Geometric Abstraction is an area of abstract art where the nonobjective compositions are comprised of geometric shapes and forms, including squares, cubes, rectangles, lines, circles, spheres, etc. that can be floating and not grounded or in highly structured and rigorous compositions.
The roots of using geometric shapes and forms in artwork date back to ancient times and virtually every culture. However, in regards to the influence on modern and contemporary art, the art form became popular with the twentieth century avant-garde including Kasimir Malelvich (1878-1935), Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) and Josef Albers (1888-1976). Many American artists also pioneered geometric abstraction in their works, such as Frank Stella (b1936), Karl Benjamin (1925-2012), Al Held (1928-2005) and Ron Davis (b1937).
Geometric Abstraction can be observed in hard edge painting, Op Art, Systemic Pattern Painting, Pattern and Decoration, Color Field Painting and post painterly abstraction.