Photorealist Photography
PHOTOREALISM
A direct challenge to Abstract Expressionism’s subjectivity and gestural vigor, Photorealism was informed by the Pop predilection for representational imagery, popular iconography and tools, like projectors and airbrushes, borrowed from the worlds of commercial art and design.
Whether gritty or gleaming, the subject matter favored by Photorealists is instantly, if vaguely, familiar. It’s the stuff of yellowing snapshots and fugitive memories. The bland and the garish alike flicker between crystal-clear reality and dreamy illusion, inviting the viewer to contemplate a single moment rather than igniting a story.
The virtues of the “photo” in Photorealist art — infused as they are with dazzling qualities that are easily blurred in reproduction — are as elusive as they are allusive. “Much Photorealist painting has the vacuity of proportion and intent of an idiot-savant, long on look and short on personal timbre,” John Arthur wrote (rather admiringly) in the catalogue essay for Realism/Photorealism, a 1980 exhibition at the Philbrook Museum of Art, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At its best, Photorealism is a perpetually paused tug-of-war between the sacred and the profane, the general and the specific, the record and the object.
“Robert Bechtle invented Photorealism, in 1963,” says veteran art dealer Louis Meisel. “He took a picture of himself in the mirror with the car outside and then painted it. That was the first one.”
The meaning of the term, which began for Meisel as “a superficial way of defining and promoting a group of painters,” evolved with time, and the core group of Photorealists slowly expanded to include younger artists who traded Rolleiflexes for 60-megapixel cameras, using advanced digital technology to create paintings that transcend the detail of conventional photographs.
On 1stDibs, the collection of Photorealist art includes work by Richard Estes, Ralph Goings, Chuck Close, Audrey Flack, Charles Bell and others.
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Style: Photorealist
Mermaid Angel - underwater photograph - print on paper 26" x 35"
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.
Digital archival pigment print on ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Winter Fishing - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 25" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater nude photograph of a young woman caught in fishing net.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with met...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
12 Photos (Magenta and Yellow) - Large Scale Textural Photographs
By Bill Clark
Located in Soquel, CA
12 Photos (Magenta and Yellow) - Large Scale Textural Photographs
Series of detailed macro photos by Bill Clark (American, 20th Century). This set of photos shows several textured a...
Category
1990s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Sant'Eufemia
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Santa Eufemia church - Milan (Italy).
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works bet...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
12 Photos (Graffiti and Stripes) - Large Scale Textural Photographs
By Bill Clark
Located in Soquel, CA
12 Photos (Graffiti and Stripes) - Large Scale Textural Photographs
Series of detailed macro photos by Bill Clark (American, 20th Century). This set of photos shows several textured...
Category
1990s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Black Paint Splatters - Large Scale Textural Photograph
By Bill Clark
Located in Soquel, CA
White Paint Splatters - Large Scale Textural Photograph
Detailed macro photo by Bill Clark (American, 20th Century). Clark has taken a photograph of white painted concrete with a sp...
Category
1990s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Painted Concrete - Large Scale Textural Photograph
By Bill Clark
Located in Soquel, CA
Painted Concrete - Large Scale Textural Photograph
Detailed macro photo by Bill Clark (American, 20th Century). Clark has taken a photograph of concrete that has been painted a few ...
Category
1990s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Raindancer - archival pigment print - 35х24"
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 Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Scratched Paint - Large Scale Textural Photograph
By Bill Clark
Located in Soquel, CA
White Paint Splatters - Large Scale Textural Photograph
Detailed macro photo by Bill Clark (American, 20th Century). Clark has taken a photograph of heavily painted concrete that ha...
Category
1990s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
White Paint Splatters - Large Scale Abstract Textural Photograph
By Bill Clark
Located in Soquel, CA
White Paint Splatters - Large Scale Textural Photograph
Detailed macro photo by Bill Clark (American, 20th Century). Clark has taken a photograph of heavily painted concrete, with w...
Category
1990s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
"Polk Street" Large Scale Textural Photograph San Francisco Abstract
By Bill Clark
Located in Soquel, CA
"Polk" Large Scale Textural Photograph
Detailed macro photo by Bill Clark (American, 20th Century). Clark has taken a photograph of heavily painted concrete. The paint is bold yello...
Category
1990s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
San Satiro Bramante
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Santa Maria church - San Satiro.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 1
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 8
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 2 - Roma - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 2 composed of 5 Gallery Print 30x40 cm
This is an exceptional offer that we are presenting today. For almost four years, here on 1stdibs, a...
Category
1950s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Magoanine Verde, Untitled 5
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Magoanine Verde started in 2023 as a photographic project - still in process - about the conditions in which some part of the Magoanine “A” neighborhood has been living in recent years, after repeated rainfall. From the initial visits, I decided to document photographically certain areas, every available Thursday.
Magoanine "A" is a suburban neighborhood, located a few kilometers from Maputo City, Capital of Mozambique. Rainwater forced the withdrawal of the inhabitants who, for several decades, have been settling on the banks of what was once a river. From the beginning of the establishment (or restoration) of the rise in water levels, the population demanded compensation from the Government for what had happened. However, after several attempts to study the case, experts came to the conclusion that the waters did not invade people's homes, but only resumed their course and space (habitat).
Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 5
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 7
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Magoanine Verde, Untitled 1
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Magoanine Verde started in 2023 as a photogr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Magoanine Verde, Untitled 2
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Magoanine Verde started in 2023 as a photographic project - still in process - about the conditions in which some part of the Magoanine “A” neighborhood has been living in recent years, after repeated rainfall. From the initial visits, I decided to document photographically certain areas, every available Thursday.
Magoanine "A" is a suburban neighborhood, located a few kilometers from Maputo City, Capital of Mozambique. Rainwater forced the withdrawal of the inhabitants who, for several decades, have been settling on the banks of what was once a river. From the beginning of the establishment (or restoration) of the rise in water levels, the population demanded compensation from the Government for what had happened. However, after several attempts to study the case, experts came to the conclusion that the waters did not invade people's homes, but only resumed their course and space (habitat).
Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Magoanine Verde, Untitled 3
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Magoanine Verde started in 2023 as a photogr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Ann Richards and Dolly Parton in Austin Texas by Scott Newton
Located in Austin, US
Texan politician and former Texas governor, Ann Richards with Dolly Parton taken at the Driskill Hotel, Austin Texas in 1982 by photographer Scott Newton
Photographers notes: We wer...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 2 - Roma - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 2 composed of 5 Gallery Print 30x40 cm
This is an exceptional offer that we are presenting today. For almost four years, here on 1stdibs, a...
Category
1950s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 2 - Roma - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 2 composed of 5 Gallery Print 30x40 cm
This is an exceptional offer that we are presenting today. For almost four years, here on 1stdibs, a...
Category
1950s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 2 - Roma - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 2 composed of 5 Gallery Print 30x40 cm
This is an exceptional offer that we are presenting today. For almost four years, here on 1stdibs, a...
Category
1950s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Mike Tyson - Stampa su carta in bianco e nero
Located in Napoli, IT
Stampa su carta in bianco e nero del pugile Mike Tyson, con cornice
Category
1970s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Paper, Monoprint
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 2 - Roma - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 2 composed of 5 Gallery Print 30x40 cm
This is an exceptional offer that we are presenting today. For almost four years, here on 1stdibs, a...
Category
1950s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 2
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Sweet Dream - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 25" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white (sepia) photograph of a naked young woman covered with tulle.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist.
L...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
San Carlo
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the San Carlo Church of Milan.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He l...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Magoanine Verde, Untitled 8
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Magoanine Verde started in 2023 as a photogr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Magoanine Verde, Untitled 4
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Magoanine Verde started in 2023 as a photogr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 6
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Magoanine Verde, Untitled 7
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Magoanine Verde started in 2023 as a photogr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 3
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 4
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
Magoanine Verde, Untitled 6
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Magoanine Verde started in 2023 as a photogr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Digital
San Maurizio
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the San Maurizio Church of Milan.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. H...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Milano Palazzo Reale
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Royal Palace of Milan.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Moss Landing - 1965 Original Black and White Photograph
Located in Soquel, CA
Moss Landing - 1965 Original Black and White Photograph
Original black and white photograph of Moss Landing in 1965 by Al Weber (American, 1930-2016). The photograph shows Moss Land...
Category
1960s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper
San Pietro
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken at San Pietro - Rome
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works be...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Pantheon
Located in Milano, MI
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works between Milan and Barcelona. He bega...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Centrale
Located in Milano, MI
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works between Milan and Barcelona. He bega...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Tori Amos 1994 Vintage 12"x16" Darkroom Print by Jake Chessum
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Oginal hand-printed 12x16” darkroom vintage print from photographer Jake Chessum of Tori Amos. Printed by Jake in the 90's, at the time of the photo shoot.
Jake recalls the session...
Category
1990s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Beastie Boys Adam Yauch MCA Vintage Darkroom Print by Jake Chessum
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Original hand-printed vintage print from photographer Jake Chessum of Beastie Boys Adam Yauch, know as MCA, playing double bass in the studio in 1994.
Printed by Jake back in the d...
Category
1990s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Tori Amos Vintage Print 12"x16" by Jake Chessum
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Original hand-printed vintage 12x16” darkroom print from photographer Jake Chessum of Tori Amos. Printed by Jake in the 90's, at the time of the photo shoot.
Jake recalls the sessio...
Category
1990s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
A Course in Miracles
By Audrey Flack
Located in Fairlawn, OH
A Course in Miracles
Dye transfer photograph, 1978
From: 12 Photographs: 1973-1983, Plate 7 of 12
Signed in ink
Edition: 50, this example an Artist's Proof (7/10)
Printer: Guy Stri...
Category
1970s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Dye Transfer
Cold Song III - underwater photograph - archival pigment print
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 Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Time to Save
By Audrey Flack
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Time to Save
From: 12 Photographs: 1973-1983,
Plate 8 of 12
Dye transfer photograph, 1979
Signed in ink
Edition: 50, this example an Artist's Proof (7/10)
Printer: Guy Stricherz
Pu...
Category
1970s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Dye Transfer
Dragon Mouth Trip - underwater black&white nude photograph - archival print
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater black and white nude photograph of a model diving in a swimming pool
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival pa...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Blue Mirror - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 17.5 x 23"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater nude photograph of a beautiful young woman diving in the pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper w...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Deep Anesthesia - underwater nude photograph - archival print 17 x 23.5"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a nude model diving in blue light on a black background.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archiva...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 1 - New York - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 1 composed of 5 Gallery Print 30x40 cm
This is an exceptional offer that we are presenting today. For almost four years, here on 1stdibs, a...
Category
1950s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Henry Miller And Eve Miller On Partington Ridge - 1954 Original Photograph
Located in Soquel, CA
"Henry And Eve Miller On Partington Ridge" - 1954 Original Photograph
1954 original black and white silver gelatin photograph of Henry and Eve Miller at their house on Partington Ri...
Category
1950s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Ink, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Richard Blair Photograph "Shipwrecked Boat - Tomales Bay" c.2000
Located in San Francisco, CA
Richard Blair Photograph "Shipwrecked Boat - Tomales Bay" c.2000
Tomales Bay is North or San Francisco. An absolutely beautiful and pristine area of remote wilderness.
Fine black a...
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Iconics by Fabrizio La Torre - Set # 1 - New York - 1956 - Vintage Photographs
Located in Brussels, BE
Artworks sold in perfect condition : Set # 1 composed of 5 Gallery Print 30x40 cm
This is an exceptional offer that we are presenting today. For almost four years, here on 1stdibs, a...
Category
1950s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
'SCIMPANZE' WITH EYES - Black and white photograph Italy 1970s
Located in Napoli, IT
Small Photograph on photographic paper titled "Chimpanzee with Glasses" on ivory paper passpartu' and a 1970s briar frame
Category
1970s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
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 Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Photorealist photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist photography available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, red, pink, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Alex Sher, Allan Tannenbaum, Lynn Goldsmith, and Jake Chessum. Frequently made by artists working with Pigment Print, and Archival Pigment Print and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Photorealist photography, so small editions measuring 5.5 inches across are also available. Prices for photography made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $11 and tops out at $200,247, while the average work sells for $1,930.