Skip to main content

Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

American

The photographer Phillip Buehler has devoted his career to exploring obsolete sites, what he calls “modern ruins.” Captured in states of evocative decay, his subjects have included an abandoned psychiatric asylum, a Cold War missile silo and an offline power plant.

In late 2019, Buehler's body of work on view in the exhibition “Mallrat to Snapchat: The End of the Third Place” — at Front Room Gallery, in New York — may have elicited more nostalgia than the others. It was a look at New Jersey’s defunct Wayne Hills Mall and, by extension, at the dying culture of middle-class suburban shopping centers across the country.

"I started photographing abandoned places the same year the mall opened, 1973, when I was a senior in high school," Buehler told The Study. "At the time, New York was falling apart, with empty piers and abandoned or burned-out buildings everywhere. Back then, nobody was photographing them, so I had no art references — most were cinematic. Two films released in 1968 made a big impression on me: 2001: A Space Odyssey and Planet of the Apes."

Browse a collection of Phillip Buehler's photography on 1stDibs.

to
1
4
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
5
5
4
1
1
1
1
4
4
1
1
86
558
487
186
133
5
Artist: Phillip Buehler
"Tiny Planet, Bannermans" contemporary photograph. limited edition of 25

"Tiny Planet, Bannermans" contemporary photograph. limited edition of 25

By Phillip Buehler

Located in New York, NY

Signed editioned 18"x18" photograph edition of 25, depicting a spherical panoramic image of Bannerman's Castle, on Pollepel Island in the Hudson Valley. The principal feature on the island is Bannerman's Castle, an abandoned military surplus warehouse. This photograph is included in the series, “No Man Is an Island: Poetry in the Ruins of the New York Archipelago,” fifty years of work by photographer Phillip Buehler documenting many of the islands surrounding Manhattan. Phillip Buehler is a New York based photographer who documents the deterioration and remnants of neglected architecture constructed in the recent past. In the series “No Man is an Island…” Buehler has photographed the historic, and also often forgotten islands, around New York City. Some of them, like Ellis Island, loom large in their impact on history, culture and existence in the national identity. Others, like “Rat Island,” a privately-owned 2.5 acre islet north of The Bronx, with an unusual statue...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Water Well" color photograph, autumn farm landscape painting on abstract wall

"Water Well" color photograph, autumn farm landscape painting on abstract wall

By Phillip Buehler

Located in New York, NY

18"x24", signed, editioned color photograph. A lush Fall farm landscape with greens fields, orange trees and red barn painting is contrasted by the placement on a highly distressed wall. Multiple layers of paint in various colors from teal blue, pink, beige, and orange are peeled and cracked creating an abstract pattern of color behind the landscape painting in this photograph. Time and age have created an image of beautiful decay with the cracked and peeling paint, which creates an amazing visual backdrop to the painting. The pairing of the two in this photograph compliment each other on a sensory level and bring out thoughts of nostalgia and longing. Phillip Buehler is a New York based photographer who documents the deterioration and remnants of neglected architecture constructed in the recent past. He is arguably the first to coin the neologism “modern ruins”. His photographs published in “Woody Guthrie’s Wardy Forty,” have won numerous awards, documenting the singer/songwriter/activist’s life at Greystone Park Psychiatric. He received his BA at Rutgers University and his MFA in photography at School of Visual Arts. Phillip Buehler has been featured in Art in America, The New York Times, Art News, The Art...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Water Wheel" color photograph, waterfall landscape painting on abstract wall
"Water Wheel" color photograph, waterfall landscape painting on abstract wall

"Water Wheel" color photograph, waterfall landscape painting on abstract wall

By Phillip Buehler

Located in New York, NY

18"x24", signed, editioned color photograph. In this conceptual photograph, the artist has paired a painting of watermill, in a rural landscape with a highly distress wall. The bab...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Four Photograph Set, Abstract Landscape Conceptual Color Photograph series
Four Photograph Set, Abstract Landscape Conceptual Color Photograph series

Four Photograph Set, Abstract Landscape Conceptual Color Photograph series

By Phillip Buehler

Located in New York, NY

Included are four 18"x24", signed, editioned color photographs. Each of the four photographs depict a a different landscape painting hung on a distressed wall. From a rural town vi...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Church Dome" color photograph, rose pink abstract wall, town road landscape

"Church Dome" color photograph, rose pink abstract wall, town road landscape

By Phillip Buehler

Located in New York, NY

18"x24", signed, editioned color photograph. The rose pink textured wall of the distressed background in this photograph complements pinkish reds of the road depicted in the rural town landscape painting, which was selected and placed by the artist to have this interaction. The red tones in horizontal stripes of the exposed wood lathing strips on the wall that the painting is hung, add to the visual texture with the white paint under the peeling pink paint. Time and age have created an image of beautiful decay with the cracked and peeling paint, which creates an amazing visual backdrop to the painting. The pairing of the two in this photograph compliment each other on a sensory level and bring out thoughts of nostalgia and longing. Phillip Buehler is a New York based photographer who documents the deterioration and remnants of neglected architecture constructed in the recent past. He is arguably the first to coin the neologism “modern ruins”. His photographs published in “Woody Guthrie’s Wardy Forty,” have won numerous awards, documenting the singer/songwriter/activist’s life at Greystone Park Psychiatric. He received his BA at Rutgers University and his MFA in photography at School of Visual Arts. Phillip Buehler has been featured in Art in America, The New York Times, Art News, The Art Newspaper, Wall Street Journal, American Photo Magazine, The Huffington Post, Hyperallergic, Gothamist, Art F City, The Sun, ABC, CNN, and numerous other publications. Phillip Buehler Church Dome...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Related Items
Red Frequency

Didier EngelsRed Frequency, 2025

$3,335

H 23.5 in W 22 in D 2 in

Red Frequency

By Didier Engels

Located in New York, NY

They are a part of a limited edition of 8 and 2 artist proofs, all sizes included. Each panel is available in four sizes, 100 x 80 cm (39.5 x 31.5 inches unframed), 120 x 100 cm (...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Resin, Epoxy Resin, Paper, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Pigment, ...

Mare 386 by Alessandro Puccinelli, 32x45in, Framed
Mare 386 by Alessandro Puccinelli, 32x45in, Framed

Mare 386 by Alessandro Puccinelli, 32x45in, Framed

By Alessandro Puccinelli

Located in New York City, NY

ALESSANDRO PUCCINELLI MARE/CHAOSMOS series Seascape - From the MARE/CHAOSMOS series - Mounted and Framed Framed size: 32x45 inches (including a white border) Image size: 27x40 inche...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Bog 003 by Bernhard Lang - Close-up photography, flora, green tones, swamps
The Bog 003 by Bernhard Lang - Close-up photography, flora, green tones, swamps

The Bog 003 by Bernhard Lang - Close-up photography, flora, green tones, swamps

By Bernhard Lang

Located in Paris, FR

The Bog 003 is a limited-edition photograph by contemporary artist Bernhard Lang. It is a Fine Art Print on Hahnemüle Paper. This photograph is sold unframed as a print only. It is...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Ernest Hemingway's house, Ketchum, Idaho, 30 June 2011
Ernest Hemingway's house, Ketchum, Idaho, 30 June 2011

Ernest Hemingway's house, Ketchum, Idaho, 30 June 2011

By Jonathan Becker

Located in New York, NY

Ernest Hemingway's house, Ketchum, Idaho, 30 June 2011 On the other side of this door, in the foyer, Ernest Hemingway ended his life with a shotgun. Photographed by Jonathan Becker...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

The Bog Plants 003 by Bernhard Lang - Close-up photography, vivid tones, flora
The Bog Plants 003 by Bernhard Lang - Close-up photography, vivid tones, flora

The Bog Plants 003 by Bernhard Lang - Close-up photography, vivid tones, flora

By Bernhard Lang

Located in Paris, FR

The Bog Plants 003 is a limited-edition photograph by contemporary artist Bernhard Lang. It is a Fine Art Print on Hahnemüle Paper. This photograph is sold unframed as a print only...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

The Bog 002 by Bernhard Lang - Close-up photography, flora, green tones, swamps
The Bog 002 by Bernhard Lang - Close-up photography, flora, green tones, swamps

The Bog 002 by Bernhard Lang - Close-up photography, flora, green tones, swamps

By Bernhard Lang

Located in Paris, FR

The Bog 002 is a limited-edition photograph by contemporary artist Bernhard Lang. It is a Fine Art Print on Hahnemüle Paper. This photograph is sold unframed as a print only. It is...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Breathing I (Deconstructivism) - Contemporary, Expired Polaroid

Breathing I (Deconstructivism) - Contemporary, Expired Polaroid

By Stefanie Schneider

Located in Morongo Valley, CA

Breathing I (Deconstructing) - 2015 - about the narrative potential of images. 20x20cm, Edition of 10, Archival C-Print, based on the Polaroid, Artist Inventory 15835. Signature...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid

"Construction Site, Decatur, GA #10" Aerial Landscape Photography - Ansel Adams

"Construction Site, Decatur, GA #10" Aerial Landscape Photography - Ansel Adams

By Peter Essick

Located in Atlanta, GA

"Construction Site, Decatur, Georgia #10, 2019" is a drone photograph featuring hues of orange and brown. Edition of 5. This photograph may be available in additional sizes. Peter Es...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Mareira 23 by Alessandro Puccinelli, 40x60in, Framed
Mareira 23 by Alessandro Puccinelli, 40x60in, Framed

Mareira 23 by Alessandro Puccinelli, 40x60in, Framed

By Alessandro Puccinelli

Located in New York City, NY

Alessandro Puccinelli Seascape, from the Mare series Alessandro Puccinelli presents the sea as a vast and contemplative presence. Extending beyond the boundaries of the image, the o...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Construction Site, Tucker, GA #3" Landscape Photography, Ansel Adams

"Construction Site, Tucker, GA #3" Landscape Photography, Ansel Adams

By Peter Essick

Located in Atlanta, GA

"Construction Site, Tucker, Georgia #3, 2019" is a drone photograph featuring hues of red, yellow, grey and tan. Edition of 5. This photograph may be available in additional sizes. P...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Mare 431 by Alessandro Puccinelli, 40x60in, Framed
Mare 431 by Alessandro Puccinelli, 40x60in, Framed

Mare 431 by Alessandro Puccinelli, 40x60in, Framed

By Alessandro Puccinelli

Located in New York City, NY

Alessandro Puccinelli Seascape, from the Mare series Alessandro Puccinelli presents the sea as a vast and contemplative presence. Extending beyond the boundaries of the image, the o...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Aura - blue, yellow, white, abstract, street, photography on dibond
Aura - blue, yellow, white, abstract, street, photography on dibond

Aura - blue, yellow, white, abstract, street, photography on dibond

By Mark Bartkiw

Located in Bloomfield, ON

Shocks of light -- yellow , indigo, red and white -- zip through the night in this dynamic photographic print by Mark Bartkiw. This C-print is sealed between dibond and plexiglass. T...

Category

2010s Contemporary Phillip Buehler Abstract Photography

Materials

Metal

Phillip Buehler abstract photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Phillip Buehler abstract photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Phillip Buehler in archival pigment print, pigment print 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 contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Phillip Buehler abstract photography, so small editions measuring 24 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Lependorf and Shire, Elliott Kaufman, and Christine Nguyen. Phillip Buehler abstract photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,050 and tops out at $4,000, while the average work can sell for $1,050.