Abstract More Art
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.
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2010s Abstract More Art
Fabric
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
"For a few brief moments on the south rim, the morning sun lights up the canyon walls like neon while casting blue shadows into its depths," says artist Cryst...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract More Art
Fabric, Paint
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist John Jaster displays a forest with tall aspens rendered in a playfully abstract style. Bold shades of yellow, orange and red suggest a warm autumn day in the woods. In his process, John creates stunning color combinations by utilizing multiple layers of heavy body acrylics and brushwork. He results with captivating scenery with intense contrasting hues and high-spirited energy.
About the Artist
Artist John Jaster paints in a style he describes as realistic impressions, capturing colorful views of his adventures across the Americas. "People always ask me how I get such deep brilliant colors," says John. "The answer is layers. Since acrylic paint dries mostly transparent, it requires multiple layers of paint to build up to a specific color. With the right lighting that depth of layering is like sunshine glistening through clear water." In college, John felt a pull towards computer science and pursued a career in software architecture. Although the two paths may seem unrelated, John says his work in software strongly influences his artwork in terms of distilling complex systems without losing the magic and wonder. Today, John works from a large home studio with a fireplace, lots of natural light, and jazz playing in the background. Since 2010, John’s paintings have been displayed in over 90 juried exhibitions and published in leading art magazines and books.
Words that describe this painting: forest, trees, birch, aspen, nature, playful, impressionism, grove, warm, impressionism, nature, acrylic painting, orange
Forest Abstractions - Chorus Line...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Morgan creates ethereal atmospheres using feathery brushstrokes and subtle contrasts. Her muted, tonal palette allows the texture and layering to take centers...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Waves lap and crash upon rocks in this peaceful end-of-day seascape. Artist Elizabeth Garat takes inspiration from the movement of light off of California's b...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Abstract More Art
Screen
2010s Abstract More Art
Resin, Epoxy Resin, Wood
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
2010s Abstract More Art
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Permanent Marker
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Color
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Ink, Rag Paper, Monotype
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Paper, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Thread, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Color Pencil
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic, Glitter
Artist Comments
Apples on a branch glow in warm light, accentuated by the cool abstract backdrop. Sherri applied paint primarily with a palette knife. She says that because o...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic, Ink, Mixed Media
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Archival Ink, Giclée, Archival Pigment
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic, Wood Panel
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Paper, Engraving
Artist Comments
Drawing inspiration from her hiking trips, artist Crystal DiPietro paints scenes she personally witnesses. She depicts a hillside view of Saguaro cacti overlooking the canyon. "They stand like sentinels along the landscape," describes Crystal. She paints the mountains turning...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Lisa Elley created this glowing impressionist scene after a fall trip to the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains and Yosemite National Park. "The quaking a...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Mid-20th Century Abstract More Art
Fabric
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Acrylic, Laid Paper, Magazine Paper
Artist Comments
Artist Doug Cosbie paints a summer pastoral scene with barns and farmhouses in the distance. "There are many old family farms west of Washington DC in the county of Fauquier," says Doug. He includes the Stars and Stripes barn found near Delaplane, VA. Vivid hues of blue and green color the breezy natural landscape.
About the Artist
Artist Doug Cosbie presents the vibrancy found in nature with his impressionist, rural architecture centered artwork. Longing to create something that connects with people, Cosbie spent countless years perfecting how he portrays the world on canvas. Within his journey, he studied as an apprentice in the studios of Sam Black and Jack Shadbolt. As a plein air artist, Doug's studio is a portable pochade box. He begins by finding a location that speaks to him, makes a sketch, and continues to add depth and dimension with oil on canvas. "Creativity when making art is not about interpreting exactly as you see it. New ideas are formed by interesting contrasts, and interesting paintings happen when things are out of place." In the rare cases when he is not painting, you can find him reading, traveling, sailing, and spending quality time with his family. Cosbie's creations have been showcased at galleries in Canada. He is an alumnus of Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Words that describe this painting: barns, farm, landscape, Virginia, USA, United States, summer, hills, structures, buildings, architecture, pastoral, rural, town, sky, oilpaint, travel, impressionism, architecture, impressionism, travel, oil painting, blue
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Paper, Acrylic
Artist Comments
"The Tutukaka Coast in New Zealand abounds with natural beauty," says artist John Jaster. Inspired by its tropical pale golden beaches, lush native forests, a...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Faye Vander Veer depicts a cozy rainy evening in the city. "You can almost hear the sound of the tires as the traffic moves along the wet pavement," says Faye. Drizzly street scenes are among her favorite subjects to portray. She paints reflected headlights and other ambient lighting to give a feeling of warmth and calm.
About the Artist
Artist Faye Vander Veer seeks out moments with engaging narratives and captures them with an impressionist style. Her dramatic use of color, texture, light and shadow lend a glowing quality, creating an energy all their own. While using her own photographs as a general reference, it is her sensory memory of the event and her emotional reaction that is conveyed on the canvas, causing the viewer to be transported to another time and place. “Painting becomes a language I use to express my emotional response to what is before me and share my experience of the subject with others,“ says Faye.
Words that describe this painting: impressionism, cityscape, city, San Francisco, architecture, nocturne, rain, cars, pedestrians, buildings, lights, Mark League, street, road, facade, evening, cab, taxi, street light, oilpaint, reflection, travel, architecture, impressionism, travel, oil painting, blue
Evening Rain...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
"One of the most beautiful and iconic buildings in New York," states artist Suren Nersisyan. Thick textured strokes in a dusk-dipped palette make for a harmon...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Working from memory, artist Onelio Marrero paints a full moon in the early morning hours over the salt marshes in coastal New Jersey. The silvery glow in the early morning hours reflects dreamily onto still waters. "These wetlands are profoundly affected by the tides," says Onelio. "The channels that meander throughout the marshes invite the viewer to visually follow the bends and turns." There is a timeless and mysterious quality in these natural elements and Onelio's memory of the scene is well served in the execution of this painting.
About the Artist
Onelio Marrero paints city scenes of everyday life. In an impressionistic style he captures the romanticism of New York City, the picturesque fountains in Central Park and the wet city streets after a rainy afternoon. His use of warm tones creates a sense of nostalgia and the feeling that you have visited or seen this particular scene before. Onelio will often paint from direct observation, or he will work from a combination of photographs and combine numerous sources into one piece. In this way his work combines reality with fantasy, creating a new story with each painting. His work captures an appreciation for beauty in all of its greatest forms; nature, art, and people.
Words that describe this painting: marsh, wetland, swamp, inlet, waterway, stream, river, grass, tree, cloud, moon, mist, morning, water, reflection, dawn, impressionism, oilpaint, panoramic, nature, impressionism, nature, oil painting, blue
Morning Moon and Cloud...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Color
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract More Art
Canvas, Color
1990s Abstract More Art
Porcelain, Mixed Media, Screen
Artist Comments
"It's all about the subject and the light," says artist Faye Vander Veer, when asked about her inspiration for this painting. "I saw this young girl talking on the phone while I was doing some sketching at a local coffeeshop. The light was the first thing that caught my eye, then I did a few sketches to design the composition. I kept wondering about her. I never saw her face, but it is so interesting to me how our lives can change in an instant all because of one phone call...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract More Art
Oil





