Famous abstract artists
From the first abstract pictures to Abstract Expressionism and beyond.
Abstract art does not try to depict the visible world. Instead it uses shape, colour, line and gesture for their own sake. In the 1910s pioneers such as Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich and Piet Mondrian moved towards pure abstraction. After the Second World War, New York's Abstract Expressionists took it to a monumental scale.
Explore the movements: Suprematism, De Stijl, Abstract Expressionism, Colour Field, Op Art and Minimalism.
1.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.
2.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.
3.Paul Klee
1879–1940 · German-Swiss · Expressionism, SurrealismPaul Klee (1879–1940) was a German-Swiss painter associated with Expressionism and Surrealism. Known for Angelus Novus, Twittering Machine and Sumpflegende.
4.Piet Mondrian
1872–1944 · Dutch · Post-impressionism, De StijlPiet Mondrian (1872–1944) was a Dutch painter associated with Post-impressionism and De Stijl. Known for Broadway Boogie Woogie, Victory Boogie Woogie and The Red Tree.
5.M. C. Escher
1898–1972 · Dutch · Op artM. C. Escher (1898–1972) was a Dutch printmaker associated with Op art. Known for Metamorphosis III.
6.Kazimir Malevich
1878–1935 · Russian · Suprematism, Russian avant-gardeKazimir Malevich (1878–1935) was a Russian painter associated with Suprematism and Russian avant-garde. Known for Black Square (1915), Suprematist Composition: White on White and Suprematist Composition.
7.Mark Rothko
1903–1970 · American · Abstract expressionismMark Rothko (1903–1970) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for Rothko Chapel.
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.Robert Delaunay
1885–1941 · French · Orphism, SimultanismRobert Delaunay (1885–1941) was a French painter associated with Orphism and Simultanism. Known for Hommage to Blériot, Eiffel Tower with Trees and Rhythms.
11.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!.
12.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.
13.Josef Albers
1888–1976 · German-American · Op art, Abstract artJosef Albers (1888–1976) was a German-American painter associated with Op art and Abstract art. Known for Structural Constellation – Two Supraportes.
14.Sonia Delaunay
1885–1979 · French · Orphism, SimultanismSonia Delaunay (1885–1979) was a French painter associated with Orphism and Simultanism. Known for Portuguese Market, Composition Dancer and Toy box.
15.Antoni Tàpies
1923–2012 · Catalan · InformalismAntoni Tàpies (1923–2012) was a Catalan painter associated with Informalism. Known for Rinzen, Mitjó and Les quatre cròniques.
16.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.
17.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.
18.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.
19.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.
20.Franz Kline
1910–1962 · American · Abstract expressionism, Action paintingFranz Kline (1910–1962) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism and Action painting.
21.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.
22.Robert Motherwell
1915–1991 · American · Abstract expressionismRobert Motherwell (1915–1991) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for calligraphy.
23.Hans Hofmann
1880–1966 · German-American · Abstract expressionismHans Hofmann (1880–1966) was a German-American painter associated with Abstract expressionism.
24.Sam Francis
1923–1994 · American · Abstract expressionismSam Francis (1923–1994) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for Untitled (Black Clouds).
25.Adolph Gottlieb
1903–1974 · American · Abstract expressionismAdolph Gottlieb (1903–1974) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism. Known for Sun Deck.
26.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.
27.Wayne Thiebaud
1920–2021 · American · Pop art, ExpressionismWayne Thiebaud (1920–2021) was an American painter associated with Pop art and Expressionism.
28.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.
29.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").
30.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).
31.Friedel Dzubas
1915–1994 · German · Color FieldFriedel Dzubas (1915–1994) was a German painter associated with Color Field.
32.Red Grooms
born 1937 · American · Pop artRed Grooms (born 1937) is an American sculptor associated with Pop art.
33.Tsugio Hattori
1951–1998 · American · Abstract expressionismTsugio Hattori (1951–1998) was an American painter associated with Abstract expressionism.