The Abstract Art names to know

Famous Abstract Art Umeleckí tvorcovia: Our Top 17

If you remember one Abstract Art umelec, make it Hilma Af Klint (1862–1944), the name behind They tens mainstay IV a De tio största, n° 2 Barnaaldern. After that come Johannes Itten, Constantin Brâncuși, Yoo Youngkuk a 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. They tens mainstay IV od Hilma Af Klint1Hilma Af Klint
  2. Plumen od Johannes Itten2Johannes Itten
  3. Bird in Space od Constantin Brâncuși3Constantin Brâncuși

Quick facts

Abstract Art in a nutshell

  • 17Umeleckí tvorcovia
  • 1862–1957Roky narodenia
  • 14Krajiny narodenia
  • 2Ženy
  • 3Živí umelci
  • 390Diela v našom katalógu
Mestá s najvyšším počtom narodených detí
Solna (1), Suedern Linden (1), Hădărămaș (1), Ulčín (1)
Múzeá s najväčším počtom kľúčových diel
Maritime Museum (1), National Gallery of Art (1), MoMA - Museum of Modern Art (1), The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (1)
Ženy na tomto zozname
Hilma Af Klint, Margaret Alexandra Luke

Meet them one by one

The 17 famous Abstract Art umelci, from most famous down

1of 17

Hilma Af Klint 1862–1944

Švédska From Solna Abstraktné umenie, Spiritualizmus On Wikipedia in 24 of 32 languages

Hilma Af Klint

Hilma af Klint, švédska umelkyňa narodzená v Solne v roku 1862, zostáva jednou z najpútavejších a historicky najvýznamnejších postáv, ktoré sa vynikli na úsvite abstraktného umenia. Dnes je Hilma af Klint oslavovaná ako pionierka, objaviteľka vnútorných svetov, ktorej živé a symbolické plátna predchádzajú známejším abstrakciám Kandinského, Mondriana či Maleviča.

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

2of 17

Johannes Itten 1888–1967

Švajcára From Suedern Linden Výtvarné umenie, 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

Rumun From Hădărămaș Modernizmus

Constantin Brâncuși

Narodený v roku 1876 v rumunskej Hădărămaș, Brâncuși sa vydal na výnimočnú cestu z prostých začiatkov až k pozícii jedného z najvýznamnejších inovátorov abstraktného umenia. Trajektória Brâncušiho kariéry prešla hlbokou transformáciou počas jeho pôsobenia v Paríži medzi rokmi 1906 a 1914. Ponorený do rozkvitajúcej avantgardnej scény, vstúpil do dialógu s pulzujúcou energiou École de Paris, čo ho pohlo v smere k čoraz reduktívnejším formám.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

4of 17

Yoo Youngkuk 1916–2002

Južnohorský From Ulčín Abstraktné umielenskosť

Yoo Youngkuk

Narodený v roku 1916 v pobrežnom mestečku Uljin v Južnej Kórei, prežíval svoju umeleckú cestu ako neustále hľadanie a neochvakiteľnú oddanososť k vytvoreniu nového vizuálneho jazyka pre národ zápasujúci s identitou a modernou. Yooova cesta k abstrakcii začala formálnym tréningom na univerzite Bunka Gakuin v Tokiu, kde v roku 1938 úspešne absolvoval odbor olejomaľby.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

5of 17

Douglas Abdell narodený 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

Švajčiarsky From Zürich Konštruktivizmus

Karl Schmid

Narodený v Zürichu v roku 1914, jeho rané roky boli sprevádzané osobnou tragédiou a nestabilitou; strata otca počas Veľkej vojny a zložitý boj jeho matky s duševným zdravím vytvorili prostredie, ktoré si vyžadovalo nesmiernu odolnosť. Práve tu sa pohyboval v orbitách velikánov, akými boli Oskar Kokoschka a 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

Georgiaanský From Kutaisi Avant-garde, Kubizmus On Wikipedia in 9 of 32 languages

David Kakabadze

David Kakabadze (1889 - 1952) predstavuje jednu z najvýznamnejších postav georgianskej avantgardy, umeleckého smeru, ktorý zásadne ovplyvnil slovanský umenie prvého poloviska القرن XX. Narodil sa v obci Kukhi blízko mesta Khoni, Georgia, v roku 1889. Po krátkom pôsobiacom období učiteľstva a maľby v Tbilisi vycestoval Kakabadze v roku 1919 do Paríža, kde žil až do roku 1927.

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

13of 17

Andrej Novacki narodený 1953

Poľský From Rabka-Zdrój Op Art, Konkrétna umelecká tvorba On Wikipedia in 5 of 32 languages

Andrej Novacki

Andrzej Nowacki, born in 1953, a remarkable figure of Polish Abstract Art and Op Art, resides currently in Berlin. A restless spirit propelled him to pursue higher education abroad, initially delving into Scandinavian languages at Gothenburg University before pivoting towards Art History at Innsbruck, Austria – a dual intellectual pursuit that profoundly influenced his artistic vision.

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 narodený 1957

Kanadský From Zimbabwe Abstraktný expresionizmus On Wikipedia in 2 of 32 languages

Charles Gibbons

Charles Gibbons, kanadský umelec narodený v roku 1957, vyvoláva v umeleckom svete vlny svojimi pútavými dechavými dielami v štýle abstraktného expresionizmu. Hoci sú konkrétne detaily o jeho výstavách vzácne, Gibbonsova práca je dostupná na rôznych online platformách, vrátane stránky Charles Gibbons na AllPaintingsStore.com, ktorá prezentuje výber jeho abstraktno-expresionistických diel. Keďže sa svet umenia neustále vyvíja, bude fascinujúce sledovať, ako sa Gibbonsov štýl prispôsobí novým trendom a vplyvom.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

16of 17

John Hoyland 1934–2011

Britská From Sheffield Abstraktný expresionizmus On Wikipedia in 3 of 32 languages

John Hoyland

Po jeho prvej sólovej výstavbe v Marlborough New London Gallery v roku 1964 nasledovala významná múzeálna výstava v Whitechapel Art Gallery v roku 1967, ktorú kurátoroval Bryan Robertson. V roku 1969 dosiahol medzinárodné uznanie predstavovaním Veľkej Británie spolu s Anthonym Carom na São Paulo Biennale v Brazílii. 70. roky priniesli zmenu v jeho technike; jeho maľby sa stali textúrovanejšími, keď experimentoval s impastom a rôznymi materiálmi.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

17of 17

Aldo Cláudio Felipe Bonadei 1906–1974

Brazílsky From São Paulo Abstraktné maľovanie, Grupo Santa Helena On Wikipedia in 3 of 32 languages

Aldo Cláudio Felipe Bonadei

aldo cláudio felipe bonadei, uznávaný brazílsky maliar talianskeho pôvodu, sa narodil 17. júna 1906 v meste são paulo v Brazílii. V období medzi rokmi 1923 a 1928 Aldo študoval pod vedením váženého brazílskho akademického maliara pedra alexandrina a pravidelne navštevoval ateliéry talianskych umelcov, medzi nich antonia rocca a amadea scavone.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

Pictures worth knowing

Famous Abstract Art works to recognise

  1. They tens mainstay IV od Hilma Af Klint

    They tens mainstay IV

    Hilma Af Klint

    1907

  2. Plumen od Johannes Itten

    Plumen

    Johannes Itten

    1957

  3. Bird in Space od Constantin Brâncuși

    Bird in Space

    Constantin Brâncuși

    1923 · National Gallery of Art, Washington

  4. Mountain od Yoo Youngkuk

    Mountain

    Yoo Youngkuk

    1968

  5. Diamond = Mirror x K od Douglas Abdell

    Diamond = Mirror x K

    Douglas Abdell

    1989

  6. From Beginningless Time od Margaret Alexandra Luke

    From Beginningless Time

    Margaret Alexandra Luke

    1961 · The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa

  7. Stackables od Gheorghe Șaru

    Stackables

    Gheorghe Șaru

    1999

  8. Four od Bob Brighton

    Four

    Bob Brighton

    1996

When it happened

Abstract Art, step by step

  1. 1907
    They tens mainstay IV od Hilma Af Klint
    They tens mainstay IVHilma Af Klint
  2. 1920
    Paris od David Kakabadze
    ParisDavid Kakabadze
  3. 1921
    Opus 1 od Victor Servranckx
    Opus 1Victor Servranckx
  4. 1923
    Bird in Space od Constantin Brâncuși
    Bird in SpaceConstantin Brâncuși
  5. 1955
    Church od Aldo Cláudio Felipe Bonadei
    ChurchAldo Cláudio Felipe Bonadei
  6. 1957
    Plumen od Johannes Itten
    PlumenJohannes Itten
  7. 1961
    From Beginningless Time od Margaret Alexandra Luke
    From Beginningless TimeMargaret Alexandra Luke
  8. 1962
    Application od Karlo Zvirynskyi
    ApplicationKarlo Zvirynskyi
  9. 1968
    Mountain od Yoo Youngkuk
    MountainYoo Youngkuk
  10. 1989
    Diamond = Mirror x K od Douglas Abdell
    Diamond = Mirror x KDouglas Abdell
  11. 1989
    Untitled Side 1 od Karl Schmid
    Untitled Side 1Karl Schmid
  12. 1989
    Italian Etchings La Manga od John Hoyland
    Italian Etchings La MangaJohn Hoyland
  13. 1996
    Four od Bob Brighton
    FourBob Brighton
  14. 1999
    Stackables od Gheorghe Șaru
    StackablesGheorghe Șaru

Fun figures

The numbers behind the list

Krajina narodenia
Švajčiarsko2
Švédsko1
Rumsko1
Južná Korea1
United States of America1
Canada1
Romania1
Ukraine1
Rok narodenia
1860s1
1870s1
1880s2
1890s1
1900s2
1910s2
1920s2
1930s2
1940s1
1950s2
Múzeá, v ktorých sa nachádzajú ich kľúčové diela
Maritime Museum1
National Gallery of Art1
MoMA - Museum of Modern Art1
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery1
Sheffield Central Library1
USI Università della Svizzera italiana1
Art Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History1
Centre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu1

Just the names

List of 17 famous Abstract Art umelci to know

  1. 1Hilma Af KlintHilma Af KlintŠvédska · 1862–1944
  2. 2Johannes IttenJohannes IttenŠvajcára · 1888–1967
  3. 3Constantin BrâncușiConstantin BrâncușiRumun · 1876–1957
  4. 4Yoo YoungkukYoo YoungkukJužnohorský · 1916–2002
  5. 5Douglas AbdellDouglas AbdellAmerican · narodený 1947
  6. 6Margaret Alexandra LukeMargaret Alexandra LukeCanadian · 1901–1967
  7. 7Gheorghe ȘaruGheorghe ȘaruRomanian · 1920–2003
  8. 8Bob BrightonBob BrightonBritish · 1936–2017
  9. 9Karl SchmidKarl SchmidŠvajčiarsky · 1914–1998
  10. 10Karlo ZvirynskyiKarlo ZvirynskyiUkrainian · 1923–1997
  11. 11Thiago BoecanThiago BoecanBrazilian ·
  12. 12David KakabadzeDavid KakabadzeGeorgiaanský · 1889–1952
  13. 13Andrej NovackiAndrej NovackiPoľský · narodený 1953
  14. 14Victor ServranckxVictor ServranckxBelgian · 1897–1965
  15. 15Charles GibbonsCharles GibbonsKanadský · narodený 1957
  16. 16John HoylandJohn HoylandBritská · 1934–2011
  17. 17Aldo Cláudio Felipe BonadeiAldo Cláudio Felipe BonadeiBrazílsky · 1906–1974

Good questions

What people ask about Abstract Art

  • Who is the most famous Abstract Art umelec?

    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 umelci?

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

  • Who are the most famous living Abstract Art umelci?

    The highest-ranked living umelci in this list are Douglas Abdell (#5), Andrej Novacki (#13) a Charles Gibbons (#15).

  • Where are the great works of Abstract Art today?

    The museums holding the most key works of this list are Maritime Museum (1), National Gallery of Art (1) a MoMA - Museum of Modern Art (1).

  • When were most Abstract Art umelci born?

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

  • What techniques did Abstract Art umelci 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 umelci?

    Švajčiarsko: 2 of the 17 umelci in this list were born there, then Švédsko (1) a Rumsko (1).

  • Who was the first Abstract Art umelec?

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

  • Which women Abstract Art umelci are the most famous?

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

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

    Our catalogue holds 390 works by these umelci.

Read more

More stories on ArtsDot.com

Geometric Rigor and Spatial Tension: Neo-Abstract Art in Modern Interior CurationTop 10 Abstract Art Masterpieces That Redefined Modern ExpressionBeyond Reality: Investigating the Emotional Resonance of Abstract ArtDesigning Your Forever Space: An Expert Guide to Elevating Your New Home with Neo-Abstract Art

Other styles

Famous artists of other styles

Nočná hliadka od RembrandtSlávni umelci BaroqueNočná hliadka · RembrandtZberičky od Jean-François MilletSlávni umelci Contemporary RealistZberičky · Jean-François MilletHviezdičná noc (New York, MoMA) od Vincent Van GoghSlávni umelci ImpressionistHviezdičná noc (New York, MoMA) · Vincent Van GoghSaturn požierajúci svojho syna od Francisco GoyaSlávni umelci RomanticistSaturn požierajúci svojho syna · Francisco GoyaSmrť Marata od Jacques-Louis DavidSlávni umelci NeoclassicistSmrť Marata · Jacques-Louis DavidPôvod sveta od Gustave CourbetSlávni umelci RealistPôvod sveta · Gustave CourbetMona Lisa (La Gioconda) od Leonardo Da VinciSlávni umelci RenaissanceMona Lisa (La Gioconda) · Leonardo Da VinciJohannes Vermeer od Jan VermeerSlávni umelci Dutch Golden AgeJohannes Vermeer · Jan VermeerKompozícia VII od Vasilij KandinskijSlávni umelci ExpressionistKompozícia VII · Vasilij KandinskijOdplavenie na Cytheru od Antoine WatteauSlávni umelci RococoOdplavenie na Cytheru · Antoine Watteau

Other eras

Famous artists of other eras

Snowy River od Wang WeiSlávni umelci Early MedievalSnowy River · Wang WeiMadonna v Majestáte (Ognissanti Madonna) od Giotto Di BondoneSlávni umelci High MedievalMadonna v Majestáte (Ognissanti Madonna) · Giotto Di BondoneVozznosť a dvaja svätí od Simone MartiniSlávni umelci Late MedievalVozznosť a dvaja svätí · Simone MartiniStvorenie Adama od Michelangelo BuonarrotiSlávni umelci RenaissanceStvorenie Adama · Michelangelo BuonarrotiVolanie svätého Matúša od Michelangelo Merisi da CaravaggioSlávni umelci Early ModernVolanie svätého Matúša · Michelangelo Merisi da CaravaggioVodné ľalie (alebo Lekienky) od Claude MonetSlávni umelci 19th CenturyVodné ľalie (alebo Lekienky) · Claude MonetGuernica od Pablo PicassoSlávni umelci ModernGuernica · Pablo PicassoWind Sculpture III (one in a series of nine) od Yinka ShonibareSlávni umelci ContemporaryWind Sculpture III (one in a series of nine) · Yinka Shonibare

Keep exploring

Where to go next

100 najznámejších umelcov všetkých čias 100 najznámejších obrazov všetkých čias Top 100 umelcov podľa smerov