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
“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 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
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
"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
The Sailing Canoe, Tetons
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original oil painting on linen by artist Joseph McGurl. Framed.
Linen, Oil
Hudson River Twilight
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Joseph McGurl contemporary luminist Hudson River scene
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
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
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
Ranchlands After the Rain
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
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
$7,100
H 17 in W 27 in D 1.5 in
"December Snow on Cars" 2023 Snowy American Realist painting in Minnesota
By Carl Bretzke
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting of cars parked along the street, coated with snow. Christmas lights sparkle in the yard behind the cars, a modest ranch house leaves the front porch light on, welcomi...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
$3,720Sale Price|20% Off
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
$711Sale Price|20% Off
H 13 in W 16 in D 1 in
Antique Autumn Fall Landscape Pumpkin Harvest by Kennedy
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique Autumn Fall Landscape Pumpkin Harvest by Andrew Dwight Kennedy. Framed. Signed.
Oil, Board
$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
$2,691
H 9.45 in W 13.39 in
Landscape With Mill at Sunset by Swedish Artist Mauritz Lindström
Located in Stockholm, SE
The small yet stirring painting "Landscape With Mill at Sunset" showcases the remarkable talent of Swedish painter Mauritz Lindström. He was a resp...
Oil, Wood Panel
$2,650
H 16 in W 24 in D 1 in
Carmel by the Sea - Beach, California Coastline 1927 Oil on Linen
Located in Soquel, CA
Carmel by the Sea - Beach, California Coastline 1927 Oil on Linen Seascape oil painting of the Carmel coastline by Charles Henry Harmon (American, 1859-1936). Vibrant blue Pacific w...
Oil, Linen
$5,000
H 22.5 in W 18.5 in D 1 in
Copy of "Wall Street - The Noon Hour" by Felicie Waldo Howell created in 1925
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful copy by an unknown artist, of the original painting "Wall Street - The Noon Hour" originally created in 1925 by the great American artist Felicie Waldo Howell (1897-1968)...
Oil, Wood Panel
$3,900
H 25 in W 29 in
Bathers 1940s Mid 20th Century American Scene Social Realism WPA Modern Ashcan
Located in New York, NY
Bathers 1940s Mid 20th Century American Scene Social Realism WPA Modern Ashcan Marion Gilmore (1909-1984) Bathers 15 1/2 x 19 1/2 inches oil on canvas boar...
Oil, Board
$2,510
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
$11,853Sale Price|50% Off
H 22 in W 28 in D 2.5 in
River Landscape Painting of Scottish Highlands by 19th Century British Artist
By Alfred de Breanski Sr.
Located in Preston, GB
River Landscape Painting of the Scottish Highlands by 19th Century British Artist, Alfred De Breanski Snr, (1852 - 1928). Signed on the front (l...
Oil, Wood, Cotton Canvas, Linen, Canvas
$32,000
H 19 in W 27 in D 3 in
Women's City Club, Youngstown, Ohio. American Historical Scene Painting.
Located in Marco Island, FL
An accomplished American Scene painter, Clyde Singer successfully captured everyday life during his long career. A unique aspect of American life is depicted in this painting, entitl...
Oil, Board
$2,600
H 16.125 in W 20.125 in D 1 in
Stephen Stallings "An Everlasting Mystery" 1973 Signed Coastal Pier Painting
Located in Miami, FL
STEPHEN STALLINGS – "AN EVERLASTING MYSTERY" ⚜ Mixed Media on Board ⚜ Hand Signed and Titled Lower Right; Signed Verso with Fingerprint ⚜ Conservation Frame MYSTICAL COASTAL SCENE P...
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