The Abstract Art names to know

Famous Abstract Art Artistas: Our Top 17

If you remember one Abstract Art artista, make it Hilma Af Klint (1862–1944), the name behind De tio största, n° 2 Barnaaldern e Altarpiece No. 1, Group X. After that come Johannes Itten, Constantin Brâncuși, Yoo Youngkuk e Douglas Abdell. Our 17 picks go from Hilma Af Klint (born 1862) to Charles Gibbons (born 1957), from 14 countries.

Picked by the ArtsDot.com team

How we picked them. We list the artists our catalogue links to Abstract Art, from the most famous down. Artists born after 1955 that we cannot yet check on Wikidata are left out. The Wikipedia number shows in how many of our 32 languages Wikipedia writes about them.

  1. De tio största, n° 2 Barnaaldern, de Hilma Af Klint1Hilma Af Klint
  2. Plumen, de Johannes Itten2Johannes Itten
  3. The Kiss, de Constantin Brâncuși3Constantin Brâncuși

Quick facts

Abstract Art in a nutshell

  • 17Artistas
  • 1862–1957Anos de nascimento
  • 14Países de origem
  • 2Mulheres
  • 3Artistas vivos
  • 390Obras em nosso catálogo
Cidades com mais nascimentos
Solna (1), Wachseldorn (1), Hădărămaș (1), Uljin (1)
Museus que detêm as principais obras
MoMA - Museu de Arte Moderna (1), National Gallery of Art (1), The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (1), Sheffield Central Library (1)
As mulheres desta lista
Hilma Af Klint, Margaret Alexandra Luke

Meet them one by one

The 17 famous Abstract Art artistas, from most famous down

1of 17

Hilma Af Klint 1862–1944

Sueca From Solna Arte abstrata, Espiritualismo On Wikipedia in 24 of 32 languages

Hilma Af Klint

Hilma Af Klint, uma artista sueca nascida em Solna em 1862, permanece como uma das figuras mais fascinantes e historicamente significativas a emergir do amanhecer da arte abstrata. Hoje, Hilma Af Klint é celebrada como uma pioneira, uma exploradora de mundos interiores cujas telas vibrantes e simbólicas precedem as abstrações mais conhecidas de Kandinsky, Mondrian e Malevich.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works · Hilma Af Klint reproductions

2of 17

Johannes Itten 1888–1967

Suíça From Wachseldorn Expressionismo, Bauhaus On Wikipedia in 21 of 32 languages

Johannes Itten

Johannes Itten, born in 1888 in the tranquil Swiss village of Südern-Linden, was more than just a painter; he was a visionary educator who fundamentally reshaped the landscape of modern art instruction. Though briefly attempting formal training at Geneva’s École des Beaux-Arts, he found its methods stifling, returning to Bern where studies with Ernst Schneider proved pivotal.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

3of 17

Constantin Brâncuși 1876–1957

From Hădărămaș

Constantin Brâncuși

Nascido em 1876, em Hădărămaș, na Romênia, Brâncuși embarcou em uma jornada extraordinária, partindo de origens humildes para se tornar um dos principais inovadores da arte abstrata. A trajetória da carreira de Brâncuși passou por uma transformação profunda durante seu período em Paris, entre 1906 e 1914.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

4of 17

Yoo Youngkuk 1916–2002

Coreano From Uljin Abstração geométrica

Yoo Youngkuk

Nascido em 1916 na cidade costeira de Uljin, na Coreia do Sul, sua jornada artística foi de exploração incansável e dedicação inabalável para forjar uma nova linguagem visual para uma nação que lutava com sua identidade e modernidade. O caminho de Yoo rumo à abstração começou com seu treinamento formal na Universidade Bunka Gakuin, em Tóquio, onde se graduou no departamento de pintura a óleo em 1938.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

5of 17

Douglas Abdell nascido(a) em 1947

American From Boston Contemporary sculpture

Douglas Abdell

Douglas Abdell, born in Boston in 1947, is a sculptor whose work resonates with the weight of history, the echoes of ancient languages, and the complex political currents of the Mediterranean world. His journey as an artist began with formal training at Syracuse University, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in sculpture in 1970.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

6of 17

Margaret Alexandra Luke 1901–1967

Canadian From Montreal Abstract art, Painters Eleven

Margaret Alexandra Luke

Birth and Background: Luke was born on May 14, 1901, in Montreal. Influences: Early influences included local artists Dorothy Van Luven and Dorothy Henderson, who encouraged her exploration of different styles and techniques.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

7of 17

Gheorghe Șaru 1920–2003

Romanian From Călinesti Abstract Modernist

Gheorghe Șaru

Gheorghe Șaru, known to many as George Saru, was a painter whose life and work served as a bridge between the rich traditions of Romanian folk art and the experimental frontiers of European modernism. Born on February 29, 1920, in Checea, Romania, his journey began in a landscape shaped by post-war austerity, yet his artistic vision remained remarkably expansive.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

8of 17

Bob Brighton 1936–2017

British Geometric squares

Bob Brighton

Born in 1936 in Hastings, East Sussex, his early life was rooted in the practicalities of carpentry – a trade he learned from his father, a skilled craftsman. The reductive aesthetic of Piet Mondrian, with its emphasis on primary colors and orthogonal lines, undoubtedly played a significant role in shaping his approach to composition.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

9of 17

Karl Schmid 1914–1998

From Zurique

Karl Schmid

Nascido em Zurique, em 1914, seus primeiros anos foram sombreados por tragédies pessoais e instabilidade; a perda de seu pai durante a Grande Guerra e as complexas lutas de saúde mental de sua mãe criaram um ambiente que exigia uma resiliência imensa. Foi aqui que ele transitou pelas órbitas de gigantes como Oskar Kokoschka e Ernst Ludwig Kirchner.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

11of 17

Thiago Boecan

Brazilian ['Neo-Figurative Art', 'Abstract Art']

Thiago Boecan

Thiago Morales Boemeke, known as Thiago Boecan, is a rising figure in the Brazilian contemporary art scene, captivating audiences with his exploration of emptiness and the human form. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1995, Boecan’s artistic journey began with a formal education at Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado, followed by a degree in Graphic Design from Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

12of 17

David Kakabadze 1889–1952

Georgian From Tbilisi Avant-garde, Cubism On Wikipedia in 9 of 32 languages

David Kakabadze

David Kakabadze, born in the village of Kukhi near Khoni, Georgia, in 1889, stands as a pivotal figure in the development of twentieth-century Georgian art. Following a brief period teaching and painting in Tbilisi, Kakabadze embarked on a transformative chapter of his life in Paris from 1919 to 1927.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works · David Kakabadze reproductions

13of 17

Andrzej Nowacki nascido(a) em 1953

Polish From Rabka-Zdrój Op Art, Concrete Art On Wikipedia in 5 of 32 languages

Andrzej Nowacki

A restless spirit led him to pursue higher education abroad, initially studying Scandinavian languages at the University of Gothenburg before shifting his focus to Art History at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. The Polish Constructivist Spark and European Dialogue The 1980s marked a turning point for Nowacki, as he discovered the powerful aesthetic of Polish Constructivism.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

14of 17

Victor Servranckx 1897–1965

Belgian From Diegem Abstract, Cubism, Constructivism, Surrealism On Wikipedia in 3 of 32 languages

Victor Servranckx

Servranckx’s formal artistic education began at the Brussels Royal Academy of Fine Arts from 1913 to 1917. It was during this period that he encountered René Magritte, a relationship that proved profoundly influential.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

15of 17

Charles Gibbons nascido(a) em 1957

Canadense From Zimbábue Expressionismo Abstrato On Wikipedia in 2 of 32 languages

Charles Gibbons

Charles Gibbons, um artista canadense nascido em 1957, tem causado grande impacto no mundo da arte com suas cativantes obras do expressionismo abstrato. A obra de Gibbons é caracterizada por pinceladas audaciosas, uma paleta de cores vibrante e uma mistura eclética de texturas. Seu estilo, embora abstrato, parece estar profundamente enraizado nos princípios do expressionismo abstrato, um movimento que emergiio na década de 1940.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

16of 17

John Hoyland 1934–2011

From Sheffield On Wikipedia in 3 of 32 languages

John Hoyland

Sua primeira exposição individual na Marlborough New London Gallery, em 1964, foi seguida por uma importante mostra de museu na Whitechapel Art Gallery em 1967, curada por Bryan Robertson. Em 1969, alcançou reconhecimento internacional ao representar a Grã-Bretanha ao lado de Anthony Caro na Bienal de São Paulo, no Brasil.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

Pictures worth knowing

Famous Abstract Art works to recognise

  1. De tio största, n° 2 Barnaaldern, de Hilma Af Klint

    De tio största, n° 2 Barnaaldern

    Hilma Af Klint

    1907

  2. Plumen, de Johannes Itten

    Plumen

    Johannes Itten

    1957

  3. The Kiss, de Constantin Brâncuși

    The Kiss

    Constantin Brâncuși

    1912

  4. Mountain, de Yoo Youngkuk

    Mountain

    Yoo Youngkuk

    1968

  5. Diamond = Mirror x K, de Douglas Abdell

    Diamond = Mirror x K

    Douglas Abdell

    1989

  6. From Beginningless Time, de Margaret Alexandra Luke

    From Beginningless Time

    Margaret Alexandra Luke

    1961 · The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa

  7. Stackables, de Gheorghe Șaru

    Stackables

    Gheorghe Șaru

    1999

  8. Four, de Bob Brighton

    Four

    Bob Brighton

    1996

When it happened

Abstract Art, step by step

  1. 1907
    De tio största, n° 2 Barnaaldern, de Hilma Af Klint
    De tio största, n° 2 BarnaaldernHilma Af Klint
  2. 1912
    The Kiss, de Constantin Brâncuși
    The KissConstantin Brâncuși
  3. 1921
    Bretagne, de David Kakabadze
    BretagneDavid Kakabadze
  4. 1921
    Opus 1, de Victor Servranckx
    Opus 1Victor Servranckx
  5. 1932
    Still life, de Aldo Bonadei
    Still lifeAldo Bonadei
  6. 1957
    Plumen, de Johannes Itten
    PlumenJohannes Itten
  7. 1961
    From Beginningless Time, de Margaret Alexandra Luke
    From Beginningless TimeMargaret Alexandra Luke
  8. 1962
    Application, de Karlo Zvirynskyi
    ApplicationKarlo Zvirynskyi
  9. 1968
    Mountain, de Yoo Youngkuk
    MountainYoo Youngkuk
  10. 1986
    Untitled Poitn of view 1, de Karl Schmid
    Untitled Poitn of view 1Karl Schmid
  11. 1989
    Diamond = Mirror x K, de Douglas Abdell
    Diamond = Mirror x KDouglas Abdell
  12. 1989
    Italian Etchings La Manga, de John Hoyland
    Italian Etchings La MangaJohn Hoyland
  13. 1996
    Four, de Bob Brighton
    FourBob Brighton
  14. 1999
    Stackables, de Gheorghe Șaru
    StackablesGheorghe Șaru

Fun figures

The numbers behind the list

País de origem
Suíça2
Suécia1
Romênia1
Coreia do Sul1
United States of America1
Canada1
Romania1
Ukraine1
Década de nascimento
1860s1
1870s1
1880s2
1890s1
1900s2
1910s2
1920s2
1930s2
1940s1
1950s2
Museus que detêm suas obras principais
MoMA - Museu de Arte Moderna1
National Gallery of Art1
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery1
Sheffield Central Library1
USI Università della Svizzera italiana1
Palácio da Arte da Geórgia - Museu de História Cultural1
Centre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu1
Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp1

Just the names

List of 17 famous Abstract Art artistas to know

  1. 1Hilma Af KlintHilma Af KlintSueca · 1862–1944
  2. 2Johannes IttenJohannes IttenSuíça · 1888–1967
  3. 3Constantin BrâncușiConstantin Brâncuși1876–1957
  4. 4Yoo YoungkukYoo YoungkukCoreano · 1916–2002
  5. 5Douglas AbdellDouglas AbdellAmerican · nascido(a) em 1947
  6. 6Margaret Alexandra LukeMargaret Alexandra LukeCanadian · 1901–1967
  7. 7Gheorghe ȘaruGheorghe ȘaruRomanian · 1920–2003
  8. 8Bob BrightonBob BrightonBritish · 1936–2017
  9. 9Karl SchmidKarl Schmid1914–1998
  10. 10Karlo ZvirynskyiKarlo ZvirynskyiUkrainian · 1923–1997
  11. 11Thiago BoecanThiago BoecanBrazilian ·
  12. 12David KakabadzeDavid KakabadzeGeorgian · 1889–1952
  13. 13Andrzej NowackiAndrzej NowackiPolish · nascido(a) em 1953
  14. 14Victor ServranckxVictor ServranckxBelgian · 1897–1965
  15. 15Charles GibbonsCharles GibbonsCanadense · nascido(a) em 1957
  16. 16John HoylandJohn Hoyland1934–2011
  17. 17Aldo BonadeiAldo Bonadei1906–1974

Good questions

What people ask about Abstract Art

  • Who is the most famous Abstract Art artista?

    Hilma Af Klint (#1) is first in this ranking, followed by Johannes Itten (#2) and Constantin Brâncuși (#3).

  • Who are the 5 most famous Abstract Art artistas?

    Hilma Af Klint (#1), Johannes Itten (#2), Constantin Brâncuși (#3), Yoo Youngkuk (#4) e Douglas Abdell (#5).

  • Who are the most famous living Abstract Art artistas?

    The highest-ranked living artistas in this list are Douglas Abdell (#5), Andrzej Nowacki (#13) e Charles Gibbons (#15).

  • Where are the great works of Abstract Art today?

    The museums holding the most key works of this list are MoMA - Museu de Arte Moderna (1), National Gallery of Art (1) e The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (1).

  • When were most Abstract Art artistas born?

    Most artistas in this list were born in the 1880s (2 of 17), between 1862 and 1957 overall.

  • What techniques did Abstract Art artistas use?

    “He theorized seven distinct types of color contrast – hue, value, temperature, complements (neutralization), simultaneous contrast, saturation, and extension—and devised a series of exercises designed to unlock an intuitive understanding of these principles.” — from our biography of Johannes Itten (#2).

  • Which country produced the most Abstract Art artistas?

    Suíça: 2 of the 17 artistas in this list were born there, then Suécia (1) e Romênia (1).

  • Who was the first Abstract Art artista?

    The earliest-born artista in this list is Hilma Af Klint (#1), born in 1862.

  • Which women Abstract Art artistas are the most famous?

    2 women are in this ranking: Hilma Af Klint (#1) e Margaret Alexandra Luke (#6).

  • Can I order a painting by a famous Abstract Art artista?

    Our catalogue holds 390 works by these artistas.

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