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
$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 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
The Descent
By Joseph McGurl
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Oil painting signed by the Artist in the lower right corner.
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
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 Cast Shadow
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
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
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 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
Mountain Landscape (Pyrenees) 1928
By Fritz Lindström
Located in Stockholm, SE
Fritz Lindström (1874–1962) Mountain Landscape (Pyrenees), 1928 oil on panel unframed 15.5 × 24 cm (6.1 × 9.4 in) framed: 26 × 34 cm (10.2 × 13.4 in) signed on the reverse Frame by...
Oil, Wood Panel
Golden Nugget, Las Vegas
By Patricia Chidlaw
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NYC & LA -- "When asked what kind of paintings I make, I usually call my work "Urban Landscapes" to distinguish them as paintings about areas o...
Linen, Oil
$5,231
H 31.89 in W 39.38 in D 0.99 in
Large White Rose Oil Painting, Contemporary Floral Artwork, France, 2010
Located in AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FR
"Blooming Rose” is an oil painting on Linen canvas created in 2010 by the French artist Françoise de Beaucé. From a private collection. This elegant artwork celebrates the timeless b...
Oil, Canvas, Linen
$1,000
H 15 in W 17 in
Framed Realist Oil of Trees in Hilly Landscape on Canvasboard
Located in Philadelphia, PA
William S. Butz (American, active Woodstock, N.Y., 1911-39) Field with Trees in Hilly Landscape Oil on canvasboard, 8 3/4 x 11 inches Framed: 15 x 17 inches (approx.) Signed on verso...
Oil, Board
Glass
By Edward Minoff
Located in Greenwich, CT
Edward Minoff graduated with honors from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Throughout his high school and college years he studied painting and sculpture at the Art Students League of ...
Linen, Oil, Panel
$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
Fiesole Path
By Angel Ramiro Sanchez
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Painted en plein air in Fiesole, Italy, just outside of the bustling city of Florence. Artist Bio Angel Ramiro Sanchez was born in 1974 in Maracaibo, Venezuela. At age six was accepted with full scholarship into the Instituto the Niños Cantores del Zulia, school for musically gifted children. At age fourteen he began five years of apprenticeship with the realist painter, Abdon J. Romero, an eminent specialist in murals for churches and public buildings. In 1993, a study grant from Mgr. Gustavo Ocando Yamarte, Founder the Niños Cantores, enabled him to travel to Florence, Italy, where he studied at the renowned Accademia di Belle Arti, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1997. At the same time, he was enrolled at The Florence Academy of Art,founded by painter Daniel Graves, where he received a diploma in Painting. Ramiro was appointed senior painting instructor at The Florence Academy of Art in 1997, and is currently Director of the Advanced Painting Program. Ramiro paints only from life, searching for accuracy beyond physical appearance to reach the psychological state of his subject. He believes the painter must draw his information from "all five senses" to tell the complete human story. Ramiros work is predominantly represented by th e Grenning Gallery in Sag Harbor, New York, but also Scriba Gallery, venice, Italy, Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Tx. Ramiros works can be found in numerous private collections in Europe, The United States and South America. Public collections include: The Fondazione Stelline, Milan, Italy. The Fremantle Foundation for Foreing Artist in Tuscany at Villa Peyron, Florence, Italy and The Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA. USA. He shares his life and passion for art with his wife, the artist Melissa Franklin-Sanchez. Education 1993-1997 Florence Academy of Art, directed by Daniel Graves, Florence, Italy. 1993-1997 Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Thesis: Historic and Technical Notes of Academic Realism Today. 1995 Florence, Italy: Michael John Angel...
Oil, 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
Monolithic
By Edward Minoff
Located in Greenwich, CT
American, b. 1972 Edward Minoff Graduated with honors from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Throughout his high school and college years he studied painting and sculpture at the Art ...
Linen, Paper, Oil
Sold|$590
H 11.2 in W 14.3 in D 1 in
19th Century Victorian Romantic Landscape Alpine Idyll Oil Wooden Panel Signed
Located in Stockholm, SE
Painted in oil on a wooden panel in the second half of the 19th century by the professional European artist E. Buttery, this romantic painting celebrates the majestic beauty of the E...
Wood, Wood Panel, Oil
$2,429
H 10.04 in W 10.04 in D 1.97 in
Green Bartlett & Black Grapes Still Life Painting, Signed, 25.5 cm
By Blair Atherholt
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Oil, Board
$2,493
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
By Roos van der Meijden
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
“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