Photorealist 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
Black Paint Splatters - Large Scale Textural Photograph
By Bill Clark
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 Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
John Lee Hooker
By Guido Harari
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of John Lee Hooker by Guido Harari, taken in Redwood City, California, 1991.
Available in the following sizes:
A. 11” x 16” - Edition 50
B. 16” x 20” - Edition 50
C. 20” x 28” - Edition 25
D. 32” x 44” - Edition 10
E. 44” x 59” - Edition 5
Guido Harari has photographed many music legends in his prolific career in Italy.
Lou Reed said about him: "I'm always happy when Guido takes my picture because I know it will be a musical picture...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Painted Concrete - Large Scale Textural Photograph
By Bill Clark
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 Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Fushimi Inari-taisha
Located in Kansas City, MO
Title: "Fushimi Inari-taisha"
Medium: Custom Archival Pigment Print on Archival Paper
Date: 2019
Dimensions: 8 x 10 in.
Signed, dated and inscribed on la...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
Morrissey
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16x20" silver gelatin print of Morrissey by Kevin Cummins, taken at Rochdale Canal, Manchester England, 5th September 1989. Limited edition number 36/50
This ...
Category
1980s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Patti Smith and John Belushi
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Patti Smith and John Belushi taken backstage before their Saturday Night Live appearance in April 1976 by Allan T...
Category
1970s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Devo Grey Suits
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Signed limited edition print of Devo posing for SoHo Weekly News, NYC, 1981 by Allan Tannenbaum. Available in different sizes. Limited editi...
Category
1980s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Devo Energy Dome
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Signed limited edition print of Devo posing for SoHo Weekly News, NYC, 1981 by Allan Tannenbaum. Available in different sizes. Limited editi...
Category
1980s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Willie Nelson at the 4th July Picnic 1979
Located in Austin, TX
Willie Nelson, taken at the 4th July Picnic in 1979 in Austin Texas by photographer Scott Newton
Signed limited edition print, printed on heavyweight cotton ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
John Lennon "Adoration" by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, TX
Iconic photo of John Lennon with a dandelion in his eye, fondly known as 'Adoration' by Robert Whitaker.
Photographed in the garden of his Weybridge h...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
C Print
Rolling Stones Charlie Watts by Bill Wyman
Located in Austin, TX
The Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie in the dressing room before a show in San Francisco. July 26th, 1966
Signed limited edition, signed and numbered by Bill Wyman and featuring the ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
C Print
Amy Winehouse
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Amy Winehouse taken in London by Jake Chessum in 2004.
Jake recalls the session: “I travelled from NYC to London in Febr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
C Print
Young Ballerina In Pose San Francisco Richard Edwards
Located in Soquel, CA
Young Ballerina In Pose San Francisco Richard Edwards
Photo of a young ballerina posing. She is holding her right hand above her head, while her left hand is posed in front of her. ...
Category
1960s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Paper, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Aretha Franklin 1968 portrait
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of Aretha Franklin by Alec Byrne, taken in London, 1968
16x20" signed limited edition #2/75
Alec Byrne signed...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin
Devo
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Signed limited edition print of Devo posing for SoHo Weekly News, NYC, 1981 by Allan Tannenbaum. Available in different sizes. Limited editi...
Category
1980s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beastie Boys 1994
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited 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 ba...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
C Print
Kate Moss at 16
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, TX
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 Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beastie Boys
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited 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 ba...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
C Print
Johnny Cash 1968 portrait
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Johnny Cash, taken by Barrie Wentzell in London in 1968.
This Johnny Cash print is available in the following sizes.
16" x 20" - Edi...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Steve Martin, Los Angeles 1974 “Let’s Get Small”
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition fine art print of Steve Martin, taken in Los Angeles by Norman Seeff in 1974.
Norman recalls - “When I relocated to LA as Creative Director of United Artist ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Devo
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Signed limited edition print of Devo posing for SoHo Weekly News, NYC, 10/78 by Allan Tannenbaum. Available in different sizes. Limited edit...
Category
1970s Photorealist Photography
Materials
C Print
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 Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Pigment
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 Photography
Materials
Paper, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
"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 Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
"Portrait of MiKyoung with Camera" - Silver Gelatin Photograph
Located in Soquel, CA
"Portrait of MiKyoung with Camera" - Silver Gelatin Photograph - Edition (5)
Dramatic black and white portrait of a woman by Dale Sparage (American, b. 1954). A woman named MiKyoung is standing, wearing a dark dress and furry hat. She is holding two bird of paradise flowers and looking directly at the camera. Off to the left, there is a vintage camera at the edge of the frame.
Artist's information on verso.
Presented in a white mat and a black aluminum frame.
Frame size: 20.5"H x 16.25"W
Image size: 9"H x 9"W
Dale Sparage (American, b. 1954) is a photographer and artist from Detroit, Michigan. She completed her BFA with honors from York University in Canada, and an MFA in painting from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan. She has taught at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, University of Michigan, and The School for Visual Arts at the Toledo Museum of Art. She is currently working on an MFA in Photography at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Her ongoing work on photographing women...
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
Pop Art Vintage Color Photograph Dye Transfer Print Audrey Flack Fruits Photo
By Audrey Flack
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed and titled in ink by the artist from edition of 50 (plus proofs). Color Photo printed at CVI Lab by master printer Guy Stricherz. Published by Prestige Art Ltd. From the ...
Category
1980s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Dye Transfer
'Kate Playboy #1I #6T #2'
By Ant Pearce
Located in Brecon, Powys
Cotton thread sewn on Photo Rag matt paper plus 24 carat Gold Leaf
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Gold Leaf
"Whitehouse Ruins - Canyon de Chelle" - Desert Landscape Photograph
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful desert landscape photograph of the Whitehouse Ruins at Canyon de Chelly National Monument by an unknown artist, 1984. Signed "CJB" in the lower right corner. Dated "April '...
Category
1980s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
“Dragonfly” Photography 16” x 12” in Edition of 20 Dragonfly Nature 2024
Located in Houston, TX
“Dragonfly” is a limited edition of 20. Printed on fine art paper, these limited-edition photographs are designed to preserve the beauty of the original scenes. Each piece is hand-nu...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper
Pop Art Vintage Color Photograph Dye Transfer Print "Royal Flush" Audrey Flack
By Audrey Flack
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed and titled in ink by the artist from edition of 50 (plus proofs). Color Photo printed at CVI Lab by master printer Guy Stricherz. Published by Prestige Art Ltd. From the ...
Category
1980s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Dye Transfer
Portrait of a Young Girl
By Richard Dooner
Located in Soquel, CA
Silver Bromide photographic portrait of a young girl by Philadelphia photographer, Richard T. Dooner (American, 1878-1954). A fine portrait of...
Category
Early 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
Ink, Photographic Paper
“The Queen” Photography 12” x 16” in Edition of 20 Butterfly Nature 2024
Located in Houston, TX
“The Queen” is a limited edition of 20. Printed on fine art paper, these limited-edition photographs are designed to preserve the beauty of the original scenes. Each piece is hand-n...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper
John Lennon the Beatles 1966 Cleveland Concert
Located in Paonia, CO
This image of John Lennon was taken at a 1966 Cleveland Ohio live Beatles concert. Photographer Michael Chikeris had just gotten out of the Marines and got entry thru the stage door...
Category
1960s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Striking Photographic Landscape of a Cactus , "Beautiful Danger" 2023
Located in San Diego, CA
These are photographic prints done on sheets of metal by the Southern California artist Doug Dolde. There are three available sizes, 18" x 24", 24" x 32", 30" x 40". They are 1 of 30...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Color
George Harrison, from a 1966 concert in Cleveland Ohio
Located in Paonia, CO
This image of George Harrison was taken at a 1966 Cleveland Ohio live Beatles concert. Photographer Michael Chikeris had just gotten out of the Mari...
Category
1960s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Merlot 2017 - underwater nude photograph - archival pigment print 35"x25"
By Alex Sher
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 Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
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 Photography
Materials
Archival 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 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 Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Pop Art Vintage Photograph Dye Transfer Print "Leonardo's Lady" Audrey Flack
By Audrey Flack
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed and titled in ink by the artist from edition of 50 (plus proofs). Color Photo printed at CVI Lab by master printer Guy Stricherz. Published by Prestige Art Ltd. From the ...
Category
1980s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper, C Print, Dye Transfer
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 Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Richard Blair "Tom Dunphy aka General Waste-More-Land" Berkeley 1969 / 2001
Located in San Francisco, CA
Richard Blair Photograph "Tom Dunphy aka General Waste-More-Land" Berkeley, c.1969
Thomas Michael Dunphy (born 1944 in East Los Angeles, California) is best known for portraying General Waste-more-land, a character based on General William Westmoreland, at anti-Vietnam War protests in the 1960s. Dunphy is also a poet and is involved in other political activities including working with the Hopi Indians...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
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 Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Grand Place of Brussel - 2013 - Full Framed color panoramic photography
Located in Brussels, BE
Panoramic cityscape made from 15 pictures
Pigment photographic paper - photography & fine art print © Jean Pierre De Neef -
This is a Minimalist framing & presentation of the artwor...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Green Bud - underwater photograph - print on paper 28" 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 Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Fratello e Sorella - Thailand 1961 - Full Framed Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
This is a Minimalist framing & presentation of the artwork :
The Fine Art print on Baryta paper is mounted on a 2mm dib...
Category
1950s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Gita in famiglia, Thaïland (1957) - Full Framed Black & White Fine Art Print
Located in Brussels, BE
Artwork # 1 on 5 sold in limited edition in perfect condition
This is a Minimalist framing & presentation of the artwork :
The Fine Art print on Baryta paper is mounted on a 2mm dib...
Category
1950s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bernadette Peters, 1977
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Francesco Scavullo (after)
Title: Bernadette Peters, 1977
Portfolio: A Photographic Retrospective, Volume I: Song
Medium: Gelatin Silver Print
Year: 2004
Edition: 106/150
Sig...
Category
Early 2000s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Arcangelo, Interior Photography, Contemporary Artwork, Light Art Photography
By Gina Soden
Located in Deddington, GB
"An incredibly decorative villa from the 1700’s, which had been semi-restored to it’s former glory and is now awaiting it’s future. A very well known Italian composer was born nearby...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Paper, Digital 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 Photography
Materials
Paper, Photographic Paper
Rocky Desert Mountain, Black and White Landscape Photograph of Atlas, Morocco
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is an exclusive limited edition black and white giclée print, on 100% cotton Hahnemühle Photo Rag Fine Art matte paper.
This series of black and white photographs captures the ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, C Print, Giclée
Lotus MK 9
Located in San Francisco, CA
This Photograph titled "Lotus MK 9" 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 Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Carn Gloose, Hot and Sunny Twinkly Seas By Maggie LaPorte Banks
Located in Deddington, GB
original
Acrylic on linen
Image size: H:50 cm x W:50 cm
Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:50 cm x W:50 cm x D:2cm
Frame Size: H:53 cm x W:53 cm x D:5cm
Sold Framed
Please note ...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Acrylic
Submerge, Interior Photography, Derelict Building Artwork, Light Art Photography
By Gina Soden
Located in Deddington, GB
Submerge by Gina Soden [2020]
Please note that insitu images are purely an indication of how a piece may look
"I photographed this in an abandoned manor in the south of France. The ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Photography
Materials
Paper, Digital Pigment
Striking Metal Landscape Photo Prints, "Torrey Pines Winter" 2014
Located in San Diego, CA
These are photographic prints done on sheets of metal by the Southern California artist Roy Kerckhoffs. There are two available sizes, 16" x 24", 24" x 36". They are 1 of 30.
Roy Ke...
Category
2010s Photorealist Photography
Materials
Color
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 Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence, Italy Black and White Photograph
Located in Houston, TX
The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy. It is noted for the shops built alo...
Category
20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Merle Haggard by Jim Herrington
Located in Austin, TX
Merle Haggard in Temecula, CA, 2000 by Jim Herrington
17x22" Archival pigment print on baryta 315 gsm, acid-free, 100% cotton-fiber paper. Edition 75
S...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Photorealist photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist 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 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 Alex Sher, Allan Tannenbaum, Lynn Goldsmith, and Jake Chessum. 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 photography, so small editions measuring 5.5 inches across are also available. Prices for 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 $1,930.