A dramatic departure from realism, abstract art champions feeling over accuracy. Expressive brushstrokes, unexpected colour palettes and geometric structures form the foundation of the highly emotional genre, made famous by names such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Wassily Kandinsky.
Abstract art can be near-impossible to comprehend. Luckily, it doesn't ask to be. Art tends to be inseparable from its socio-political and historical context, yet abstract art favours non-objective form, prioritising raw emotion over all else.
The modern medium concerns itself with simplicity and spirituality, acting on instinct rather than rationality. Consider the famed drip technique of Jackson Pollock and Helen Frankenthaler, which functions entirely on pure form. The same goes for Mark Rothko, whose explosive expression of colour aimed to convey basic human emotion over a figurative subject.
To make things more complicated, abstract art can be broken down into sub-genres. Abstract expressionism à la Pollock, cubism à la Picasso and fauvism à la Matisse to name a few. Surrealism, colour field, futurism, dada and constructivism also feature, which prompts even art history students’ minds to enter philosophical overload.
The dynamism of abstract art is why the genre is a popular choice for homeowners. Timeless yet fresh, abstract works infuse space with emotion and offer the ability to transform the mind. As artist Ben Nicholson said of his work when writing for Horizon in 1912: “There is no need to concentrate; it becomes a part of living. I think that so far from being a limited expression, understood by a few, abstract art is a powerful, unlimited and universal language.''
Discover the best abstract works, both original and reproductions, to electrify your home.
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Helen Frankenthaler Flirt Poster (1995)
Helen Frankenthaler’s Flirt draws upon sensual tones of baby pink and blues that are typically associated with femininity. Floral motifs represent the female reproductive system, associating female prowess with power. Often overlooked in favour of her male counterparts, Frankenthaler was closely associated with the abstract expressionists and often deemed Pollock’s female counterpart. However, she surpassed said subordination, going on to become one of the most iconic figures in feminist art history.
Buy now £21.37, Etsy
Mark Rothko Untitled (Red) (c.1956)
Deeply emotional and impossible to ignore, Rothko’s works confront the viewer with powerful feelings. In Untitled (Red), paint drips appear to run up the canvas, nodding to the fact that Rothko would often flip a painting mid-production. The vibrant pink-red piece is devoid of form, leaving the viewer to ponder its impressive vibrancy and large, imposing scale.
Buy now £200.00, King & McGaw
Gerhard Richter Abstraktes Bild (1994)
Abstraktes Bild is one of Dresden-born Gerhard Richter's most expensive works to sell at auction (the original went for a cool US$46.3 million in 2015 by Sotheby's). Powerfully dark tones are executed across the piece, which features seemingly random brush strokes that confront the viewer. This reproduction will add drama and dynamism to the home, thanks to its complex yet scintillating composition and colossal green-red colourways.
Buy now £20.39, Etsy
Paul Klee Twittering Machine Poster (1922)
Created two years before the Surrealist Manifesto was published, Paul Klee’s Twittering Machine is a melancholic watercolour with gouache, pen-and-ink and oil transfer. The image depicts a group of line-drawn birds, all bar the first of which are shackled on a wire. A serene blue-lilac colour scheme contrasts the noisy central topic (the squeaking creatures perched on the wire).
The nightmarish piece blends biology and machinery, a relationship extensively explored by the Swiss-German artist. Now housed in MoMA, the work was declared as ‘degenerate art’ by Adolf Hitler in 1939. We say all the more reason to revel in its mastery.
Buy now £27.84, Amazon
Jackson Pollock Lucifer Framed Print (1947)
Adorn your home with a visual relic. This framed printed reproduction of Pollock’s Lucifer from 1947 showcases one of the first examples of the American artist’s famed drip technique. This particular piece is widely credited with kickstarting the emergence of abstract expressionism. The title mirrors how Pollock felt about the piece, which he saw as a 'beautiful angel who had fallen from heaven’.
Buy now £230.00, John Lewis
Amanda Heath Barbados Framed Print & Mount
Barbados by artist Amanda Heath is an affordable painting to elevate your home. Made in the UK, this colourful floral print is mounted, glazed and saturated with feminine floral motifs. The artist champions beauty and freedom in her work, with this particular piece portraying a dream-like depiction of summer blooms that nod to female sensuality and intimate romance.
Buy now £80.00, John Lewis
Wassily Kandinsky Graceful Ascent Poster (c.1934)
A poster to prove your cultural knowledge, this reproduction of Kandinsky's highly celebrated work Graceful Ascent is characteristic of the artist’s later work. A soft, gently accented colour scheme is punctuated by a series of lines, geometric forms and organic shapes. The structure is coherent yet complex, leading the viewer’s eye up to the top of the piece hence the name, ‘Graceful Ascent.’
Buy now £25.79, Etsy
Andy Marlow Moulin Rouge (2021)
Transport viewers from the serenity of your home to the bustling streets of Paris at night. Andy Marlow’s abstract work offers a dynamic scene to ignite your inner Francophile. Rhubarb shades are married with blurred brushstrokes to mimic a snapshot effect. The original piece is one of many scenic depictions created by Marlow, who specialises in colourful European cityscapes and rustic landscapes.
Buy now £250.00, Andy Marlow Art
Sonal Nathwani That Dreaming Place
Highly nostalgic, Sonal Nathwani’s evocative abstract landscape painting demonstrates the sentimental side of abstraction. An oceanscape dominated by aqua hues, the occasional splash of fern green and painterly brushstrokes translates a sense of longing. The Malawi-born artist embraces colour, free spirit and the beauty of imperfection - all themes evident in this dream-like work.
Buy now £348.00, Anthropologie
Alexandra Duprez Untitled (2024)
An original work by French artist Alexandra Duprez, this oil collage showcases an ochre form set against a background of oceanic blue. Limbs, snakes and waves are recurring motifs in Duprez’s work, which combines abstraction with symbolic meaning. Available to purchase via Wondering People, the piece is one of many abstract works sourced by the collective.
Buy now £500.00, Wondering People
