Contemporary
Contemporary Art
Bold, modern art curated for today's interiors.
Discover Contemporary Art for Modern Living
Contemporary art brings a fresh perspective to modern interiors. It gives artists the freedom to explore current ideas, materials, colours, textures, and subjects without following one fixed visual style.
At Artoreal, the Contemporary collection features original artwork created by Indian artists. You'll find expressive abstract paintings, minimalist compositions, figurative works, textured pieces, and contemporary canvas art designed to bring personality to homes and workspaces.
What Does Contemporary Art Mean?
If you've ever wondered where modern art ends and contemporary art begins, you're not alone.
Modern art generally refers to art created from the late 19th century through much of the 20th century, while contemporary art refers broadly to work being created by artists today. Contemporary artists often respond to present-day experiences, including urban life, technology, identity, culture, memory, and the changing world around them.
Contemporary art isn't defined by one particular look. An abstract painting, a minimalist composition, a figurative portrait, or a mixed-media artwork can all be contemporary.
That's why Artoreal's contemporary collection includes different visual approaches while sharing one important quality: the work reflects the creative perspective of artists working today.
Explore Contemporary Art by Style
Contemporary Abstract Art
Contemporary abstract paintings use colour, texture, form, and movement without necessarily depicting a recognisable subject. They're a natural choice when you want artwork that can become the visual focus of a room while leaving space for personal interpretation.
Explore Abstract Art
Minimalist Contemporary Art
Minimalist contemporary artwork uses restrained colour palettes, open space, and simple compositions. These pieces can work particularly well in bedrooms, home offices, reading areas, and interiors where you want the artwork to complement rather than dominate the room.
Explore Minimalist Artwork
Figurative and Portrait Contemporary Art
Contemporary artists continue to explore the human figure through expressive portraits, stylised forms, and fragmented compositions. These works can add a more personal and emotional quality to a modern interior.
Explore Figurative Art
Contemporary Canvas Art
Canvas remains a popular medium for contemporary painting because it allows artists to work with colour, brushwork, and texture. Artoreal's collection includes contemporary canvas paintings in different styles and sizes, with framed and unframed options available across the collection.
Mixed Media and Textured Art
Mixed-media contemporary artwork can combine paint, texture, fabric, and other materials to create a layered surface. These pieces often reveal more detail as you view them from different distances and angles.
Geometric and Pattern-Based Art
Geometric contemporary artwork uses shapes, lines, symmetry, and structured compositions. It's a good fit for interiors with clean furniture, modern architecture, or a preference for visual order.
Contemporary Landscape and Cityscape Art
Contemporary landscape and cityscape paintings interpret familiar subjects through a current artistic lens. Instead of simply reproducing a view, artists may focus on atmosphere, colour, movement, or memory.
Contemporary Wall Art for Every Room
The right contemporary artwork can change how a room feels without requiring you to redesign the entire space.
Contemporary Art for the Living Room
The living room is a natural place for a larger contemporary painting. An abstract, mixed-media, or textured artwork can create a focal point above a sofa, console, or feature wall.
If the furniture and walls are mostly neutral, artwork with stronger colour can introduce personality. If the room already has plenty of colour and pattern, a more restrained composition may create better balance.
Contemporary Art for the Bedroom
Bedrooms usually benefit from artwork that feels calm and considered. Minimalist compositions, softer colours, and understated figurative pieces can complement a relaxing interior without making the wall feel too busy.
Contemporary Art for Home Offices and Study Areas
A home office doesn't have to feel purely functional. Geometric artwork, abstract compositions, and clean-lined contemporary paintings can add visual interest while working naturally with a focused workspace.
Contemporary Art for Corporate and Office Spaces
Contemporary artwork can give reception areas, meeting rooms, corridors, and boardrooms a more considered visual identity. Larger statement pieces can work particularly well in spaces with simple furniture and generous wall areas.
Contemporary Art for Hallways and Entryways
Entryways and hallways are often overlooked when decorating. A well-sized contemporary painting can give these spaces character and create a natural transition into the rest of the home.
Contemporary Art and Vastu Placement
If Vastu is part of your approach to home décor, contemporary artwork can still fit naturally into your space. Traditional Vastu guidance often considers the colour, placement, direction, and overall mood of artwork rather than requiring a particular artistic style.
These recommendations should be understood as traditional Vastu beliefs rather than guaranteed outcomes.
Vastu-Inspired Contemporary Art Choices
- Colour and direction: Traditional Vastu guidance commonly associates warm colours such as red, orange, and gold with the south or southeast, while blues and greens are often associated with the north or east.
- Bedrooms: Softer and calmer artwork is generally preferred for bedrooms. You may want to avoid imagery or compositions that feel dark, chaotic, or unsettling.
- North and northeast walls: These directions are traditionally associated with clarity and growth, making minimalist or geometric artwork a natural choice if you follow these principles.
- Living rooms and entryways: These areas offer more flexibility for larger or more expressive contemporary artwork.
The most important consideration is still how the artwork works with your interior and how you feel when you see it every day.
How to Choose the Right Contemporary Painting?
Choosing artwork becomes easier when you start with the space rather than the trend.
- Measure your wall
Consider the available wall width and the furniture below it. Artwork that's too small can look disconnected from the room, while an oversized piece can overwhelm a smaller space.
- Decide on the mood
Think about how you want the room to feel. Expressive abstract artwork can bring energy, while minimalist or muted pieces can create a quieter atmosphere.
- Consider the room's natural light
Bright rooms can accommodate deeper or richer colours, while darker spaces may benefit from lighter artwork or stronger contrast.
- Look at the existing colour palette
Your artwork doesn't have to match your furniture exactly. You can pick up an existing accent colour or introduce a new shade that adds interest to the room.
- Choose something you'll enjoy living with
Trends can help you discover new styles, but your personal response matters more when you're choosing artwork for your home. If a particular painting keeps catching your attention, that's worth considering.
Why Choose Original Handmade Contemporary Art?
Printed wall décor can be an accessible way to decorate a room, but original handmade artwork offers a different experience. You can see the artist's brushwork, texture, layering, and individual approach in the physical piece.
Artoreal's contemporary collection focuses on original artwork created by Indian artists. Where specified on individual product listings, artworks are available in framed and unframed formats, with delivery options for customers across India.
When you're choosing an original painting, you're selecting a physical artwork created by an individual artist rather than a mass-produced reproduction.
Buy Contemporary Art Online from Artoreal
Finding the right contemporary painting doesn't have to mean following a particular decorating formula. Start with your wall, consider the mood and colours of your room, and then explore the styles that naturally appeal to you.
Artoreal brings together contemporary artwork by Indian artists across abstract, minimalist, figurative, textured, geometric, and other styles. Explore the collection to find an original painting that feels right for your home, office, or personal space.
FAQs
What's the difference between modern and contemporary art?
Modern art generally refers to art associated with the late 19th and 20th centuries, while contemporary art refers broadly to art created by artists today. Contemporary art can take many different forms and doesn't follow one fixed visual style.
Is contemporary art suitable for a traditional or classic-style home?
Yes. A contemporary painting can create an interesting visual contrast in a traditional interior. A carefully chosen piece can introduce colour, texture, or a more current artistic perspective without requiring you to change the rest of the room.
How do I know whether a contemporary painting is original?
Check the individual artwork listing for information about the artist, medium, and production method. Artoreal's original artwork listings identify the credited artist and provide details about the artwork's medium.
What size contemporary painting should I buy for my living room?
The ideal size depends on the wall and the furniture below it. As a useful starting point, artwork above a sofa often looks balanced when its total width is around 60–75% of the sofa width. For a large empty feature wall, a larger artwork can create a stronger visual presence.
Can I buy contemporary paintings framed?
Yes. Artoreal offers framed and unframed options across applicable artworks. Check the individual product listing for the framing choices available for a particular painting.
Does contemporary art fit Vastu guidelines?
Contemporary art can be incorporated into a Vastu-conscious interior. Traditional Vastu guidance generally focuses on factors such as colour, direction, placement, and mood rather than requiring a specific artistic style.