The Abstract Art names to know

Famous Abstract Art Umetniki: Our Top 17

If you remember one Abstract Art umetnik, make it Hilma Af Klint (1862–1944), the name behind De tio största, n° 2 Barnaaldern in Altarpiece No. 1, Group X. After that come Johannes Itten, Constantin Brâncuși, Yoo Youngkuk in Douglas Abdell. Our 17 picks go from Hilma Af Klint (born 1862) to Charles Gibbons (born 1957), from 15 countries.

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 avtorja Hilma Af Klint1Hilma Af Klint
  2. Plumen avtorja Johannes Itten2Johannes Itten
  3. The Kiss avtorja Constantin Brâncuși3Constantin Brâncuși

Quick facts

Abstract Art in a nutshell

  • 17Umetniki
  • 1862–1957Leto rojstva
  • 15Zemlje rojstva
  • 2Ženske
  • 3Živujoči umetniki
  • 390Delo v našem katalogu
Mestov z največim številom novorojenčev
Solna (1), Wachseldorn (1), Hădărămaș (1), Uljin (1)
Muzeji z največ najpomembnejših del**
MAM Rio (1), MoMA - Muzej moderne umetnosti (1), The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (1), Sheffield Central Library (1)

Meet them one by one

The 17 famous Abstract Art umetniki, from most famous down

1of 17

Hilma Af Klint

Švedska From Solna Abstraktna slikarstvo, Spiritizem On Wikipedia in 24 of 32 languages

Hilma Af Klint

Hilma af Klint, švedska umetnica, rojena v Solni leta 1862, ostaja ena najbolj očarljujočih in zgodovinsko pomembnih postaci, ki so izstopile ob svitanju abstrakte umetnosti. Danes je af Klint slavljena kot pionirka, raziskovalka notranjih svetov, katere vibrantna in simbolna platna predvarirajo bolj znane abstrakcije Kandinskega, Mondriana in Maleviča.

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

2of 17

Johannes Itten

Švicar From Wachseldorn Ekspresionizem, Bauhaus On Wikipedia in 21 of 32 languages

Johannes Itten

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. Itten's arrival at Walter Gropius’ newly founded Bauhaus in Weimar in 1919 marked a turning point not only in his career but also in the history of art education.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

3of 17

Constantin Brâncuși

Rumunski From Hădărămaș Modernizem

Constantin Brâncuși

Constantin Brâncuși stoji kot monumentalna figura v zgodovini moderne kiparstva, po svetu prepoznan zaradi svojega revolucionarnega pristopa k obliki in neomajne predanosti izvlačenju umetniškega izražanja v njegovo najčistejše bistvo. Rodjen leta 1876 v Hădărămașu v Romuniji, se je Brâncuși odpravil na izjemno pot od skromnih začetkov do vstopa med najpomembnejše inovatorje abstrakcije. Pot Brâncušijeve kariere se je močno spremenila med njegovim časom v Parizu med letoma 1906 in 1914.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

4of 17

Yoo Youngkuk

Korejczyk From Uljin Abstraktna slikarstvo

Yoo Youngkuk

Rodjen leta 1916 v obalnem mestu Uljin v Južni Koreji, je njegova umetniška pot predstavljala neustavljivo raziskovanje in neomajno predanost oblikovanju novega vizualnega jezika za narod, ki se je soočal z iskanjem identitete in modernizacijo. Yoo-jeva pot proti abstrakciji se je začela s formalno izobrazbo na univerzi Bunka Gakuin v Tokiu, kjer je leta 1938 diplomiral na oddelku za oljarstvo.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

5of 17

Douglas Abdell

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

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

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

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

Švizer From Zürih Konstruktivizem

Karl Schmid

Rodjen v Zürichu leta 1914, so njegove zgodnje leta prežele sence osebne tragedije in nestabilnosti; izguba očeta med Veliko vojno in zapletene težave z duševnim zdravjem njegove matere so ustvarili okolje, ki je zahteval neizmerno odpornost. Prav tukaj se je gibal v orbitah gigantov, kot sta Oskar Kokoschka in 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

Gruzijec From Kutaisi Avantgarda, kubizem On Wikipedia in 9 of 32 languages

David Kakabadze

David Kakabadze, rojen leta 1889 v gruzijski vasi Kukhi blizu Khonija, predstavlja ključno osebnost v razvoju gruzijske umetnosti dvokratnega stoletja. Njegovo zgodnje življenje, čeprav ukorenjeno v preprostosti kmetni družine, je zaznamovala intelektualna radovednost, ki jo je spodbudilo šponzorstvo, kar mu je omogočilo študij na Univerzi v Sankt Peterburgu, kjer je leta 1916 diplomiral iz naravoslovja.

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

13of 17

Andrzej Nowacki

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. He was awarded a private scholarship in West Orange, New Jersey, in 1994, providing him with the opportunity to further develop his artistic practice.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

14of 17

Victor Servranckx

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

Kanadski From Zimbabve Abstraktni ekspresionizem On Wikipedia in 2 of 32 languages

Charles Gibbons

Charles Gibbons, kanadski umetnik rojen leta 1957, s svojimi čarobnimi abstrakcionističnimi deli ustvarja valove v umetniškem svetu. Čeprav je podatkov o njegovem zgodnjem življenju malo, je jasno, da se je njegova umetniška pot začela z nagibom k prirodni strasti do vizualnih umetnosti. Gibbonsovo del zaznamujejo drzni potezni sledi, živahna barvna paleta in eklektična mešanina tekstur.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

16of 17

John Hoyland

From Sheffield On Wikipedia in 3 of 32 languages

John Hoyland

Njegova prva samostojna razstava v Marlborough New London Gallery leta 1964 je bila dopolnjena s pomembno muzejsko izstavo v Whitechapel Art Gallery leta 1967, ki jo je kuriral Bryan Robertson.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

17of 17

Aldo Bonadei

Brazilski From São Paulo Abstraktna slikarstvo, Grupo Santa Helena On Wikipedia in 3 of 32 languages

Aldo Bonadei

Aldo Cláudio Felipe Bonadei, znameniti brazilski slikar italanskega porekla, se je rodil v São Paulu v Braziliji 17. junija 1906. Med letoma 1923 in 1928 je Aldo pridobival znanje pod okriljem spoštovanega brazilskega akademskega slikarja Pedra Alexandrina, hkrati pa je pogosto obiskoval ateljeje italijanskih slikarjev, kot sta Antonio Rocco in Amadeo Scavone.

Works to know · Their 100 best-known works

Pictures worth knowing

Famous Abstract Art works to recognise

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

    De tio största, n° 2 Barnaaldern

    Hilma Af Klint

    1907

  2. Plumen avtorja Johannes Itten

    Plumen

    Johannes Itten

    1957

  3. The Kiss avtorja Constantin Brâncuși

    The Kiss

    Constantin Brâncuși

    1912

  4. Mountain avtorja Yoo Youngkuk

    Mountain

    Yoo Youngkuk

    1968

  5. Diamond = Mirror x K avtorja Douglas Abdell

    Diamond = Mirror x K

    Douglas Abdell

    1989

  6. From Beginningless Time avtorja Margaret Alexandra Luke

    From Beginningless Time

    Margaret Alexandra Luke

    1961 · The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa

  7. Stackables avtorja Gheorghe Șaru

    Stackables

    Gheorghe Șaru

    1999

  8. Four avtorja Bob Brighton

    Four

    Bob Brighton

    1996

When it happened

Abstract Art, step by step

  1. 1907
  2. 1912
  3. 1920
  4. 1921
  5. 1955
  6. 1957
  7. 1961
  8. 1962
  9. 1968
  10. 1986
  11. 1989
  12. 1989
  13. 1996
  14. 1999

Fun figures

The numbers behind the list

Just the names

List of 17 famous Abstract Art umetniki to know

  1. 1Hilma Af KlintHilma Af KlintŠvedska · 1862–1944
  2. 2Johannes IttenJohannes IttenŠvicar · 1888–1967
  3. 3Constantin BrâncușiConstantin BrâncușiRumunski · 1876–1957
  4. 4Yoo YoungkukYoo YoungkukKorejczyk · 1916–2002
  5. 5Douglas AbdellDouglas AbdellAmerican · rojen 1947
  6. 6Margaret Alexandra LukeMargaret Alexandra LukeCanadian · 1901–1967
  7. 7Gheorghe ȘaruGheorghe ȘaruRomanian · 1920–2003
  8. 8Bob BrightonBob BrightonBritish · 1936–2017
  9. 9Karl SchmidKarl SchmidŠvizer · 1914–1998
  10. 10Karlo ZvirynskyiKarlo ZvirynskyiUkrainian · 1923–1997
  11. 11Thiago BoecanThiago BoecanBrazilian ·
  12. 12David KakabadzeDavid KakabadzeGruzijec · 1889–1952
  13. 13Andrzej NowackiAndrzej NowackiPolish · rojen 1953
  14. 14Victor ServranckxVictor ServranckxBelgian · 1897–1965
  15. 15Charles GibbonsCharles GibbonsKanadski · rojen 1957
  16. 16John HoylandJohn Hoyland1934–2011
  17. 17Aldo BonadeiAldo BonadeiBrazilski · 1906–1974

Good questions

What people ask about Abstract Art

  • Who is the most famous Abstract Art umetnik?

    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 umetniki?

  • Who are the most famous living Abstract Art umetniki?

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

  • Where are the great works of Abstract Art today?

    The museums holding the most key works of this list are MAM Rio (1), MoMA - Muzej moderne umetnosti (1) in The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (1).

  • When were most Abstract Art umetniki born?

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

  • What techniques did Abstract Art umetniki 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 umetniki?

    Švedska: 1 of the 17 umetniki in this list were born there, then Švica (1) in Romunija (1).

  • Who was the first Abstract Art umetnik?

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

  • Which women Abstract Art umetniki are the most famous?

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

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

    Our catalogue holds 390 works by these umetniki.

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