Skip to main content

Photorealist Art

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.

to
607
623
850
398
499
700
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
1
3
1,116
1,947
5
1
28
12
20
126
113
176
174
82
114,934
65,243
57,645
27,283
14,957
9,482
6,352
5,777
4,201
2,604
2,340
2,229
651
1,499
1,221
328
1,214
574
485
390
387
327
311
288
262
235
177
176
176
154
146
141
141
139
123
121
1,266
922
673
620
608
191
60
50
48
32
811
839
2,270
685
Style: Photorealist
Kate Moss at sixteen
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Kate Moss by Jake Chessum, taken when she was an unknown 16 year old model, just starting her career. Jake recalls, "I had heard of Kate as she was...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

David Bowie and William Burroughs, framed signed print by Terry O Neill
Located in Austin, TX
Ready to ship immediately. Free domestic US shipping. David Bowie and William Burroughs in Los Angeles, February 1974, signed Terry O'Neill, 8x10" print, custom framed with non-glar...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Giclée

David Bowie at The Dorchester Hotel 1972
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of David Bowie by Alec Byrne, taken at the Dorchester Hotel, July 1972 Alec Byrne signed limited edition prints are available ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin

Portrait of a Young Girl
By Richard Dooner
Located in Soquel, CA
Silver Bromide photographic portrait of a young girl by Philadelphia photographer, Richard T. Dooner (American, 1878-1954). A fine portrait of...
Category

Early 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Ink, Photographic Paper

White Knight, Ron Kleemann
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ron Kleemann (1937-2014) Title: White Knight Year: 1980 Medium: Silkscreen on Somerset paper Edition: 208/250, plus proofs Size: 22 x 30 inches Condition: Good Inscription: ...
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Nothing is Impossible - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Portrait, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Tiger 1, David Hunt, Animal Art, Realist Print, Affordable Artwork
Located in Deddington, GB
David Hunt Tiger 1 Limited Edition Giclee Print Edition 10 Framed Size: H 84cm x W 84cm x D 3.5cm Sold Framed Please note that in situ images are purely an indication of how a piece ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Paper, Giclée

David Morrison, Sycamore Series No. 5, Photorealist colored pencil drawing, 2003
Located in New York, NY
Artist David Morrison creates hyperrealistic, yet abstracted, finely detailed pencil drawings of found natural objects, both by observing the object itself under magnification, and a...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Paper, Color Pencil

Gwen Stefani and No Doubt 1997 vintage print by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, TX
Gwen Stefani with Ska band No Doubt, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1997, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment. The print is...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Rolling Stones Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood by Brian Aris
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16.5" x 23" print of Rolling Stones guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Woods, taken in Paris. Brian Aris limited edition prints, s...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Giclée

Glass, 1940 Signed Chlorobromide Silver Print by Rowena Fruth
Located in Long Island City, NY
Glass Rowena Fruth American (1896–1983) Date: 1940 Chlorobromide Silver Print, signed Size: 13 in. x 10 in. (33.02 cm x 25.4 cm)
Category

1940s Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

The Black Keys "Tour Life, somewhere on the road 2022" by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, TX
The Black Keys, “Tour Life”, somewhere on the road 2022, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues. The Black Keys relationship with Larry...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Clash by Janet Macoska, framed 20x24" signed limited edition print
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Bassist Paul Simonon and lead singer Joe Strummer of British punk rock band The Clash backstage at the Agora Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio on February 13, 1979, by Janet Macoska Framed, signed limited edition number 2/25 Frame measures 32" x 25" x 1" Recently framed with an 8ply mat, in new, perfect condition Since 1974, Janet Macoska has been capturing rock’s greatest on film. Among the publications who have used her photos are Rolling Stone, People, Vogue, American Photo, Creem, MOJO, NY Times and London Times. VH1, Bravo, A&E and the BBC regularly use Macoska’s vast archive in their “rockumentaries.” Her work is in the permanent collection of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Smithsonian Museum of American History, The National Portrait Gallery in London and in Hard Rock Cafe restaurants, hotels and casinos all around the planet. David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, DEVO, Heart, Hall and Oates...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

Aretha Franklin 1968 portrait
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of Aretha Franklin by Alec Byrne, taken in London, 1968 16x20" signed limited edition #2/75 Alec Byrne signed...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin

Morrissey 1994 vintage silver gelatin print by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, TX
Morrissey, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1994, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment. The print is in perfect new condition ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Stick Series No. 4, Photorealist colored pencil drawing, still life, 2015
Located in New York, NY
Artist David Morrison creates hyperrealistic, yes abstracted, finely detailed pencil drawings of found natural objects, both by observing the object itself under magnification, and a...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Paper, Color Pencil

Untitled (Abstract Female Nude), 1963, Ian Hornak — Painting
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Untitled (Abstract Female Nude) Year: 1963 Medium: Acrylic on illustration board Size: 29.5 x 21 inches Condition: Good Provenance: Estate of Ia...
Category

1960s Photorealist Art

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

Scarlet Blue Macaw, Ian Hornak
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Scarlet Blue Macaw Year: 1992 Medium: Acrylic on Panel with artist painted frame Size: 58.5 x 42.2 inches Condition: E...
Category

1990s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Wood Panel

Pop Art Vintage Color Photograph Dye Transfer Print "Time to Save" 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 Art

Materials

Photographic Paper, C Print, Dye Transfer

Kate Bush Lionheart outtake
Located in Austin, TX
Portrait of singer and dancer, Kate Bush by acclaimed photographer, Gered Mankowitz, taken in his London studio in 1978 for the back cover of her album, Lionheart. Gered recalls, "The cover series of portraits that I shot for Lionheart in August 1978. I art directed the album cover and my assistant at the time, Richard Grey...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

Pink Iris, Photorealist Screenprint on Paper by Lowell Nesbitt
Located in Long Island City, NY
A series of ghostly Morning Glory blooms set against a rich black background. These moon-toned flowers are rendered as a screenprint by Lowell Blair Nesbitt. This print is signed and...
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen

Paloma, Photorealist Screenprint by Harry McCormick
Located in Long Island City, NY
Harry McCormick, American (1942 - ) - Paloma. Year: circa 1990, Medium: Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 250, Size: 26 in. x 40 in. (66.04 cm x 101.6 cm)
Category

Early 1900s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen

The Black Keys "Red Vision 2" Phoenix AZ 2022 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, TX
The Black Keys “Red Vision 2” Phoenix AZ 2022, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues. The Black Keys relatio...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Soho Saint (Fire Engine), Photorealist Screenprint by Ron Kleemann
Located in Long Island City, NY
Ron Kleemann, American (1937 - 2014) - Soho Saint (Fire Engine), Year: 1976, Medium: Screenprint, signed, numbered and dated in pencil, Edition: 80, Image Size: 35.5 x 38.5 inch...
Category

1970s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen

Design 7, 1945 Gelatin Silver Print by Rowena Fruth
Located in Long Island City, NY
Design 7 Rowena Fruth American (1896–1983) Date: 1945 Gelatin Silver Print Size: 20 in. x 16 in. (50.8 cm x 40.64 cm)
Category

1940s Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Dolly Parton and Mick Jagger hugging
Located in Austin, TX
IN STOCK AND AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE SHIPPING Signed limited edition archival print of Country music star Dolly Parton hugging rock star Mick Jagger of ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Morrissey by Kevin Cummins
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of English singer and songwriter Morrissey, photographed whilst on his 'Kill Uncle' tour in Cologne, Germany, May 1991. This Morrissey pr...
Category

1990s Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Still Life with Baroque Cauliflower, Artichokes and Radishes
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Still Life with Baroque Cauliflower, Artichokes and Radishes Year: 2002 Medium: Oil on Panel with artist painted frame Size: 42 x 31.5 inches Co...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Wood Panel

Duomo
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 Art

Materials

Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment

Beauty and the Beast (Lionfish), 1941 Chlorobromide Silver Print by Rowena Fruth
Located in Long Island City, NY
Beauty and the Beast (Lionfish) Rowena Fruth American (1896–1983) Date: 1941 Chlorobromide Silver Print Size: 13 in. x 10.5 in. (33.02 cm x 26.67 cm)
Category

1940s Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

The Star (Message of Spring), circa 1940 Gelatin Silver Print by Rowena Fruth
Located in Long Island City, NY
The Star (Message of Spring) Rowena Fruth American (1896–1983) Date: circa 1940 Gelatin Silver Print Size: 20 in. x 16 in. (50.8 cm x 40.64 cm)
Category

1940s Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

"Arrival" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Mia Bergeron's (US based) "Arrival" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a feminine face, with dark hair, arching back as she looks upwards in the darkness Mia Bergero...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

The Younger Generation, 1941 Gelatin Silver Print by Rowena Fruth
Located in Long Island City, NY
The Younger Generation Rowena Fruth American (1896–1983) Date: 1941 Gelatin Silver Print mounted on board Size: 20 in. x 16 in. (50.8 cm x 40.64 cm)
Category

1940s Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Parrot, circa 1940 Gelatin Silver Print by Rowena Fruth
Located in Long Island City, NY
Parrot Rowena Fruth American (1896–1983) Date: circa 1940 Gelatin Silver Print Size: 10 in. x 8 in. (25.4 cm x 20.32 cm)
Category

1940s Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Frank Zappa by Lynn Goldsmith
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Frank Zappa taken in 1978 by Lynn Goldsmith Signed limited edition #2/20 - signed, numbered and titled by Lynn Goldsmith
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Ian Curtis of Joy Division by Kevin Cummins
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of British singer Ian Curtis performing with Joy Division at the Futurama One Festival at the Queen's Hall, Leeds, 8th September 1979. The...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Stevie Ray Vaughan by Ebet Roberts
Located in Austin, TX
Stevie Ray Vaughan backstage at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis,TN on August 26, 1986, taken by photographer, Ebet Roberts. Signed limited edition, ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Devo Grey Suits
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Signed limited edition print of Devo posing for SoHo Weekly News, NYC, 1981 by Allan Tannenbaum. Available in different sizes. Limited editi...
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Michelle #2" (2016) By Rebecca Mason Adams, Original B&W Photorealist Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Michelle #2" By Rebecca Mason Adams is a beautiful original photorealist acrylic on canvas painting, depicting a woman resting on a houndstooth patterned pillow, and clutching anoth...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

The Cure 1980 by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition fine art print of The Cure on the road in Holland and Belgium during their 1980 'Seventeen Seconds' tour. Signed and numbered by Jill Furmanovsky in pencil an...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Nick Cave
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16x20" silver gelatin print of Nick Cave by celebrated British photographer, Kevin Cummins, taken for the British music publication, N...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Bob Dylan, Blue Wall, 1983 by Lynn Goldsmith
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Bob Dylan by Lynn Goldsmith A portrait of Bob Dylan, capturing the reluctant figurehead of American unrest at his introspective best. The year was 19...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Beatles "Umbrella" by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, TX
The Beatles by photographer Robert Whitaker. This formal photo shoot image is fondly known as 'Umbrella'. The Beatles are depicted holding two large striped umbrellas on the banks of Loch Earn...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

Untitled 37 (Gun Sequence)
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original oil on wood painting by contemporary American artist Bruce Adams. This work is currently being featured in the exhibition "The Dreamer Who Dreams" and is designed to rai...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Wood, Oil

Figure, Volcano
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: Figure, Volcano (John Huszar) Year: June 1971 Medium: Acrylic, Pen & Ink on Canvas Size: 72 x 48 inches Condition: Ex...
Category

1970s Photorealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Figure, Volcano
Figure, Volcano
$70,400 Sale Price
20% Off
Dolly Parton portrait by Ed Caraeff
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Dolly Parton, taken in Los Angeles, September 24th This stunning print is also available in the following sizes with a limited edition of 50. 20" x 24" 30" x 40" 40" x 60" Ed Caraeff is a photographer and art director. He has worked with, photographed, designed or art directed hundreds of album covers. His photography archive includes Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Iggy Pop and The Stooges...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Ian Curtis of Joy Division by Kevin Cummins
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Ian Curtis of post-punk band Joy Division, photographed at Princess Parkway, Manchester, January 6, 1979. T...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Hello, My Name Is: Cherry Bomb - miniature pictograph oil painting on paper
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
This painting on paper can be casually clipped onto any display, or mounted in a proper frame. Inquire for our further suggestions on framing. Painting dimensions: 2.5 x 3.5 inches ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Plastic, Paper, Found Objects, Oil

The Black Keys Dan Auerbach "Mirror" by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, TX
The Black Keys “Mirror” taken on the Dropout Boogie Tour 2022, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues. The Black Keys relationship with...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, Glasgow Scotland 2023 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, TX
The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, Glasgow Scotland 2023, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues. The Black ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Black Keys, Iowa State Fair, Des Moines IA 2023 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, TX
The Black Keys, Iowa State Fair, Des Moines IA 2023, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues. The Black K...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Photographic Film

David Morrison, Stick Series No. 11, Photorealist colored pencil drawing, 2015
Located in New York, NY
Artist David Morrison creates hyperrealistic, yet abstracted, finely detailed pencil drawings of found natural objects, both by observing the object itself under magnification, and a...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Color Pencil

Mick Jagger in bed with Anita Pallenberg and Michèle Breton, Performance
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16x20" print of Mick Jagger with Anita Pallenberg and Michèle Breton by Alec Byrne, taken at the film set of Nicolas Roeg’s “Pe...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Fiona Apple 1996 vintage print by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, TX
Singer Fiona Apple, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1996, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment. Th...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Patti Smith portrait, New York 1969
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition fine art print of musician, poet and writer, Patti Smith, taken in New York by celebrated photographer and filmmaker, Norman Seeff in 1969. This Patty Smith...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Gwen Stefani No Doubt 1997 vintage print by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, TX
Gwen Stefani and Ska band No Doubt, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1997, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment. The print is ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

The Cure by Ebet Roberts
Located in Austin, TX
Robert Smith of The Cure in 1992 by Ebet Roberts. Signed limited edition print. Ebet Roberts began her career in 1977 when she began documenting the evolving punk scene at CBGB’s i...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Giclée

Full Bowl of Cherries
Located in Indianapolis, IN
Fine 22K gold gilt frame.
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Barba Walz Important Rare Woman Photographer Mid Century Fashionable Room
Located in Buffalo, NY
Very rare and important photograph by Barbara Walz. Signed. Framed. Measuring 19 by 24 inches overall and 11 by 17 photo alone.
Category

1960s Photorealist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Karen Seltenrich "Groupies", signed limited edition silver gelatin print
Located in Austin, TX
Karen Seltenrich by Baron Wolman, taken in San Francisco in 1970 as part of Baron's Groupies series, taken for Rolling Stone magazine. Limited edition number 14/150, signed and note...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Photorealist art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist art 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 art 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, purple, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Alex Sher, Gregory Block, Lowell Nesbitt, and Ian Hornak. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint 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 art, so small editions measuring 0.79 inches across are also available. Prices for art 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 $585,000, while the average work sells for $2,404.