Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
British, b. 1958
Artist Biography
Michael Alford is an established British artist whose works have featured in prominent prizes and exhibitions throughout the UK, and who has twice been appointed war artist to the British Military. Inspired by extensive travel, he composes representations of diverse landscapes and intriguing figures whilst simultaneously fusing classical techniques with a sharp, modern sensibility. Alford's overall aesthetic captures sensitive intricacy and luminous clarity. After returning, he chose to study art at the Slade School and the Chelsea School of Art. Diverse Landscape
Alford's varied body of work reflects his interest in many types of painting. He is well known for powerful cityscapes of contemporary urban centres —especially London—and for landscapes that capture diverse geographies through the eyes of a passionate traveller. His paintings of figures, clothed and nude, are sought after for their combination of fine draughtsmanship, acute observation and sense of drama. Military Honours for a traveller-painter
Alford has been awarded prizes including the Green and Stone Oil Painting Prize, the Agnes Reeve Memorial Prize for best painting of London, and the Prima Luce Mural prize. Alford is a member of the Chelsea Arts Society. He has twice been appointed war artist to the British Military and was also commissioned by the military to produce artwork in Iraq in 2016.
Style and Technique
Michael is a figurative painter with an expressive classical style. He depicts scenes of contemporary life with an emphasis on urban subjects, landscapes and the human figure. His wide-ranging catalogue includes cityscapes, city scenes (captured moments in the life of the city), landscapes, beach- and seascapes, figure groups and nudes. His approach is distinguished by vigorous brushwork, skilled draftsmanship, bold handling of colour and a sensitive rendering of the interplay of shadow and light.
Artist Statement
“Painting for me is recapturing the experience of seeing, without being too literal-minded about what that experience is or means.
My work always starts with direct observation of the visible world. It can be broad and sweeping, as in landscapes or cityscapes, or very close and intimate, as in figures, nudes or interiors. I often go out looking for subjects and return to the studio with sketches or drawings. These I use as a starting point for a process that turns raw observation—impressions—into something more abstract and evocative. The process often involves cutting out visual distractions and transient effects so that the resulting image has more power. Time acts as an important filter for me and so does physical distance between the initial sketch and the painting. Both help me distil the memory and pick out the essential forms.
My overall aim is to communicate my experience of seeing, to convey—through the use of light and shadow and mood—some of the magic and mystery I feel when I look at the world.” – Michael Alfordto
1
3
3
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
7
7
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
7
7
4
3
1
8
411
324
245
212
6
7
Artist: Michael Alford
Waterloo Bridge-original impressionism cityscape oil painting-contemporary Art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
"Waterloo Bridge" by Michael Alford is a mesmerizing original ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Panel, Oil
Mall, Winter Evening-original impressionism London cityscape oil pianting-Art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
"Mall, Winter Evening" by Michael Alford is a captivating orig...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Board, Oil
Colbert, Afternoon original impressionist figurative painting-contemporary art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
In "Colbert, Afternoon," Michael Alford captures the lively am...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Board, Oil
Aldwych, Towards St Clement - original impressionist painting - contemporary art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
“Aldwych, Towards St Clement’s Danes” is a masterclass in atmo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
The Cove - original impressionist figurative landscape study -contemporary art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of Michael Alford’s “The...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Cannon Street-original impressionism cityscape oil painting-contemporary Art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
"Cannon Street" by Michael Alford is a captivating original im...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Kensington Gardens - original impressionist figurative study -contemporary art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
"Kensington Gardens, Albert Memorial" by Michael Alford captur...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
Related Items
Disrupted
By Ryan Morse
Located in Denver, CO
Portrait interrupted by abstraction
Category
2010s American Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Process
By Ryan Morse
Located in Denver, CO
Portrait with light sketch like strokes
Category
2010s American Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
"View of the Empire State NYC in Snow" Impressionistic Ashcan School Style
By Cindy Shaoul
Located in New York, NY
An impressionistic depiction of a figure in the snow with cars and buildings in the busy City Streets. The Empire State Building is portrayed in the background as the snow filled str...
Category
2010s American Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Board
H 17 in W 13 in D 1.25 in
Clown with Birthday Bouquet - Oil and Ink on Cardstock
Located in Soquel, CA
Clown with Bouquet - Acrylic and Ink on Cardstock
Colorful portrait of a clown holding a bouquet of flowers by Jassen Marek (20th Century). A sad clown in a suit with a straw hat ho...
Category
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Pen, Illustration Board, Oil
H 24 in W 12 in D 0.25 in
Early 20th Century Figurative -- The Paper Boy and His Comics
By Louise Miller Clark
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful 1940s figurative of paper boy reading the comics by Louise Miller Clark (American, 20th Century). Signed "Louise Miller" lower right. Unframed. Im...
Category
1940s American Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
H 24 in W 18 in D 1 in
Open Sails
Located in Soquel, CA
Richly colored landscape of sailboats on the water at Gloucester Harbor, Massachusetts. Signed "De Geno" in lower right corner. Presented in a gilt wood frame. Image size: 17.5" L x ...
Category
1960s Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Along the Path - Figurative Landscape
By Carol H. Kelly
Located in Soquel, CA
Along the path on a walk, a vivid impressionist oil painting by Carol H. Kelly (American, 20th Century). Signed "C.H. Kelly" and dated "70" lower right. Unframed. Image size, 18.5"H ...
Category
1970s American Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Rebuttal
By Ryan Morse
Located in Denver, CO
Portrait in profile with blue
Category
2010s American Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
"The Green Parasol, " Henry Hannig, American Impressionist, Woman in Beach Scene
By Henry Hannig
Located in New York, NY
Henry Charles Hannig (1883 - 1948)
The Green Parasol
Oil on canvas mounted on board
6 x 7 3/4 inches
Provenance:
R.H. Love Galleries, Chicago, Illinois
Private Collection, Lake Orion, Michigan
Hannig, born in Hirschberg, Germany on 27 February 1883, came to America with his parents at the age of seven. He attended school in the southwest suburbs before the family settled in Chicago. Young Henry enrolled in the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts where Lawton Parker became his mentor. He made ends meet by working in industrial design and illustration.
By 1908 he was a pupil in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where students followed the traditional European drawing curriculum, beginning with the copying of master engravings and drawing after plaster casts, then concentrating on the nude figure. Students worked toward the goal of winning various academic prizes. One of Hannig's fellow students was Louis Ritman...
Category
1910s American Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Board
Rota, Spanish Landscape -- Pobre Casa Cadiz
By John Sackas
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful Spanish landscape of a humble farm in Rota, Cadiz, Spain with horses, a cow with two herons, one of which is on cow's back by San Francisco artist John Sackas (American, 1910-2004), circa 1950s. Signed lower Left "Sackas" and verso Rota
Farm House Cadiz" "John Sackas" . Verso has location, attribution and full artist's biography. Presented in gilt-toned carved wood frame. Image size: 14"H x 18"W.
Born in New Jersey on May 22, 1910. John Sackas studied at the San Francisco Art Institute (1934), Chouinard Art School in Los Angeles, Corcoran Gallery of Art, and California School of Fine Arts, Jerry...
Category
1950s American Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas, Illustration Board
Mid Century Figurative Landscape -- Aptos Village Apple Shed and Market
By Jon Blanchette
Located in Soquel, CA
Charming mid century figurative landscape of Aptos Village Apple Shed and Market by listed California artist Jon Blanchette (American, 1908-1987). Aptos is just south of Santa Cruz,...
Category
1960s American Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
Lady in the Paris Park
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful young lady in a Paris Park, signed, Original Frame, listed size includes the frame.
Category
1950s Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Previously Available Items
Flamenco 2-original impressionism figurative female painting-contemporary Art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
"Flamenco II" by Michael Alford is a spellbinding original imp...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil, Board
H 34.65 in W 24.41 in D 1.19 in
Cheyne Walk- original impressionist figurative landscape study -contemporary art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
Michael Alford's "Cheyne Walk" immerses viewers in the tranqui...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Leadenhall Market - impressionist citiscape painting - original contemporary art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
Step into the vibrant nightlife of Michael Alford’s “Leadenhall Market,” a painting that brings to life the historic market scene under the cloak of night. The street serves as the c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
Standing Nude - original impressionist figure study woman interior oil impasto
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
Contemporary painter Michael Alford creates a beguiling impression of a young woman in an interior environment. She is captured back turned, reflecting in a beautiful Rococo mirrror....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Panel
H 18.12 in W 14.18 in D 1.19 in
Sleeping Nude, Rose & Crimson - nude female form impressionism oil painting art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
The original painting is framed, signed and ready be displayed. The reflection of the model and many textures used in this artwork create a multi-dimensional and interesting composition.
Michael’s varied body of work reflects his interest in many types of painting. He is well known for powerful cityscapes of contemporary urban centers—especially London—and for landscapes that capture diverse geographies through the eyes of a passionate traveler. His paintings of figures, clothed and nude, are sought after for their combination of fine draughtsmanship, acute observation and sense of drama. A sensitive portraitist, Michael is frequently commissioned to paint individuals and groups. Travel remains and important source of inspiration for Michael’s work. Driven by a love for plein air sketching and painting from life, Michael’s recent trips have taken him to India, East Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Caribbean and North America. He has twice been appointed war artist to the British Military, accompanying troops to Helmand Province...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
H 17.72 in W 25.6 in D 1.97 in
City Life - original imressionist abstract cityscape landscape modern painting
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
This modern impressionist piece by Michael Alford demonstrates an abstracted landscape imbued with the aura of the city. This original piece is imparted with loose, swift brushwork w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
H 15.75 in W 11.82 in D 1.19 in
Midday Colebert Sloan Square cityscape Chelsea London impressionist original oil
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
Contemporary impressionist Michael Alford imparts a pleasing street view of the stylish Cafe Colbert situated in the London borough of Chelsea. Demonstrating a busy scene, this l...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
Michael AlfordMidday Colebert Sloan Square cityscape Chelsea London impressionist original oil, 2022
H 24.02 in W 33.86 in D 1.19 in
Nude, White Linen - human figure portraiture oil painting modern impressionsim
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
The original nude painting by Michael Alford is framed and ready to be displayed. The artist is excellent at capturing the softness and feminitity of the female figure through the us...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
H 16.54 in W 25.6 in D 0.79 in
Nude, Taffeta - figurative female nude painting classic modern realism artwork
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
The original nude painting by Michael Alford is framed and ready to be displayed. The artist is excellent at capturing the softness and feminitity of the female figure through the us...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
H 18.12 in W 25.99 in D 0.79 in
Beach Day - original landscape figurative painting Contemporary modern Art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
The original painting is framed, signed and ready be displayed. The bright blues used in this painting evoke the sense of being on holiday and the feeling of fresh, salty air.
Mich...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
H 23.63 in W 33.86 in D 1.97 in
Art Appreciation, Wallace Collection - interior painting Contemporary Art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
The original painting is framed, signed and ready be displayed. The painting depicts people appreciating the artworks in the famous Wallace Collection...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
H 33.86 in W 27.96 in D 0.79 in
Humoresque - original figurative painting Contemporary Art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
The original painting is framed, signed and ready be displayed. The incorporation of music scripts into this piece give it an interesting dimension, making it a unique contemporary a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Michael Alford Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
H 27.96 in W 27.96 in D 1.97 in
Michael Alford figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Michael Alford figurative paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Michael Alford in oil paint, paint, board and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Michael Alford figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Suchitra Bhosle, Mikael Olson, and Jim Beckner. Michael Alford figurative paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,465 and tops out at $5,734, while the average work can sell for $2,739.