Contemporary More Art
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 More Art
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Birch, Acrylic, Woodcut
1960s Contemporary More Art
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Porcelain
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Metal, Copper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
A cityscape features a yellow sky slicing down like a bolt of lightning between rows of Manhattan skyscrapers. The tall, thin shape of the painting emphasizes...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Wood, Mixed Media, Screen
Artist Comments
Artist Mary Pratt paints two blue birds delicately perched on opposite branches. As they engage in their dance, their tail feathers serendipitously meet, crea...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Fabric, Yarn
2010s Contemporary More Art
Polymer, Black and White
Artist Comments
Inspired by the German Shepherd for their loyalty and dedication, artist Jeff Fleming paints a portrait of the canine. He displays the stars and stripes background to emphasize freedom — and fun. Jeff starts with a pencil sketch and applies oil paint using his fingers then adds details with brushes and string for decorative patterns. "I whisk paint in random strokes, a technique which adds a boost of energy," says Jeff.
About the Artist
Artist Jeff Fleming uses fingerpainting to create exuberant portraits of dogs. Growing up in Southern California, Jeff was first introduced to fingerpainting in kindergarten. He painted through high school and college and won several art awards, including Best of Show in a city wide student competition. After graduating with a degree in journalism and advertising, he went to work as an art director. For the next 40 years, he created print, radio and television ads for a number of top agencies. "After retiring in 2019, the clouds of stress and pressure cleared and allowed me to set my creative energy free," says Jeff. He began developing new techniques focused on the excitement and energy of painting. Today, he uses a variety of methods and tools, including fingerpainting wearing nitrile gloves, traditional paint brushes, bamboo shish kebab sticks, kite string, spraypaint and splattering. While working, Jeff always listens to music, including Broadway musicals, dance music and rhythmic Hawaiian tunes.
Words that describe this painting: Contemporary art, modern art, German Shepherd, dog playing, expressionism, impressionism, kinetic impressionism, oil painting, dog painting, lively art, fun art, happy dog, Iris Scott...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist Alana Clumeck demonstrates a contemporary image of a sturdy bison, central to a radiant sunrise. She pulls inspiration from a visit to her native homel...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Marble
2010s Contemporary More Art
Acrylic, Board, Pencil, Color Pencil
Artist Comments
Artist Alana Clumeck presents an image of an elk surrounded by two cockatoos and a kaleidoscope of butterflies. "I was struck by the sheer volume of parrots f...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Paper, Mixed Media
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Woodcut, Birch, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
1970s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
1940s Contemporary More Art
Mosaic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Marble
2010s Contemporary More Art
Plexiglass, Neon Light
2010s Contemporary More Art
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Offset
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Resin, Fiberglass, Polyester, Lacquer
2010s Contemporary More Art
Bronze
1980s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Offset
Artist Comments
Inspired by a feline's love for rolling toys, artist Jeff Fleming demonstrates a charming portrait of a cat playing with a green b...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Art
Tapestry
2010s Contemporary More Art
Porcelain
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Postcard
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Oil, Panel
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Offset
Early 2000s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Offset
2010s Contemporary More Art
Textile, Canvas, Acrylic Polymer, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Steel
1970s Contemporary More Art
Lithograph, Offset
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
1970s Contemporary More Art
Paper, Screen
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary More Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
