Who paints abstractly?

Abstract painting is created by artists who consciously detach themselves from the depiction of real objects, people or landscapes in order to express emotions, concepts or visual experiments. Many artists have influenced this style, and there are both historical and contemporary representatives. Here is an overview:

Famous abstract artists:

1. Wassily Kandinsky: One of the pioneers of abstract art. He saw art as an expression of inner emotions and used colors and shapes symbolically.
2. Piet Mondrian: Famous for his geometric compositions with clear lines and primary colors. His works strive for harmony and order.
3. Kazimir Malevich: Co-founder of Suprematism, known for works such as "The Black Square". He reduced art to basic shapes and colors.
4. Jackson Pollock: main representative of Abstract Expressionism. He developed the "drip painting" style, in which he allowed paint to drip spontaneously onto the canvas.
5. Mark Rothko: Known for large-format color field paintings that create emotional depth with intense areas of color.
6. Hilma af Klint: A pioneer of abstract art whose works are often spiritually and symbolically charged.

Contemporary abstract artists:

1. Gerhard Richter: Combines figurative and abstract painting. His abstract works often show dynamic layers of color.
2. Julie Mehretu: Her large-format works are complex, dynamic compositions of lines, layers and colors.
3. Sean Scully: Known for his stripe and block patterns that show an intense preoccupation with color and form.
4. Anselm Reyle: Works with industrial materials and neon colors to explore abstraction in contemporary form.

Who paints abstractly?

Abstract painting is often chosen by artists who:

• express emotions and thoughts in a non-narrative way.
• Experiment with shapes, colors and textures.
• Questioning traditional ways of presentation and looking for new ways of visual communication.

From great masters to emerging artists worldwide, abstract art remains a vibrant and diverse form of expression.

Abstract painting by Nikolaus Kriese

The works of the artist Nikolaus Kriese are characterized by the combination of naturalistic-modern and traditional views. His motifs often arise from everyday encounters with architecture, spaces, landscapes and objects. He combines color and spatial structures in such a way that each picture unites a decorative color effect with a realistic, interpretative perspective.

Nikolaus Kriese creates a unique pictorial order through the use of multicolored or monochrome surfaces and the interplay between representational and expressive elements. The clear structuring of spaces, objects and landscapes as well as the dynamic relationship between the individual picture planes allow for numerous visual interpretations.

Abstract Painting Studio Nikolaus Kriese Aufbrüche

The artist works on canvas and uses oil and acrylic paints. In many of his works, the direct handling of color becomes the defining design element. Each picture follows its own inner logic, with certain elements recurring in different creative periods and developing a serial quality. His paintings are characterized by deserted spaces - even animals are nowhere to be found.

Some of his works appear cool and distant due to their design, even if they contain plants, for example. Thematically, his painting remains diverse and open: everything from marbles in a meadow to clouds, Lego bricks, forests and house entrances can become a motif. Representational elements become central players within a naturalistic composition that unfolds an impressive presence, especially in large-format paintings.