers” is a heavily textured contemporary abstrac...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Stretcher Bars, Oil
Warm Touch
By Oksana Reva
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Warm Touch” A peaceful wave unfolds across the canvas — not forceful, not fierce, but gently wrapping the space in tenderness. Its shifting shades of blue flow softly, like the brea...
Canvas, Oil
Quiet Beauty in Nature, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
This abstract painting invites quiet reflection, evoking the stillness of a misty landscape mirrored in calm waters. A gentle palette of greens and blues wash...
Oil
Winter Poem
Located in Atlanta, GA
This painting is in excellent condition and has only been shown in a gallery setting. Please note the colors are difficult to capture and may vary due to different digital screens ...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Large Figural Abstract Late 1960s Painting, Mexican American Artist
By Miguel Conde
Located in Beachwood, OH
Miguel Condé (Mexican/American, b. 1939) Untitled, 1968 Oil on canvas Signed and dated verso 59.5 x 49.5 inches Paint loss throughout - please reach out for a thorough condition rep...
Oil
Majestic By Nature - Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Abstract, 36in x 48in
By Mario Angel
Located in Mississauga, CA
This striking acrylic on canvas by Mario Angel, titled "Majestic By Nature," offers a profound meditation on organic abstraction, seamlessly merging motifs of primal power and ecolog...
Canvas, Acrylic
Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Light', c. 2000 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...
Paper, Watercolor
$418Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary abstract expressionist nature canvas "Colors of the summer horizon"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Colors of the Summer Horizon" is a dynamic, contemporary abstract landscape by French artist Natalya Mougenot, part of her Nature series, where she explores the natural world throug...
Canvas, Acrylic
$523
Contemporary abstract expressionist floral painting on paper "Floral Radiance"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
This painting makes part of my series dedicated to the scenes of a summer period. This abstract vibrant floral painting called "Floral radiance" is done in a modern contemporary exp...
Paper, Acrylic
Reconstruction, Abstract Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Several shades of blue sweep across a lightly textured background. Bits of orange highlight the focal point, adding warmth to the composition. Sections of gray ...
Acrylic
Dance of the Hummingbirds
By Iryna Kobzar
Located in Zofingen, AG
“Dance of the Hummingbirds” invites the viewer into a luminous world of movement, balance, and quiet magic. Two vibrant hummingbirds gracefully hover around blooming fuchsia flowers,...
Canvas, Acrylic
Period Italian Fausto Pirandello Signed Abstract Artwork
Located in Roma, IT
Important work by one of the greatest artists of the Italian artistic avant-garde Fausto Pirandello It depicts one of his iconic subjects ‘Bathers’ with five characters depicted in ...
Paper, Pastel
$22,500
Saturday on Wednesday, Large Abstract Expressionist Acrylic Painting, 20th C.
Located in Beachwood, OH
Richard Andres (American, 1927–2013) Saturday on Wednesday, c. 1975 acrylic on canvas signed lower right, signed and titled verso 48.5 x 62.5 inches Richard Andres was born in Buff...
Acrylic
Abstract 4, Abstract Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Layers of blue and cream with touches of orange and black create an energetic composition. The blending of colors evokes a strong sense of movement, while the...
Oil
$1,637Sale Price|20% Off
Abstract 2561
Located in Zofingen, AG
This piece is a celebration of contrasts—the intense dance between light and shadow, order and chaos. Using acrylic, I layered textured strokes and splashes of gold to evoke emotion ...
Oil, Acrylic
$1,300Sale Price|35% Off
Hermosa Way - Large Abstract Blue Original Painting on Canvas
By Clara Berta
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Clara Berta’s acrylic and mixed-media paintings blend texture and color to create harmony, mystery, and depth on the painted surface. Her paintings transform spaces into Zen environm...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$558Sale Price|20% Off
Contemporary abstract figurative woman's body portrait on paper "Serene pause"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
"Serene Pause” is a striking contemporary abstract woman’s body portrait in expressive gestural style by French artist Natalya Mougenot, part of her intimate series exploring women’s...
Paper, Acrylic
The Italian-American’s 2020 abstract painting “The Hoe” personifies his “art of not knowing.”
In his current show at New York's Lehmann Maupin gallery, the Puerto Rican–born talent reveals new paintings with a semiautobiographical aspect.