Photorealist Figurative Paintings
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
The Thorny Roses - Contemporary, Red, Female, Cityscape, Figurative Painiting
By Mihai Florea
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
The Thorny Roses, 2022
Oil on canvas
23 5/8 H x 19 11/16 W in.
60 H x 50 W cm
The painting imagines a city in a continuous present in which elements of the past intertwine with elem...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Brazil - 21st Century, Figurative Painting, Green, Flag, Bikini Bottom
By Mihai Florea
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
Brazil, 2010
Oil on canvas (Signed, front right middle)
14.96 H x 18.11 W in.
38 H x 46 W cm.
The contemporary society is seen as an "extra-wrapped" society by the artist Mihai Flor...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Stack One (Parlor), " Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Gregory Block's (US based) "Stack One (Parlor)" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a tall stack of five glazed donuts, with toppings, piled on top of each other.
A...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Diptych Hand Paintings
By Manon Cleary
Located in Washington, DC
Exceptional pair of paintings by Manon Cleary (1942-1911). Paintings are oil on canvas. Dated 1980 and signed in the front lower right corner and on reverse. Manon Cleary's work is ...
Category
1980s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Sky 59" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 59" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a skyscape of grey and white clouds arching through a blue sky.
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
"Apricity", Oil painting
Located in Denver, CO
Lindsey Kustusch’s (US based) "Apricity" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a Great blue Heron bird with fall colored leaves and designs in the background.
Artist S...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
"The White Witch Moth", Oil painting
Located in Denver, CO
Lindsey Kustusch’s (US based) "The White Witch Moth" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a moth on a grey background.
Artist Statement:
I am an oil painter based ou...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
"Féith", Oil painting
Located in Denver, CO
Lindsey Kustusch’s (US based) "Féith" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a Great blue Heron bird perched on a fountains with red floral designs in the background.
A...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Lowell Nesbitt, "Tulipa Hybrida, " Photorealist Painting, 1976
Located in Long Island City, NY
This painting was created by American artist Lowell Blair Nesbitt. His most well-known series, and perhaps his most beautiful and poetic, are the more than four hundred works he crea...
Category
1970s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Roman Noon" Classical Grape Still Life Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Roman Noon" is an exquisitely detailed classical still life by Victoria Novak, rendered in oil on canvas in 2014. This artwork, within its decorative f...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Diversity" Original Botanical Oil Painting by Novak
Located in Denver, CO
Victoria Novak’s 2020 oil on canvas, "Diversity," is a beautifully composed botanical painting that exudes the vibrancy of nature’s palette. The artwork...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Sky 58" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 58" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a skyscape of grey and white clouds arching through a blue sky as the sunlight highlights their forms.
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
"Flame" Lush Orchid & Bird of Paradise Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Victoria Novak’s "Flame," crafted in 2018, is an original oil on canvas that bursts with the energy of tropical blooms. This framed work, measuring 50.2...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Sky 60" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 60" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a skyscape of grey and white clouds arching through a blue sky and the sunlight dances through it.
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
"Black Cow", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Ali Ghassan's "Black Cow" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a black and white cow with a yellow ear tag with a blue sky background.
Abou...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"Ruffles", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Adrienne Stein's "Ruffles" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a vase of purple orchids with green fabric in the background.
About the artist:
Adrienne Stein (b. 1...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
The Walk - Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting, Sea, Beach View, Realism, Woman
Located in Salzburg, AT
Artodyssey
"Julita Malinowska's paintings belong to those, which once seen - are never forgotten. The open spaces, sometimes cool and bright, at other times heavily saturated with co...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"The Ocean's Lions", Oil painting
Located in Denver, CO
Lindsey Kustusch’s (US based) "The Ocean's Lions" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a group of striped Lionfish in an underwater setting.
Artist Statement:
I am a...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
Admiral Pinscher
By Y.m.Lo
Located in East Hampton, NY
A Doberman Pinscher dressed like an Admiral
Satire in Art
Original Paintings in series of 10 (inquire where it is in the edition)
Comes rolled in a tube ready to be framed
Y.m.Lo. ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Sky 52" Oil and Gold Leaf Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 52" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a skyscape of grey clouds arching through a blue sky with the sun in the background.
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
"Sky 36" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 36" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a skyscape of white and pink clouds arching through a blue sky with the sun in the background.
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil
"Sky 46" Oil and Gold Leaf Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 46" is an original, handmade oil and golf leaf painting that depicts a skyscape of orange and grey hues as sunlight plays across the clouds textured surface.
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Mum II - Modern Figurative Oil Painting, Realism, City Scape, Women, Street Art
Located in Salzburg, AT
Artodyssey
"Julita Malinowska's paintings belong to those, which once seen - are never forgotten. The open spaces, sometimes cool and bright, at other times heavily saturated with co...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Sky 61" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 61" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a skyscape of grey and white clouds arching through a blue sky and the sunlight dances through it.
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
Large Still Life Photorealism Acrylic Painting Candy Canes in Vase Photo Realist
Located in Surfside, FL
Charles Wildbank (American, b. 1948)
Photorealist Still Life Painting "Candy Sticks",
Acrylic on canvas
Signed in bottom right corner recto
Charles Bourke Wildbank, native New Yor...
Category
20th Century Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
"Sky 53" Oil and Silver Leaf Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 53" is an original, handmade oil and silver leaf painting that depicts a skyscape of grey clouds arching through a pastel blue and purple sky.
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Silver
Oystering at First Light
Located in Greenwich, CT
Michael Harrell was born in Florida in 1964. He began painting nautical scenes at a young age and created his first published work at age 7. After rece...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"Sky 57" Oil and Silver Leaf Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 57" is an original, handmade oil and silver leaf painting that depicts a skyscape of grey and white clouds arching through a blue sky as the sunlight highligh...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Silver
"Sky 62" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 62" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a skyscape of grey and white clouds arching through a blue sky as the sunlight highlights their forms.
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
"Sky 41" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 41" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a skyscape of orange and lavender hues as sunlight plays across the clouds textured surface.
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil
"Sky 40" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
James Van Fossan's "Sky 40" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a skyscape of rays of sunshine breaking through stormy grey clouds in a blue sky.
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil
Eve
Located in Spetses, GR
Original artwork by Katerina Hatzi, ready to hang. Signed by the artist at the bottom right corner. Certificate of authenticity provided by the gallery.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil
Broken light
Located in Spetses, GR
Broken rays of light reflect under the water surface. Photorealistic artwork by Katerina Hatzi, ready to hang. Signed by the artist at the bottom right ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil
Pineapple Pink
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kathleen Keifer's original artworks represent one of the most significant expressions of New California Realism. Keifer brings a fresh perspective to her colorful scenes of everyday ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Canvas
Onwards
Located in Spetses, GR
Original artwork by Katerina Hatzi, ready to hang. Signed by the artist at the bottom right corner. Certificate of authenticity provided by the gallery.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Linen
Crushed
Located in Austin, TX
"Crushed" by Gaylon Dingler
Acrylic on board
24.75 x 18.5 inches
Framed: 30 x 25 inches
A larger-than-life, photorealistic composition that captures ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Board, Acrylic
Pineapple Gold
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kathleen Keifer's original artworks represent one of the most significant expressions of New California Realism. Keifer brings a fresh perspective to her colorful scenes of everyday ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Pineapple Red
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kathleen Keifer's original artworks represent one of the most significant expressions of New California Realism. Keifer brings a fresh perspective to her colorful scenes of everyday ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Kid - 21st Century, Kid, Red, Blue, Contemporary, Figurative
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
Kid, 2007
Acrylic on canvas (signed on reverse)
39 3/8 H x 6 11/16 W in.
100 H x 17 W cm
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Canvas
20th Italian Oil Painting trompe l'oeil Studio Interior Palm Tree Realist Museum
By Andrea Vizzini
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original late 20th Century realist interior scene by Italian artist Andrea Vizzini.
This important work was exhibited at The Anderson Gallery an...
Category
1980s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Plywood, Oil
"Engine 101" Dalmatian NYFD Super realism Oil on Canvas, 2020 Fantasy painting
Located in Southampton, NY
When viewing a painting by Matthew Grabelsky you can immediately see the great technical skill required, the sense of humor and the concept of the pa...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Hard Winter's Journey
By John Nicholas Pace
Located in Soquel, CA
Somber depiction of Native Americans in winter by John Pace (American, 1930-2006). Acrylic on canvas. Signed "John Pace" in the lower right corner. Presented in a wood slat frame with the edges painted black. Canvas size: 30"H x 40"W. Framed, 30.5"H x 40.5"W. 2"D. A study of a work by Howard Terpning.
John Pace (American, 1930-2006) was an artist from California, known for paintings of Western scenes and Native Americans.
Christal Pace had this to say about her Grandfather: "My Grandfather John Pace was a distinguished, passionate man with a variety of skills. My dad and Uncle Nick are both great artists, but Grandfather ran the show. My Grandfather was incredibley charismatic and smart. The Grand-father, as we call him, dabled in many things throughout his life. He served in the war, drove racecars, had a knack for gambling, poker and black jack, and painted occasionally.
His first wife was Native American, my dad's mom. She passed when my dad was only 14. When my dad met my mom he was excited to learn she too was California Indian...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Canvas
"Plumed, " Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Alexandra Manukyan's "Plumed" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a female face in profile with a white feather hanging from her dark...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Linen, Oil
Figure, Volcano
By Ian Hornak
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 Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
"Baker's Dozen", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Dianne L. Massey Dunbar's (US based) "Baker's Dozen" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts twelve glazed donuts in a white pastry box.
About the artist:
When Dianne Massey...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"Mucca", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Ali Ghassan's "Mucca" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a black and white cow with a red ear tag and a yellow background.
About the Arti...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"Vaca", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Ali Ghassan's "Vaca" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a black and white cow with yellow and blue graffiti in the background.
About the ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"Clam Shells and Their Shadows" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Emma Hirst (US based) "Clam Shells and Their Shadows" is an oil painting that depicts an interior still life with six clam shells laid out on a white surfac...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
China - 21st Century, Flag, Red, Pink, White, Great Wall of China, Pagoda
By Mihai Florea
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
China, 2010
Oil on canvas (Signed, front right middle)
14.96 H x 18.11 W in.
38 H x 46 W cm.
The contemporary society is seen as an "extra-wrapped" society by the artist Mihai Flore...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"Glow, " Oil Painting
By Karen Offutt
Located in Denver, CO
Karen Offutt's "Glow" is an original, handmade painting that depicts a close up view of a feminine face with her eyes closed as her necklace and alabaster skin reflect brightly again...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
"Keeping Floating", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Pegah Samaie's (CA based) "Keeping Floating" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts two pink and fuchsia colored origami boats floating in a b...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
"Flying Machine: Monument to an Uprising, " Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Gregory Block's (US based) "Flying Machine: Monument to an Uprising" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts yellow and green reeds of Sweet ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
"Where is Home?", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Pegah Samaie's (CA based) "Where is Home?" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a reclining nude woman, wrapped in a white fabric, gently to...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
"Fun Size, " Acrylic painting
By Shan Fannin
Located in Denver, CO
Shan Fannin's (US based) "Fun Size" is an acrylic painting that depicts the closeup view of a red and yellow Volkswagen van hood
Born 1969 in Californi...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Board, Acrylic
"Locked, " Oil Painting
By Karen Offutt
Located in Denver, CO
Karen Offutt's "Locked" is an original, handmade painting that depicts a close up view of a feminine face at three quarters view, her brown hair frames her porcelain face.
About th...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Raindrops", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Dianne L. Massey Dunbar's (US based) "Raindrops" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a cascading pattern of ripples in a puddle from a heavy rainfall.
About the art...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Repose" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Emma Hirst (US based) "Repose" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a black and yellow butterfly perched on a white background peacefully.
...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
Weightless, Timeless: Oil Painting of Two Women Swimming in Pool
By Samantha French
Located in Hudson, NY
Horizontal figurative photo-realist painting of women swimming in an aqua blue pool
"Weightless, Timeless," painted by Hudson Valley artist, Samantha French, is 2019
oil on canvas, 48 x 60 inches
Sides are cleanly painted white so additional framing is optional
Excellent condition and ready to hang as is
This photorealist figurative painting captures a peaceful water scene of a women leisurely floating in a crisp, aqua blue pool. The sunlight reflecting off their sun kissed skin complements the cool color palette, making for a serene visual experience. The brush work is highly detailed with little texture (impasto) on the surface. The horizontal painting on canvas is currently unframed and has clean, white painted sides, so additional framing is optional.
About the Artist:
Born and raised in north central Minnesota, Samantha French graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2005. French’s current body of work explores the idea of escape, the tranquility and nostalgia for the lazy summer days of her childhood. The series is inspired by Samantha’s own reflections and memories of her childhood summers spent in the lakes of Northern Minnesota. French actively exhibits her paintings and is included in many private and public collections throughout the country while her work has garnered extensive international and national press. She is a full-time painter and keeps a studio in New York’s Hudson Valley.
"My current body of work is focused on swimmers underwater and above. Using vague yet consuming memories from my childhood summers spent immersed in the tepid lakes of northern Minnesota, I attempt to recreate the quiet tranquility of water and nature; of days spent sinking and floating, still and peaceful. These paintings are a link to my home and continual search for the feeling of the sun on my face and warm summer days at the lake. They are my escape, a subtle reprieve from the day-to-day. At the same time, I am drawn to an idealistic time before my own, where swim caps and wool swimsuits were commonplace. This combination of memory, observation and photography has allowed me to preserve the transitory qualities of water and remembrance."
Artist Resume:
2019 Winter Swim, Rubine Red...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Photorealist figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist figurative paintings 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 paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Gregory Block, Bruce Adams, James Van Fossan, and Mia Bergeron. 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 figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 5 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative paintings 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 $228 and tops out at $100,000, while the average work sells for $3,000.