Contemporary painting differs from classical or modern painting yet remains a means for artists to express themselves and represent their surroundings. It holds a very specific place in art history. One of the leading online art galleries – Artalistic - brings you on a deep dive to explore contemporary painting and provides several modern examples. Illustration: Jackson Pollock by Hans Namur, in 1950 - Adagp ©, Paris 2020.



Contemporary painting’s seemingly limitless boundaries



What is contemporary painting?

Contemporary artists paint with their emotions and are free of convictions.

Contemporary painting is a branch of contemporary art, which consists of artwork created during the second half of the 20th century to the present day. Modern painting covers the period of 1870 to 1960. This modern painting movement ended with the advent of pop art, which marked the beginning of the contemporary painting movement.

Contemporary art aimed to break away from the rigid rules created during the classical art movement, freeing itself from certain constraints. From this moment on, painters no longer felt the need to paint what they saw and concentrated on representing what they felt. Subjects, portraits and landscapes gradually gave up center stage to emotions like sorrow, joy, happiness, sadness, melancholy and nostalgia.

Contemporary painting allowed artists to break free from classical art’s rules, bringing emotions to the forefront allowed artists to experiment with abstraction, blurry shapes and figurative forms. In fact, contemporary art has branched out into several different categories.

Lastly, contemporary art has been increasingly influenced by digital media, videos and the latest communication technologies, including blockchain and crypto-art.

In short, the word "freedom" is often associated with contemporary painting. One of this movement’s ultimate aims is to erase meaning or create a new one. Contemporary art is often created in the hopes of conveying a message, by eliciting emotions that arouse the viewer’s curiosity and imagination through the use of specific techniques.



The main branches of contemporary painting



Pop art

Pop Art originated during the 1950s in England and quickly spread across the globe. It drew inspiration from pop culture, design, science fiction, advertising, everyday objects, mass-produced goods and new technologies. Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring are some of pop art’s most iconic artists. You can explore some magnificent pop art on Artalistic’s online art gallery.



Hyperrealism in contemporary painting

Hyperrealism started in the late 60s in the United States. Artists attempted to capture a subject in minute detail and were often inspired by photography. David Hockney, a famous British painter, is a leading figure in both pop art and hyperrealism. His paintings regularly break sales records, for example his Portrait of an Artist (1972), which sold for almost $100 million!



Abstract expressionism

This branch of contemporary painting expresses the artist's emotions and feelings. The Abstract Expressionist movement began in the 1950s/60s and was spearheaded by Jackson Pollock.



Neo-expressionism

This figurative, pictorial movement emerged in the late 1970s in opposition to conceptual and minimalist art. It employed an emotionally violent style and often featured provocative imagery. Jean-Michel Basquiat is one of this movement’s leading figures.



Figurative Art

Figurative art is the exact opposite of abstract art. Contemporary figurative painting refers to artworks that make clear references to reality, no matter how the subject is presented. Although he began his career around 1930, the British painter Francis Bacon is considered to be a master of figurative painting. Bacon often painted triptychs that were brimming with raw emotion.



Street art 

When most people hear the term street art, the artist Banksy inevitably comes to mind. Street art can be found all around the world on city walls and building facades. Here's a selection of the most famous works of street art.



Artalistic: a leading online art gallery



Artalistic has quickly become one of the internet’s leading online art galleries, offering an impressive array of contemporary paintings for sale.

Every day, our specialists curate a large selection of modern and contemporary paintings, while ensuring the artists and their work meet our precise criteria.

Our selection includes pieces from well-established and emerging artists at a wide range of prices. Art isn't just for the elite, acquiring a painting that's affordable today may bring you a return on your investments in the future!

You can also browse our online art galleries by theme, contemporary painting movements, technique or media: oil painting, acrylic, mixed media, abstract, figurative, portraits, landscapes, nudes, street art, pop art, African painting, etc. We are sure to have something that will meet your needs and expectations.



How to join Artalistic’s online art gallery if you are an artist

If you would like to exhibit your paintings on Artalistic’s online art gallery, feel free to contact our team of experts who will review your portfolio and get back to you as soon as possible.

Thank you and see you soon for the latest news from the art world, brought to you by Artalistic, one of the leading online art galleries!