Photorealist Portrait 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.

Style: Photorealist

Princess Song

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Drew Tal
Princess Song, 2017

Longing

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Drew Tal
Longing, 2013

Desert Wanderer

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Drew Tal
Desert Wanderer, 2013

Three Pearls

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Drew Tal
Three Pearls

Royalty in Waiting

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Photogram, Plexiglass, Photographic Film

Drew Tal
Royalty in Waiting, 2015

Night Secrets

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Drew Tal
Night Secrets, 2013

Daydream

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Drew Tal
Daydream, 2013

Book of Taboo 8

By Maleonn

Located in New York, NY

The son of a known Chinese drama director and a very famous actress, Maleonn grew up in an artistic environment, where he began to study art when only 11 years old. After graduating ...

Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Mixed Media, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Maleonn
Book of Taboo 8, 2006

Children of God I

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Drew Tal
Children of God I, 2019

Lilah with Bird

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Drew Tal
Lilah with Bird, 2017

Trust

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Drew Tal
Trust, 2017

Secrets Windows

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Drew Tal
Secrets Windows, 2015

Lament

By Drew Tal

Located in New York, NY

With his works included in the permanent collection at the Norton and the New Britain Museum, Drew Tal’s successful career has been nothing but a soaring ascension into the global ar...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Drew Tal
Lament, 2013

Patti Smith, New York City 1976

By Lynn Goldsmith

Located in Austin, US

Signed limited edition 30x22" print of Patti Smith wearing a leather jacket by Lynn Goldsmith, shot in NYC in 1976. Limited edition number 8/20 Modern C-type print. Available for i...

Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Lynn Goldsmith
Patti Smith, New York City 1976, 1976

Botanique

By Reka Nyari

Located in New York, NY

“Ink Stories”, which was introduced at Nyari’s very first solo gallery exhibit, consists of large-scale nude photographs that explore the concept of self-identity and female empowerment. The series joins six women together...

Category

2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Photogram

Reka Nyari
Botanique, 2021

Patti Smith

By Lynn Goldsmith

Located in Austin, US

Fine art print of punk musician and poet, Patti Smith by acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith, taken in 1977. This stunning portrait appeared on the cove...

Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Lynn Goldsmith
Patti Smith, 1977

Patti Smith

By Lynn Goldsmith

Located in Austin, US

Fine art print of punk musician and poet, Patti Smith by acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith, taken in 1977. "She loved Vogue magazine, especially the ...

Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Lynn Goldsmith
Patti Smith, 1977

Patti Smith 1977

By Lynn Goldsmith

Located in Austin, US

Fine art print of punk musician and poet, Patti Smith by acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith, taken in 1977. "She loved Vogue magazine, especially the French version. Even though...

Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Lynn Goldsmith
Patti Smith 1977, 1977

Patti Smith "Easter" cover

By Lynn Goldsmith

Located in Austin, US

Fine art print of punk musician and poet, Patti Smith by acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith, taken in 1977 for the Easter album cover. Lynn Goldsmith only produces 20 prints of ...

Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Lynn Goldsmith
Patti Smith "Easter" cover, 1977

Bruce Springsteen

By Lynn Goldsmith

Located in Austin, US

Fine art print of Bruce Springsteen by acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith, taken with his guitar in 1978. Lynn Goldsmith only produces 20 prints...

Category

1970s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Lynn Goldsmith
Bruce Springsteen, 1978

David Bowie 1973

By Lynn Goldsmith

Located in Austin, US

Fine art print of David Bowie by acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith. Lynn Goldsmith only produces 20 prints of her images, regardless of size with the prints being made from th...

Category

1970s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Lynn Goldsmith
David Bowie 1973, 1973

Debbie Harry, Blondie 1978

By Lynn Goldsmith

Located in Austin, US

Fine art print of Debbie Harry from Blondie wearing a sailor hat and giving a salute, by acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith. Lynn Goldsmith only produces 20 prints of her image...

Category

1970s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

C Print

Lynn Goldsmith
Debbie Harry, Blondie 1978, 1978

Photorealist portrait photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist portrait 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 portrait 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, pink, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Lynn Goldsmith, Jake Chessum, Drew Tal, and Kevin Cummins. Frequently made by artists working with C 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 portrait photography, so small editions measuring 6.25 inches across are also available. Prices for portrait 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 $210 and tops out at $28,800, while the average work sells for $2,250.