Abstract Still-life Paintings
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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Artist Comments
Artist Lisa Nielsen captures a cool and soft atmosphere in this still-life piece. She expresses freedom to experiment with the arrangement of elements by adding glasses, teacups, and ribbons. Lisa infuses shades of blue throughout the entire composition. She adds subtle contrasts of color for easiness to the eyes.
About the Artist
There;s a certain innocent joy that comes through in Lisa Nielsen;s artwork. She finds beauty in the everyday and often ordinary, whether it;s painting a pretty girl in the garden or spending time with her daughter at Chipotle - and let;s face it, what isn;t beautiful about a burrito bowl? Lisa likes to say she captures moments in the journey of life. What we see in her art is all part of her life philosophy: to be still, to breathe, to exhaust the small moment.
Words that describe this painting: still life, cool, soft, glass, flowers, ribbon, teacup, small, rose, impressionism, impressionism, still life, oil painting
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
1990s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Suren Nersisyan paints a vibrant bouquet of yellow and pink roses surrounded by tropical foliage. Thick, textured brushstrokes and a deep violet backgr...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil, Board
Artist Comments
A delightful still life of three home-grown sunflowers from artist Nicole Lamothe's garden each in their own vase. Forever capturing the essence of summer, Ni...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
Abstract blue and white flowers intermingle with free-forming violet patterns, reminiscent of underwater life. Part of a series of small-scale works inspired ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
A vibrant bouquet of red and turquoise flowers fill the composition in this joyful still life. Artist Jeff Fleming describes his painting style as kinetic impressionism. Jeff started the piece with a pencil sketch on the canvas, then with gloved hands, he applied oil paint using his fingers. Jeff says he created the energetic flowers and vase in this scene purely from imagination.
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: impressionism, flowers, vase, spring, blooms, Iris Scott...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A glowing still life of sunflowers and wildflowers arranged on a rich blue backdrop. Artist Jeff Fleming describes his painting style as kinetic impressionism. Jeff started the piece with a pencil sketch on the canvas, then with gloved hands, he generously applied oil paint using his fingers. Jeff says he created this scene purely from imagination.
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: impressionism, flowers, vase, spring, blooms, Iris Scott...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Soft light falls tenderly upon a pink waterlily in full bloom at Mission San Juan Capistrano in Southern California. "In this painting, I wanted the water lil...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Naoko describes this vibrant scene as a walled garden where all kinds of herbs and medieval plants are in full bloom. The sun shines brightly, illuminating th...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil, Panel
Artist Comments
Pamela Blaies was inspired by a little slice of light shining into her studio late one afternoon while she was cleaning up for the day. The illuminated stash ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This painting is about combining realism, abstraction, color, spontaneity - all of the things that I think make for an exciting and engaging piece of art.
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
This series of paintings is based on nature.
About the Artist
Krispen Spencer’s artistic process is about more than ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
This series of paintings is based on nature.
About the Artist
Krispen Spencer’s artistic process is about more than ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
This series of paintings is based on nature.
About the Artist
Krispen Spencer’s artistic process is about more than ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Artist Comments
This series of paintings is based on nature.
About the Artist
Krispen Spencer’s artistic process is about more than ...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
1930s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Epoxy Resin, Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic, Archival Paper
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic, Wood Panel
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
1960s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Watercolor
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
1940s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Found Objects, Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Abstract Still-life Paintings
1980s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Linen
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Mixed Media, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Resin
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil, Linen
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1960s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Oil, Cardboard
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Paper
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Still-life Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
