Famous 20th-century artists
54 artists in this collection born between 1901 and 2000.
These are the artists in the Art Icons collection born in the 20th century, from 1901 to 2000. They are ordered by how widely known they are, using the number of Wikipedia language editions with an article about each artist, the same measure as our most famous artists list (figures checked 2026-10-26).
Artists born before 1901 are not repeated here, even when their lives ran into the 1900s. Pablo Picasso was born in 1881, and Henri Matisse was born in 1869. They are on the most-famous list and on the movement guides, including famous abstract artists and Pop Art artists.
See also famous American artists.
1.Salvador Dalí
1904–1989 · Spanish · SurrealismSalvador Dalí (1904–1989) was a Spanish painter associated with Surrealism. Known for The Great Masturbator, The Face of War and Lobster Telephone.
2.Frida Kahlo
1907–1954 · Mexican · Surrealism, Magic realismFrida Kahlo (1907–1954) was a Mexican painter associated with Surrealism and Magic realism. Known for Self-Portrait Dedicated to Leon Trotsky.
3.Andy Warhol
1928–1987 · American · Pop artAndy Warhol (1928–1987) was an American film director associated with Pop art. Known for Campbell's Soup Cans and Brillo Box.
4.Jackson Pollock
1912–1956 · American · Abstract expressionism, Action paintingJackson Pollock (1912–1956) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Action painting. Known for No. 5, 1948, Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) and Blue Poles.
5.Mark Rothko
1903–1970 · American · Abstract expressionismMark Rothko (1903–1970) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for Rothko Chapel.
6.Ansel Adams
1902–1984 · AmericanAnsel Adams (1902–1984) was an American photographer. Known for Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico and The Tetons and the Snake River.
7.Francis Bacon
1909–1992 · Irish · Surrealism, ExpressionismFrancis Bacon (1909–1992) was an Irish painter associated with Surrealism and Expressionism. Known for Triptych, 1976, Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion and Head IV.
8.Jean Dubuffet
1901–1985 · French · Art brut, InformalismJean Dubuffet (1901–1985) was a French painter associated with Art brut and Informalism. Known for Monument with Standing Beast, Jardin d'émail and Tour aux figures.
9.David Hockney
1937–2026 · British · Hyperrealism, Contemporary artDavid Hockney (1937–2026) was a British painter associated with Hyperrealism and Contemporary art. Known for A Bigger Splash, American Collectors (Fred and Marcia Weisman) and A Bigger Grand Canyon.
10.Fernando Botero
1932–2023 · Colombian · Contemporary artFernando Botero (1932–2023) was a Colombian painter associated with Contemporary art. Known for The Raval Cat, Hand and Woman with mirror.
11.Keith Haring
1958–1989 · American · Street art, Contemporary artKeith Haring (1958–1989) was an American painter associated with Street art and Contemporary art. Known for Tuttomondo, Together we can stop AIDS and The Boxers.
12.Jean-Michel Basquiat
1960–1988 · American · Neo-expressionism, PrimitivismJean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) was an American painter associated with Neo-expressionism and Primitivism.
13.Roy Lichtenstein
1923–1997 · American · Pop artRoy Lichtenstein (1923–1997) was an American painter associated with Pop art. Known for Times Square Mural, The Face of Barcelona and Whaam!.
14.Willem de Kooning
1904–1997 · Dutch-American · Abstract expressionism, Action paintingWillem de Kooning (1904–1997) was a Dutch-American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Action painting. Known for Reclining Figure, Standing Figure and Seated Woman.
15.Robert Doisneau
1912–1994 · FrenchRobert Doisneau (1912–1994) was a French photographer. Known for The Kiss at the Hôtel de Ville and Un Regard Oblique.
16.Yves Klein
1928–1962 · French · Nouveau réalismeYves Klein (1928–1962) was a French sculptor associated with Nouveau réalisme.
17.Robert Rauschenberg
1925–2008 · American · Neo-Dada, PostmodernismRobert Rauschenberg (1925–2008) was an American photographer associated with Neo-Dada and Postmodernism. Known for Riding Bikes.
18.Jasper Johns
born 1930 · American · Neo-DadaJasper Johns (born 1930) is an American painter associated with Neo-Dada. Known for Three Flags.
19.Andrew Wyeth
1917–2009 · American · French RealismAndrew Wyeth (1917–2009) was an American painter associated with French Realism. Known for That Gentleman and Christina's World.
20.Antoni Tàpies
1923–2012 · Catalan · InformalismAntoni Tàpies (1923–2012) was a Catalan painter associated with Informalism. Known for Rinzen, Mitjó and Les quatre cròniques.
21.Helen Frankenthaler
1928–2011 · American · Abstract expressionism, Color FieldHelen Frankenthaler (1928–2011) was an American printmaker associated with Abstract expressionism and Color Field. Known for Mountains and Sea.
22.Cy Twombly
1928–2011 · American · Abstract expressionism, PostmodernismCy Twombly (1928–2011) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Postmodernism. Known for The Ceiling.
23.Richard Estes
born 1932 · American · PhotorealismRichard Estes (born 1932) is an American painter associated with Photorealism. Known for Telephone Booths.
24.Robert Mapplethorpe
1946–1989 · AmericanRobert Mapplethorpe (1946–1989) was an American photographer. Known for Man in Polyester Suit.
25.Robert Indiana
1928–2018 · American · Pop art, Hard-edge paintingRobert Indiana (1928–2018) was an American costume designer associated with Pop art and Hard-edge painting. Known for LOVE, One Through Zero and Imperial Love.
26.Bridget Riley
born 1931 · British · Op art, Contemporary artBridget Riley (born 1931) is a British painter associated with Op art and Contemporary art. Known for Sea Cloud.
27.Franz Kline
1910–1962 · American · Abstract expressionism, Action paintingFranz Kline (1910–1962) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Action painting.
28.Ellsworth Kelly
1923–2015 · American · Minimalism, Abstract artEllsworth Kelly (1923–2015) was an American sculptor associated with Minimalism and Abstract art. Known for Untitled, Totem and Red Yellow Blue White and Black.
29.Robert Motherwell
1915–1991 · American · Abstract expressionismRobert Motherwell (1915–1991) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for calligraphy.
30.Faith Ringgold
1930–2024 · American · Feminist artFaith Ringgold (1930–2024) was an American painter associated with Feminist art. Known for The American People Series #20: Die and Flying Home: Harlem Heroes and Heroines (Downtown and Uptown).
31.Sam Francis
1923–1994 · American · Abstract expressionismSam Francis (1923–1994) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for Untitled (Black Clouds).
32.Adolph Gottlieb
1903–1974 · American · Abstract expressionismAdolph Gottlieb (1903–1974) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for Sun Deck.
33.Morris Louis
1912–1962 · American · Abstract expressionism, Washington Color SchoolMorris Louis (1912–1962) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Washington Color School. Known for Museum of Modern Art.
35.Wayne Thiebaud
1920–2021 · American · Pop art, ExpressionismWayne Thiebaud (1920–2021) was an American painter associated with Pop art and Expressionism.
36.Richard Diebenkorn
1922–1993 · American · Abstract expressionism, Bay Area Figurative MovementRichard Diebenkorn (1922–1993) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Bay Area Figurative Movement.
37.Howard Hodgkin
1932–2017 · British · Contemporary artHoward Hodgkin (1932–2017) was a British painter associated with Contemporary art.
38.Ruth Orkin
1921–1985 · AmericanRuth Orkin (1921–1985) was an American film director. Known for American Girl in Italy.
39.Michael Heizer
born 1944 · American · Land artMichael Heizer (born 1944) is an American painter associated with Land art. Known for Levitated Mass and Double Negative.
40.Romare Bearden
1911–1988 · American · Abstract art, CubismRomare Bearden (1911–1988) was an American writer associated with Abstract art and Cubism. Known for Untitled ("City of Light").
41.Tony Smith
1912–1980 · American · Abstract art, MinimalismTony Smith (1912–1980) was an American sculptor associated with Abstract art and Minimalism. Known for She Who Must Be Obeyed, Gracehoper and Wandering Rocks (4/5).
42.Arthur Boyd
1920–1999 · Australian · Angry PenguinsArthur Boyd (1920–1999) was an Australian painter associated with Angry Penguins. Known for Olympic Pylon.
45.Friedel Dzubas
1915–1994 · German · Color FieldFriedel Dzubas (1915–1994) was a German painter associated with Color Field.
46.Red Grooms
born 1937 · American · Pop artRed Grooms (born 1937) is an American sculptor associated with Pop art.
47.Patrick Heron
1920–1999 · English · Contemporary artPatrick Heron (1920–1999) was an English painter associated with Contemporary art.
49.Tsugio Hattori
1951–1998 · American · Abstract expressionismTsugio Hattori (1951–1998) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism.
Frequently asked questions
Who counts as a 20th-century artist on this page?
Artists in the Art Icons collection born from 1901 through 2000. There are 54 of them on this page.
Who is the most famous 20th-century artist on this list?
By Wikipedia language editions, Salvador Dalí is the most widely known artist born in the 20th century in this collection.
Why is Picasso not on this list?
Pablo Picasso was born in 1881, so he is outside this birth-year list. His profile is linked from the most famous artists.