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Photorealist Abstract 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
Chilled Champagne - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 16” x 23.5”
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater photograph of a topless model dressed in tulle and air bubbles. Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist. Paper size: 18x24"...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Trouble - underwater photograph - archival print 20" x 35"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A passionate furious energy radiates in the ripples of red that overtake the reflection. Intense motion, stirring the water into an explosion of bubbles we encounter “The Trouble”. T...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Pink Flight - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 42" x 53"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater photograph of a naked young woman with broken umbrella. The photograph is artistically modified into a fantastic warm tinted picture. The piece looks quite abstract with c...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment

"Old Room, New Room" - Minimalist Interior Photograph
Located in Soquel, CA
"Old Room, New Room" - Minimalist Interior Photograph Minimalist photograph of a red wall with a tile floor by Shirley McWilliams (American, 20th ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Prosecco - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman swimming in dense bubbles. Memories of the Russian model Katerina Potapkina. Original gallery quality archival pigment print on pape...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Polk Street" Large Scale Textural Photograph San Francisco Abstract
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 Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

White Paint Splatters - Large Scale Abstract Textural Photograph
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 Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

12 Photos (Graffiti and Stripes) - Large Scale Textural Photographs
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 Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Pink Flight - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 18” x 24”
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater nude photograph of a young woman with broken umbrella. The photograph has been edited into a minimalistic abstract image, a photo-mosaic of terra-cotta pink shapes. Or...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

David Burdeny - Khufu with Horses, Giza, Egypt (Photography)
Located in New York City, NY
Archival Pigment Print - UNFRAMED 21 x 21 inches - edition of 7 32 x 32 inches - edition of 7 44 x 44 inches - edition of 10 59 x 59 inches – edition of 5 Ask us for custom frami...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Untitled (9658-17), Original Black and White Photograph, 2012
Located in Boston, MA
Artist Commentary: This is the fifth print in an edition of six. Approximate image size is 12"W x 8"H. Keywords: abstract, shadow, black and white, photograph, new york Artist Biog...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Bent Sound - underwater portrait of Njomza Vitia - archival pigment print 18x24"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
"Bent Sound" - An ethereal underwater fine art photograph that captures the intersection of music and movement through a portrait of singer Njomza Vitia. This submerged portrait tran...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Hot Pretzel - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 16"x23"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude photograph of a girl diving in a swimming pool. Original gallery quality print signed by the artist. Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with metallic ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Looking For Answers 1
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
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 Ola...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Paper, Photographic Paper

The Trouble - underwater photograph of a reflection - archival print 15 x 23"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A passionate furious energy radiates in the ripples of red that overtake the reflection. Intense motion, stirring the water into an explosion of bubbles we encounter “The Trouble...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Merlot 2017 - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 23.5"x17"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a red dress repeating the shape of the woman's body. Original gallery quality print signed by the artist. Digital archival pigment print on archival pap...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

12 Photos (Magenta and Yellow) - Large Scale Textural Photographs
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 Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Black Paint Splatters - Large Scale Textural Photograph
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 Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Painted Concrete - Large Scale Textural Photograph
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 concr...
Category

1990s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Scratched Paint - Large Scale Textural Photograph
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 Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Merlot 2017 - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 35"x25"
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a red dress repeating the shape of the woman's body. Original gallery quality print signed by the artist. Digital archival pigment print on archival pap...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Looking For Answers 2
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
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 Ola...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Paper, Photographic Paper

Untitled (0901-5A), Original Black and White Photograph, 2012
Located in Boston, MA
Untitled (0901-5A), Original Black and White Photograph, 2012 Black & white photograph. The composition frames the sunlight reflecting onto the water between two high contrast black ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

"Tin Roof in Winter (White Thatch), " Sepia Photograph signed by James Auer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Tin Roof in Winter (White Thatch)" is an original fine art photography print by James Auer. The artist signed and titled the piece on the mat below the photograph. This photograph d...
Category

1970s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Color

After Hours
Located in Palm Desert, CA
"After Hours" is a photograph by Marilyn Minter and is a chromogenic print. The framed photograph measures 87 1/2 x 57 3/4 x 2 in. The piece is edition 1 of 3. The work is part of her "Dirty" series. Marilyn Minter was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1948 and raised in Florida. As a student at the University of Florida...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

C Print

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Vintage Silver Gelatin Photograph Jacques Lipchitz Bronze Sculpture Photo Signed
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Located in Los Angeles, CA
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"Wrapped Series Untitled #38" Photography 1/10 42" x 28" inch by Robert Mack
Located in Culver City, CA
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Hong Kong Apartments II by Chris Frazer Smith - Contemporary Travel Photography
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Previously Available Items
Pink Flight - underwater nude photograph - print on aluminum 24” x 30”
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater nude photograph of a young woman with broken umbrella. The photograph has been edited into a minimalistic abstract image, a photo-mosaic of terra-cotta pink shapes. Or...
Category

2010s Photorealist Abstract Photography

Materials

Metal

Driving Through Filipinotown
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pete Kasprzak’s passion for city life is expressed in his dynamic urban artworks. Kasprzak’s artworks express energy and life with animated brush strokes. He adds dynamic movement an...
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21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Abstract Photography

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Palms Original #3
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pete Kasprzak's artworks express energy and life in new and innovative ways. With the help of Art Instruction School in Minnesota, Kasprzak has developed a vibrant style of art which...
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Photorealist abstract photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist abstract 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 abstract photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of pink, blue, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Alex Sher, Koyo Tamaki, James Auer, and David Burdeny. Frequently made by artists working with Archival Pigment Print, and 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 abstract photography, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are also available. Prices for abstract 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 $400 and tops out at $110,000, while the average work sells for $560.

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