Photorealist Black and White 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
Period: 21st Century and Contemporary
Sant'Eufemia
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Santa Eufemia church - Milan (Italy).
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works bet...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Inkjet, Black and White, Pigment
Apriel - underwater black & white nude photograph - archival pigment 35 x 43"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a beautiful topless young woman, Apriel swimming in the pool.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print - signed by the artist.
Limited edition of 24
Paper size: 36x44...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Archival Paper
Sant'Alessandro
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Sant'Alessandro church - Milan (Italy).
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works b...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Muddy Waters in NY
Located in KRAKÓW, PL
"Muddy Waters in NY" is a limited-edition black & white photograph by contemporary artist Tadeusz Zych from the series entitled Black and white States. The photo was taken during a t...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Sketch - underwater b&w photograph - archival pigment print 35x23"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of perfect female legs in the pool.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on paper with metallic finish signed by the artist. .
L...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Ann Richards and Dolly Parton in Austin Texas by Scott Newton
Located in Austin, US
Texan politician and former Texas governor, Ann Richards with Dolly Parton taken at the Driskill Hotel, Austin Texas in 1982 by photographer Scott Newton
Photographers notes: We wer...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
San Satiro Bramante
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Santa Maria church - San Satiro.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
San Carlo
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the San Carlo Church of Milan.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He l...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
San Maurizio
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the San Maurizio Church of Milan.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. H...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Milano Palazzo Reale
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken inside the Royal Palace of Milan.
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
San Pietro
Located in Milano, MI
Photo taken at San Pietro - Rome
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works be...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
Duomo
Located in Milano, MI
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works between Milan and Barcelona. He bega...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
The Black Keys "Red Vision 2" Phoenix AZ 2022 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys “Red Vision 2” Phoenix AZ 2022, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relatio...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
No Way - black & white nude photograph - archival pigment print 22x35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a perfect woman's buttocks and her handcuffed hands giving a finger.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print signed by the artist.
Limited e...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Digital Pigment, Archival Pigment
The Black Keys "Shadow" by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys “Shadow” taken in Tel Aviv Israel 2023, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with Larry N...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Black Keys Recording with Beck Los Angeles 2023 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys, Recording with Beck, Los Angeles 2023, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with Larry N...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Black Keys Dan Auerbach "Mirror" by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys “Mirror” taken on the Dropout Boogie Tour 2022, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Black Keys "Red Vision 1" Phoenix AZ 2022 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys, “Red Vision 1” Phoenix AZ 2022, signed limited edition prints byThe Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relatio...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Pantheon
Located in Milano, MI
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works between Milan and Barcelona. He bega...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
The Black Keys "Tour Life, somewhere on the road 2022" by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys, “Tour Life”, somewhere on the road 2022, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with Larry...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Black Keys "Double Dan" by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys, “Double Dan” print taken in Kansas City, KS, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with L...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Dan Auerbach "Ride" San Francisco 2022 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
Dan Auerbach “Ride”, San Francisco 2022, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with Larry Niehues began t...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film
The Black Keys, Iowa State Fair, Des Moines IA 2023 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys, Iowa State Fair, Des Moines IA 2023, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black K...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Film
Centrale
Located in Milano, MI
Marcelo Soulé (Buenos Aires, 1958) trained at the Artistic Lyceum and the Brera Academy in Milan. He lives and works between Milan and Barcelona. He bega...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White, Inkjet, Pigment
The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, Glasgow Scotland 2023 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, Glasgow Scotland 2023, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with Larry Nie...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Richard Blair Photograph "Shipwrecked Boat - Tomales Bay" c.2000
Located in San Francisco, CA
Richard Blair Photograph "Shipwrecked Boat - Tomales Bay" c.2000
Tomales Bay is North or San Francisco. An absolutely beautiful and pristine area of remote wilderness.
Fine black a...
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
In the Hall of the Mountain King - underwater b&w nude photograph - paper 24х35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white nude photograph of a female dancer performing in a swimming pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bridges. Memphis I
Located in KRAKÓW, PL
"Bridges. Memphis I" is a limited-edition black & white photograph by contemporary artist Tadeusz Zych from the series entitled Black and white States. The photo was taken during a t...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Our Waterlilies
Located in Norwalk, CT
This image is part of my Floraphilia portfolio that has been an ongoing visual exploration for over two decades. A B&W portfolio was first published in Lenswork Magazine in 2010, a s...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Metro. Prague I
Located in KRAKÓW, PL
"Metro. Praga I" is a limited edition of a black and white photograph by the contemporary artist Tadeusz Zych from the Black and White Metro series. In the series of photographs, the...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Bridges. Chicago I
Located in KRAKÓW, PL
"Chicago I" is a limited-edition black & white photograph by contemporary artist Tadeusz Zych from the series entitled Black and white States. The photo was taken during a trip to th...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Chicago II
Located in KRAKÓW, PL
Chicago II is a limited-edition black & white photograph by contemporary artist Tadeusz Zych from the series entitled Black and white States. The photo was taken during a trip to th...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Digital Pigment
Dancing Orchids
Located in Norwalk, CT
This image is part of my Floraphilia portfolio that has been an ongoing visual exploration for over two decades. A B&W portfolio was first published in Lenswork Magazine in 2010, a s...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Lotusland Cactus
Located in Norwalk, CT
This image is part of my Floraphilia portfolio that has been an ongoing visual exploration for over two decades. A B&W portfolio was first published in Lenswork Magazine in 2010, a s...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Double Trouble - underwater black & white nude photograph - paper print 24 x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of two naked young women in the pool.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist.
Limited editio...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Double Trouble - underwater black & white nude photograph - paper print 35"x 50"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of two naked young women in the pool.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist.
Limited editio...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
INDIVISIBLES - Black and white photograph on Kodak paper
Located in Napoli, IT
Photograph by photographer Federico Vacca Massaro signed and numbered 5/50, from the 2016 film "Indivisibili" by Edoardo De Angelis
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Kate Moss at 16 by Jake Chessum
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Kate Moss by Jake Chessum, taken when she was an unknown 16 year old model, just starting her career.
Jake recalls, "I had heard of Kate as she was...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Amy Winehouse at the laundromat by Jake Chessum framed 9x12" print
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Framed, signed 9x12" print of Amy Winehouse taken at a laundromat in London by Jake Chessum.
Frame measures 16.5 x 14/5 x 1"
Framed in a simple black frame, matting and UV protecte...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Giclée
Noel Gallagher by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition fine art photograph of Noel Gallagher during his Oasis days by celebrated rock photographer, Jill Furmanovsky.
Location: Music G...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Beastie Boys by Jake Chessum framed signed 9x12" print
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Framed, 9x12" signed open edition print of The Beastie Boys by Jake Chessum
Jake recalls ” This was from April 1994. I flew from London to shoot at Mike D’s backyard and around G-So...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Giclée
In the Hall of the Mountain King - underwater b&w nude photograph - paper 16x24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white nude photograph of a female dancer performing in a swimming pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Sky Dance - underwater black& white photograph - archival pigment print 24"x35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a female dancer in the pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
BOYS - Photograph on baryta paper, Fabio Donato, Italy 2010
Located in Napoli, IT
Black and white photograph on baryta paper, title "The Boys" - Fabio Donato, with frame
Fabio Donato, a lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, was born in 1947. A photograph...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Snoop Dogg by Jake Chessum, framed 9x12" print
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Framed, 9x12" signed open edition print of Snoop Dogg by Jake Chessum
Jake recalls the session: “I photographed Snoop at Milk studios in LA. Everybody on the shoot was so excited to...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Giclée
Chris Cornell by Jake Chessum, framed 9x12" print
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Framed, 9x12" signed open edition print of Chris Cornell from Soundgarden and Audioslave by Jake Chessum
Jake recalls the session: ” This was a brief and friendly shoot at the Toron...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Giclée
Sky Dance - underwater black& white photograph - archival pigment print 35"х51"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a female dancer in the pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Sky Dance - underwater black& white photograph - archival pigment print 18x24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a female dancer in the pool.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
No Way - black & white nude photograph - archival pigment print 35x55"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a perfect woman's buttocks and her handcuffed hands giving a finger.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment p...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
Apriel - underwater black & white nude photograph - print on aluminum 30" x 36"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a beautiful topless young woman, Apriel swimming in the pool.
Original digital print on aluminum plate signed by the artist.
Limited edi...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Metal
Kate Moss at 16
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Kate Moss by Jake Chessum, taken when she was an unknown 16 year old model, just starting her career.
Jake recalls, "I had heard of Kate as she was...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Pool Party II - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 35х60
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of two naked young women in the pool. The minimalistic photograph partially depicts bodies in blue color schema.
Original gallery quality print signed by th...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Willie Nelson running a marathon, Austin TX 1977
Located in Austin, US
Willie Nelson, taken in 1977 during a running race in Austin Texas. Taken by photographer, Scott Newton
Scott Newton recalls, "Willie Running Race (For Stehlin Foundation Cancer Benefit-Run For Your Life) outside the Austin Opry House entrance on Academy Drive, Austin TX...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Waylon Jennings at The Armadillo, Austin 1974
Located in Austin, US
Waylon Jennings, taken at the Armadillo WHQ, Austin TX in 1974 by photographer Scott Newton.
20x28" signed limited edition print.
Scott Newton recalls, "In 1974 Waylon was ornery...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Pool Party II - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 20x35
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of two naked young women in the pool. The minimalistic photograph partially depicts bodies in blue color schema.
Original gallery quality print signed by th...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Boy and Hawk by Keith Carter. Signed limited edition 16 x 20" print
Located in Austin, US
Boy and Hawk by Keith Carter
Signed limited edition 11/35, 2005
Silver gelatin, vintage print made by the artist
Signed au verso in pencil by the artist
Printed image 15" x 15"
Pap...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
No Way - black & white nude photograph - archival pigment print 43 x 68"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A black and white photograph of a perfect woman's buttocks and her handcuffed hands giving a finger.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment p...
Category
2010s Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
David Bowie portrait by Jake Chessum - 16x20" first print of the edition
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of David Bowie by Jake Chessum taken in 1995.
16x20" - first print of the edition, #1/20
Jake recalls the session: “I shot David Bowie at a house in Fu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Black and White Photography
Materials
Giclée
Photorealist black and white photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist black and white 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. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Alex Sher, Allan Tannenbaum, Jake Chessum, and Kevin Cummins. Frequently made by artists working with Pigment Print, and Archival 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 black and white photography, so small editions measuring 5.5 inches across are also available. Prices for black and white 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 $11 and tops out at $200,247, while the average work sells for $1,815.