Leo Maes
Antique Late 19th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Vases
Earthenware
1990s Contemporary Color Photography
Color, Polaroid
1990s Contemporary Color Photography
Paper, Color
1990s Contemporary Abstract Prints
Paper, Color, Lithograph
1980s Contemporary Color Photography
Color, Polaroid
People Also Browsed
1960s Modern Color Photography
Lambda
1960s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Prints
Lithograph
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Vases
Rock Crystal
Vintage 1910s Austrian Art Nouveau Ceramics
Ceramic
Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Contemporary Art
Paper
Mid-20th Century Posters
Wood, Paper
20th Century American Paperweights
Stone
Antique 1890s Belgian Art Nouveau Vases
Earthenware
2010s Brazilian Natural Specimens
Agate, Amethyst, Crystal, Rock Crystal
Early 2000s Abstract Color Photography
Photographic Paper, C Print
Vintage 1960s Photography
Paper
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Planters and Jardinieres
Ceramic
Late 20th Century French Baroque Pillows and Throws
Linen, Silk
Antique Early 1900s English Art Nouveau Ceramics
Silver
Early 2000s Drawings
Paper
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Vases
Stoneware
Recent Sales
1990s Contemporary Color Photography
Color, Polaroid
1990s Contemporary Color Photography
Color, Paper
A Close Look at contemporary 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.