Photorealist Photography
PHOTOREALISM
A direct challenge to Abstract Expressionism’s subjectivity and gestural vigor, Photorealism was informed by the Pop predilection for representational imagery, popular iconography and tools, like projectors and airbrushes, borrowed from the worlds of commercial art and design.
Whether gritty or gleaming, the subject matter favored by Photorealists is instantly, if vaguely, familiar. It’s the stuff of yellowing snapshots and fugitive memories. The bland and the garish alike flicker between crystal-clear reality and dreamy illusion, inviting the viewer to contemplate a single moment rather than igniting a story.
The virtues of the “photo” in Photorealist art — infused as they are with dazzling qualities that are easily blurred in reproduction — are as elusive as they are allusive. “Much Photorealist painting has the vacuity of proportion and intent of an idiot-savant, long on look and short on personal timbre,” John Arthur wrote (rather admiringly) in the catalogue essay for Realism/Photorealism, a 1980 exhibition at the Philbrook Museum of Art, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At its best, Photorealism is a perpetually paused tug-of-war between the sacred and the profane, the general and the specific, the record and the object.
“Robert Bechtle invented Photorealism, in 1963,” says veteran art dealer Louis Meisel. “He took a picture of himself in the mirror with the car outside and then painted it. That was the first one.”
The meaning of the term, which began for Meisel as “a superficial way of defining and promoting a group of painters,” evolved with time, and the core group of Photorealists slowly expanded to include younger artists who traded Rolleiflexes for 60-megapixel cameras, using advanced digital technology to create paintings that transcend the detail of conventional photographs.
On 1stDibs, the collection of Photorealist art includes work by Richard Estes, Ralph Goings, Chuck Close, Audrey Flack, Charles Bell and others.
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Style: Photorealist
Green Fairy - underwater photograph - print on paper 17.5" x 23"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Green Bud - underwater photograph - print on paper 46" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle. Her head is above the water, hidden from the camera.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Whirlpool - underwater photograph - print on paper 19" x 17.5"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Green Bud - underwater photograph - print on paper 28" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle. Her head is above the water, hidden from the camera.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
"Iceland 2", photography by Mikael Lafontan (47x59in), 2014
Located in Paris, France
"Iceland 2", colour photograph of a mountainous landscape (Iceland) by Mikael Lafontan.
Mikael Lafontan is a French-Swedish artist, born in 1968. He has been living and working in P...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Lambda
The Light Keeper
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
The Light Keeper, is a black and white photograph printed on Canvas and presented on stretcher bars, ready for installation or further framing. This work has a serene, meditative quality and evokes, peace and calm. Delicate, spiritual yet powerful work. Created by world renowned photographer, Robert Salisbury Knight...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Canvas, Photographic Paper
Bill Carroll/George Barris, "First and Last Diptych, " original photographs
Located in Chatsworth, CA
This piece is comprised of two original photographs, from the original negatives, by George Barris and Bill Carroll, framed side by side. These photographs represent the first and l...
Category
1940s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Sky Dance - underwater black
white photograph - archival pigment print 35"х51"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a female dancer in the pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
“Dragonfly” Photography 16” x 12” in Edition of 20 Dragonfly Nature 2024
Located in Houston, TX
“Dragonfly” is a limited edition of 20. Printed on fine art paper, these limited-edition photographs are designed to preserve the beauty of the original scenes. Each piece is hand-nu...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper
“Water Lilly” Photography 16” x 12” in Edition of 20 Floral Nature 2024
Located in Houston, TX
“Water Lilly” is a limited edition of 20. Printed on fine art photo paper, these limited-edition photographs are designed to preserve the beauty of the original scenes. Each piece i...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper
Hangyaku No
Located in New York, NY
“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerm...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Pho...
$18,400
Icelandic Waterfall-Photograph
Located in Chesterfield, MI
Waterfall in Iceland in geothermal area. Photograph taken from a helicopter perspective.
Measures 8 x 10 inches and is Unframed. Also available: 5 x 7 inches.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Iceland 1", photography by Mikael Lafontan (47x59in), 2014
Located in Paris, France
"Iceland 1" colour photograph of a mountainous landscape (Iceland) by Mikael Lafontan.
Mikael Lafontan is a French-Swedish artist, born in 1968. He has been living and working in Pa...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Lambda
Pop Art Vintage Photograph Dye Transfer Print "Leonardo
s Lady" Audrey Flack
By Audrey Flack
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed and titled in ink by the artist from edition of 50 (plus proofs). Color Photo printed at CVI Lab by master printer Guy Stricherz. Published by Prestige Art Ltd. From the ...
Category
1980s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Dye Transfer
Clarence Sinclair Bull, "Gable in Car, " vintage photograph
Located in Chatsworth, CA
This piece is an original vintage photograph from the original negative taken by Clarence Sinclair Bull circa 1930-1940s. It depicts the iconic actor Clark Gable, often referred to ...
Category
1930s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Théâtre des Bleus", photography by Dimitri Bourriau (39x59
), 2021
Located in Paris, France
"Théâtre des Bleus", photography by Dimitri Bourriau. Print mounted on aluminum with plexiglas, framed. Edition of 15.
Dimitri Bourriau is a French p...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Plexiglass, Color
Rock, Mirror Lake, Yosemite
Original Photograph by Thomas Ferderbar
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Rock, Mirror, Lake, Yosemite" is an original photograph created by Thomas Ferderbar. Ferderbar shows us a striking photo of a large rock sitting in a mirror still lake. The flow of nature takes the viewers eyes all around the image and back again with it's beautiful features. Ferderbar signed and dated the piece. This work is archivally framed with acid free foam board backing, museum glass, and a silver finished frame.
Art: 34.63" x 24.88"
Frame: 42.5" x 32.5"
Titled, dated, and signed by the artist
Interview With the Artist:
"I wanted to become a photographer at the age of 12, when my sister Grace gave me a Kodak Box Brownie camera...
Category
1950s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Luster, Archival Ink, Digital
Just JAZZ
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The photography on photo paper is stamped on the back by the author, certificate of origin will be added. Done in NY 1968 for a book about NY.
Category
Mid-20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
$435 Sale Price
88% Off
Allan Forsyth, FLORA ROYAL 3, Bright Art, Flower Art, Dramatic Statement Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Allan Forsyth
FLORA ROYAL 3
Limited Edition Archival Chromagenic Photographic Print
Edition 12
Size: H 100cm x W 100cm x D 2cm
Diasec Framed
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Metal
"Equinox", photography by Dimitri Bourriau (31x47
), 2016
Located in Paris, France
Print mounted on aluminum with plexiglas, framed. Edition of 15.
Dimitri Bourriau is a French photographer, he has always been interested in history...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Plexiglass, Color
"Congo Castle", photography by Dimitri Bourriau (31x47
), 2016
Located in Paris, France
Print mounted on aluminum with plexiglas. Edition of 15.
Dimitri Bourriau is a French photographer, he has always been interested in history and arch...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Plexiglass, Color
"Theatro Colosseum", photography by Dimitri Bourriau (31x47
), 2018
Located in Paris, France
Print mounted on aluminum with plexiglas. Edition of 15.
Dimitri Bourriau is a French photographer, he has always been interested in history and architectural remains. He explores ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Plexiglass, Color
GENTLE SPIRIT N°10
Located in Deddington, GB
limited_edition
PHOTOGRAM Archival Chromagenic Photographic Print
Edition number 12
Image size: H:100 cm x W:77 cm
Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:100 cm x W:77 cm x D:2.5cm
Frame...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Metal
Last Stop
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
The picture belongs to a collection of NYC photographs, which Kallay done in 1965 for a German publisher.
Category
1960s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
$407 Sale Price
68% Off
Hot Water - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 52" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman diving in a pool in front of bright red background.
There is no rules for luck. I was sure the new girl would need practice and prac...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Laszlo Willinger, "Katharine Hepburn, " orig. photograph from orig.negative
Located in Chatsworth, CA
This piece is an original photograph from the original negative taken by Laszlo Willinger circa 1940 and printed in 1989. It depicts the iconic actress Katharine Hepburn during the p...
Category
1940s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
MOSCOW - Black and white photograph on photographic paper, Sergio del Vecchio 1986
Located in Napoli, IT
Black and white analog photograph on photographic paper, signed Sergio del Vecchio.
Sergio Del Vecchio: Neapolitan, born in 1961, enrolled in the Order of Journalists of Campania, in...
Category
1970s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
CHILDREN AND CHRISTMAS - Black and white photograph on baryta paper
Located in Napoli, IT
Rare old black and white photograph on sepia paper, depicts three children watching Santa Claus from the window.
Category
1970s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
NAPOLI , MASCHIO ANGIOINO - Fotografia a colori su carta baritata, 1980s
Located in Napoli, IT
Bellissima fotografia di Piazza Municipio e Castello Maschio Angioino illuminata di sera, Napoli
Category
1980s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Pantheon
Located in Milano, MI
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works between Milan and Barcelona. He bega...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
PAURA E FEDE - Fotografia in bianco e nero di Ferdinando Alfieri
Located in Napoli, IT
Iscritto dal 1997 all'Ordine dei giornalisti pubblicisti, qualifica in fotografia nel 1998, Mostra fotografica personale al Pan (palazzo delle arti) Napoli marzo 2016 (con pubblicazi...
Category
1970s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Tammy Mackay, Gone, Dodo Art, Contemporary Print, Affordable Art, Monochrome Art
By Tammy Mackay
Located in Deddington, GB
Tammy Mackay
Gone
Limited Edition Photopolymer Print with Chine Collé
Edition of 40
Image size: H:71cm x W:52cm
Sheet size: H:75.3cm x W:57cm x D 0.1cm
Sold Unframed
Please note that...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Paper, Pigment
Bent Sound - underwater portrait of Njomza Vitia - archival pigment print 18x24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
"Bent Sound" - An ethereal underwater fine art photograph that captures the intersection of music and movement through a portrait of singer Njomza Vitia. This submerged portrait tran...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Green Bud - underwater photograph - print on paper 17.5" x 23"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle. Her head is above the water, hidden from the camera.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Merlot 2017 - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 23.5"x17"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a red dress repeating the shape of the woman's body.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival pap...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Drinking Air - underwater photograph - archival pigment print 16" x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman playing with a wine glass in the pool.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print signed by the artist.
Limited edition of 24.
The art...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Kelp Nymph - underwater ocean black
white photograph print on paper 18" x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a beautiful young woman diving in kelp forest. The picture is taken in Pacific Ocean near Palos Verdes, Califor...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Sketch - underwater b&w photograph - archival pigment print 24x16"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of perfect female legs in the pool.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on paper with metallic finish signed by the artist. .
L...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
"Peaches and Cream" Modern Photography Still-Life Food
By Beth Galton
Located in Wellesley, MA
"I am a professional food and still life photographer with over 30 years experience based in New York City. My attention to detail and strong sense of composition has allowed me to ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Yasumasa Morimura – An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo (Fairy Tale), 2001
Located in Madrid, MD
Yasumasa Morimura – An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo (Fairy Tale), 2001
C-print on canvas, signed and numbered 3/5 on label affixed to the reverse.
Measurements (with frame): W 124...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Cotton Canvas
RL 2
By Bob Tabor
Located in New York, NY
Bob Tabor is a well-established, New York based, photographer best known for his exquisite large scaled portraits of subjects ranging from horses to seascapes. It is his unique appro...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Digital, Photogram, Archival Pigm...
$6,500
"Scarecrow: Owczarski in the Garden" by Deborah Benedic
Located in Chesterfield, MI
Scarecrows are often unusual, and this is no exception.
The homeowner decided to mount a metal sculpture by Polish/American artist Marian Owczarski in the garden to scare off variou...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Food Bouquet #1" Still-Life Contemporary Photography Purple Fruit and Flowers
By Beth Galton
Located in Wellesley, MA
"I am a professional food and still life photographer with over 30 years experience based in New York City. My attention to detail and strong sense of composition has allowed me to ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
"Scarecrow: Owczarski in the Garden" by Deborah Benedic
Located in Chesterfield, MI
Scarecrows are often unusual, and this is no exception.
The homeowner decided to mount a metal sculpture by Polish/American artist Marian Owczarski in the garden to scare off variou...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
The Who with children by Art Kane
By Art Kane
Located in Austin, TX
The Who under a Union Jack flag, 1968 by Art Kane
Shot in 1968 in NYC in Morningside Park near Columbia University, Art Kane had plenty of fun with The Who. Kane described them as “...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
C Print
Cream 1968 by Art Kane
By Art Kane
Located in Austin, TX
British psychedelic rock group, Cream, taken in 1968 by Art Kane, featuring Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker.
Cream was a new kind of blues band. British of course, but put...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
C Print
Contemporary Modern The Hilton Brothers Portraits of Andy Warhol, 2007
Located in Madrid, MD
Andy Dandy (TEN), 2007
The Hilton Brothers (Christopher Makos y Paul Solberg).
Pigmented inks on photographic paper. 5/5 Edition.
The Hilton Brothers latest collaboration, ANDYDANDY, is a portfolio of 20 digital pigment prints. All are diptychs that combine images from Makos "Altered Image" portraits of Andy Warhol with flower images from Solberg's "Bloom" series. The images of Andy Warhol in "Andy Dandy" are the result of a 1981 collaboration between Makos and Warhol called "Altered Image", through which the photographer and his subject used unexpected combinations of simple elements to explore Identity, as did Man Ray (Makos' mentor) and Duchamp decades earlier. Warhol slightly altered his appearance with make-up and a wig, otherwise remaining in his street clothes. It was all the outward change Warhol felt he needed. Andy said, "I'm not trying to look beautiful like Elizabeth Taylor, I'm trying to show what it feels like to be beautiful like Elizabeth Taylor." Solberg's photographs of single flowers, exquisitely composed and lit, pare the images down to the intensity of color and form. Solberg undertook his study of flowers as an exercise in using light...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Crabby Joe says Hello photograph by Deborah Benedic
Located in Chesterfield, MI
Crab humor is what makes this photo special.
Photo of a crab on Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
The Great Republic, freighter on the Detroit River
Located in Chesterfield, MI
Freighter traffic on the Great Lakes is abundant and exciting to ride along side of!
This photograph is of the Great Republic.
It may also be ordered as a 5 x...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Ninos de la Calle 4
Located in New York, NY
Steve Schlackman is a lawyer by profession and a photographer by choice. Fascinated by the magical world of photography since his youth, he honed this skill over time, meticulously p...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Digital, Photogram, Archival Pigment...
The Vanity Ballroom- photo by Ted Fines
Located in Chesterfield, MI
Detroit's Art Deco Vanity Ballroom was once a popular venue for music beginning in the 1920's with Ellington, Goodman, the Dorsey Bros, and Cab Calloway. Later in the 70's, it beca...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Glass of Milk with Bottle" Modern Photography Still-Life Food
By Beth Galton
Located in Wellesley, MA
"I am a professional food and still life photographer with over 30 years experience based in New York City. My attention to detail and strong sense of composition has allowed me to ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Celestial Babies I
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
30 x 45 inches ($5200) and 40 x 60 inches ($7200) limited editions of 10, printed on Archival Watercolor Fine Art Paper, 335 gram weight, signed by the artist.
Cheryl Maeder was b...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
4636
By Bob Tabor
Located in New York, NY
Bob Tabor is a well-established, New York based, photographer best known for his exquisite large scaled portraits of subjects ranging from horses to seascapes. It is his unique appro...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment, Digita...
$26,000
Woman In Ballet Pose Holding a Flower - San Francisco Richard Edwards
Located in Soquel, CA
Woman In Ballet Pose Holding a Flower - San Francisco Richard Edwards
A brunette woman poses, standing on her left leg with her hand out holding a flower.
A collection of photograph...
Category
1960s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Paper, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
0059
By Bob Tabor
Located in New York, NY
Bob Tabor is a well-established, New York based, photographer best known for his exquisite large scaled portraits of subjects ranging from horses to seascapes. It is his unique appro...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Digital, Photogram, Archival Pigm...
$15,600
Young Ballerina In Pose San Francisco Richard Edwards
Located in Soquel, CA
Young Ballerina In Pose San Francisco Richard Edwards
Photo of a young ballerina posing. She is holding her right hand above her head, while her left hand is posed in front of her. ...
Category
1960s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Paper, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$440 Sale Price
20% Off
"Buds Before the Storm" photograph by Deborah Benedic
Located in Chesterfield, MI
An image of the buds on tree branches just before the storm were turned 4 times to create this photograph.
Framing options available--this particular photo looks great in a white fr...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Cocktail Reflection
Located in Chesterfield, MI
Martini glass reflection.
Measures 8 x 10 inches and is Unframed. Also available: 5 x 7 inches.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Icelandic Waterfall" photography on canvas by Deborah Benedic
Located in Chesterfield, MI
"Icelandic Waterfall" is a photograph printed on canvas that is often mistaken as a painting. It was signed on the back by photographer Deborah Benedic. Taken from a helicopter ride ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Canvas
Photorealist photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist photography available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, red, pink, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Alex Sher, Allan Tannenbaum, Lynn Goldsmith, and Jake Chessum. Frequently made by artists working with Pigment Print, and Archival Pigment Print and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Photorealist photography, so small editions measuring 5.5 inches across are also available. Prices for photography made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $11 and tops out at $200,247, while the average work sells for $1,930.