Joseph McGurl is one of today's most celebrated American realist painters. The Art Renewal Center has designated him as a living master, and it's not hard to see why. With their strikingly reflective water surfaces and blue skies streaked with warm oranges and yellow-reds, McGurl's figurative paintings and landscape paintings resemble photographs of serene places captured in the best possible natural light.
McGurl's first and most influential teacher was his father, James McGurl, who worked as a muralist. As a young man, Joseph attended the Massachusetts College of Art and earned a dual degree in painting and education. He then spent time studying at Fenway Studios and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, in addition to studying in Italy and England. A stint on a yacht also inspired a love for painting the natural world.
For its interplay of light and color, McGurl's distinctive, hyperreal style is often likened to the American luminists, a 19th-century movement linked to the Hudson River School. McGurl is a plein air painter — he works exclusively in the great outdoors as opposed to working from photographs within the confines of a studio. His atmospheric landscapes are mainly of areas in New England and the eastern United States.
McGurl is a member of the Plein Air Painters of America and the Guild of Boston Artists. His work is held in the Forbes Collection, the Mellon Collection, the Cape Cod Museum of Art, the New Britain Museum of American Art and the Cahoon Museum of American Art. He has also earned numerous awards, including the Art Renewal Center’s International Salon First Place in Landscape and the Guild of Boston Artists Gold Medallion. In 2020, Cavalier Galleries in New York City was home to an exhibition called "Joseph McGurl — Contemporary American Luminism: Journey through Time and Space."
On 1stDibs, find original Joseph McGurl paintings.
"Far Away, " Oil Painting
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Denver, CO
Joseph McGurl's "Far Away" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a vast landscape of valleys and mountains in the distance under the orange and yellow glow of sunrise or...
Oil, Panel
The Landscape Painter
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original oil painting on linen by artist Joseph McGurl. Framed.
Linen, Oil
The Bass Rock
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Designated a living master by the Art Renewal Center and widely regarded as a leader of the American landscape school, Joseph McGurl is one of the most important realist painters today. McGurl works almost exclusively with oil paint, capturing marine and landscape scenes in his native New England as well as other areas of the Eastern US. Along with his childhood as a muralist’s son, McGurl’s days as a sailor and his studies under Robert Cormier...
Linen, Oil
View from Coatue, Lifting Fog, Afternoon Sun
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Signed lower right American, b. 1958 Designated a living master by the Art Renewal Center and widely regarded as a leader of the American landscape school, Joseph McGurl is one of ...
Linen, Oil
The Florida Waterways, Fishing the Inlet
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
American, b. 1958 Designated a living master by the Art Renewal Center and widely regarded as a leader of the American landscape school, Joseph McGurl is one of the most important realist painters today. McGurl works almost exclusively with oil paint, capturing marine and landscape scenes in his native New England as well as other areas of the Eastern US. Along with his childhood as a muralist’s son, McGurl’s days as a sailor and his studies under Robert Cormier...
Linen, Oil
Landscape painting, scenic depiction 'Within Everglades-Sunset' by Joseph McGurl
By Joseph McGurl
Located in White Plains, NY
'Within Everglades-Sunset' by Joseph Mcgurl. c. 1990-2008 oil on linen. 18 x 24 in. / Frame: 26 x 32 in. Signed bottom right and on verso. Joseph McGurl (b. 1958) is extensively reg...
Linen, Oil
The Sailing Canoe, Tetons
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original oil painting on linen by artist Joseph McGurl. Framed.
Linen, Oil
Swordfishing off Sankaty Light
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
A uniquely layered painting by Joseph McGurl, depicting a fishing boat off the coast of Nantucket. Seagulls cross over from the scene to a painted border, adding depth to the composi...
Canvas, Oil
"Prism, River and Sky, " Oil Painting
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Denver, CO
Joseph McGurl's "Prism, River and Sky" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a bright yellow and orange sunrise or sunset over the waters reflective surface, casting the...
Oil
"Into the Sun" oil painting by Joseph McGurl
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Joseph McGurl is celebrated as one of the premier contemporary American Luminist landscape painters and is officially designated a Living Master by the Art Renewal Center. He is wide...
Oil, Panel
$15,000
Joseph McGurl Landscape Oil Painting, Cathedral Ledge, North Conway NH 1989
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Milford, NH
A splendid New Hampshire landscape of Cathedral Ledge in North Conway, NH by contemporary American artist Joseph McGurl (b. 1959). McGurl was born in Needham, MA, raised in Quincy, M...
Oil, Board
The Cast Shadow
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original oil painting on linen by artist Joseph McGurl. Framed.
Linen, Oil
The Descent
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Oil painting signed by the Artist in the lower right corner.
Oil
Alongshore, Nantucket
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Joseph McGurl is regarded as a leader of the current American landscape school. This has been confirmed by his inclusion in several important museum shows and his successful relation...
Oil, Panel
Riders Through Time and Space
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original oil painting on linen by artist Joseph McGurl. Framed.
Linen, Oil
Ranchlands After the Rain
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original oil painting on linen by artist Joseph McGurl. Framed.
Linen, Oil
$4,650
H 29 in W 44.75 in D 1.88 in
Mid Century Seascape and Figural Original oil painting on Linen
By Robert Watson
Located in Soquel, CA
Mid Century Seascape and Figural Original oil painting on Linen 1956 Solitary figure on wharf by California artist Robert Watson, painted 1956 (1923 - 2004)The following, is from To...
Linen, Oil
"Sunset West" (2025) Oil Painting, Colorado Landscape
By Michael Magrin
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Magrin's ( US based) "Sunset West" is an original, handmade oil painting of a sunset above Colorado plains. This piece is framed in a "barn wood" frame and is ready to hang. ...
Linen, Oil, Wood Panel
$650
H 9 in W 18 in
"Ray of Hope" by Christopher Clark, Original Oil Painting, Sunlit Landscape
By Christopher Clark
Located in Denver, CO
Christopher Clark's "Ray of Hope" is an original, hand made oil and acrylic painting that depicts a highway with a bright shaft of sunlight shining through pink and blue clouds. Chr...
Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
"On the Horizon" (2025) Oil Painting, Colorado Landscape
By Michael Magrin
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Magrin's ( US based) "On the Horizon" is an original, handmade oil painting of a sunset above Colorado plains. This piece is framed in a "barn wood" frame and is ready to han...
Linen, Oil, Wood Panel
$2,531
H 11.82 in W 9.85 in D 1.97 in
Galerie Vivienne, Paris - 21st Century Hyper Realistic oil painting
By Roos van der Meijden
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Roos van der Meijden Galerie Vivienne, Paris 30 x 25 cm ( framed 38 x 33 cm, frame is included in price ) Acrylic on canvas Dutch artist Roos van der Meijden is famous because of he...
Oil, Panel, Wood Panel
$2,520
H 14 in W 18 in
"Trees on a Prairie River" - Realist Landscape and Skyscape, Oil Painting
By Linda Lillegraven
Located in Denver, CO
Linda Lillegraven was born at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1948. She received her BA in art from San Diego State University in 1970, and a BS in zoology, also from San Diego State, in 1...
Linen, Oil, Panel
$7,600
H 45 in W 60 in D 1.5 in
"Paris Rainy Cafe" by Christopher Clark, Original Oil Painting, French Cityscape
By Christopher Clark
Located in Denver, CO
Christopher Clark's "Paris Rainy Cafe" is an original, hand made oil and acrylic painting that depicts a night scene of a bustling cityscape in France. Christopher has been an artist since early childhood, when he would watch Bob Ross on PBS and mimic the famed oil painter’s art with crayons. He considers himself a self-educated artist, with his studies ranging from personal training with contemporary masters, to classical academic art technique, with much inspiration from 19th Century art and the Impressionist Movement. Christopher lived in Italy for a time, immersing himself in Italian culture and art, which continues to influence his painting. His fan base has grown considerably since his return to the US, gaining the attention of Lucasfilm and Marvel Fine Art, which both signed him as an officially licensed artist in 2016. Other clients include George Lucas, Major League Baseball, Louisville Slugger, and Fender Guitars. Christopher’s painting skills are not his only talent in the arts. He has won several national swing dance championship competitions, and also studies tango and blues dancing. He has played guitar since the age of 12, and during his time as lead guitarist for a rock band, he opened for Blue Oyster Cult and Eddie Money...
Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
"Ham Rock" Oil Painting
By Mark Harrison
Located in Denver, CO
Mark Harrison's (UK based) "Ham Rock" is an oil painting that depicts an arid landscape with clouds and towering rock formations. Sometimes they are silent epic landscapes of the D...
Linen, Oil
$1,000
H 10 in W 10 in
"View From Hess" - Original Oil Landscape Painting on Linen
By Michael Magrin
Located in Denver, CO
Artist Statement: View From Hess captures the vast openness south of Denver where the land meets the rise of the Front Range. Painted in soft hues, the work evokes the fleeting momen...
Linen, Oil
$3,900
H 19.75 in W 27.25 in
Rushing Stream, Sunlit Rocks, German Landscape, Peasant, Oil on panel
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Valentin Ruths enrolled at the Munich Academy in 1846 but the revolutionary upheavals there in 1848 forced him to interrupt his studies. In 1850 Ruths continued his training under th...
Oil, Wood Panel
$300
H 10 in W 8 in D 0.75 in
"Morning Nook" (2025), Original Landscape Still Life Oil Painting on Panel
By Tracy Wall
Located in Denver, CO
"Hosta Party" by Tracy Wall (United States) is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a landscape and is framed and ready to hang. As an artist, Tracy Wall sheds new light ...
Oil, Panel
$900
H 8 in W 10 in D 0.5 in
"Winter Solace" by Devin Michael Roberts, Landscape Oil Painting
By Devin Michael Roberts
Located in Denver, CO
Devin Michael Roberts' ( US based) "Winter Solace" is an oil painting depicting a snowy landscape with a small river fork and a bright orange sunset above. Artist bio/statement: Dev...
Oil, Panel
“Sunset Sail, Nixes Mate, Boston Harbor”
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Southampton, NY
A fabulous evening maritime oil painting on board by the well known contemporary artist, Joseph McGurl. Nixes Mate in Boston harbor is the location. Signed by the artist lower right...
Oil, Board
The Trail Leads West
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original oil painting on linen by artist Joseph McGurl. Framed.
Linen, Oil
"Rhythm of the Land, Elk Mountain, " Oil Painting
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Denver, CO
Joseph McGurl's "Rhythm of the Land, Elk Mountain" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a stream cutting through a yellow prairie dotted with green foliage and mountain...
Oil
Becalmed: The Sailing Canoe
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Joseph McGurl is regarded as a leader of the current American landscape school. This has been confirmed by his inclusion in several important museum shows and his successful relation...
Linen, Oil, Panel
Luminaire
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Joseph McGurl is regarded as a leader of the current American landscape school. This has been confirmed by his inclusion in several important museum shows and his successful relation...
Linen, Oil, Panel
Pathways
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Joseph McGurl is regarded as a leader of the current American landscape school. This has been confirmed by his inclusion in several important museum shows and his successful relationship with some of the country’s leading galleries. He has been the subject of numerous books and magazine articles and is also the author of several art related magazine articles published in print and online. McGurl has been designated a Living Master by the Art Renewal Center in New York. He has been elected to the Guild of Boston Artists, was a Copley Master with the Copley Society of Boston and is a signature member of the prestigious Plein Air Painters of America. His many awards include the Guild of Boston Artists Gold Medallion, The Art Renewal Center’s International Salon First Place in Landscape, American Fine Art Magazine Award of Excellence, The Rehs Award, a Purchase Award, and the John Singleton Copley...
Oil, Panel
Sankaty Light
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Landscape oil painting depicting a schooner near the Sankaty Light of Nantucket.
Canvas, Oil
Twilight, Hudson River
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Painting from the Salmagundi American Masters' show. Part of a series of paintings of the Palisades. It depicts the River and Palisades with barges moored waiting to go upriver. The ...
Canvas, Oil
Light Speed
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Landscape, water
Paint