Contemporary Mixed Media
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.
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Resin, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Fiberglass, Plaster, Wood, Paint
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Wire
Artist Comments
Artist Jennifer Ross depicts a white horse with a stunning display of autumn colors in the background. She references the piece after a poem by Richard Wilber about wading through a fall meadow. Jennifer composes the equine portrait using her Kintsugi eggshell technique, a Japanese art form of repairing broken objects with gold lacquer. The white shell fragments form a striking image of the majestic creature, highlighted with a few touches of metallic gold to catch the light.
About the Artist
Artist Jennifer Ross creates intimate portraits of birds, nests and horses. Jennifer grew up surrounded by the art of her mother and grandfather. Her attempt to follow in their footsteps presented detours, however, and she ended up working in art galleries selling other's work. But her desire to paint continued to grow throughout the years. In 2008, a gift certificate...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
Artist Comments
Artist Jennifer Ross captures a moment of quiet connection with her signature eggshell collage technique. A horse stands peacefully still as a delicate bird flu...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Thread, Paper
Artist Comments
A brawny bison stands against a vibrant, dreamlike landscape. Layers of brown add warmth to its dark-toned fur, while vivid blue strokes around its eye give i...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Oil, Gesso, Graphite
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Plexiglass
Artist Comments
A garden in full bloom pulses with life and color. Bold, expressive strokes and shimmering gold leaf bring life to the flowers. The contrast between the organic...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Granite, Enamel, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Wood Panel, Graphite
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Charcoal, Mixed Media, Acrylic
1960s Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Found Objects, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Thread, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
1980s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Paper, Tape, Ink, Mixed Media, Oil, Graphite, Stretcher Bars
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Wood, Screen
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Textile, Foam, Paint, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Pastel, Watercolor, Pencil, Color Pencil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Gesso, Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Color Pencil, Pigment
1990s Contemporary Mixed Media
Leather, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Leather, Cotton, Foam, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Found Objects, Ink, Gouache, Pencil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Wood Panel, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Gesso, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Textile, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Thread, Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Textile, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Gesso, Paper, Mixed Media, Watercolor, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Wood, Mixed Media, Latex, Acrylic, Wood Panel
Artist Comments
A collage of paints and papers creates a composition filled with textures and symbolism. It reflects relationships and the invisible connections we share. Ins...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Drypoint, Etching, Aquatint, Intaglio
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Archival Paper, Color, Etching, Intaglio, Aquatint
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Etching, Aquatint
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Wire
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Archival Paper, Ink, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Spray Paint, Screen
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Gold
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Thread, Film, Glitter, LED Light, Acrylic
1990s Contemporary Mixed Media
Paper, Mixed Media, Monotype
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Glass, Wood, Lights, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mixed Media
Plaster, Foam Board, Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mixed Media
Gesso, Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic





