Contemporary Paintings
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.
1990s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Marble, Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Acrylic, Panel
1970s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil Pastel, Archival Ink, Acrylic, Gouache, Wood Panel
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Spray Paint
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Paper, Ink, Archival Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor, Archival Paper
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 2000s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Inspired by the coyote’s clever nature and striking presence, this portrait aims to capture both its likeness and spirit. The textured background and fur emph...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Ink, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Acrylic, Linen
1970s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Panel
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Gold Leaf
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Concrete
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Wood Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Canvas
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Vellum
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Acrylic, Screen
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Linen, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Linen, Oil
Artist Comments
A vast shore stretches toward a calm blue sea, basking in the warmth of the summer sun. Wispy grasses in the foreground add contrast to the softness of the scen...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A young woman closes her eyes in serene reflection, holding a delicate pink flower against her face. The background, filled with flowing handwritten lyrics from...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Acrylic
1980s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Archival Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Linen, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Linen, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Textile, Linen, Yarn, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Cotton Canvas
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Contemporary Paintings
Gesso, Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Contemporary paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
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