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
Into the Light
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, Panel
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
The Landscape Painter
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original oil painting on linen by artist Joseph McGurl. Framed.
Linen, Oil
“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
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
Light on the Sea
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 r...
Linen, 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
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
Hudson River Twilight
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Joseph McGurl contemporary luminist Hudson River scene
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
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
The Bass Rocks
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
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
The Sailing Canoe, Tetons
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original oil painting on linen by artist Joseph McGurl. Framed.
Linen, Oil
The Cast Shadow
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original oil painting on linen by artist Joseph McGurl. Framed.
Linen, Oil
Vermont Barns - Neutral Monochromatic Study in Grays
By John Koch
Located in Miami, FL
Understated town-scape in grays and muted blues. It's a painting that looks better as you get closer to it. Koch brings the same serene intimacy to an outdoor scene as his interiors....
Oil, Board
"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
Aftermath of a Tyne River Storm
By Robert Salmon
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Painted with unsurpassed detail, Robert Salmon's works are desirable to collectors the world over, due to the impressive amount of historic subject matter presented through artistic compositions of the highest order. As an artist Salmon was one of the most important to come out of England and immigrate to America in this period, influencing the art of Fitz Henry Lane...
Oil, Panel
"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
Barn, New Hampshire
Located in Sheffield, MA
Bruce Barton Penney American, born 1929 Barn on a Hill Oil on board 25 by 30 in, w/ frame 30 ¼ by 35 in Signed lower right, dated 64 Born Laconia, New Hampshire. Addresses: Kennebu...
Oil, Board
$3,200
H 16 in W 20 in
"Near the Old Tracks" (2018) Western Landscape and Sunset, Realist Oil Painting
By Linda Lillegraven
Located in Denver, CO
Linda Lillegraven's beautiful original oil landscape "Near the Old Tracks" (2023) depicts a serene moment of a western plain at dusk, the dim sunset lighting hanging heavy over vast ...
Linen, Oil
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 11 in W 14 in D 1 in
"Coral Cove Rock" oil painting, beach sunbathers gathering around large boulder
By Carl Bretzke
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Coral Cove Rock" is an oil painting by contemporary artist, Carl Bretzke. Coral Cove is located in Jupiter Florida, known for it's large rocks along the b...
Oil, Linen, Panel
"Keeler" Oil Painting
By Mark Harrison
Located in Denver, CO
Mark Harrison's (UK based) "Keeler" is an oil painting that depicts an arid landscape with clouds and road leading to a small unassuming building. Sometimes they are silent epic lan...
Linen, Oil
$2,579
H 10.24 in W 10.24 in D 1.97 in
Le Bistro, Passage Verdeau - 21st Century Hyper Realistic oil painting of a City
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Roos van der Meijden Le Bistro, Passage Verdeau 26 x 26 cm ( framed 32 x 32 cm, frame is included in price ) Oil paint on panel Dutch artist Roos van der Meijden is famous because o...
Oil, Panel, Wood Panel
$99,000
H 31 in W 38 in
Snowy Mountain Landscape titled "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor Bach"
By Frederick Waugh
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
A dramatic and highly accomplished landscape, Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (Bach) by Frederick Waugh captures the grandeur and emotional force for which the artist is celebrated. Lik...
Oil, Board
$7,500
H 19.5 in W 15.5 in D 1.5 in
“Eastern White Pines, c. 1910”, New England Landscape, Signed Oil Painting
By Charles Warren Eaton
Located in Yardley, PA
“Eastern White Pines, c. 1910” by Charles Warren Eaton (American, 1857-1937). A wonderful example of Eaton’s renowned compositions of Eastern white pine trees in his mature style. A...
Canvas, Oil, Board
$2,600
H 7 in W 12 in
"Autumn Orange Leaves" (2024) By David Grossmann, Original Oil Painting
By David Grossmann
Located in Denver, CO
David Grossman's (US based) "Autumn Orange Leaves" is an oil on linen panel created in 2024 depicting an abstracted birch forest in autumn. About the artist: David Grossmann’s evoc...
Oil, Linen, Panel
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