Photorealist Figurative 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
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, California.
Original gallery qu...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Mermaid Angel - underwater photograph - print on paper 17" x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a beautiful young woman in transparent dress on dark background.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
D...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Acqua e Fantasia, 1962 - Roma - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
An impressive flood of the Tiber had already battered the pontoons of the few rowing clubs in the city. The raging wav...
Category
1950s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Bather - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 18” x 24”
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater nude photograph of a model in floating petals
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with metallic fin...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Dancing Flowers - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment 48" x 36"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman wrapped in cyan tulle dancing with the bougainvillea flowers on deep black background.
Original gallery quality print signed by the a...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Archival Paper
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 Figurative 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 Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Abyss - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 18" x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a girl diving in the ocean in kelp forest. This is an extremely rare photograph taken in Pacific Ocean at the California Coast around Palos Verdes Peninsu...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Archival Paper
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 Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Die Loreley - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young women diving in a pool. The realistic photograph is taken with red background.
Original gallery quality print s...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Her Majesty - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 18” x 24”
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman wrapped in transparent tulle.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Cold Song III - underwater photograph - archival pigment print 16x23.5"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a man diving in the pool with bouquet of flowers
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper w...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Orgasm - underwater photograph - print on paper 17.5" x 23"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman in red dress in a swimming pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival pap...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Brandenburg 2013
By Daniel Kane
Located in New Orleans, LA
In the famous story of the great 19th century photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, it is said she was given her first camera by her daughter as a way to occupy her time while her husband was away. In my case, as with so many others, the beginning of the story was equally fortuitous: Knowing I was about to spend a year abroad as an exchange student, my mother gave me my first camera, saying I would probably want to take pictures while I was away. Neither of us realized how important that little Instamatic camera would turn out to be, and now, 47 years and over a hundred thousand images later, I present the different portfolios shown here as a reflection of the work I have made since back then in 1970.
One by one, my favorite films and papers have been driven from the market by digital media, but I remain loyal to this day to analog photography, and the originals of all of these images were made with real film, either color slides...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Two cigarettes Photography Mexico Signed Karol Kállay
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Photography done for publication Mexico/Volk und Welt, signed by the author on the back.
Category
1960s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Raindancer - archival pigment print 24x18"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A young beautiful woman is dancing under the rain. Her dress is all wet. Some strange fishes are reflected in the window behind her.
Original gallery quality print signed by the art...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Tired Photography Mexico Signed Karol Kállay
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Photography done for the publication Mexico/ Volk und Welt Berlin, 1967, signed on the back by the author.
Category
1960s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Bubble Dance- underwater photograph - print on paper 18” x 24”
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a dancer in short red dress dancing in air bubbles.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archiva...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Sweet Champagne - underwater photograph - archival pigment print 18 x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman with her face covered with air bubbles.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival p...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bent Mirror - underwater photograph - print on paper 18 x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a topless young female dancer in the pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archiv...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Blood and Milk - underwater photograph - archival pigment print 24" x 18"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman in red dress with white scarf.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
What A Wonderful World 1968 photograph of Louis Armstrong by Arthur Steel
By Arthur Steel
Located in London, GB
Louis Armstrong practices his scales exclusively for Arthur Steel’s camera whilst awaiting a flight back to his home from touring.
Image unearthed January 2013. Printed Later.
Arth...
Category
1960s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Digital
USA Boxer Steve Navarro, color photography, Boxing, Team Steve Navarro
Located in Houston, TX
The photograph of future Olympic boxing athlete by Mayumi Cabrera will be a HD c-print that is printed at 1200 dpi in New York. Ships in a tube if you ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Early Black and White Photograph of a Large Cat Lounging in a Zoo Enclosure
Located in Houston, TX
Early black and white photograph of a large cat lounging in a zoo enclosure. The photograph is matted to a board to prevent bending. The photograph is not framed, but options are ava...
Category
20th Century Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Bakhtiyari Girls - Kermanshah
Located in Atlanta, GA
Artist
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Paper
Desolate Amber by Jo Cardin - Contemporary Figurative photography on Diasec
Located in DE
Artist: Josephine Cardin
Medium: Mixed Media of Photography and Painting
Size: 150 x 100 cm
Limited edition 2 of 15
______________________________________________________________...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Alex Saucedo, color photography, Boxing, No Playing in Boxing
Located in Houston, TX
The photograph of Former pro-boxer and now trainer Alex Saucedo by Mayumi Cabrera will be a HD c-print that is printed at 1200 dpi in New York. Ships i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
USA Boxer, Kurt Scoby, Pro boxer, Color photography, Mayumi Ramirez
Located in Houston, TX
Kurt Scoby : They said I wouldn’t amount to anything. So I let the words be spoken but I never listened to outside noise . I’m Kurt Scoby Pro boxer 2-0 From Duarte California with the vision of being undefeated in life , the beautiful struggle has brought me into the ring as I’m not only a fighter in the ring I’m a fighter outside the ring beating every obstacle that’s given to me .
The color photograph of Kurt Scoby, a pro boxing athlete by Mayumi Cabrera...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Antique Photograph of a Young Child by French Photographer Legarcon 1921 Framed
Located in FR
Antique Photograph of A Young Girl signed Legarcon 1921
In it's original Frame with original label on the back
Legarcon was renowned for hand colouring artistically with oils, pencil...
Category
1920s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
‘The Shape of Her’, homage to Henry Moore BY CLARE GROSSMAN, Limited Edition Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Clare Grossman
‘The Shape of Her’, homage to Henry Moore’
Limited edition of 45
Solar plate etching on Somerset 300gsm paper.
Actual plate/image size ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Etching
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 Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
"Genova, Italia, " Angel Statue Photo Silver Gelatin Print by Philip Krejcarek
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Genova, Italia" is an original silver gelatin print, a fine art photograph by Philip Krejcarek. The artist signed the piece. It features an angel statue with its arms crossed.
9" x 13 1/2" art
20 3/8" x 24 1/4" frame
EDUCATION:
M.F.A. - University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (1973)
B.S. in Art - University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh (1968)
POSITION:
Professor of Art, Carroll College (began1977) Co-Chairman, Art Dept.
COLLECTIONS
Milwaukee Art Museum
Haggerty Museum of Art, Milwaukee
Denver Art Museum
Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine
City of Milwaukee
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Fine Art Gallery
The University of Wisconsin Center - Waukesha
Oshkosh Public Museum
Wisconsin Artists Collection, Carroll College
ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
1972 University of Wisconsin Center - Waukesha
1974 Tom Hayes Gallery...
Category
1990s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
"Milano, Italia, " Crucifix Photo Silver Gelatin Print signed by Philip Krejcarek
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Milano, Italia" is an original silver gelatin print by Philip Krejcarek. The artist signed the piece. This artwork features a close-up of a statue of a woman holding the crucifix in black and white.
9 1/4" x 7 1/4" image
20 1/4" x 16 1/4" frame
EDUCATION:
M.F.A. - University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (1973)
B.S. in Art - University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh (1968)
POSITION:
Professor of Art, Carroll College (began1977) Co-Chairman, Art Dept.
COLLECTIONS
Milwaukee Art Museum
Haggerty Museum of Art, Milwaukee
Denver Art Museum
Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine
City of Milwaukee
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Fine Art Gallery
The University of Wisconsin Center - Waukesha
Oshkosh Public Museum
Wisconsin Artists Collection, Carroll College
ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
1972 University of Wisconsin Center - Waukesha
1974 Tom Hayes Gallery...
Category
1990s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Portrait of a Young Girl
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 Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Ink
Botanical Photograph By Jim Laser
By Jim Laser
Located in Houston, TX
Botanical photograph of translucent leaves in the sun by Jim Laser framed and photographed in 1998. Framed in a white mat and a decorative frame. Tag with artist information on rever...
Category
20th Century Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Film
Imogene/Brian Large Scale Photo Urban Art Portrait Contemporary
By Harry Sudman
Located in Miami, FL
Imogene/Brian Large Scale Photo Urban Art Portrait -This colorful large acrylic mounted photo by one of Chicago's leading photographers is a close look at two people who are not identifiable as their heads are not completely visible. They look like they belong together with their avant-guard look of massive tattoos and cool funky dress...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Film
Hands of Faith
By Drew Tal
Located in New York, NY
With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogravure, Photogram, Plexiglass
Postman 4
By Maleonn
Located in New York, NY
The son of a known Chinese drama director and a very famous actress, Maleonn grew up in an artistic environment, where he began to study art when only 11 years old. After graduating ...
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Photogram, Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Mixed Media
Postman 2
By Maleonn
Located in New York, NY
The son of a known Chinese drama director and a very famous actress, Maleonn grew up in an artistic environment, where he began to study art when only 11 years old. After graduating ...
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Mixed Media, Photographic Paper, Photogram
Levitate
By Reka Nyari
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 Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Photogram, Archival Pi...
Revelation
By Drew Tal
Located in New York, NY
Edition of 7
With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Dye, Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogravure, Ph...
More Ideas
By Reka Nyari
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 empowerment. The series joins six women together...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Pho...
Graig Right Profile
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Pigment, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram, Archival Pigment
Graig Left Profile
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Pigment, Archival Pigment, Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photograph...
Beauty
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Pigment, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment, Photographic Film, Archival ...
Curious
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Photogram, Pigmen...
Intimate
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photogram, Photographic Film, Pigment, Archival Paper, Archival Pigment,...
Vitamin D
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Photography, C-Print
70 × 50 × 0.3 cm 27.6 × 19.7 × 0.1 in
Edition of 7
Hand-signed by artist
Includes certificate of authenticity
Sebastian Magnani...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Zenitude
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram, Pigment, Archival Pigment
On the Hunt
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram, Pigment, Archival Pigment
4 Under the Tree
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by her love for nature, Griet Van Malderen (Belgium, 1970), a self-taught wildlife photographer from Flanders in Belgium, has been exploring Africa’s wild places for the pas...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Digital, Archival Pigment, Pigmen...
Balthazar
By Anouk Krantz
Located in Fairfield, CT
Born and raised in France, Anouk Masson Krantz moved to the United States in the late 1990s. She earned her bachelor's degree and worked at Cartier’s New York corporate office. Anou...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Pigment
Willow
By Anouk Krantz
Located in Fairfield, CT
Born and raised in France, Anouk Masson Krantz moved to the United States in the late 1990s. She earned her bachelor's degree and worked at Cartier’s New York corporate office. Anou...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Pigment
Photorealist figurative photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist figurative 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 figurative 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, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Alex Sher, Bob Tabor, Josephine Cardin, and Karol Kallay. Frequently made by artists working with Pigment Print, and Paper 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 figurative photography, so small editions measuring 7.5 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative 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 $80 and tops out at $110,000, while the average work sells for $960.
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