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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.

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Style: Photorealist
Spools of Ribbon, bright red, turquoise super realism
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oil on Canvas, bright color Doug Newton’s hyper-real oil paintings observe reality, explore translucency, reflections and luminosity, and dazzle the viewer with all the ways light ca...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Roanheads Chimneys #3, 2018
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This original oil on birch-wood panel is a signature painting of Roanheads, Scotland by Agnes Murray. Ms. Murray is notable for capturing the crystalline quality of northern light. ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

Lifeguard On Duty, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
:: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: Signed: Yes :: Signature Location: bottom...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

A beach for daydreaming, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original, one-of-a-kind, hand painted, inspired by the aerial view of The Bahamas Dealing with depression, PTSD and anxiety, painting is a form of therapy for me. In this painting...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

I dream of you, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original, one-of-a-kind, hand painted, inspired by the aerial view of The Turks And Caicos Islands Dealing with depression, PTSD and anxiety, painting is a form of therapy for me. ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Square Java-Photograph
Located in Chesterfield, MI
Coffee in a square mug. Measures 8 x 10 inches and is Unframed. Also available: 5 x 7 inches.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper

Going Home-Photograph
Located in Chesterfield, MI
Turtle crawling to the shores of Anchor Bay, Michigan. He did not succeed, unfortunately. Measures 8 x 10 inches and is Unframed. Also available: 5 x 7 inches.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper

Window into my shoul, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original, one-of-a-kind, hand painted, inspired by the aerial view of The Turks And Caicos Islands Dealing with depression, PTSD and anxiety, painting is a form of therapy for me. In...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Missed Connection, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Everyone requires a bit of sunshine and air. To experience the magnificence of nature, and think for a brief moment Measuring 9 x 9 inches, it is set in a flat panel black frame w...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Master of the city, Digital on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
a gargoyle on the top of the Notre dame Cathedral in Paris looking over the city of light :: Digital :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Digital

Solar power, Digital on Paper
Located in Yardley, PA
A beautiful sunflower on a black background :: Digital :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: S...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Digital

Coastal photography, DJ Leon, Capri Beach Club, Capri Italy
Located in White Plains, NY
'Capri Beach Club, Capri, Italy' by DJ Leon. Archival C-print photograph of the famed beach club scene during the Summer months, mounted on sintra, and face mounted in plexiglas. T...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

AMERICAN SIGNS (PORTFOLIO OF 12)
Located in Aventura, FL
Each hand signed, titled, numbered and dated, lower margin. Screen print in colors on wove paper with full margins. Each sheet size: 38 x 37. Each image size: 32 x 32. Certificate of Authenticity included. Complete Suite, edition 69/100. Published by Greg Smith...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen, Paper

Muhammed Ali modeling a fur coat, 1977
Located in White Plains, NY
'Muhammed Ali modeling a fur coat,' 1977 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 15 x 10 inch photo on 20 x 16 inch on t...
Category

1970s Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Kenny Scharf, Boombox and Cadillac
Located in White Plains, NY
'Kenny Scharf, Boombox and Cadillac,' 1983 by famed American photographer, Allan Tannenbaum. Archival pigment print, 15 x 10 inch photo on 20 x 16 inch on the finest satin photo paper, Ed. of 50. This color photograph captures artist Kenny Scharf standing in front of his artwork on a cadillac and boombox at his 1983 exhibition at Tony Shafrazi Gallery. From the artists' 4th hardcover book 'Grit and Glamour: The Street Style, High Fashion, and Legendary Music of the 1970s,' published in 2016. This image was taken during Tannenbaum's tenure at The SoHo Weekly News in New York City from 1973 to 1982 where he served as Chief Photographer and Photo Editor. Allan Tannenbaum's career in photography spans more than four decades. Born in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1945, he received a B.A. in Art from Rutgers University in 1967, where he photographed for The Targum – the campus newspaper – and made films for his art courses. Gravitating to the nascent art scene in the SoHo district of Manhattan in 1972, Tannenbaum worked as a taxi driver and bartender while looking for work as a photographer. In 1973, when the SoHo Weekly News commenced publication, Tannenbaum became the Photo Editor and Chief Photographer. The newspaper started out as an eight-page free paper, but soon became a popular newsstand seller that rivaled the established Village Voice. Tannenbaum relentlessly covered the art world, music scene, politics, show business, and nightlife until 1982 when the SoHo News folded. Tannenbaum has also done documentary and feature photography in places like Thailand, Indonesia, Palau, Jordan, Bahrain, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Brazil, Israel, Iceland, and Mexico. He has covered numerous political campaigns, nominating conventions and news stories in the U.S. such as the Oklahoma City bombing and the Columbine massacre. His work has appeared in many photo books and exhibitions, as well as appearing regularly in NEWSWEEK, TIME, LIFE, ROLLING STONE, PARIS MATCH, and STERN. His photographs have graced the covers of TIME three times, and NEWSWEEK five times. He now works as an international photojournalist contributing to various noted publications including Time, Life, and Newsweek. He is the author of three books of his photography, including New York in the 70s (Feierabend, 2003), New York (Feierabend, 2004), and John and Yoko: A New York Love Story...
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

LOL, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
LOL written with gold balloons on a pink background :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Al Pasino, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Al Pacino is an American actor, director, and screenwriter. The portrait is painted in oil on linen canvas. Realism. It is varnished, the sides are painted in the color of the painti...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

????, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Four silver balloons representing question marks on a black background; Painted with several layers of paint on a fine canvas, :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with a...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Les bulles II (Bubbles II), Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Soap bubbles on a black background. Fine canvas with several layers of paint. :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

FRAGILE II, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Ball covered with adhesive tape "FRAGILE" on a black background. symbolizing the planet. Several layers of paint on a fine canvas. Matt varnish :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This p...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Affectionate waves., Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Affectionate waves. The sea, clear skies, waves, sea foam, sun glare on the water create an atmosphere of relaxation and romance. Made in the style of realism. Part of a permanent se...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

SEGUIMI, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
DETAILS: Oil on canvas, size 20x40x1.5 inches - 50x100x4 cm - Sides are painted to match the painting SUPPORT: gallery canvas, wrapped around the sides and stapled to the back SI...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Coastal photography, DJ Leon, Amalfi Coast
Located in White Plains, NY
'Amalfi Coast' by DJ Leon, 2015, Ed. of 15. Archival C-print photograph of the famed Amalfi beach during the Summer months. The photograph print measures at 24 x 36...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

"Aerial Australia - Kimberley Broome, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Unique original aerial ocean painting inspired by aerial view of the spectacular Broome in Kimberley zone, Australia Different shades of blue, turquoise, teal, aqua, beige, black and...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Where nothing else matters, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original Mixed Media seascape painting Unique original ocean painting with white sand beach and frothy splashing waves, inspired by The Australian Great Barrier Reef Different shades...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Bahamas Harbour Island pink sand beach, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Pink sand beach painting - inspired by the amazing Harbour Island beach in the Bahamas Dealing with depression, PTSD and anxiety, painting is a form of thera...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Pink Sand Beach - Elafonisi Beach Greece #1, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Pink sand beach painting - inspired by the amazing Elafonisi beach on the Crete Island in Greece Dealing with depression, PTSD and anxiety, painting is a form of therapy for me. In t...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

BATTLE OF BRITAIN
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. Silkscreen on Arches paper. Image size 30 x 30 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity included. Published by C...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen, Paper

Little wave #6, Painting, Acrylic on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
Miniature round ocean painting Inspired by The Turks And Caicos ocean colors Different shades of blue tones, turquoise, teal, aqua, gold and white This painting does not need t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Ocean waves #40, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Seascape Painting Inspired by The Turks And Caicos ocean colors Different shades of blue tones, turquoise, teal, aqua, beige and white This painting does not need to be framed,...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

true blue, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Unique original aerial ocean painting with white sand beach and frothy splashing waves, inspired by The Australian Great Barrier Reef Different shades of blue, turquoise, teal, aqua...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Sand bar, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original Mixed Media ocean painting Unique ocean painting with white sand beach and frothy splashing waves, inspired by The Turks And Caicos Islands Different shades of blue, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Vince II, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Marshes. Reeds. Lush Landscape. New Jersey Meadowlands. Sunset. :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: R...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

QUARTET
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. Silkscreen on Arches paper. Framed size approx 38 x 45 inches. Image size 30 x 40 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Au...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen, Paper

QUARTET
QUARTET
$2,100 Sale Price
30% Off
"Prague, " Watercolor Cityscape signed by Bruce McCombs
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Prague" is an original signed watercolor by Bruce McCombs. It depicts the architecture of a highly detailed and ornate building. This painting displays McCombs' exquisite attention ...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Contemporary female artist still life watercolor fruit realism signed
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Persimmons, Tangerines & Blue Kerchief" is an original watercolor painting by Alicia Czechowski. The artist signed the piece in the lower right. This painting depicts orange persimm...
Category

1960s Photorealist Art

Materials

Watercolor

"There Is No Room For Subtle Things" trompe l oeil oil painting of comic clips
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"There Is No Room For Subtle Things" is a trompe l'oeil oil painting of comic clips taped to a red wall. Recently, it feels like there is no room for complexity in our world. You e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

Black cans, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Black crushed cans on a yellow background :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: S...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

The soldier, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Portrait of a soldier :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: No :: Signed: Yes :: Signatu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

AROMATICO, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
DETAILS: Oil on canvas, size 20x40x1.5 inches - 50x100x4 cm - Sides are painted to match the painting SUPPORT: gallery canvas, wrapped around the sides and stapled to the back SIGN...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Italian Contemporary Photography by Luca Battaglia - Folding Cities #15
Located in Paris, IDF
Photographic Fine Art Paper 325 g, ed. 2/7. Artwork can be shipped in a tube or in a crate if frame is requested Luca Battaglia is an Italian architect and photographer born in 1970...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper

Untitled (The Avenue of Stones)
Located in New York, NY
Colin Hunt (b. 1973) is a Brooklyn, NY-based artist working primarily in egg tempera and watercolor. His recent series of landscapes of the Avebury stone circle outside of London are...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Egg Tempera

Saturn - Contemporary, 21st Century, Limited Edition, Pigment Print
Located in Zug, CH
Robert Longo, Saturn Contemporary, 21st Century, Limited Edition, Pigment Print Pigment Print Edition of 30 39.6 x 59.9 cm (15.5 x 23.5 in) Signed and signed, accompanied by Certific...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Pigment

Legendary Blue / Cassowary, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Photorealistic colorful tropical bird painting/portrait of the cassowary, also known as dinosaur bird, or one of the most dangerous birds in the world. I channel my enthusiasm for the amazing characteristics of animals by rendering them with academic oil painting...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

The Steel Claw, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
All universal life is GOD’s masterpiece. The intricate details that highlight living qualities - pedals, veins, feathers, scales, skin, and fur are all in alignment with GOD’s e...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

The Superior, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Many people are fascinated by Arowana because of its beauty with dignity. :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Overlapped dawn - Cactus, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
All universal life is GODΓÇÖs masterpiece. The intricate details that highlight living qualities - pedals, veins, feathers, scales, skin, and fur are all in alignment with GODΓÇÖs e...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Self Portrait With Between Clock And Bed, Painting, Acrylic on MDF Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
On this painting you see the artist himself enjoying a self portrait by Edvard Munch :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity sign...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Bouches (Mouths), Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Mouth-shaped candies in a black try on a white background Several layers of paint hanging hardware is provided :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official cert...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Iris et orchidées, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Iris and orhids on a white background Several layers of paint Hanging hardware is provided :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authentic...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

January s Calendar Month, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
This series painting displays objects relating to the calendar month. The cold, winter's of January in this fine art reflect a bird on the calendar photo, a bright red pomagranate an...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

MARTE, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
This painting make me serene and calm, its sweet colours and shades are a caress to the spirit, while the dynamism of the wine in this masculine form (hence the name Marte) gives a n...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

The Show (8 o clock news), Painting, Acrylic on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
One night I was watching the 8 o'clock news with Noraly Beijer on Dutch television and wondered what I was actually watching. I decided to take a picture of my television screen ...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

PARZIALMENTE SCREMATO, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
What I love about this painting is the simplicity given by the two colors that compose it with all their nuances, I find that this simplicity is very relaxing and invigorating for th...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Nerium oleander with pink ribbon, Painting, Oil on Wood Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
I picked up these Nerium Oleander leaves from the ground. They were dry but still proud with that well defined shape and golden colour. :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece com...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

SAN GIOVANNI, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Oil on canvas, size 28x40x1.5 in This painting is very important for me because this plate was made by a very special chef in Asti. His speciality is the typical plates from Piedmon...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Self, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
I Painted It Over A Period Of One Year Between 2014-15, Using A Photo As A Reference. This Painting Was Chosen For Ruth Borchard Self-portrait Prize 2015 Exhibition :: Painting :: Ph...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Maquina 1
Located in New York, NY
Black and white photography in Cuba.
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Digital, Digital Pigment

In the Container Wall, Le Havre, France - Contemporary, 21st Century, Lithograph
Located in Zug, CH
JR, In the Container Wall, Le Havre, France Contemporary, 21st Century, Lithograph 20 colours lithograph Edition of 180 50 x 70 cm (19.6 x 27.5 in) Signed and numbered In mint condi...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Charlie Chaplin by JR, The Kid movie, Jackie Coogan, Litograph, Contemporary Art
Located in Zug, CH
From street artist and photographer JR, this artpiece depicts Charlie Chaplin in the legendary scene from "The Kid" as a celebration of the movie's 100th anniversary in 2021. JR Unframed, Charlie Chaplin revu par JR, The Kid, Charlie Chaplin & Jackie Coogan...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

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.