Figurative Paintings
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1940s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Mixed Media
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Late 20th Century American Realist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Illustration Board
2010s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Linen, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Mid-20th Century American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1980s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1950s American Realist Figurative Paintings
India Ink, Laid Paper
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Gesso, Charcoal
2010s Abstract Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Late 20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil, Archival Paper
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Panel
2010s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Canvas
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Cotton Canvas
1930s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Tempera
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Linen, Ink, Mixed Media
Late 20th Century Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil, Vellum
Mid-20th Century Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Cardboard, Pencil, Color Pencil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
1970s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 2000s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Oil
Mid-19th Century American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
2010s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s Abstract Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Geometric Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Oil Pastel, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Artist Comments
"I endeavor to make paintings that are calming and pleasurable to look at," says artist David Shepherd. In this hyperrealistic painting of a close-up view of an eye framed by delicate flowers, David investigates taking people out of gender. "Today and in the future, more and more people will use science to change themselves," says David. "The viewer cannot know if the model is a man or woman, a boy or girl. Regardless of this, all people are beautiful. Our eyes are a window to our souls, which is the truth of who we are."
About the Artist
Canadian artist David Shepherd fuses techniques from both old and modern masters to create contemporary interpretations of the human form. While offering strong nods to pop art and cubism, the work remains grounded by David’s training in 19th Century academic realism. Combining discrete techniques within a single tableau is initially jarring to the viewer, creating an unexpected visual complexity in the work and demonstrating the artist’s breadth of skills. “I think in the future we will be much more interested in works of art that show a mastery of multiple styles,” says David. Each artwork effectually suggests the surreal nature of human existence within a convoluted modern society.
Words that describe this painting: flowers, floral, portrait, child, hyperrealism, photorealism, face, still life, political, gender, transition, controversial, eye, people, flora, realism, representational, contemporary, oil painting, white
Amor Fati...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Figurative Paintings
Oil
2010s Abstract Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1940s American Realist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Figurative Paintings for Sale
Figurative art, as opposed to abstract art, retains features from the observable world in its representational depictions of subject matter. Most commonly, figurative paintings reference and explore the human body, but they can also include landscapes, architecture, plants and animals — all portrayed with realism.
While the oldest figurative art dates back tens of thousands of years to cave wall paintings, figurative works made from observation became especially prominent in the early Renaissance. Artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and other Renaissance masters created naturalistic representations of their subjects.
Pablo Picasso is lauded for laying the foundation for modern figurative art in the 1920s. Although abstracted, this work held a strong connection to representing people and other subjects. Other famous figurative artists include Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. Figurative art in the 20th century would span such diverse genres as Expressionism, Pop art and Surrealism.
Today, a number of figural artists — such as Sedrick Huckaby, Daisy Patton and Eileen Cooper — are making art that uses the human body as its subject.
Because figurative art represents subjects from the real world, natural colors are common in these paintings. A piece of figurative art can be an exciting starting point for setting a tone and creating a color palette in a room.
Browse an extensive collection of figurative paintings on 1stDibs.