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Photorealist 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
"Languishing, " Oil Painting, Reclining Female Nude
"Languishing, " Oil Painting, Reclining Female Nude

"Languishing, " Oil Painting, Reclining Female Nude

By Karen Offutt

Located in Denver, CO

Karen Offutt's "Languishing" is an original, handmade painting that depicts a nude female figure covered by a sheer black fabric with peonies in the foreground. About the Artist: K...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Panel, Oil

Waves of Freedom
Waves of Freedom

Waves of Freedom

Located in Zofingen, AG

"Waves of Freedom" captures the moment when water washes away all constraints and expectations, allowing the soul to breathe freely. Each brushstroke symbolizes the journey toward in...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

City - 4 , 1977 Large Painting
City - 4 , 1977 Large Painting

City - 4 , 1977 Large Painting

By Hilo Chen

Located in Rochester Hills, MI

Artist: Hilo Chen Title: City - 4 Year: 1977 Painting oil on canvas Size 54 x 54 inches 137 x 137 cm Contemporary photo-realist painter Hilo Chen (Yee-Lum) was born in 1942 in Taiwan and later became an American citizen. He is noted for his paintings of nudes and flowers. Chen's as painter is nothing less than superb. The skin tones of his nudes seem more "real" than life itself. You feel as though you can almost touch these women who are so oblivious to being observed. Chen's work is held in public collections at: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, NY; San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose CA...

Category

1970s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

DIVE
DIVE

DIVE

Located in Zofingen, AG

"Be like water, my friend" by Bruce Lee. When Lee said "be like water," he called upon people to embrace flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. He asserted ...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Plums - Still Life Original Oil Painting
Plums - Still Life Original Oil Painting

Plums - Still Life Original Oil Painting

By Stuart Dunkel

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 Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

If ever any beauty i did desire and got twas Husslein Hyperrealistic Still life
If ever any beauty i did desire and got twas Husslein Hyperrealistic Still life

If ever any beauty i did desire and got twas Husslein Hyperrealistic Still life

By Katharina Husslein

Located in DE

Title: If ever any beauty i did desire and got twas but a dream of you This is a beautiful oil painting of an array of flowers in a vase in front of dark background. Reminding us ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Life belt-original hyperrealism modern water oil painting-contemporary Art
Life belt-original hyperrealism modern water oil painting-contemporary Art

Life belt-original hyperrealism modern water oil painting-contemporary Art

Located in London, Chelsea

We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"Pear II" Original Artwork, 24kt Gold on Museum Glass
"Pear II" Original Artwork, 24kt Gold on Museum Glass

"Pear II" Original Artwork, 24kt Gold on Museum Glass

By Kate Breakey

Located in Denver, CO

About the artist: Kate Breakey is internationally known for her large-scale, richly hand-colored photographs including her acclaimed series of luminous portraits of birds, flowers a...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Vase of Spring Light-original realism still life oil painting-contemporary art
Vase of Spring Light-original realism still life oil painting-contemporary art

Vase of Spring Light-original realism still life oil painting-contemporary art

Located in London, Chelsea

This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. Vase of Spring Light by Ann Goldberg captures the vibrant cont...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sometimes I fell like I was just born to love Husslein Hyperrealistic Still life
Sometimes I fell like I was just born to love Husslein Hyperrealistic Still life

Sometimes I fell like I was just born to love Husslein Hyperrealistic Still life

By Katharina Husslein

Located in DE

Title: If ever any beauty i did desire and got twas but a dream of you This is a beautiful oil painting of an array of flowers in a vase in front of dark background. Reminding us ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Lotus No. 35 (Photorealist Still Life Painting of Green & Brown Lotus Plant)
Lotus No. 35 (Photorealist Still Life Painting of Green & Brown Lotus Plant)

Lotus No. 35 (Photorealist Still Life Painting of Green & Brown Lotus Plant)

By Frank DePietro

Located in Hudson, NY

Photorealist still life painting of green lotus flower petals and a brown lotus pod against a light blue background oil on canvas, 16 x 16 inches, 17 x 17 inches in dark wood moulding Signed lower left Painted with the exactness of a still life photograph, this hard edge realist painting by artist Frank DiPetiro features a brown lotus pod with lush green leaves on a pale grey-blue background. Inspired by close observations of the natural world and encounters with still moments that give us pause. Lines, shapes and colors encountered in nature, reveal the cycles of decay and regeneration that are life’s constant state of change. The work has a quiet, meditative quality. The subject is portrayed in a manner true to their existence in a specific time and place and selected based on considerations of visual relationships to formal elements of painting. Aspects of photo realism, hard edge and color field techniques are utilized to isolate the uniqueness of the subject’s detail, as well as emphasize flatness and illusion of depth within the two-dimensional space of the painting. About the artist: Frank DiPietro was born and raised in Scranton PA. He received a Bachelor of Art from Bloomsburg University in 1997, majoring in both Painting and Ceramics with a minor in Art History. In 2000 he earned a degree in Art Education from Moore College of Art and Design while continuing his studies in painting. Frank lived in Philadelphia for twelve years painting and teaching at several museums, art centers and schools in the region. In 2010 he and his family moved to Chester County PA, where he currently resides. Frank currently teaches painting classes and workshops at the Delaware Art Museum and Longwood Gardens...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Girl in a Chair, Large Painting by Bill Wiman
Girl in a Chair, Large Painting by Bill Wiman

Girl in a Chair, Large Painting by Bill Wiman

By Bill Wiman

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Bill Wiman, American (1940 - ) Title: Girl in a Chair Year: 1978 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed Size: 82 x 83.5 in. (182.88 x 212.09 cm) Frame: 83 x 84.5 inches

Category

1970s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Ain't no Mountain high enough by K. Husslein Impasto Landscape Mountain Painting
Ain't no Mountain high enough by K. Husslein Impasto Landscape Mountain Painting

Ain't no Mountain high enough by K. Husslein Impasto Landscape Mountain Painting

By Katharina Husslein

Located in DE

Katharina Husslein's textural and abstract paintings vividly encapsulate the vibrancy and movement found in a bouquet of flowers. This series differs from Husslein’s more controlled...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Composition of red peonies, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Composition of red peonies, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Composition of red peonies, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Located in Yardley, PA

Multi-part composition of red peonies , 2023 year :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang:...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

Love Letters - Scrabble Coffee Original Painting Board Game Art
Love Letters - Scrabble Coffee Original Painting Board Game Art

Love Letters - Scrabble Coffee Original Painting Board Game Art

By Kathleen Keifer

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Kathleen Keifer is a California-based internationally collected artist. She is a leading force of the New California Realism. Keifer brings a fresh perspective to her hyperrealistic ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Peonies, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Peonies, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Peonies, Painting, Oil on Canvas

Located in Yardley, PA

Peonies, 2023 year :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist :: Ready to Hang: Yes :: Signed: Yes :: Signatur...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Oil

"New" Oil Painting
"New" Oil Painting

"New" Oil Painting

By Mia Bergeron

Located in Denver, CO

Mia Bergeron's (US based) "New" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts the glow of a lit candle with the morning light of sunrise Mia Bergeron's interest in art was cul...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Wax, Oil, Panel

Growing toward each other K.Husslein abstract figurative contemporary painting
Growing toward each other K.Husslein abstract figurative contemporary painting

Growing toward each other K.Husslein abstract figurative contemporary painting

By Katharina Husslein

Located in DE

This is a beautiful oil painting of an array of flowers in a vase in front of dark background. Reminding us of old master paintings, this is a brand new painting full elegance and ti...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mono-Poli III - Realism, Photorealistic Oil Painting, Colorful, Hyperrealism

Mono-Poli III - Realism, Photorealistic Oil Painting, Colorful, Hyperrealism

Located in Salzburg, AT

„He is a declared painter with full awareness of his conceptual past. His works, near to photo-realism, show objects in a garish intense coloristic. It is the process of painting, the transition from the idea to a perfect canvas, which is most important for Toman. The object is just a pretext, the valuable is the studio and the picturesque amatory, which makes it possible to copy the material fragments of life.“ (Panteon) Born 1966, studied 1986-87 at the Institute of Artistic Education UMCS Lublin/studio Prof. Mieczysław Herman, 1988-93 at the Faculty for Painting/Academy of Fine Arts, Cracow, diploma in the studio of Prof. Włodzimierz Kunz; 1995-97 Ecole Regionale des beaux-arts in Rennes/France, diploma with distinction under direction of Prof. Gerard Baldet...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Cherry" Original Artwork, 24kt Gold on Museum Glass
"Cherry" Original Artwork, 24kt Gold on Museum Glass

"Cherry" Original Artwork, 24kt Gold on Museum Glass

By Kate Breakey

Located in Denver, CO

About the artist: Kate Breakey is internationally known for her large-scale, richly hand-colored photographs including her acclaimed series of luminous portraits of birds, flowers a...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

La Puerta (Photorealistic Interior)
La Puerta (Photorealistic Interior)

La Puerta (Photorealistic Interior)

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Enrique Medina (b.1935). La Puerta, 1985. Acrylic on canvas, measuring 32 x 32 inches; 33 x 33 inches framed. Signed lower right. Signed, dated, titled on verso. Personal Information...

Category

1980s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

"Ghost Keeper" (2025) Oil Still-Life Painting on Panel
"Ghost Keeper" (2025) Oil Still-Life Painting on Panel

"Ghost Keeper" (2025) Oil Still-Life Painting on Panel

By Anthony Waichulis

Located in Denver, CO

Anthony Waichulis' "Ghost Keeper" is an original, handmade oil painting on panel that measures 27 x 23 inches framed and is ready to hang. About the artist: Anthony Waichulis (born ...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Weightless, Timeless: Oil Painting of Two Women Swimming in Pool
Weightless, Timeless: Oil Painting of Two Women Swimming in Pool

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 Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Lotus No. 65 (Photo-Realist Still Life Painting of Pink & Green Lotus Flowers)
Lotus No. 65 (Photo-Realist Still Life Painting of Pink & Green Lotus Flowers)

Lotus No. 65 (Photo-Realist Still Life Painting of Pink & Green Lotus Flowers)

By Frank DePietro

Located in Hudson, NY

Photorealist still life painting on canvas of a light pink lotus flower with brown lotus pods and green petals against a light grey background "Lotus Number Sixty-Five" oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches, 49 x 49 x 2 inches with a dark wood frame Signed lower left Excellent condition and ready to hang Painted with the exactness of a still life photograph, this hard edge realist painting by artist Frank DiPietro features a light pink lotus flower, with lush green leaves on a pale grey background. Inspired by close observations of the natural world and encounters with still moments that give us pause. Lines, shapes and colors encountered in nature, reveal the cycles of decay and regeneration that are life’s constant state of change. The work has a quiet, meditative quality. The subject is portrayed in a manner true to their existence in a specific time and place and selected based on considerations of visual relationships to formal elements of painting. Aspects of photo realism, hard edge and color field techniques are utilized to isolate the uniqueness of the subject’s detail, as well as emphasize flatness and illusion of depth within the two-dimensional space of the painting. About the artist: Frank DiPietro was born and raised in Scranton PA. He received a Bachelor of Art from Bloomsburg University in 1997, majoring in both Painting and Ceramics with a minor in Art History. In 2000 he earned a degree in Art Education from Moore College of Art and Design while continuing his studies in painting. Frank lived in Philadelphia for twelve years painting and teaching at several museums, art centers and schools in the region. In 2010 he and his family moved to Chester County PA, where he currently resides. Frank currently teaches painting classes and workshops at the Delaware Art Museum and Longwood Gardens...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Coca Cola Aisle - original realism still life oil painting  - contemporary art

Coca Cola Aisle - original realism still life oil painting - contemporary art

By James Zamora

Located in London, Chelsea

We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Cherry Cheesecake"  Large Photo-Realist Painting, Slice and Bright Red Cherries
"Cherry Cheesecake"  Large Photo-Realist Painting, Slice and Bright Red Cherries

"Cherry Cheesecake" Large Photo-Realist Painting, Slice and Bright Red Cherries

By Mary Ellen Johnson

Located in Wellesley, MA

Mary Ellen Johnson is internationally recognized as one of the top Photo Realist painters working today whose extraordinary area of expertise is large-scale, unimaginably realistic, stunningly beautiful and delightful images of food. Currently available are this delicious slice of cherry cheesecake, a slice of cherry pie with vanilla ice cream, an equally gorgeous strawberry parfait sundae, and a bowl of mixed berries with whipped cream: Mary Ellen Johnson "Cherry Cheesecake" 2010 Oil on Wood Panel 38 x 27.5 Inches Note: This painting is framed in dark wood. THE BACKGROUND IS A VERY LIGHT CREAM SOLID COLOR WITH THE SHADOW. The artist has also completed many commissioned food paintings including the Canadian Government's request for images of 5 of Canada's favorite foods which subsequently became stamp images - and The Cheesecake Factory's two commissions for their corporate headquarters and the owners' Malibu beach house. A quote from the artist: “I make the panels large to give a monumental feeling to the painting when viewed. These large images not only confront the viewer with their size but with their tremendous sense of extravagance. My work explores the deep connection that food has with humanity.” Mary Ellen Johnson Johnson further describes herself as a ‘Precision Realist’ whose primary subject is food. Sold works include paintings of PB & J sandwiches, pancakes with blueberries and syrup, banana splits, ice cream, hot dogs, cupcakes, waffles, muscles and sushi, among others. Unequaled for their brilliance and dramatic depictions of mundane subjects with their connotations of nostalgia, comfort and tradition, it is also her scale, cropping and over the top technical skill that renders these works so overwhelmingly appealing! MARY ELLEN JOHNSON Born: 1967, West Long Branch, NJ. Education: 1989, Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota ONE PERSON EXHIBITIONS: Beth Urdang...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Strawberry Sundae"  Large Photo Realist Ptg., Ice Cream Parfait & Whipped Cream
"Strawberry Sundae"  Large Photo Realist Ptg., Ice Cream Parfait & Whipped Cream

"Strawberry Sundae" Large Photo Realist Ptg., Ice Cream Parfait & Whipped Cream

By Mary Ellen Johnson

Located in Wellesley, MA

Mary Ellen Johnson is internationally recognized as one of the top Photo Realist painters working today whose extraordinary area of expertise is large-scale, unimaginably realistic, stunningly beautiful and delightful images of food. Currently available are this gorgeous strawberry parfait sundae, a mouth-watering slice of cherry pie with vanilla ice cream, a delicious slice of cherry cheesecake and bowl of berries with whipped cream: Mary Ellen Johnson "Strawberry Sundae" 2018 Oil on Wood Panel 39.75 x 34.25 Inches Note: This painting is framed in dark wood. The artist has also completed many commissioned food paintings including the Canadian Government's request for images of 5 of Canada's favorite foods which subsequently became stamp images - and The Cheesecake Factory's two commissions for their corporate headquarters and the owners' Malibu beach house. A quote from the artist: “I make the panels large to give a monumental feeling to the painting when viewed. These large images not only confront the viewer with their size but with their tremendous sense of extravagance. My work explores the deep connection that food has with humanity.” Mary Ellen Johnson Johnson further describes herself as a ‘Precision Realist’ whose primary subject is food. Sold works include paintings of PB & J sandwiches, pancakes with blueberries and syrup, banana splits, ice cream, hot dogs, cupcakes, waffles, muscles and sushi, among others. Unequaled for their brilliance and dramatic depictions of mundane subjects with their connotations of nostalgia, comfort and tradition, it is also her scale, cropping and over the top technical skill that renders these works so overwhelmingly appealing! MARY ELLEN JOHNSON Born: 1967, West Long Branch, NJ. Education: 1989, Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota ONE PERSON EXHIBITIONS: Beth Urdang...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"The Dance" - Contemporary Still Life Oil Painting on Wood Panel
"The Dance" - Contemporary Still Life Oil Painting on Wood Panel

"The Dance" - Contemporary Still Life Oil Painting on Wood Panel

Located in Denver, CO

"The Dance" is an exquisitely detailed contemporary still life by Karina Rodríguez, rendered in oil on wood panel in 2025. This artwork is framed in a simple, black frame and is read...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Big Cherry Pie a la Mode"   Photo-Realist Cherry Pie Slice/ Vanilla Ice Cream
"Big Cherry Pie a la Mode"   Photo-Realist Cherry Pie Slice/ Vanilla Ice Cream

"Big Cherry Pie a la Mode" Photo-Realist Cherry Pie Slice/ Vanilla Ice Cream

By Mary Ellen Johnson

Located in Wellesley, MA

Mary Ellen Johnson is internationally recognized as one of the top Photo Realist painters working today whose extraordinary area of expertise is large-scale unimaginably realistic, stunningly beautiful, and delightful images of food. Currently available are this mouth-watering slice of cherry pie...

Category

2010s Photorealist Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Photorealist paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist 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 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, green, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Gregory Block, James Zamora, Ian Hornak, and Kathleen Keifer. 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 paintings, so small editions measuring 3.5 inches across are also available. Prices for 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 $125 and tops out at $585,000, while the average work sells for $3,772.