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Photorealist Art

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
Fat Man, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Unknown man on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. :: Painting :: Photorealism :: This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity sig...
Category

1970s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

872 BRU Series: Steep/Stepped Parade. [Bruges, Belgium].
Located in New York, NY
872 BRU Series: Steep/Stepped Parade. [Bruges, Belgium]. Contemporary artist Thomas Roese, inspired by the industrial landscape of steel mills, rail yards, architectural details, a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic, Color Pencil, Graphite

Riverbank 2, photorealist graphite nature drawing, 2018
Located in New York, NY
Mary Reilly explores the full tonal depth of graphite in her nature drawings and landscapes. She finds all of the soft subtleties of gray as she shifts...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Paper, Graphite

"Becoming" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Mia Bergeron's (US based) "Becoming" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a blue fish leaping from dark water as a lit candle appears in its mouth. Mia Bergeron's int...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

Bob Marley by Lynn Goldsmith
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16x20"" print of Bob Marley by Lynn Goldsmith, taken in 1980. Limited edition number 6/20 Modern C-type print. Available for immediate shipping. Lynn Goldsm...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

Patti Smith Fuck The Clock
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Patti Smith wearing her “Fuck The Clock” t-shirt by Allan Tannenbaum, taken at CBGB in New York, New Years Eve 1977. Available in different ...
Category

1970s Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Vintage Limited Edition Nature Photograph Fish Still Life
Located in Buffalo, NY
Wonderful and rare photograph by Henry Horenstein (b.1947). Limited edition of 35 pieces. Gallery label verso. Framed. Measuring 16 by 24 inches overall and 15.5 by 23.5 photo alone.
Category

1960s Photorealist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Stick Series No. 4, Photorealist colored pencil drawing, still life, 2015
Located in New York, NY
Artist David Morrison creates hyperrealistic, yes abstracted, finely detailed pencil drawings of found natural objects, both by observing the object itself under magnification, and a...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Paper, Color Pencil

Dolly Parton and John Belushi
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Country music star Dolly Parton hugging John Belushi backstage after her Bottom Line concert. NYC 5/14/77 by SoH...
Category

1970s Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Austria Voralberg Alps original vintage skiing travel poster Silvretta
Located in London, GB
To see our other original vintage travel posters, many of which have Austrian subjects, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this seller" - or s...
Category

1950s Photorealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Bernard Sumner of New Order
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16x20" silver gelatin print of Bernard Sumner by Kevin Cummins. This stunning shot of the New Order frontman was taken in New York Cit...
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Pink Sand Beach - Elafonisi Beach Greece #8, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original ocean painting with pink sand beach, inspired by the Elafonisi beach on the Crete Island in Greece Dealing with depression, PTSD and anxiety, painting is a form of therapy f...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

The Beatles "Revolver sessions" 1966
Located in Austin, TX
The Beatles, left to right, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Paul McCartney, posing with colored cells over their faces during the Abbey Road session to record the promotional video for Paperback Writer, 19th May 1966. This was the same session from which the back cover photo for the Revolver Album was chosen. The photo was part of a series taken by Robert Whitaker during the filming at Abbey Road on 19 May and demonstrated the Beatles’ adoption of fashions from boutiques that had recently opened in Chelsea, rather than the Carnaby Street designers they had favored previously. From these Chelsea boutiques, Lennon wore a long-collared paisley shirt from Granny Takes a Trip...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

Bridge, Screenprint on Canvas by Larry Stark
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Larry Stark, American (1940 - ) Title: Vancouver Bridge Year: circa 1971 Medium: Photosilkscreen on Canvas Size: 66 in. x 46 in. (167.64 cm x 116.8...
Category

1970s Photorealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Screen

Colored Piccadilly Circus Plaza Street Scene London, England
Located in Houston, TX
Colored photograph of a Plaza street scene in London. The photograph is matted to a thick board to protect against bending. The work is not framed.
Category

20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper

Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan
Located in Austin, TX
Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan taken at The Big 60, Austin Texas in 1993 by photographer Scott Newton. Signed limited edition print, printed on heavyweight ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Neuschwanstein Castle in the Forrest Bavaria Germany Colored Photograph
Located in Houston, TX
Colored photograph of the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany. The photograph is matted to a thick board to protect against bending. The wo...
Category

20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper

Photorealistic 'Lemons on a yellow plate' Still life oil painting of fruit
Located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
'Lemons on a Yellow Plate' is a fabulous example of Lijftogt's work. Such amazing eye for detail is what makes this piece such a knockout piece. A beautiful colour palette has been u...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Equinox", photography by Dimitri Bourriau (31x47'), 2016
Located in Paris, France
Print mounted on aluminum with plexiglas, framed. Edition of 15. Dimitri Bourriau is a French photographer, he has always been interested in history...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Plexiglass, Color

Little wave #3, Painting, Acrylic on MDF Panel
Located in Yardley, PA
"Little wave" is part of the "Ocean Waves" collection inspired by the colors ocean has in the Bahamas. Calm splashing waves, warm and teal turquoise ocean, clear blue sky. Peace and ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

Red Spotted Lily, Photorealist Screenprint on Paper by Lowell Nesbitt
Located in Long Island City, NY
Photorealist flower screenprint by American artist Lowell Blair Nesbitt, signed and numbered in pencil. Red Spotted Lily from the Stamp Series Lowell Blair Nesbitt, American (1933–1...
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen

Pink Iris, Photorealist Flower Print by Lowell Nesbitt
Located in Long Island City, NY
Date: 1981 Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil Edition of 200, AP 40 Image Size: 34.5 x 23 inches Size: 38 x 26 in. (96.52 x 66.04 cm)
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen

(Abstract Mythological Landscape) Untitled, 1965, Ian Hornak — Drawing
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ian Hornak (1944-2002) Title: (Abstract Mythological Landscape) Untitled Year: circa 1965 Medium: Charcoal on archival paper Size: 11 x 14 inches Condition: Good Provenance: ...
Category

1960s Photorealist Art

Materials

Charcoal, Archival Paper

Willie Nelson
Located in Austin, TX
Willie Nelson, taken outside the Pedernales Studio's in 1983 by Austin Texas based photographer Scott Newton Signed limited edition print, printed on hea...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

The perfect beach, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
"The perfect beach" is part of the "Ocean Waves" collection inspired by the colors ocean has in the Bahamas. Calm splashing waves, warm and teal turquoise ocean, clear blue sky. Peac...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

David Bowie 1995 16x20" contact sheet. First print of the edition
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition 16x20" print, and the first print of the edition #1/20. David Bowie contact sheet from Jake Chessum. Jake recalls the sessi...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Giclée

David Bowie & Twiggy Pin-Ups Contact Sheet, 1973 by Justin De Villeneuve
Located in Austin, TX
English model Twiggy poses with David Bowie in Paris for the cover of his ‘Pin Ups’ album, 1973, by Justin de Villeneuve Justin recalls, "Twiggy and I were staying in the Bel Air Hotel in LA when Peter...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

Elvis Presley 1964 portrait
Located in Austin, TX
Fine art print of Elvis Presley from the collection of acclaimed photographer. Lynn Goldsmith, taken in 1964 These prints are open edition and come with full certification. Availab...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

"Cut Food - Donuts and Coffee" Modern Photography Food Still-Life Pop Art
Located in Wellesley, MA
"I am a professional food and still life photographer with over 30 years experience based in New York City. My attention to detail and strong sense of composition has allowed me to ...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Waxing Crescent (The Moon Series), Guy Allen, Limited Edition Print, Affordable
Located in Deddington, GB
Waxing Crescent (The Moon Series) by Guy Allen [2020] limited_edition Etching on paper Edition number 75 Image size: H:51 cm x W:51 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:51 cm x W:51 cm x D:0.1cm Sold Unframed Please note that insitu images are purely an indication of how a piece may look Waxing Crescent by Guy Allen is a limited edition of the moon. This piece is part of Guy's moon series. Accomplished print maker Guy Allen (b.1987) grew up surrounded by Norfolk’s natural beauty. The theme of the animal world is central to Guy’s work and inspiration. His limited edition original etchings showcase his brilliant draftsmanship in a contemporary way. Guy graduated from Central Saint Martins School of Art in 2011, but discovered his passion for the traditional etching process while studying at the École Nationale Supérieure Des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 2010. In 2012 Guy trained as an assistant print maker at the highly respected Curwen Studios, Cambridge, under Mary Dalton and Stanley Jones, where he mastered other types of printmaking. Today Guy works as a full time artist, splitting his week between his London and Norfolk studios, accompanied by trusty wire haired dachshund...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Paper, Etching

"Atlantis Theatro", photography by Dimitri Bourriau (31x47'), 2020
Located in Paris, France
"Atlantis Theatro", photography by Dimitri Bourriau. Print mounted on aluminum with plexiglas, framed. Edition of 15. Dimitri Bourriau is a French ph...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Plexiglass, Color

The Clash
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Bassist Paul Simonon and lead singer Joe Strummer of British punk rock band The Clash backstage at the Agora Theatre in Cl...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

Debbie Harry of Blondie, Hanging On The Telephone
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Debbie Harry of Blondie "Hanging On The Telephone", taken by Simon Fowler in the UK in 1979 Available in the following sizes: 12 x 17” - open editio...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

Island Path VI, Dylan Lloyd, Contemporary Landscape Painting, Vibrant Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Dylan Lloyd Island Path IV Original Oil Painting on Canvas Oil Paint on Canvas Framed in a White Box Frame Image size: H 30cm x W 24cm x D 0.5cm Framed Siz...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Muhammad Ali
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition archival print of Muhammad Ali shadow boxes at his Deer Lake, PA, training camp. Taken by Allan Tannenbaum in 1977. Allan Tannenbaum prints are available in t...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

The ocean from the sky, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
Original Mixed Media seascape painting Unique ocean painting with white sand beach and frothy splashing waves, inspired by The Turks And Caicos Islands Different shades of blu...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Acrylic

The Chinese Screen, Photorealist Screenprint by Harry McCormick
Located in Long Island City, NY
Harry McCormick, American (1942 - ) - The Chinese Screen. Year: circa 1990, Medium: Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 250, Size: 26 in. x 30 in. (66.04 cm x 76.2 cm)
Category

Early 1900s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen

Red Rose from the Stamps series, Photorealist Screenprint by Lowell Nesbitt
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Lowell Blair Nesbitt, American (1933 - 1993) Title: Red Rose from the Stamps Series Year: 1981 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 250 Image Size: 20 x ...
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen

Magnolia Angelic, Allan Forsyth, Contemporary Luxury Statement Art, Bright Art
Located in Deddington, GB
Allan Forsyth MAGNOLIA ANGELIC Limited Edition Floral Print Archival Chromagenic Photographic Print Edition of 25 Artwork Size: H 76cm x W 228cm x D 2cm Diasec Framed and Ready to Ha...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Metal

Debbie Harry Blondie 1977 portrait
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of Debbie Harry of Blondie by Michael Brennan, taken at the studio on East 45th in Manhattan, New York, USA, Febru...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

CROCCANTINO, Painting, Oil on Canvas
Located in Yardley, PA
DETAILS: Oil on canvas, size 28x40x1.5 inches - 70X100X4 cm - sides are painted to match the painting SUPPORT: gallery canvas, wrapped around the sides and stapled to the back SI...
Category

2010s Photorealist Art

Materials

Oil

Keith Richards, Marquee Sound Check 1971
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of Keith Richards by Alec Byrne, taken at The Marquee Club, London, March 26th 1971, during a Rolling Stones soundcheck. Alec recalls, “There was a classic moment during sound check when Jagger was watching Keith, then turned to Mick Taylor...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin, Archival Pigment

The Cramps "Cobwebs" by Simon Fowler
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition print of The Cramps featuring Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, taken by Simon Fowler in the UK in 1979. Simon recalls - "Shot this at LFI’s Studio. I say Studio, ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Cramps by Jill Furmanovsky
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition fine art print of Poison Ivy and Lux Interior from influential 1970s and 1980s punk band The Cramps taken by Jill Furmanovsky in 1981...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Peach Woman, Mexico, Photorealist Lithograph by Harry McCormick
Located in Long Island City, NY
Harry McCormick, American (1942 - ) - The Peach Woman, Mexico. Year: circa 1979, Medium: Lithograph [pencil-signed and numbered], Edition: A.P., Size: 20 x 25.5 in. (50.8 x 64.77 cm)
Category

1970s Photorealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Adele Collins for British Vogue
Located in Austin, TX
Norman Parkinson’s homage to a painting by Dutch artist Kees van Dongen entitled The Corn Poppy. Adele Collins wearing an Otto Lucas velvet toque. British V...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

Lemons and Limes on Quilt
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Lowell Blair Nesbitt Title: Lemons and Limes on Quilt Year: 1988 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed and dated verso Size: 39 in. x 48 in. (99.06 cm x 121.92 cm) Frame Size: 40.25 ...
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Ivy Nicholson in New York for American Vogue, 1957
Located in Austin, TX
Model and future Factor Star, Ivy Nicholson in New York for American Vogue, 1957 by Norman Parkinson NORMAN PARKINSON POSTHUMOUS LIMITED EDITION PRINTS ...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

David Bowie 1969 portrait
Located in Austin, TX
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of David Bowie by Alec Byrne, taken at the Coventry Theatre, October 8th 1969, just before Bowie’s opening slot...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

Archival Pigment, Silver Gelatin

Jimi Hendrix by Baron Wolman signed limited edition 16x20" print
Located in Austin, TX
Jimi Hendrix by iconic photographer, Baron Wolman. Taken at the Travelodge Motel, San Francisco, February 1968 One copy available Signed limited edition #30/175 20x16” hand printed ...
Category

1960s Photorealist Art

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Night, Times Square from the City Scapes Portfolio, Screenprint by Noel Mahaffey
By Noel Mahaffey
Located in Long Island City, NY
Night, Times Square from the City Scapes Portfolio Noel Mahaffey, American (1944) Date: 1981 Screenprint on Somerset, signed and numbered in pencil Edition of 250, 30 AP Size: 22 in....
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen

FRANCE Chamonix Vallée Blanche French skiing poster Télépheriques de l'Aiguille
Located in London, GB
To see our other original vintage travel posters, many of which have skiing subjects, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - or send us a message if you cannot find the poster you want. Télépheriques de l'Aiguille du Midi et de la Vallée Blanche...
Category

1960s Photorealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Beastie Boys
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 Art

Materials

C Print

The Beastie Boys
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 Art

Materials

C Print

Straight Shot, Ron Kleemann
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ron Kleemann (1937-2014) Title: Straight Shot Year: 1980 Medium: Silkscreen on Somerset paper Edition: 225/250, plus proofs Size: 22 x 30 inches Condition: Good Inscription:...
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

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 Art

Materials

C Print

White Tulips, Photorealist Screenprint by Lowell Nesbitt
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Lowell Blair Nesbitt, American (1933 - 1993) Title: White Tulips Year: 1980 Medium: Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 200, AP 40 ...
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Screen

The Rolling Stones backstage by Bill Wyman
Located in Austin, TX
The Rolling Stones, featuring Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts, taken backstage before a show at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. June 12t...
Category

Late 20th Century Photorealist Art

Materials

C Print

Celestial
Located in Deddington, GB
Celestial by Sarah Duncan [2021] limited_edition Screen print on paper Edition number 20 Image size: H:60 cm x W:60 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:70 cm x W:70 cm x D:0.2cm So...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Art

Materials

Paper, Screen

White Knight, Ron Kleemann
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Ron Kleemann (1937-2014) Title: White Knight Year: 1980 Medium: Silkscreen on Somerset paper Edition: 208/250, plus proofs Size: 22 x 30 inches Condition: Good Inscription: ...
Category

1980s Photorealist Art

Materials

Lithograph

Photorealist art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist art 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 art 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, purple, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Alex Sher, Gregory Block, Lowell Nesbitt, and Ian Hornak. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint 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 art, so small editions measuring 0.79 inches across are also available. Prices for art 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 $585,000, while the average work sells for $2,404.

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