Realist Figurative Paintings
REALIST STYLE
Realist art attempts to portray its subject matter without artifice. Similar to naturalism, authentic realist paintings and prints see an integration of true-to-life colors, meticulous detail and linear perspectives for accurate portrayals of the world.
Work that involves illusionistic techniques of realism dates back to the classical world, such as the deceptive trompe l’oeil used since ancient Greece. Art like this became especially popular in the 17th century when Dutch artists like Evert Collier painted objects that appeared real enough to touch. Realism as an artistic movement, however, usually refers to 19th-century French realist artists such as Honoré Daumier exploring social and political issues in biting lithographic prints, while the likes of Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet painting people — particularly the working class — with all their imperfections, navigating everyday urban life. This was a response to the dominant academic art tradition that favored grand paintings of myth and history.
By the turn of the 20th century, European artists, such as the Pre-Raphaelites, were experimenting with nearly photographic realism in their work, as seen in the attention to every botanical attribute of the flowers surrounding the drowned Ophelia painted by English artist John Everett Millais.
Although abstraction was the guiding style of 20th-century art, the realism trend in American modern art endured in Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and other artists’ depictions of the complexities of the human experience. In the late 1960s, Photorealism emerged with artists like Chuck Close and Richard Estes giving their paintings the precision of a frame of film.
Contemporary artists such as Jordan Casteel, LaToya Ruby Frazier and Aliza Nisenbaum are now using the unvarnished realist approach for honest representations of people and their worlds. Alongside traditional mediums, technology such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and immersive installations are helping artists create new sensations of realism in art.
Find authentic realist paintings, sculptures, prints and more art on 1stDibs.
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Style: Realist
Barbie
Located in Zofingen, AG
This year, the movie "Barbie" made quite a buzz. I haven't watched it.
I wanted to, but it just didn't happen. This painting is my impression of the unwatched...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
"Princess III" Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Vasily Ryabchenko's "Princess III," created in 2023, is an evocative oil on canvas that captures the essence of familial intimacy within an abstract landscape. This handmade original...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
The boxer girl
Located in Zofingen, AG
"..yesterday I got into a fight with a man who started beating his eighth-grade son for a deuce in mathematics. A pair of bruises on my face, my hands were damaged, but I won, 5 year...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Stromboli Pizza, Oil Painting
By Nick Savides
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A delivery person with a bright green helmet stands outside Stromboli Pizza in East Village, giving the impression of an otherworldly visitor. Inside, a woman busies herself with preparing the food behind the counter. The red and orange bar stools...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
No Regrets
Located in Zofingen, AG
She is cool, independent, determined, always ready for changes, having everything she need in her backpack. She stops only for a second to light a cigarette and turns around. Not reg...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"The Red Helen on Shades of Lemon & Cherry" Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Lindsey Kustusch's "The Red Helen on Shades of Lemon & Cherry" is an original, handcrafted oil on wood panel artwork, measuring 12 x 12 x 1.50 inches. This contemporary 2023 piece ar...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
"The Monarch on Shades of Olive & Stone" Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Lindsey Kustusch's "The Monarch on Shades of Olive & Stone" is an original handmade oil on wood panel artwork, measuring 12 x 12 x 1.50 inches. This 2023 piece is a primary market it...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
Little One
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Little One" is a touching and evocative artwork crafted by the talented Eyitayo Alagbe. This poignant piece captures the innocence, wonder, and vulnerability of childhood through th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic
"Warm Evening Autumn, " Original Autumn Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Warm Evening, Autumn" by Shawn Krueger (United States) is a handmade landscape oil painting that is painted on a cradled board and ready to hang. Krueger depicts trees basking in warm evening light.
Shawn Krueger, born 1973, is a contemporary landscape painter whose work sits comfortably in both the American Tonalist and Arts & Crafts traditions. Shawn received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Calvin College in 1998, studying under Chris Stoffel...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Noumena" - Original Oil of Woman with Sculpture by Brad Davis, Intriguing Art
By Brad Davis
Located in Denver, CO
Brad Davis's "Noumena" (2024) is a compelling oil on wood panel painting, framed to dimensions of 34 x 26 inches, capturing a unique interplay between a real woman and a sculptural b...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
"Secret Passage" - Original Oil Seascape by Adam Hall, Dynamic Wave Art
By Adam Hall
Located in Denver, CO
"Secret Passage" by Adam Hall, a 2023 oil on panel painting, measures 24 x 24 inches with a sophisticated frame extending to 31 x 31 inches. This artwork captivates with its portraya...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
"The Gunnison Sage-Grouse" Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Lindsey Kustusch's "The Gunnison Sage-Grouse" is a vibrant and textured handmade original oil on wood panel artwork, with dimensions of 18 x 18 x 1.50 inches. Created in 2023, this p...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
Contemporary portrait "Together"
Located in Zofingen, AG
The memory of the festive Coca-Cola commercial came to mind, where a truck adorned with holiday lights rushes along the night road.
There's no festive truck...
Only the night and the...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Cotton Canvas, Acrylic
Wrong Side of the Tracks, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Mark Harrison's (UK based) "Wrong Side of the Tracks" is an oil painting that depicts an illuminated storefront on the outskirts of a city with a towering night skyline in the the ba...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Summer in Guadeloupe
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure
FREE Shipping Worldwide
Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria
This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Love and Music
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
"Love and Music," a captivating artwork by the talented artist Emeka Ndibam, presents a mesmerizing portrayal of the profound bond between two individuals...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Charcoal, Acrylic
"Last Rose Buds From My Garden, " Still Life Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Yvonne Melchers' "Last Rose Buds From My Garden" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts two fully blossomed pink roses that compliment their green leaves in a glass vase with a plain white background.
Artist Yvonne Melchers showcases her mastery of light and form in her sumptuously detailed paintings of subjects both intimate and universal. Whether painting a scene from her beloved North Sea Shore, the portrait of a strong but vulnerable young man dressed for the historical Siena Palio round, or the rumpled sheets and textures of a Venice hotel room, Melchers infuses each with a glow that speaks of the real and the ethereal. Precise technical skills join a rich historical palette and striking compositions in paintings that leave an indelible impression. (2019, Alessandro Tomassetti...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
European Cityscape #1
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork "European Cityscape" c. 1990 is a oil painting on hard board by Argentinian artist Henry D. Ramirez. It is signed at the lower left corner by the artist. The hard board ...
Category
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
“LAGUNA LA INESPERADA “. Contemporary, realism, figurative, oil, landscape, wate
Located in MADRID, ES
Contemporary, realism, figurative, oil, landscapa, waterscape, pastel colors, earth colors
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Wood, Oil
Chinese Contemporary Art by Su Yu - Cheers to our Lunch
By Su Yu
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas
Su Yu is a Chinese artist born in 1987 who lives & works in Beijing in China. He was an old student of prestigious art teachers as Shi Liang & Chen Danqing at Oil Pain...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Chinese Contemporary Art by Su Yu - Profession of Faith
By Su Yu
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas
Su Yu is a Chinese artist born in 1987 who lives & works in Beijing in China. He was an old student of prestigious art teachers as Shi Liang & Chen Danqing...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Denali" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Raymond Bonilla's (US based) "Denali" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a foothill landscape as the morning light hits the mountain range.
About the Artist:
Ra...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
"A Mirror to Presence" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Ken Cunningham's "A Mirror to Presence" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a woman holding a red apple.
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Contemporary portrait "In the Wood"
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've interwoven the essence of the human spirit with the untamed beauty of the natural world. Using acrylics, I captured a moment of silent contemplation, enveloped...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Cabane Landscape Pyrenees original realist watercolor painting
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Landscape Pyrenees original realist watercolor painting
Original work on paper by the Spanish artist CABANE
Joaquin Cabene. 1922/1993
Painter and watercolorist, Joaquim Cabané trave...
Category
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Watercolor
Chinese Contemporary Art by Su Yu - We are Sojourners 3
By Su Yu
Located in Paris, IDF
Oil on canvas
This painting bellows to the serie "We are Sejourners".
Total dimension of the serie: 200 x 1100 cm
Total price of the serie: $78,000
Su Yu is a Chinese artist born i...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Grapeshot, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist David Shepherd paints a hyperrealistic portrait of a woman adorned with white flowers. "The eye is like a fingerprint, it uniquely identifies us," says...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
1938 Cuban Illustration Gouache Painting Carteles Magazine Andres Garcia Benitez
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original illustration by Cuban artist Andres Garcia Benitez which was used for the cover of the iconic Carteles magazine in November of 1938.
...
Category
1930s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Watercolor, Gouache, Illustration Board
"I Feel Useful" Original oil painting of Sandwich on Red
Located in Denver, CO
Felicia Forte's painting "I Feel Useful" created in 2016 features a sandwich on a red background.
Felicia attended the Art Students League of New York in 2006, moving next to San F...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Snowy Road To The Barn, " Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Samantha Buller's (US based) "Snowy Road To The Barn" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a road stretching past a red hued Gambrel Roofed ...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Antoni Costa Woman original figurative drawing painting
By A. Costa
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
woman. original figurative academician drawing painting. FRAMED
Barcelona, 1904 - Barcelona, 1965
It was formed in Buenos Aires, in the Circle of San Lucas of Barcelona and the FAD...
Category
1960s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Carbon Pencil
"Gardenia on a Blue Table, " Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Linda Tracey Brandon's (US based) "Gardenia on a Blue Table" is an oil painting that depicts a bouquet of blooming White Gardenias with leaves sit...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
"Nest IV, " Acrylic Painting
Located in Denver, CO
This acrylic painting, titled "Nest IV," is an original creation by Ifeoluwa Alade, an artist based in Nigeria. The handmade piece showcases a Nigerian female model adorned with rose...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Canvas
Autumn Breeze II, Figurative oil painting, woman in red orange dress
By Al Saralis
Located in Dallas, TX
Al Saralis – Autumn Breeze II (2025) Oil on canvas, 59 x 51 inches (150 x 130 cm)
This evocative oil painting by British artist Al Saralis captures a solitary figure enveloped in th...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Cotton Canvas, Oil
'Dreamtime'
Located in Paris, FR
Ray Richardson is a contemporary British artist known for his cinematic paintings. The artist employs icons of working-class London, including bull terriers, soccer pitches, and grit...
Category
Early 2000s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Pencil
Ewaoluwa (The Beauty of God)
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Her name is Ewaoluwa (The Beauty of God). Meaning the beauty of God in Yoruba origin located in western Nigeria. God created beauty in the loveliness of his nature.
The beauty of Go...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Charcoal, Acrylic
"Alba's Mirror" Original Oil and Acrylic Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Please note: If you live outside of the United States, we will ship the painting in a tube.
Presenting "Alba's Mirror" by Conrado López, an original handmade painting created in 20...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas, Acrylic
Green conversation oil/canvas, 90x70 cm, 2021
By Igor Maikov
Located in Riga, LV
Igor Maikov (1966)
Education:
1981 - 1984 The Art Academy of Latvia
1973 - 1983 Salaspils Primary and Secondary School
Exhibitions:
1994 - Group Exhibition «Rol-Art», Latvia
...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'In the Kitchen', 19th Century Flemish Genre Painting
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Style of Richard Brakenburgh (Dutch 1650-1702) and painted circa 1820.
Displayed in a shot silk mat with gilded slip within an 18th century, Dutch ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Paper, Oil
"Remember the Catbird Seat" Original oil painting
Located in Denver, CO
Felicia Forte's painting "Remember the Catbird Seat" created in 2016 features a yellow sticky tab on a two toned green background.
Felicia attended the Art Students League of New Y...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Innocent Love
Located in Burlingame, CA
'Innocent Love' is a masterfully painted oil on panel, that features a young topless woman with a tattoo on her arm that read "kiss my ass". She is draped in a blanket and holding a ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
"Pot Plants" Original Oil and Acrylic Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Conrado López's "Pot Plants," a 2023 artwork, is a masterful blend of acrylic and oil on a canvas measuring 5 x 5 inches (12.70 x 12.70 cm). The framed size brings its dimensions to ...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
"Remember Date Night" Original oil painting
Located in Denver, CO
Felicia Forte's painting "Remember Date Night" created in 2016 features a yellow sticky tab on a pink, red and yellow zig zag background.
Felicia attended the Art Students League o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
19th Century French Academic Study of a Hand
Located in SANTA FE, NM
French Academic Study of a Hand
Circa 1900
Oil on Cardboard
13 3/8 x 8 3/8 (19 1/8 x 14 1/8 frame) inches
Signed lower left "M. Granet"
A very finely...
Category
Early 1900s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Cardboard
"The Sun Before the Storm" - Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Michelle Condrat's (US based) oil painting "The Sun Before the Storm" is an original, homemade oil painting that depicts a scenic outlook from a rocky ledge with a deep blue sky.
Ab...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
Ayinke (Maverick Series)
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
AYINKE has always been a lady determined for growth, greatness, and extraordinary ambition. Being a lady of great expectations, the journey to her desired destination made her a loner full of joy, love, and happiness. Her extraordinary ability has always been the source of her happiness.
AYINKE has never regretted her decision to follow her dreams. Giving up had never been an option for her. Everyone has that ability that enables one to keep pushing further and closer to the dreamland.
Shipping Procedure
Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria
This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
About Artist
Taiwo Samuel Olutimileyin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
I always wanted to be a meek girl
Located in Zofingen, AG
-- I always wanted to be a meek girl, - Polina said thoughtfully and threw her hands in boxing gloves on her knees. A pause, just a scratch of the marker on paper. Artist wait the co...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
The Fog
Located in Zofingen, AG
Some time ago Evgeniy bet with his good friend that he could paint a painting where about half of it would be pure white primer but painting will look finished anyway. So this story ...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Tempera, Wood Panel
Steeltown, Original Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Mark Harrison's (UK based) "Steeltown" is an oil painting that depicts a factory with smokestacks contrasted by a city skyline at night.
Sometimes they are silent epic landscapes o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Gloria
By Mian Situ
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist.
Description
Mian Situ portrays his wife, Gloria, as a woman of beauty, dignity, culture and grace. She seems to magical...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Recomposed No. 1" (2019) By Jon Doran, Original Oil painting
By Jon Doran
Located in Denver, CO
Jon Doran's (UK based) "Recomposed No. 1" is an oil painting created in 2019 and it depicts white and pink roses on a white background.
Artist statement:
"...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Mid Century Still-Life with Sculpture of Young Boy
By Leila Sullivan
Located in Soquel, CA
Exceptionally realistic still life of a bust of a young fisherman in the style of Claude Buck by Leila Sullivan (American, 1903-1998), who studied with Claude Buck for 5 years and Ma...
Category
Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Whispers of the Soul 4
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure
FREE Shipping Worldwide
Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria
This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Whispers of the Soul 3
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure
FREE Shipping Worldwide
Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria
This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Help is Coming
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
This striking artwork captures the essence of a shirtless young man in a moment of profound contemplation. His gaze, both pained and optimistic, fixated upon an unseen horizon, offers a captivating entry point into the complex emotional narrative that underlies the piece.
Salaudeen's use of color is masterful, drawing viewers' eyes immediately to the central figure. The young man's skin is rendered in a palette of subtle, earthy tones, emphasizing his vulnerability and humanity. The absence of a shirt lays bare his raw emotions and exposes the vulnerability we all share when facing adversity.
However, it is the juxtaposition of the man's countenance that truly captivates the viewer. The artist has masterfully crafted an expression that is simultaneously heavy with the weight of the world and imbued with an undeniable glimmer of hope. The furrowed brow and furrowed lips are etched with the lines of a thousand struggles, yet his eyes betray a flicker of optimism. This duality is what makes "Help is Coming" so compelling; it encapsulates the human experience of confronting adversity, where pain and hope often intermingle in the most profound ways.
The title, "Help is Coming," adds depth to the narrative woven into the piece. It suggests that, despite the pain etched onto the young man's face, there is a belief in a brighter future, a conviction that support and relief are on the horizon. This message resonates with viewers on a universal level, serving as a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is the potential for change and improvement.
Salaudeen's technique also deserves special mention. His meticulous attention to detail is evident in the fine lines and textures that make the young man's skin seem almost tangible. The background, although abstract and dreamlike, subtly hints at the broader context of the man's struggles, inviting viewers to interpret the piece through their own experiences and perspectives.
"Help is Coming" is more than just a static image; it is a visual poem that speaks to the shared human experience of pain, resilience, and hope. It encourages us to reflect on our own journeys, reminding us that, no matter how daunting the challenges we face, there is always the potential for relief and redemption.
In a world often filled with chaos and uncertainty, art has the power to provide solace and inspiration. Abdulateef Salaudeen...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Passive Sacrifice, " Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Che Leviathan (US based) "Passive Sacrifice" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a white horse in profile, with thick white mane, bowing i...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
"Together" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Raymond Bonilla's "Together" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a car trunk full of groceries.
About the Artist:
Raymond Bonilla is a nati...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Balance
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist
Artist Statement
“This painting is about the yearning to find balance in life. Balance is the key to everything. What we do, think, say, eat and feel, all require awareness. Through this awareness, we can grow and be awake. The books on the model’s head represent the expectations put upon women.
—Natalia Fabia...
Category
2010s Realist Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Realist figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Realist 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, red, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Su Yu, Janusz Szpyt, JC Spock, and Matt Talbert. 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 Realist figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 0.5 inches across are also available.