Skip to main content

Photorealist Still-life 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.

to
1
8
6
4
4
3
1
4
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
8
14
46
22
21
13
8
8
7
7
1
Style: Photorealist
Artist: Stuart Dunkel
Seahorse and Puppy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel has spent decades refining his hyper-realistic style. He paints realistic imagery based on real-world inspirations. His paintings show that everyday objects can be fasc...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Chinese Desserts - Photorealist Fruit Tart Grapes Cupcake Colorful Oil Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel has spent decades refining his hyper-realistic oil paintings. He paints realistic imagery based on real-world inspirations. His original artworks show that everyday obj...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Sprinkles - Photorealist Chocolate Cupcake Colorful Sprinkles on Purple Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel is an artist, a musician and an author. He has studied music at Boston University, Mannes College of Music, the Juilliard School (Doctorate), and art at the Boston Mus...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

In the Doghouse
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel's original oil paintings are created in a hyper-realistic style. He paints realistic imagery based on real-world inspirations. His paintings show that everyday objects ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Glitter of My Eye - Framed Original Animals and Nature Still LIfe Oil Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel has spent decades refining his hyper-realistic style. He paints realistic imagery based on real-world inspirations. His paintings show that everyday objects can be fasc...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Peach Tart
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel has spent decades refining his hyper-realistic style. He paints realistic imagery based on real-world inspirations. His paintings show that everyday objects can be fasc...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Bag of Marbles - Photorealistic Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel has spent decades refining his hyper-realistic style. He paints realistic imagery based on real world inspirations. His paintings show that the everyday object can be f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Plums
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel has spent decades refining his hyper-realistic style. He paints realistic imagery based on real world inspirations. His paintings show that the everyday object can be f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Related Items
Dog sat amongst Roses, original oil on canvas, Victorian British artist
Located in Nutfield, Surrey
This lovely picture of a dog sat amongst roses is an oil-on-canvas painting that is over one hundred years old, by the English Artist Stanley Berkeley...
Category

19th Century Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

La Vie Est Belle. 2023, oil on canvas, 80x70 cm
Located in Riga, LV
La Vie Est Belle. 2023, oil on canvas, 80x70 cm Works of Liene Liepina are full of life and joy because of photography-like, realistic details on the one hand, and intense and slight...
Category

2010s Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Colorite Spice Rack -- Original Oil Painting -- Please watch attached video
Located in Boca Raton, FL
This painting would look amazing in a modern kitchen. Please see accompanying video. One cannot appreciate this painting on a computer screen; in real life, it is absolutely amazing. Because you cannot appreciate it on a computer screen, our gallery has a unique policy. When purchasing from us, the buyer has sixty days to determine if they want to keep the artwork. If not, the buyer returns to piece to us for full refund, and we pay the shipping both ways! A collector should consider several factors when deciding from whom to purchase artwork online. Check the location of the seller. When one buys from a foreign seller, one also has to consider the problems of getting the piece through Customs. There are often delays and considerable fees to pay in order to import the item. When purchasing from us, we ship the same day and you receive it via FedEx the next day, no problems or hassles. When one purchases from an auction house, one pays a buyer’s premium of anywhere from 23% to 28% over the “hammer price”. So when one “wins” an auction for $20,000, the actual price paid is more like $25,000. By contrast, when purchasing from us, the price agreed to is the price paid by the buyer, no hidden fees. Secondly, when one purchases from an auction house, the buyer pays the packing and shipping fee, which are usually exorbitant. By contrast, when purchasing from us, the price includes packing and shipping. Thirdly, when one purchases from an auction house, the sale is final. If one receives the piece and is not 100% satisfied with it, there is nothing the buyer can do about it. They are stuck with it. By contrast, when purchasing from us, the buyer has sixty days to determine if they want to keep it. If not, the buyer returns to piece to us for full refund, and we pay the shipping both ways. About Mark Schiff -- Animated by photographs that reflect his personal life, Mark Schiff’s paintings are fueled by what makes him happy. Through his open touch and signature blending method, he lends his artistic perception to the original photographic compositions captured on his Leica. Mark’s creative vision has been alive since he was a boy. As a child he spent his summers observing life as he rode the trolley back and forth to art classes at the Pratt Institute. During his future travels to Europe, Mark’s eye for light and photography merged with his passion for painting at the Jeu de Paume in Paris; which triggered his career in photorealism. Mark is well known for painting objects that people can identify and emotionally connect with. His work is distinctly marked by a rich palette and the luminous range of light he paints into his compositions. Each painting is a true extension of his vision and can take up to 200 hours to complete. Mark Schiff’s work has been commissioned by the well-known brands The Hershey Company and Tropicana. His private collectors include A-list celebrities and also corporate collectors in the US and abroad. Possessing a strong philanthropic nature, Mark donates both his time and works to charitable organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Ronald McDonald House, Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Humane Society and the Special Olympics...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

McCormick Mustard - Original Oil Painting by Renowned Photorealist Mark Schiff
Located in Boca Raton, FL
What are your thoughts on this spice rack? One cannot appreciate this painting on a computer screen; in real life, it is absolutely amazing. Because you cannot appreciate it on a computer screen, our gallery has a unique policy. When purchasing from us, the buyer has sixty days to determine if they want to keep the artwork. If not, the buyer returns to piece to us for full refund, and we pay the shipping both ways! A collector should consider several factors when deciding from whom to purchase artwork online. Check the location of the seller. When one buys from a foreign seller, one also has to consider the problems of getting the piece through Customs. There are often delays and considerable fees to pay in order to import the item. When purchasing from us, we ship the same day and you receive it via FedEx the next day, no problems or hassles. When one purchases from an auction house, one pays a buyer’s premium of anywhere from 23% to 28% over the “hammer price”. So when one “wins” an auction for $20,000, the actual price paid is more like $25,000. By contrast, when purchasing from us, the price agreed to is the price paid by the buyer, no hidden fees. Secondly, when one purchases from an auction house, the buyer pays the packing and shipping fee, which are usually exorbitant. By contrast, when purchasing from us, the price includes packing and shipping. Thirdly, when one purchases from an auction house, the sale is final. If one receives the piece and is not 100% satisfied with it, there is nothing the buyer can do about it. They are stuck with it. By contrast, when purchasing from us, the buyer has sixty days to determine if they want to keep it. If not, the buyer returns to piece to us for full refund, and we pay the shipping both ways. About Mark Schiff -- Animated by photographs that reflect his personal life, Mark Schiff’s paintings are fueled by what makes him happy. Through his open touch and signature blending method, he lends his artistic perception to the original photographic compositions captured on his Leica. Mark’s creative vision has been alive since he was a boy. As a child he spent his summers observing life as he rode the trolley back and forth to art classes at the Pratt Institute. During his future travels to Europe, Mark’s eye for light and photography merged with his passion for painting at the Jeu de Paume in Paris; which triggered his career in photorealism. Mark is well known for painting objects that people can identify and emotionally connect with. His work is distinctly marked by a rich palette and the luminous range of light he paints into his compositions. Each painting is a true extension of his vision and can take up to 200 hours to complete. Mark Schiff’s work has been commissioned by the well-known brands The Hershey Company and Tropicana. His private collectors include A-list celebrities and also corporate collectors in the US and abroad. Possessing a strong philanthropic nature, Mark donates both his time and works to charitable organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Ronald McDonald House, Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Humane Society and the Special Olympics. Photorealism is widely viewed as one of this century’s most exciting genres of art. When a photorealistic painting is viewed from afar, it looks like a photograph. Only when getting very close to the art does the viewer realize that it is in fact not a photo, but rather an oil painting. Photorealism can also refer to sculptures. Duane Hanson is known as the greatest photorealistic sculptor of all time. Some of the greatest photorealistic painters include Mark Schiff, Richard Estes, Ralph Goings, Charles Bell and Audrey Flack. Photorealist Mark Schiff was born in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, in a neighborhood known as a kuchalane, a Yiddish word which Schiff defines as a place where everyone (from the Old Country) ended up living on the same street, and most likely knowing each other’s business. His Russian grandfather came to the US before the revolution and both his parents were first generation American. Even at five years of age, Mark showed exceptional talent. In the summer, his mother permitted him to travel by himself on the trolley for art classes at the Pratt institute. He continued studying there until he was eleven and the family moved to Great Neck. Except for a few art classes in high school and playing baritone horn in the band, Mark focused on other things besides art, especially when his mother worried for his financial future, kept insisting “that Jewish boys don’t starve to death.” His father made a good living as a production man in textiles so Mark, who had spent years doing the rounds of knitting mills with his father, decided to major in textile chemistry at North Carolina State. ROTC was mandatory on his campus and he did two years in order to be eligible for officer status. He won the Armed Forces Chemical Association award and thought for sure that he would be assigned chemical work, but instead was made a tank commander and stationed at Fort Knox. Not exactly what his heart yearned for, but a good job awaited him at Sandoz, a Swiss company that made dyestuff. What perfect training for someone who would soon be working in wonderful rich colors on canvas. He went on to receive his MBA degree from Hofstra University, left Sandoz and was hired to sell at a spinning mill. He liked it. In 1976 he joined Bennett Berman Associates and had an opportunity to buy the spinning mill Spun Fibers. But what of art? In the early days, Elsie, his wife of fifty-two years, had a problem with the large amount of space his canvases occupied in their one bedroom apartment. Mark took up photography instead, which only required a small darkroom. Photography was a natural ally for his eventual return to painting in the photorealistic style. It was on his second trip to Europe that Mark fell in love with painting all over again. The impressionistic museum, Jeu de Paume in Paris, renewed his passion and it’s been non-stop since then. Out came the brushes, but this time, he used his love and skill of photography, and built a style based on the photographs he had taken, bringing them to life with paint. Mark was still not painting to sell until in 1990 when someone discovered and desperately wanted his candy bar (Sweet Series) painting. Mark didn’t want to let go of that particular piece, but was finally convinced to sell it and a second candy painting to this ardent art and candy lover. Two years later, Mark was commissioned to make three paintings of this man’s new Ferrari. Some of the artists who have inspired his work are Richard Estes, Sandy Scott, Chuck Close, and Charles Bell. He appreciates the work of Ken Keeley, but unlike Keeley’s hard-lined/tape and ruler style, Mark prefers an open touch, using the blending method. Mark’s subject matters range from candy bars to spice racks to soda cans and soda bottles. He photographs with a Leica M-7 and each painting can take up to 200 or more hours to complete. His palette is rich; his subjects, be it a fire engine or a pretzel cart, take on a luminous quality, always photoreal, but even more beautiful. Mark developed his own technique for working with bottles by painting a canvas all black, so that the transparency of the bottles allows a wonderful range of light to filter through. The same light and reflection can be seen in the black rotary phone...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Reflections Huge Original Oil Painting by Photorealist Mark Schiff
Located in Boca Raton, FL
One cannot appreciate this painting on a computer screen; in real life, it is absolutely amazing. A collector should consider several factors when deciding from whom to purchase artwork online. Check the location of the seller. When one buys from a foreign seller, one also has to consider the problems of getting the piece through Customs. There are often delays and considerable fees to pay in order to import the item. When purchasing from us, we ship the same day and you receive it via FedEx the next day, no problems or hassles. When one purchases from an auction house, one pays a buyer’s premium of anywhere from 23% to 28% over the “hammer price”. So when one “wins” an auction for $20,000, the actual price paid is more like $25,000. By contrast, when purchasing from us, the price agreed to is the price paid by the buyer, no hidden fees. Secondly, when one purchases from an auction house, the buyer pays the packing and shipping fee, which are usually exorbitant. By contrast, when purchasing from us, the price includes packing and shipping. About Mark Schiff -- Animated by photographs that reflect his personal life, Mark Schiff’s paintings are fueled by what makes him happy. Through his open touch and signature blending method, he lends his artistic perception to the original photographic compositions captured on his Leica. Mark’s creative vision has been alive since he was a boy. As a child he spent his summers observing life as he rode the trolley back and forth to art classes at the Pratt Institute. During his future travels to Europe, Mark’s eye for light and photography merged with his passion for painting at the Jeu de Paume in Paris; which triggered his career in photorealism. Mark is well known for painting objects that people can identify and emotionally connect with. His work is distinctly marked by a rich palette and the luminous range of light he paints into his compositions. Each painting is a true extension of his vision and can take up to 200 hours to complete. Mark Schiff’s work has been commissioned by the well-known brands The Hershey Company and Tropicana. His private collectors include A-list celebrities and also corporate collectors in the US and abroad. Possessing a strong philanthropic nature, Mark donates both his time and works to charitable organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Ronald McDonald House, Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Humane Society and the Special Olympics...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique Signed Sun Drying Octopus Greek Seascape Fish Still Life Beach Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique impressionist hanging octopus still life. Watercolor on paper. Framed. Image size, 18H x 21L.
Category

1950s Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Vintage American School Signed Super Realist Kitchen Still Life Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American modernist signed still life oil painting. Oil on board. Signed. Framed.
Category

1980s Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique Old Master Continental School Bird Still Life Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique oil painting featuring brids. Oil on canvas. Framed. No signature found.
Category

Early 1800s Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

The Creation of Adam -- Original Oil Painting -- Please watch attached video
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Please see the accompanying video. We are a 1stdibs Platinum Seller with 100% 5-star reviews. One cannot appreciate this painting on a computer screen; in real life, it is absolute...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Jonquil Williamson, Plums with Pittisporum, Original Contemporary Still Life Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Jonquil Williamson Plums with Pittisporum Original Painting Oil on Canvas Image Size: 25 cm x 25 cm x 1.5 cm Framed Size: 39 cm x 39 cm x 4 cm Sold Framed (double style tray frame, wood, painted white) Please note that in situ images are purely an indication of how a piece may look. Plums with Pittisporum is an original oil painting by Jonquil Williamson. I enjoy taking everyday objects from my house and combining them with fruit and sprigs of foliage from my garden as the seasons change. I like combining the vibrancy of the fruit with muted surroundings and colourful foliage. Jonquil paints with oils. Colour is the dominant driver in all her works, creating vibrant still life and rich tonal landscapes. Following a Diploma in Art and Design in 2013, she joined the vibrant artists’ community, Wimbledon Art...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Albert Benaroya (Israeli), Red an Purple Orchids, oil on canvas, 81x56 cm
Located in Jerusalem, IL
Albert Benaroya (Israeli) Red an Purple Orchids oil on canvas 81x56 cm Born in Istanbul, Benaroya is an Israeli artist, a master of depiction in hype...
Category

2010s Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Antique American School Fall Cat Still Life Framed Impressionist Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage modernist still life with a cat. Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed.
Category

1940s Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Previously Available Items
Animal Magnetism
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel has spent decades refining his hyper-realistic style. He paints realistic imagery based on real world inspirations. His paintings show that the everyday object can be f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Pears in Violet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel has spent decades refining his hyper-realistic style. He paints realistic imagery based on real world inspirations. His paintings show that the everyday object can be f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Orange Tart
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel has spent decades refining his hyper-realistic style. He paints realistic imagery based on real world inspirations. His paintings show that the everyday object can be f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Boteros Cupcake
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel is an artist, a musician and an author. He has studied music at Boston University, Mannes College of Music, the Juilliard School (Doctorate), and art at the Boston Mus...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Balance of Good
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stuart Dunkel is an artist, a musician and an author. He has studied music at Boston University, Mannes College of Music, the Juilliard School (Doctorate), and art at the Boston Mus...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Photorealist still-life paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist still-life 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 still-life 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, green, pink, purple and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Gregory Block, James Zamora, Lynette Cook, and Lowell Nesbitt. 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 still-life paintings, so small editions measuring 3.5 inches across are also available. Prices for still-life 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 $88,000, while the average work sells for $3,736.

Recently Viewed

View All