An Introduction to Abstract Photography

Abstract photography is photography which draws our attention away from the "real," that which appears immediately and obviously given. It instead directs our focus to color, moods, impressions, and patterns and textures. Its subject matter might include a color shown in many hues, a play of light and shadow, or the blur of a scene in motion.

In the 20th century, photography was pioneered by artists like Man Ray, the Surrealists, and László Moholy-Nagy, who also made decisive contributions to abstract art as a whole. In their experimentation, they often replaced traditional subjects of photography - taken over from traditional subjects of painting and art in general - with various arrangements of objects or subjects which were meant to communicate an experience of unreality to a viewer.

Since the invention of digital photography, abstract photographers have increasingly leveraged the camera's inherent capacity to abstraction, as well as experimented with digital editing methods. At times, the original subjects in the works of abstract artists like Thomas Ruff or James Welling are no longer even recognizable.

Lumas Abstract Photographers

Our line of abstract photography is founded on the reputations of our artists. Our portfolio of abstract artists encompasses a wide range of creators, both famous and established as well as those whose star is still ascending.

Our collection features the tranquil creations of Beatrice Hug. In her focus on pure color over representational photography, Hug is one of the most felicitous abstract photographers working today. Pablo Zuleta Zahr, who studied under the photographer Thomas Ruff, is one of the most sought after abstract photographers. Joerg Maxzin's works buck the trends of abstract photography. Originally trained as a sculptor, Maxzin does not avoid the human figure, instead working the figurative into his impressionistic takes on classic themes. And Zaha Hadid, perhaps the world's most famous female architect, dazzles us with her stimulating meditations on form and movement.

Street and Urban

Our collection of urban and street art contains a number of fascinating and colorful abstract photographs in the tradition of street art.

Nature

Nature photography lends itself well to abstraction. In seeking out the formal properties underlying experience, abstract art often turns directly to nature.

Landscape

Our collection of landscape photography contains unworldly mountainscapes, oceanscapes, aerial photographs, and more!

Black and White

It is often said that in its eschewal of aesthetic diversity, black and white is closest to the impulse which animates abstract art: the search for the reality underlying everyday experience. Explore our entire collection of black and white photography.

Portrait

Perhaps the most exciting example of abstraction in photography is in portrait art. Whether human or animal portraits, the face and the body are rich canvases for so many photo artists.

Architecture

Artists often find interesting narratives hidden in building and construction material. Others work directly with architecture as the object of artistic creation.

Flowers

For millenia, humans have projected onto flowers stirring sentiments about life, death, and regeneration. In contemporary floral photography, they still hold this power.

Curated Selection of Abstract Photographs