Abstract Figurative Painting Trend Spotlight

Abstract figurative painting trend – artwork that blends elements of abstraction with recognizable figures – has undergone a remarkable journey in the art world. Long viewed as unfashionable during the height of modernist abstraction, this hybrid style has resurged to captivate collectors and enthusiasts alike. In recent decades, abstract figurative works have moved from the margins to the spotlight, raising the question: when did these paintings become popular with collectors, and does their momentum continue to grow?

This article traces the key historical milestones that boosted abstract figurative painting’s popularity, examines art market data on sales and institutional interest, highlights notable artists and the evolution of their market value, and assesses whether this is a lasting movement or a passing trend.

Historical Milestones in Popularity

For much of the 20th century, figurative painting (art depicting the human figure or real-world references) took a backseat to pure abstraction in critical and market favor. The advent of avant-garde abstract art had a hindering effect on the popularity of traditional figurative art in the mid-1900s. By the post-war era, artists who insisted on painting the figure were often overshadowed by abstract expressionists – yet a few persisted in merging figures with abstraction (e.g. Willem de Kooning’s Woman series in the 1950s).

The 1980s – Neo-Expressionism’s Boom

Painting made a loud comeback in the 1980s through Neo-Expressionism, a movement that reintroduced bold figurative imagery with loose, expressive technique. This era was painting’s “last big hurrah” for a time, as a roaring art market fueled the brash brushwork and swagger of Neo-Expressionism, until leading critics once again pronounced painting’s death by decade’s end. Star figurative painters of that boom – from Julian Schnabel and Jean-Michel Basquiat in New York to Georg Baselitz in Germany – became art-market darlings. (Basquiat’s work from this period would decades later command some of the highest prices ever, as discussed below.) Yet by the early 1990s, the pendulum swung back; conceptual art and minimalism took center stage, and many figurative painters fell out of vogue.

Early 2000s – Signs of Revival

After a lull in the 1990s, abstract figurative painting quietly began regaining traction. In 2002, the Centre Pompidou in Paris staged a telling exhibition titled “Dear Painter, Paint Me… Painting the Figure Since Late Picabia,” signaling renewed institutional interest in figurative imagery. Around the same time, young painters like John Currin, Elizabeth Peyton, and George Condo garnered buzz by putting a contemporary twist on figurative traditions.

Famed collector Charles Saatchi also threw his weight behind painting: his 2005 “Triumph of Painting” exhibitions in London showcased contemporary painters (such as Marlene Dumas, Peter Doig, Luc Tuymans, and Dexter Dalwood), many of whom worked with figures or representational elements. These milestones suggested that, after decades dominated by abstraction and conceptualism, the figure was creeping back into prominence.

Mid-2010s – The Triumphant Return

The real tipping point came in the mid-2010s, when a critical mass of new figurative painters emerged and the art establishment took notice. In the fall of 2015, MoMA PS1’s Greater New York show – a survey of up-and-coming artists – opened with a conspicuous number of young figurative painters. The response was electric: one art outlet gleefully declared, “The figure is back, baby!”. Only days later at London’s Frieze Art Fair, The New York Times echoed with a headline trumpeting “The Triumphant Return of Figurative Art.” Major dealers were quick to capitalize on the zeitgeist.

In December 2015, mega-gallerists Jeffrey Deitch and Larry Gagosian collaborated on a splashy exhibition during Art Basel Miami Beach titled “Unrealism,” devoted entirely to figurative painting and sculpture. This show notably paired “old hands” like 1980s veteran Marlene Dumas with “rising stars like Mira Dancy” – effectively bridging generations and signaling that figuration was both historically important and newly cool. Reports of painting’s demise, to paraphrase Mark Twain, were clearly exaggerated.

From that point on, abstract figurative painting firmly re-entered the mainstream. The late 2010s saw additional validation, including major museum exhibitions and institutional acquisitions that cemented its place within contemporary art.

Art Market Insights

The art market data tells the same story of surging interest in figurative painting – especially works that marry figurative content with contemporary abstraction or expressionist style. Looking at auction trends, one finds a dramatic upswing in both the volume and value of figurative works sold over roughly the past 15 years.

Notable Auction Records

• Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled (1982) sold for $110.5 million at Sotheby’s in 2017, setting a record for an American artist.
• Jenny Saville’s Propped (1992) sold for $12.4 million in 2018, making her the most expensive living female artist.
• Adrian Ghenie’s Nickelodeon (2008) sold for £7.1 million ($9 million) in 2016, highlighting the immense demand for contemporary figurative painters.

Beyond auctions, gallery sales and institutional acquisitions provide further evidence of momentum. Many top-tier galleries that traditionally focused on abstract or conceptual art have in recent years signed leading figurative painters to their rosters – a sign that they see sustained collector interest.

Is This a Lasting Movement or a Passing Trend?

While figurative painting has had cycles of popularity before, the current wave appears more sustainable due to:

• Institutional Endorsement: Museums have actively acquired and exhibited contemporary figurative works, validating their importance.
• Market Strength: The volume of sales and rising price points suggest that demand is not waning.
• Cultural Relevance: In an era focused on identity, representation, and narrative, abstract figurative works feel especially resonant.

The Risi of Abstract Figurative Painting’s Trends

Abstract figurative painting’s rise from underdog to star player appears to be more than a fleeting trend – it represents a genuine realignment in contemporary art. The timeline of milestones – from the early 2000s reawakening, to the mid-2010s “return of the figure,” to record-breaking sales and major exhibitions – shows a trajectory of increasing momentum. Collectors today continue to acquire abstract figurative works not just as investments but out of a passion for the way these paintings fuse visual excitement with human storytelling. That combination has proven deeply compelling, and its enduring presence in museums, galleries, and auction houses suggests it is here to stay.

References and Further Reading:

• https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-why-figurative-painting-dominating-art-market
• https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/the-rise-of-figurative-painting-in-contemporary-art
• https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/29/arts/design/the-triumphant-return-of-figurative-art.html
• https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2020/02/20/how-figurative-art-made-a-comeback-in-the-21st-century
• https://www.frieze.com/article/painting-triumphant-figurative-resurgence
• https://www.christies.com/features/figurative-art-market-trends-2021-11899-1.aspx