Skip to main content

Modern Abstract Paintings

MODERN STYLE

The first decades of the 20th century were a period of artistic upheaval, with modern art movements including Cubism, Surrealism, Futurism and Dadaism questioning centuries of traditional views of what art should be. Using abstraction, experimental forms and interdisciplinary techniques, painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers and performance artists all pushed the boundaries of creative expression.

Major exhibitions, like the 1913 Armory Show in New York City — also known as the “International Exhibition of Modern Art,” in which works like the radically angular Nude Descending a Staircase by Marcel Duchamp caused a sensation — challenged the perspective of viewers and critics and heralded the arrival of modern art in the United States. But the movement’s revolutionary spirit took shape in the 19th century.

The Industrial Revolution, which ushered in new technology and cultural conditions across the world, transformed art from something mostly commissioned by the wealthy or the church to work that responded to personal experiences. The Impressionist style emerged in 1860s France with artists like Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas quickly painting works that captured moments of light and urban life. Around the same time in England, the Pre-Raphaelites, like Edward Burne-Jones and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, borrowed from late medieval and early Renaissance art to imbue their art with symbolism and modern ideas of beauty.

Emerging from this disruption of the artistic status quo, modern art went further in rejecting conventions and embracing innovation. The bold legacy of leading modern artists Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Piet Mondrian and many others continues to inform visual culture today.

Find a collection of modern paintings, sculptures, prints and other fine art on 1stDibs.

to
534
353
421
362
238
324
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
2
1,106
590
2
2
13
28
89
99
164
89
72
58
38,149
11,110
1,698
1,662
763
562
501
356
325
286
148
63
21
5
776
731
178
52
51
31
12
11
9
7
6
6
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
1,529
868
565
548
438
52
39
36
35
33
620
176
1,024
569
Style: Modern
Blue Mixed Media Painting with Race Cars
Located in Houston, TX
Primary tonal painting with toy cars attached to the surface. The work is signed by the artist, Francis d'Estaing, in the bottom corner of the painting. The artist board is framed in...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

1980 s French Expressionist Abstract Oil Painting Thick Impasto Sludgy Colors
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Expressionist French painter, signed and dated verso oil on canvas canvas: 19.5 x 29 inches provenance: private collection, France condition: very good and sound condition
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

20th Century German Modernist Oil Painting Brown Bridge In Red Sky
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist: Elisabeth Hahn (German 1924-2021), Elisabeth Hahn was born in Dortmund, Germany, where she began her artistic studies. In 1953, she moved to Paris. She continued her studie...
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

20th Century German Modernist Oil Painting African Model In Purple
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist: Elisabeth Hahn (German 1924-2021), Elisabeth Hahn was born in Dortmund, Germany, where she began her artistic studies. In 1953, she moved to Paris. She continued her studie...
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Large Original Mixed Media Painting on Rice Paper Chinese Artist Jiang Tiefeng
Located in Surfside, FL
Jiang Tiefeng (China/Minnesota, 1938-) Mixed media gouache painting on rice paper with a gold tone Titled: "Mother and Child II." Artist is identified on Dyansen Gallery label on v...
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paint, Ink, Gouache, Rice Paper

City Streets (British Street scene architectural landscape)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Rene Beckley. City Streets, 1965. Oil on artist board, 16 x 20 inches; 18 x 22 inches framed. Signed and dated lower right.
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Abstract Chiaroscuro Landscape, Oil on Canvas Painting by Francois Gentilini
Located in Atlanta, GA
This captivating small-scale oil on canvas was created by renowned French Modernist painter François Gentilini (b. 1930). Structured with geometric precision, the composition evokes ...
Category

1970s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Abduction of the Emperor, " 1970s Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
"Abduction of the Emperor" by Stanley Bate is an abstract oil painting made in 1971. This piece is primarily a textured sandy gold color with geometric shapes that add pops of light ...
Category

1970s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

L’écorché
Located in Atlanta, GA
Artist
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

20th Century German Modernist Oil Painting Three Blue Abstract Figures
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist: Elisabeth Hahn (German 1924-2021), Elisabeth Hahn was born in Dortmund, Germany, where she began her artistic studies. In 1953, she moved to Paris. She continued her studie...
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

Geometric Shape Abstract French 20th Century Modernist Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract by Guy Nicod (French 1923 - 2021) watercolour on artist paper, unframed painting : 19 x 16 inches provenance: artists estate, France condition: very...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Antique American Modernist Flower Still Life Framed Original Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist flower still life oil painting by Samuel Brecher (1897 - 1982). Oil on board. Signed. Framed. Measuring 28 by 30 inches overall and 22 by 24 inches painti...
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American Modernist Signed Abstract Framed Landscape Nature Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American school modernist landscape oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Measuring 18 by 21 inches overall. In excellent original condition. Handsomely framed in a ...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Vintage American School Modernist Old Lyme Connecticut New England Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist New England barn oil painting. Oil on canvas, circa 1960. Signed illegibly. Image size, 24L x 20H. Framed in a period f...
Category

1950s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Richard Gubernick Hard Edge Painting on Canvas 1971
Located in Dallas, TX
Geometric Hard Edge Op Art Painting by Richard Gubernick. Acrylic on Canvas. 1970s. BORN: New York, New York STUDIED: State University College at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York (B.S...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

1963 French Japanese Art Brut Abstract Oil Painting Akira Kito Diable et Rouge
Located in Surfside, FL
Akira Kito, Japanese, 1925-1994 Diable et Roge Oil on Canvas Titled, signed, and dated 1963 verso Hand signed lower center Dimensions: 32 x 12 3/4 in. (81.3 x 32.4 cm.), Frame: 33 1...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique French Riviera Modernist Mediterranean Seascape Signed Boat Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage signed modernist seascape painting by Gabriel Godard (Born 1933). Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed. Housed in a wide giltwood frame. Thick impasto and wonderful colors. I...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Weehawken Sequence
Located in Bryn Mawr, PA
Weehawken Sequence, c. 1910-16 Oil on canvas board, 9 x 12 inches (22.9 x 30.5 cm) Framed dimensions: 13 3/8 x 16 1/4 inches John Marin’s long and prolific career is best marked by ...
Category

20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

"Selfie in Christ"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
The theme of religion is an integral part of my author's paintings. This work was inspired by the painting by Rembrandt, The Removal of Christ.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

"Blue Woman by the Window" Style of Modigliani Figure Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in New York, NY
Exploring the purity of the feminine form and the drama of French haute couture, artist Cindy Shaoul creates a dialogue between the figurative and the abstract. Her spirited composit...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Fresh Air (Abstract, Geometric, Minimal, Nature, ~37% OFF)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Aster da Fonseca Fresh Air Acrylic on Wood 2019 12 x 10 inches Signed on verso, lower right COA provided #abstract #geometric # minimal #acrylic # nature #painting #wood Aster da...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Phenomena Royal House
Located in New York, NY
Paul Jenkins American, 1923–2012 Paul Jenkins’s intuitive, chance-based painting techniques helped pioneer new approaches to Abstract Expressionism. Jenkins made his vibrant composi...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Wilma Fiori 1994 Abstract Oil Painting, Large Horizontal Modernist Canvas
Located in Denver, CO
This original 1994 abstract oil painting by Wilma Fiori (1929–2019) presents a rich, moody composition in a commanding large horizontal format. Signed and ...
Category

1990s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Paphos, " 1960s Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
This textured, Modern Abstract Expressionist painting Stanley Bate features a neutral palette with both warm and cool undertones. Muted blues and reds seem to be incorporated into a ...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Exodus, " 1960s Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
"Exodus" is a Modern abstract painting by Stanley Bate. Bate, who was greatly inspired by his peer, Mark Rothko and the Abstract Expressionist movement in general, creates an energet...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Untitled - Fisherfolk
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Moshe Katz – Romanian/Israeli (1937-) Title: Untitled - Fisherfolk Year: 1966 Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 24 x 36 inches Framed size: 28.5 x 40.5 inches Signature: Signed, d...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Untitled #128, " 1960s Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
This Modern Abstract Expressionist painting by Stanley Bate is made with gouache on paper. It features a dark palette, with dark charcoal black tones contrasted by yellow and red accents throughout, and large brush strokes. The painting itself is 16" x 54" and measures 17" x 56" x 2" framed. The paper is mounted on board, framed in a black frame under glass. It is not signed by the artist, but has been authenticated by his estate, and is stamped with the estate seal on the back of the painting, and on the back of the frame. It is ready to hang. Stanley Bate was born on March 26, 1903 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bates were an established Tennessee family, in fact, Henry’s brother William Bate was the governor of Tennessee from 1883-1887 and a United States Senator from 1887-1905. Stanley studied art at the Watkins Institute in Nashville. In the 1920’s Bate moved to New York City to study at the Art Students League under Frederick Bridgman. He soon landed a job with Encyclopedia Britannica, and from 1927-1929 served as art editor. From 1929 until his death in 1972, Stanley was a self-employed artist. He taught art classes at both the Art Students League and the Albany Institute of History and Art and brought in extra income by making illustrations for magazines such as “Outdoor Life” and “Popular Science”. On January 27, 1934 Stanley married Emilie Rossel. Emilie had emigrated from Switzerland to New York in 1923. She found work as a governess to Alfred Vanderbilt and later as an executive secretary for Wall Street investment brokers Kahn, Loeb and Co. Emilie met Stanley in New York in the early 1930’s when she attended one of his art exhibitions with a friend. The couple, who had no children, lived on 34th Street in Manhattan. During this period, Bate was producing and exhibiting his art and joined several artists groups. Stanley and Emilie became part of the New York art scene, dining weekly at the Society of Illustrators Clubhouse. Stanley Bate’s time in New York was pivotal in the formation of his painting style. He lived in New York during the inception of one of the most important Modern Art movements, one that helped New York replace Paris as the center of avant-garde art. This movement, which was called the New York School of artists, was later known as Abstract Expressionism. It was comprised of a loosely associated group of vanguard artists working in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s. The New York School was not defined by a specific style, but instead reflected a fusion of European Modernism and American social relevancy that was depicted in many individual styles. Influences of Surrealism, Cubism, and Modernism can be found in their work, along with an interest in experimenting with non-traditional materials and methods. American art was in the forefront of international avant-garde for the first time. Stanley Bate was undoubtedly exposed to the varied styles and techniques that were emerging during the formative years of the New York School. Mark Rothko and Robert Motherwell were formulating their versions of color field paintings. Joseph Cornell was experimenting with assemblages, collage and the use of different types of textured paints. Jackson Pollock was adhering objects such as buttons and coins into his early works, while Louise Nevelson was using found objects. Helen Frankenthaler added sand to her early paintings. The New York School artists were undermining traditional fine art by using mixed media and non-traditional methods. Stanley Bate absorbed these varied influences and soon his early realistic landscapes and still-lifes were replaced with something entirely new. The influence of Cubism, notably the flat shallow space of the picture plane, is obvious in many of Bate’s paintings. Surrealism is evident in Bate’s use of subjects from myth, primitive art and antiquity, along with the Automatism-like line work in his more linear images. The unfettered experimentation of the New York School is everywhere in Stanley Bate’s work. We see nods to color field, collage, the mixing of textures into paint, mixed media, the inclusion of found objects and thick, luscious impasto. Bate was prolific and experimented in various media including oil, watercolor, lithography, silk screen, wood cut, drawing, collage, ceramics and sculpture. Bate is considered a true Modernist. His work is largely abstract, but sometimes figures and buildings are discernable. He frequently mixed paint, sand and glue together to achieve a textured surface, and then scraped and scratched through this layer to expose some of the underpainting below. His sculpture, which is often whimsical, also reflects the non-traditional methods of the New York School. Bate pioneered the use of enamel and copper in his work. The sculptures are not carved or modeled as was done in the past, but instead are built using mixed media and new materials. In addition to the New York School influence, many of Bate’s works exhibit a strong connection to the Spanish school, especially the work of Antonio Tapies and Modesto Cuixart. These artists were both part of an avant-garde group known as Art Informel, the Spanish equivalent of Abstract Expressionism. These artists likewise worked in mixed media and introduced objects and texture into their work. Many of Bate’s subjects and titles relate to Spanish locations and words. It is likely that Stanley spent time in Spain and found inspiration there. By the early 1940s, Stanley and Emilie had started spending weekends in a barn they purchased in Craryville, New York, a few hours north of Manhattan. The barn had no electricity or plumbing, but when the Bates eventually decided to leave New York and live full time in Craryville, they remodeled the barn, putting a gallery downstairs and a studio and living quarters upstairs. Although the Bates moved out of New York City, Stanley remained part of the New York art scene, exhibiting in New York and elsewhere throughout the 50s and 60s. During his lifetime he was represented by the New York galleries Knoedler and Company, Kennedy Galleries, Rose Fried Gallery and Key Gallery, along with Tyringham Gallery located in Tyringham, Massachusetts. Craryville was Stanley’s home until his death on August 21, 1972. Emilie died 1984...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

"Oracle, " 1970s Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
This painting by Modernist painter Stanley Bate is almost monochromatic with dark brown, sandy tan and white geometric shapes. There is a single bright red pop of color at the almost...
Category

1970s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Untitled (Figural Abstract Composition)
Located in Astoria, NY
George Segal (American, 1924-2000), Untitled (Figural Abstract Composition), Oil on Canvas, 1959, signed and dated lower right, unframed. 71.5" H x 95.25" W. Provenance: From a New Y...
Category

1950s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American School Modern Abstract Expressionist Framed Early Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Image size, 22L x 28H.
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American Sparse Modern Expressionist Flower Still Life Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage modernist still life painting. Oil on canvas. Image size, 18L x 24H.
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Like a Bird- Shadow Follows Light s Illusion
Located in Dallas, TX
Dallas artist David A. Dreyer’s eighth solo exhibition at Valley House Gallery was presented early in 2021, accompanied by an exhibition catalogue. His recent paintings are inspired ...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Chalk, Charcoal, Oil, Graphite

Abstract III (Abstract, Vibrant, Deep, Blue, Navy, Green, Orange, 30% OFF)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Jill Opelka Abstract III Oil on Canvas Year: 2023 Size: 20x20in Framed: 21x21x1.5in Signed by hand COA provided Ref.: 924802-2050 Tags: Abstract, Vibrant, Deep, Blue, Navy, Green, Orange, Pink *Framed in a black wooden frame ----------------- Upon entering Jill Opelka's home, her creative essence is unmistakable. Adorned with New Yorker Magazine covers, her dining room exudes a vibrant charm, complemented by quirky giant tortoises in the living room. The space is a reflection of Opelka's lively personality, evident in her central studio nestled within the bright breakfast nook. Embraced by natural light and captivating outdoor vistas, it's where her artistry thrives, even evident in intricate details like a practical denim quilt...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Oil

Chicago Modernist Gouache Painting Shabbat Hebrew Calligraphy WPA Artist Judaica
Located in Surfside, FL
A Judaica painting with Hebrew Calligraphy by noted Chicago Modernist. Alexander Raymond Katz (his Hungarian first name, Sandor, was anglicized to Alexander) was born in Kassa, Hunga...
Category

1930s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gouache

"Martos, " 1960s Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
"Martos" is an abstract oil painting on canvas by Stanley Bate featuring what appears to be a high horizon line of white and muted yellow. Beneath that line is a combination of textu...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique American School Signed Cubist Modern Flower Still Life Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American signed modernist flower still life oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Image size, 16L x 30H.
Category

1950s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Under the Twilight Canopy
Located in Atlanta, GA
The recent paintings of Atlanta artist David Kidd continue an evolving series of images inspired by and based upon natural forms, specifically the shadows cast by trees and other veg...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Shimmering Pond in the Woods - Surrealist Abstract 1960s
By Rose Herzog
Located in Soquel, CA
Shimmering Pond in the Woods - Surrealist Abstract 1960s Highly textured abstract composition by Rose Herzog (American, mid-20th Century). A multicolored pond is shown in the middle...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Cotton, Masonite, Mixed Media, Oil, Tissue Paper

Vintage American School Framed Modernist Fall Signed Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist landscape oil painting by Frank Barry. Oil on board. Signed. Framed. Measuring 27 by 31 inches overall and 18 by 22 painting alone. Nicely framed in a wood...
Category

1950s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Heaven Can Wait, Modern Acrylic Painting on Canvas by Julia Marc
Located in Long Island City, NY
Julia Marc, American - Heaven Can Wait, Year: circa 1980, Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed lower right, Size: 60 x 48 in. (152.4 x 121.92 cm)
Category

1980s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Mid Century Abstract
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist abstract oil painting. Oil on canvas, circa 1940. Unsigned. Image size, 37"L x 25"H.
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mid Century Abstract
Mid Century Abstract
$595 Sale Price
33% Off
Large Scale Modernist Abstract Square and Circle
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful large scale natural toned mixed media abstract comprising a rectangle of antiqued white texturized with gesso'd hemp sacking and set above second ivory rectangle in pale ivory with circle of scumbled grey by British contemporary artist Richard Lawrence...
Category

1980s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Canvas, Oil

Hayfield Two Thirty (Abstracted Landscape of Country Field by David Konigsberg)
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract landscape painting of a white cloud in a light blue sky over a dark country field "Hayfield Two Thirty," painted by David Konigsberg in 2019 oil o...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Abandoned Village, " 1960s Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
This Modern Abstract Expressionist painting by Stanley Bate is made with oil paint and and lacquer on board. It features light textured and a light blue-grey and yellow palette contrasted by the almost black focal point of the composition. The painting is 14.5" x 19" and measures 16.25" x 20.5" x 2" framed. Signed by the artist in the lower left-hand corner of the painting, it is framed in a floater frame with warm silver face and black sides and is ready to hang. Stanley Bate was born on March 26, 1903 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bates were an established Tennessee family, in fact, Henry’s brother William Bate was the governor of Tennessee from 1883-1887 and a United States Senator from 1887-1905. Stanley studied art at the Watkins Institute in Nashville. In the 1920’s Bate moved to New York City to study at the Art Students League under Frederick Bridgman. He soon landed a job with Encyclopedia Britannica, and from 1927-1929 served as art editor. From 1929 until his death in 1972, Stanley was a self-employed artist. He taught art classes at both the Art Students League and the Albany Institute of History and Art and brought in extra income by making illustrations for magazines such as “Outdoor Life” and “Popular Science”. On January 27, 1934 Stanley married Emilie Rossel. Emilie had emigrated from Switzerland to New York in 1923. She found work as a governess to Alfred Vanderbilt and later as an executive secretary for Wall Street investment brokers Kahn, Loeb and Co. Emilie met Stanley in New York in the early 1930’s when she attended one of his art exhibitions with a friend. The couple, who had no children, lived on 34th Street in Manhattan. During this period, Bate was producing and exhibiting his art and joined several artists groups. Stanley and Emilie became part of the New York art scene, dining weekly at the Society of Illustrators Clubhouse. Stanley Bate’s time in New York was pivotal in the formation of his painting style. He lived in New York during the inception of one of the most important Modern Art movements, one that helped New York replace Paris as the center of avant-garde art. This movement, which was called the New York School of artists, was later known as Abstract Expressionism. It was comprised of a loosely associated group of vanguard artists working in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s. The New York School was not defined by a specific style, but instead reflected a fusion of European Modernism and American social relevancy that was depicted in many individual styles. Influences of Surrealism, Cubism, and Modernism can be found in their work, along with an interest in experimenting with non-traditional materials and methods. American art was in the forefront of international avant-garde for the first time. Stanley Bate was undoubtedly exposed to the varied styles and techniques that were emerging during the formative years of the New York School. Mark Rothko and Robert Motherwell were formulating their versions of color field paintings. Joseph Cornell was experimenting with assemblages, collage and the use of different types of textured paints. Jackson Pollock was adhering objects such as buttons and coins into his early works, while Louise Nevelson was using found objects. Helen Frankenthaler added sand to her early paintings. The New York School artists were undermining traditional fine art by using mixed media and non-traditional methods. Stanley Bate absorbed these varied influences and soon his early realistic landscapes and still-lifes were replaced with something entirely new. The influence of Cubism, notably the flat shallow space of the picture plane, is obvious in many of Bate’s paintings. Surrealism is evident in Bate’s use of subjects from myth, primitive art and antiquity, along with the Automatism-like line work in his more linear images. The unfettered experimentation of the New York School is everywhere in Stanley Bate’s work. We see nods to color field, collage, the mixing of textures into paint, mixed media, the inclusion of found objects and thick, luscious impasto. Bate was prolific and experimented in various media including oil, watercolor, lithography, silk screen, wood cut, drawing, collage, ceramics and sculpture. Bate is considered a true Modernist. His work is largely abstract, but sometimes figures and buildings are discernable. He frequently mixed paint, sand and glue together to achieve a textured surface, and then scraped and scratched through this layer to expose some of the underpainting below. His sculpture, which is often whimsical, also reflects the non-traditional methods of the New York School. Bate pioneered the use of enamel and copper in his work. The sculptures are not carved or modeled as was done in the past, but instead are built using mixed media and new materials. In addition to the New York School influence, many of Bate’s works exhibit a strong connection to the Spanish school, especially the work of Antonio Tapies and Modesto Cuixart. These artists were both part of an avant-garde group known as Art Informel, the Spanish equivalent of Abstract Expressionism. These artists likewise worked in mixed media and introduced objects and texture into their work. Many of Bate’s subjects and titles relate to Spanish locations and words. It is likely that Stanley spent time in Spain and found inspiration there. By the early 1940s, Stanley and Emilie had started spending weekends in a barn they purchased in Craryville, New York, a few hours north of Manhattan. The barn had no electricity or plumbing, but when the Bates eventually decided to leave New York and live full time in Craryville, they remodeled the barn, putting a gallery downstairs and a studio and living quarters upstairs. Although the Bates moved out of New York City, Stanley remained part of the New York art scene, exhibiting in New York and elsewhere throughout the 50s and 60s. During his lifetime he was represented by the New York galleries Knoedler and Company, Kennedy Galleries, Rose Fried Gallery and Key Gallery, along with Tyringham Gallery located in Tyringham, Massachusetts. Craryville was Stanley’s home until his death on August 21, 1972. Emilie died 1984...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Lacquer, Oil, Board

Antique American School Modernist Coastal Ocean Beach Abstract Rock Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist seascape beach oil painting. Oil on board, circa 1930. Signed on verso. Image size, 24L x 18H. Framed in a period frame.
Category

1930s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Doors - L.A. Woman (Grammy, Album Art, Iconic, Rock Roll, Pop, Legend)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Kerry Smith The Doors - L.A. Woman Mixed Media on Crescent board Year: 2021 Size: 21x20in Signed, dated by hand COA provided Ref.: 924802-1642 *Black frame with a mirror-gloss finis...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Acrylic, Gouache, Board

2010 Contemporary Triptych Abstract Framed Acrylic Paintings of 3 - Transference
Located in Bristol, GB
TRANSFERENCE (SET OF 3) Acrylic on Panel Size: 43 x 23 cm each panel x3 (including frame) A captivating abstract triptych composition that unfolds across three individual panels, p...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Panel

"Year of the Dragon, " 1960s Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
This Modern abstract painting Stanley Bate features an earthy and warm palette and textured paint application. The painting is signed by artist lower right and is framed in the origi...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Silver

"Rail Crossing: Middletown, NY"
By Jules Halfant
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful oil on linen canvas painting, entitled "Rail Crossing: Middletown, was executed by the esteemed artist Jules Halfant (American, 1909-2001)...
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Untitled II (Abstract Cityscape Painting of Skyline Water Tower in Red Blue)
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstracted cityscape painting on paper in blue and red oil wash of industrial beams and water towers in New York City "Untitled II," painted by Ricardo Mulero in 2018 7.5 x 5 inches, oil wash on paper 16.5 x 13.5 inches in a soft white wood frame with an 8-ply window mat and non-glare glass Excellent condition, ready to hang as is Ricardo Mulero is fascinated with capturing the brilliance of light and the contrast of natural beauty with utilitarian landscapes. Here, Mulero focuses on an abstracted New York cityscape of rooftop water towers and he fragments the industrial urban landscape to highlight bold shapes with contrasting color palettes in blue, black, and red. The piece is in excellent condition and ready to hang. About the Artist: Growing up in Puerto Rico, I observed how people and nature could co-exist in harmony. Today, that principle guides my design and artistic work. My paintings are expressions that draw upon my life experiences, traditions, and surroundings. These unique environments inspire my oil paintings: Puerto Rico, where I grew up, New York City, Fire Island Pines...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Archival Paper

Elijah and the Ravens (Cubist, Red, Blue, Black, Orange, Purple, Abstract)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ted Hinrichs Elijah and the Ravens Acrylic on Canvas Year: 2022 Size: 36x24in Framed: 38x26x1.75in Signed by hand COA provided Ref.: 24802-1726 *Framed...
Category

2010s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Double Vision 70 - Modern Shiny Resin Minimalist Vibrant Red Abstract Artwork
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ricky Hunt’s mixed media minimalist wall art is influenced by his tumultuous past that led to a paradigm shift in creativity and life. He covers the wood panel with layers of acrylic...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Resin, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Wood Panel

Antique American School Signed Modernist Abstract Coastal Harbor Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Very nicely painted American modernist harbor oil painting. Framed. Oil on board. Signed. Image size, 16H by 20L.
Category

1950s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

“Abstract #7”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil paint on heavy archival paper abstract by the American artist, Martin Rosenthal. Bold, vibrant colors. Signed lower right by the artist and dated 1965. Condition is goo...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Archival Paper, Gouache, Oil

Vintage American Modernist Surreal Landscape Signed Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist landscape oil painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed "Lee Tang".
Category

1950s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"The Manifestation" Abstract Oil Painting on Canvas Illustrator Bill Shields
Located in Arp, TX
William Stephens Shields, Jr., 1925 - 2010 "The Manifestation" 1994 Oil on canvas 48"x36" artist framed Signed lower center William Stephens Shields, Jr., 1925 - 2010 He was born in san Francisco, in 1931, Bill moved to Texas, where he grew up. Moved to New York in 1940 and later joined the Naval Air Corps at the age of 18. He served as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. At the end of WWII, Bill returned to Texas. At 21, Bill re-focused his energy and enrolled in the Chicago Academy of Fine Art as an Illustration major. What followed was a whirlwind of success, great friendships and a sense of belonging he had never before experienced. Art was his calling and the art-world could not have been less prepared for the likes of Bill Shields...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique Italian Impressionist Venice Trompe L Oeil Flower Cityscape Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Very well done and interesting vintage Italian impressionist painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed.
Category

1940s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Untitled Gestural Abstract Composition
Located in Kansas City, MO
Matthias Kohlmann Untitled Gestural Abstract Composition Medium: Gouache Year: 1991 Signed and dated by hand Edition: Unique Size: 13.7 × 9.9 inches COA provided Matthias Kohlmann (...
Category

1990s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Gouache

20th Century French Modernist Abstract Painting Figurative Work Skeletal Head
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Abstract Modernist Composition The artist, Raymond Guidot (1935 - 2021) was a Parisian art historian, critique and teacher. oil painting on board, unframed board: 10.5 x 9 inches s...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Birthday, " 1960s Modern Abstract Painting
Located in Westport, CT
This Modern Abstract Expressionist painting by Stanley Bate is made with oil paint on canvas. It features a muted, earth-toned palette with contrasting warm yellow, orange, and red accents throughout. The painting is framed in a floater frame with gold face and black sides. It is 22" x 36" and measures 24" x 38" x 2" framed. This painting is not signed by the artist, but has been authenticated by his estate. It is stamped with the estate seal on the back of the painting, and on the back of the frame. Ready to hang. Stanley Bate was born on March 26, 1903 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bates were an established Tennessee family, in fact, Henry’s brother William Bate was the governor of Tennessee from 1883-1887 and a United States Senator from 1887-1905. Stanley studied art at the Watkins Institute in Nashville. In the 1920’s Bate moved to New York City to study at the Art Students League under Frederick Bridgman. He soon landed a job with Encyclopedia Britannica, and from 1927-1929 served as art editor. From 1929 until his death in 1972, Stanley was a self-employed artist. He taught art classes at both the Art Students League and the Albany Institute of History and Art and brought in extra income by making illustrations for magazines such as “Outdoor Life” and “Popular Science”. On January 27, 1934 Stanley married Emilie Rossel. Emilie had emigrated from Switzerland to New York in 1923. She found work as a governess to Alfred Vanderbilt and later as an executive secretary for Wall Street investment brokers Kahn, Loeb and Co. Emilie met Stanley in New York in the early 1930’s when she attended one of his art exhibitions with a friend. The couple, who had no children, lived on 34th Street in Manhattan. During this period, Bate was producing and exhibiting his art and joined several artists groups. Stanley and Emilie became part of the New York art scene, dining weekly at the Society of Illustrators Clubhouse. Stanley Bate’s time in New York was pivotal in the formation of his painting style. He lived in New York during the inception of one of the most important Modern Art movements, one that helped New York replace Paris as the center of avant-garde art. This movement, which was called the New York School of artists, was later known as Abstract Expressionism. It was comprised of a loosely associated group of vanguard artists working in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s. The New York School was not defined by a specific style, but instead reflected a fusion of European Modernism and American social relevancy that was depicted in many individual styles. Influences of Surrealism, Cubism, and Modernism can be found in their work, along with an interest in experimenting with non-traditional materials and methods. American art was in the forefront of international avant-garde for the first time. Stanley Bate was undoubtedly exposed to the varied styles and techniques that were emerging during the formative years of the New York School. Mark Rothko and Robert Motherwell were formulating their versions of color field paintings. Joseph Cornell was experimenting with assemblages, collage and the use of different types of textured paints. Jackson Pollock was adhering objects such as buttons and coins into his early works, while Louise Nevelson was using found objects. Helen Frankenthaler added sand to her early paintings. The New York School artists were undermining traditional fine art by using mixed media and non-traditional methods. Stanley Bate absorbed these varied influences and soon his early realistic landscapes and still-lifes were replaced with something entirely new. The influence of Cubism, notably the flat shallow space of the picture plane, is obvious in many of Bate’s paintings. Surrealism is evident in Bate’s use of subjects from myth, primitive art and antiquity, along with the Automatism-like line work in his more linear images. The unfettered experimentation of the New York School is everywhere in Stanley Bate’s work. We see nods to color field, collage, the mixing of textures into paint, mixed media, the inclusion of found objects and thick, luscious impasto. Bate was prolific and experimented in various media including oil, watercolor, lithography, silk screen, wood cut, drawing, collage, ceramics and sculpture. Bate is considered a true Modernist. His work is largely abstract, but sometimes figures and buildings are discernable. He frequently mixed paint, sand and glue together to achieve a textured surface, and then scraped and scratched through this layer to expose some of the underpainting below. His sculpture, which is often whimsical, also reflects the non-traditional methods of the New York School. Bate pioneered the use of enamel and copper in his work. The sculptures are not carved or modeled as was done in the past, but instead are built using mixed media and new materials. In addition to the New York School influence, many of Bate’s works exhibit a strong connection to the Spanish school, especially the work of Antonio Tapies and Modesto Cuixart. These artists were both part of an avant-garde group known as Art Informel, the Spanish equivalent of Abstract Expressionism. These artists likewise worked in mixed media and introduced objects and texture into their work. Many of Bate’s subjects and titles relate to Spanish locations and words. It is likely that Stanley spent time in Spain and found inspiration there. By the early 1940s, Stanley and Emilie had started spending weekends in a barn they purchased in Craryville, New York, a few hours north of Manhattan. The barn had no electricity or plumbing, but when the Bates eventually decided to leave New York and live full time in Craryville, they remodeled the barn, putting a gallery downstairs and a studio and living quarters upstairs. Although the Bates moved out of New York City, Stanley remained part of the New York art scene, exhibiting in New York and elsewhere throughout the 50s and 60s. During his lifetime he was represented by the New York galleries Knoedler and Company, Kennedy Galleries, Rose Fried Gallery and Key Gallery, along with Tyringham Gallery located in Tyringham, Massachusetts. Craryville was Stanley’s home until his death on August 21, 1972. Emilie died 1984...
Category

1960s Modern Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Modern abstract paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Modern abstract paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add abstract paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, orange, red, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Stanley Bate, Christel Haag, Clarence Holbrook Carter, and Carmen Gutierrez. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Modern abstract paintings, so small editions measuring 18 inches across are also available. Prices for abstract paintings made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $380 and tops out at $175,000, while the average work sells for $2,970.

Recently Viewed

View All