Photorealist Figurative 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
Steps II - underwater photograph - archival pigment print 24х18"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman sitting on pool steps.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Red Sadhu, Rajasthan, India
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Red Sadhu, Rajasthan, India" 1998, is a photograph (Cibachrome) by American artist Lisa Kristine, b.1965. It is hand signed, titled and dated in pencil by the ar...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Other Medium
Open - underwater monochrome photograph - archival paper print 35x50"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater monochromatic photograph capturing a young woman in a light tulle dress and unbuckled bra turned away from the camera. The subdued tones create an ethereal tranquility...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Blue Marilyn - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a nude model diving in blue light on a black background.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist, furnish...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Die Loreley - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 16x24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude photograph of a beautiful young woman wrapped in tulle. The photograph was taken with dark red background.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archiv...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
7247
By Bob Tabor
Located in New York, NY
Bob Tabor is a well-established, New York based, photographer best known for his exquisite large scaled portraits of subjects ranging from horses to seascapes. It is his unique appro...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Digital, Photogram, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
$17,550
Dragon Mouth Trip - underwater black&white nude photograph - archival print
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater black and white nude photograph of a model diving in a swimming pool
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival pa...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Wild Blood - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 50x35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
There are no rules for luck. I was sure the new girl would need practice and practice - and I was wrong. She was just perfect from the first second. Next month she got married and m...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Steps II - underwater photograph - archival pigment print 35х24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman sitting on pool steps.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Danae and Zeus - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 27x35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman wrapped in golden tulle. Her body position, her beautiful face, and golden reflection remind Ancient Greek myth of Zeus and Danae.
O...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Orgasm - underwater photograph - print on paper 35" x 45.5"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A striking underwater fine art photograph captures a floating figure in a crimson dress against a deep black background. The composition masterfully blends contemporary underwater ph...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bryce - In Celebration of Pride Month
Located in New Orleans, LA
Stone and Press Gallery is excited to offer several works in celebration of the LGBTQ community.
THIS VINTAGE SILVER GELATIN PRINT IS FROM AN EDITION OF 3, Bryce was taken in Osaka, Japan at Abeno Harukas, Japan’s tallest building. The photograph was shot on 35mm film on a Contax T3
Sebastian...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
$650 Sale Price
50% Off
Orgasm - underwater photograph - print on paper 27" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A striking underwater fine art photograph captures a floating figure in a crimson dress against a deep black background. The composition masterfully blends contemporary underwater ph...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
ANCIENT STUFA - Sepia effect photograph, illegible shape, Italy 1990s
Located in Napoli, IT
Photograph on analog and photographic paper, signed and dated on back 1992. It depicts an antique stove, and the photo has been antiqued with a beautiful sepia effect,
Category
1990s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Green Fairy - underwater photograph - print on paper 35"x27"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Mid Century Vintage -- Arab Couple - Palestine
By Eva Korn
Located in Soquel, CA
Stunning black and white photograph of Arab couple by photographer Eva Korn (German, 20th c.), circa 1951. Eva Koran studio stamp on verso. Presented in black metal frame and mat. Im...
Category
1950s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$380 Sale Price
20% Off
Honey Pot II - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 18" x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater nude photograph of a girl relaxing in the pool. The photograph was taken with terra-cotta background and with green trees and bright blue sky visible thorough the water...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
White Swan - underwater nude ballet photograph - print on paper 16.5” x 23.5”
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater ballet. An underwater photograph of topless ballerina in white tutu skirt on a bottom of a pool.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bent Mirror - underwater photograph - print on paper 17 x 23.5"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater black and white photograph of a topless young female dancer in the pool.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist, furnis...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Porcelain and Тurquoise - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment 43x60"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young women diving next to the bright turquoise dress she just took off.
Original gallery quality archival pigment p...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Namaste
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Namaste" 2001, is a photograph (Cibachrome) by American artist Lisa Kristine, b.1965. It is hand signed, titled and dated in pencil by the artist. The photograph...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Other Medium
Comfort in Chaos by Josephine Cardin Contemporary Fashion photography
Located in DE
Artist: Josephine Cardin
Medium: Photography
Limited edition of 30
"Another conversation with no destination, another battle never won. Each side is a loser, so who cares who fired...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Pigment
Comfort in Chaos by Josephine Cardin Contemporary Fashion photography
Located in DE
Artist: Josephine Cardin
Medium: Photography
Limited edition of 30
"Another conversation with no destination, another battle never won. Each side is a loser, so who cares who fired...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Pigment
Breakdance - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 43х62"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude photograph of a girl dancing in a swimming pool. The dark pool is filled with sharp sunbeams. Some mysterious light ornaments cover the pool bottom and inner water su...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
"Peter Pan" A Young Ballerina In Costume San Francisco 1960
Located in Soquel, CA
"Peter Pan" A Young Ballerina In Costume San Francisco 1960
Photograph of a young ballerina circa 1950's by Photographer Richard Edwards (American,. The young girl is photographed p...
Category
1960s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
$440 Sale Price
20% Off
Daffodile
Located in San Francisco, CA
This Photograph titled "Daffodile" c.1960, is a gelatin silver print by noted photographer Richard Stacks, 1930-2015. It has the stamp of the Baltimore Sunpapers and the name of the ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Green Fairy - underwater photograph - print on paper 17.5" x 23"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Hot Spring - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 25"x35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude photograph of a beautiful young woman on red background.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist.
Limited edition of 1...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Green Bud - underwater photograph - print on paper 46" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle. Her head is above the water, hidden from the camera.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Green Breath - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 26" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude photograph of a beautiful young woman diving on deep black background. A bright green scarf cover her breasts leaving open the perfectly shaped buttocks.
Original g...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Porcelain and Тurquoise - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment 24x17"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young women diving next to the bright turquoise dress she just took off.
Original gallery quality print signed ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Breakdance - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 16” x 23.5”
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Underwater nude photograph of a girl dancing in a swimming pool. The dark pool is filled with sharp sunbeams. Some mysterious light ornaments cover the pool bottom and inner water su...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Her Majesty - underwater nude photograph - archival print 25” x 35”
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman wrapped in bright tulle.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist.
Limited edition of 1...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Mermaid Angel - underwater photograph - print on paper 26" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a beautiful young woman in transparent dress on dark background.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Green Bud - underwater photograph - print on paper 17.5" x 23"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle. Her head is above the water, hidden from the camera.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Her Majesty - underwater nude photograph - archival print 16.8” x 23.5”
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman wrapped in bright tulle.
Original gallery quality archival pigment print on archival paper signed by the artist.
Limited edition of 2...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
$560 Sale Price
20% Off
Woman In Ballet Pose Holding a Flower - San Francisco Richard Edwards
Located in Soquel, CA
Woman In Ballet Pose Holding a Flower - San Francisco Richard Edwards
A brunette woman poses, standing on her left leg with her hand out holding a flower.
A collection of photograph...
Category
1960s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Paper, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Winter Fishing - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 17" x 23"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Winter Fishing by Alex Sher presents a striking underwater nude photograph featuring a young naked woman entangled in fishing nets beneath dark waters. The monochromatic palette crea...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Oil Peir (Pier)
Located in San Francisco, CA
This Photograph titled "Oil Peir (Pier)" c.1960, is a gelatin silver print by noted photographer Richard Stacks, 1930-2015. It has the stamp of the Baltimore Sunpapers and the name o...
Category
Mid-20th Century Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Comfort in Chaos by Josephine Cardin Contemporary Fashion photography
Located in DE
Artist: Josephine Cardin
Medium: Photography
Limited edition of 30
"Another conversation with no destination, another battle never won. Each side is a loser, so who cares who fired...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Pigment
Whirlpool - underwater photograph - print on paper 35" x 32"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Wild Blood - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 62x43"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
There are no rules for luck. I was sure the new girl would need practice and practice - and I was wrong. She was just perfect from the first second. Next month she got married and m...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
In the Hall of the Mountain King - underwater b&w nude photograph - paper 35x50"
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 Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Cold Song III - underwater photograph - archival pigment print
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
'Cold Song III' exemplifies the avant-garde evolution of underwater fine art photography, merging contemporary conceptual art with technical mastery. This ethereal composition captur...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Market Day, Guatemala
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Market Day, Guatemala" c.1998, is a photograph by American artist Lisa Kristine, b.1965. It is stamp signed and titled on the back. The photograph size is 6.5 x ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Other Medium
Bubble Dance- underwater photograph - print on paper 26” x 35”
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This striking underwater fine art photograph captures a naked figure partially draped in vivid red fabric, surrounded by a constellation of air bubbles. The predominantly monochromat...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Athena - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 18" x 24"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman with a sward.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with metallic fi...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Green Bud - underwater photograph - print on paper 56" x 43"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle. Her head is above the water, hidden from the camera.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Danae and Zeus - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 17.5x22"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman wrapped in golden tulle. Her body position, her beautiful face, and golden reflection remind Ancient Greek myth about Zeus and Danae. ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Boat Race at Hammersmith, 1912, original vintage albumen print
Located in London, GB
Messrs Stearn
The 69th Boat Race at Hammersmith, 1912
Albumen print
16 x 21 cm
This photograph depicts Oxford and Cambridge neck and neck at Hammersmith in the 1912 Oxford-Cambridg...
Category
1910s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Bather - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 35x53"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater nude photograph of a model in floating petals
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with metallic fin...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Acqua e Fantasia, 1962 - Roma - Large size Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
An impressive flood of the Tiber had already battered the pontoons of the few rowing clubs in the city. The raging wav...
Category
1950s Photorealist Figurative 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 Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Tired Photography Mexico Signed Karol Kállay
By Karol Kallay
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Photography done for the publication Mexico/ Volk und Welt Berlin, 1967, signed on the back by the author.
Category
1960s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
$437 Sale Price
88% Off
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 Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Whirlpool - underwater photograph - print on paper 19" x 17.5"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a young woman wrapped in bright green tulle.
Original gallery quality print signed by the artist.
Digital archival pigment print on archival paper with...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
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 Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Hot Water - underwater nude photograph - print on paper 52" x 35"
By Alex Sher
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An underwater photograph of a naked young woman diving in a pool in front of bright red background.
There is no rules for luck. I was sure the new girl would need practice and prac...
Category
2010s Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Intimate Perspective by Josephine Cardin Contemporary Fashion photography
Located in DE
Artist: Josephine Cardin
Medium: Photography
Limited edition of 30
“From this new and intimate perspective, she learned a simple, obvious thing she had always known, and everyone k...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Pigment
Painted Blind by Josephine Cardin Contemporary Fashion photography
Located in DE
Artist: Josephine Cardin
Medium: Photography
Limited edition of 30.
Cardin uses a mix between photography and painting to develop her contemporary figurative art, inspired by musi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Figurative Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Pigment
Photorealist figurative photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist figurative 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 figurative photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, red, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Alex Sher, Bob Tabor, Josephine Cardin, and Karol Kallay. Frequently made by artists working with Pigment Print, and Paper 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 figurative photography, so small editions measuring 7.5 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative 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 $80 and tops out at $110,000, while the average work sells for $960.