Realist Art
REALIST STYLE
Realist art attempts to portray its subject matter without artifice. Similar to naturalism, authentic realist paintings and prints see an integration of true-to-life colors, meticulous detail and linear perspectives for accurate portrayals of the world.
Work that involves illusionistic techniques of realism dates back to the classical world, such as the deceptive trompe l’oeil used since ancient Greece. Art like this became especially popular in the 17th century when Dutch artists like Evert Collier painted objects that appeared real enough to touch. Realism as an artistic movement, however, usually refers to 19th-century French realist artists such as Honoré Daumier exploring social and political issues in biting lithographic prints, while the likes of Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet painting people — particularly the working class — with all their imperfections, navigating everyday urban life. This was a response to the dominant academic art tradition that favored grand paintings of myth and history.
By the turn of the 20th century, European artists, such as the Pre-Raphaelites, were experimenting with nearly photographic realism in their work, as seen in the attention to every botanical attribute of the flowers surrounding the drowned Ophelia painted by English artist John Everett Millais.
Although abstraction was the guiding style of 20th-century art, the realism trend in American modern art endured in Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and other artists’ depictions of the complexities of the human experience. In the late 1960s, Photorealism emerged with artists like Chuck Close and Richard Estes giving their paintings the precision of a frame of film.
Contemporary artists such as Jordan Casteel, LaToya Ruby Frazier and Aliza Nisenbaum are now using the unvarnished realist approach for honest representations of people and their worlds. Alongside traditional mediums, technology such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and immersive installations are helping artists create new sensations of realism in art.
Find authentic realist paintings, sculptures, prints and more art on 1stDibs.
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Style: Realist
Bob-White
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #17/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Limited Edition Glass Goldfish Water Bag Sculpture
Located in East Quogue, NY
Inspired by popular demand, these limited-edition hyperreal goldfish cracker glass water bags are a playful nod to the carnival goldfish in plastic bags.
Created with molten glass ...
Category
2010s Realist Art
Materials
Ceramic, Glass, Blown Glass
Return to High Country
Located in Colorado Springs, US
One of a kind, original oil painting on board by Scott Yeager.
Signed lower left.
Framed Dimensions: 36.75 X 46.75
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil
To Catch a Scent
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #33/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Garden View (Pikes Peak from Garden of the Gods)
Located in Colorado Springs, US
One of a kind, original oil painting on canvas by Scott Yeager.
Signed lower right.
Framed Dimensions: 24.5 X 30.5
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil
Cougar Canyon
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #19/30 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Early Risers
Located in Colorado Springs, US
One of a kind, original oil painting on canvas by Scott Yeager.
Signed lower right.
Framed Dimensions: 22.5 X 26.5
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil
Trumpeter Pond
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #9/30 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Singing His Heart Out
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #7/100 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
River Companions
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #17/100 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Cougar Cubs - Adira & Sipka
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #1/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Rocky Ridge
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #17/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Pride - Maquette
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #27/100 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Puma Prowl
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #18/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Sanctuary
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #11/20 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Prairie Grasslands
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #10/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Tallgrass Prairie
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #7/20 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Pride
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #32/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
On Parade
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #3/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Observation
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #12/20 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Mountain Boomer
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #23/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Poolside Host, Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Guests by the pool at Nelda Linsk's desert house in Palm Springs, California, January 1970. The house was designed by Richard Neutra for Edgar J. Kaufmann. At far left is Lita Baron....
Category
1970s Realist Art
Materials
Lambda
Jumpin' Jack
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #28/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Silent Passage
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #8/30 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Echo of Sunset
By Jie Wei Zhou
Located in Colorado Springs, US
One of a kind, original oil painting on linen by Jie Wei Zhou.
Signed lower right.
Framed Dimensions: 32.5 X 32.5
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil
Give a Hoot
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #29/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Home Sweet Home
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #20/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Fly By
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #49/100 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Guardian Angel
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #10/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Atop the Cholla
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #25/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Desert Elves
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #15/75 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Autumn Splendor
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #7/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Covey of Quail
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #9/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Construction Crew
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #5/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Cactus Run
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #89/100 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Cactus Perch
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #29/100 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Flyover
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #26/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Busy Beavers
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #52/100 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Breakin' Out
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #30/75 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Bachelor Pad
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #10/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Enlightenment
By Jie Wei Zhou
Located in Colorado Springs, US
One of a kind, original oil painting on linen by Jie Wei Zhou.
Signed lower right.
Framed Dimensions: 25.75 X 21.75
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil
Beaver Lodge
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #23/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Alpine Pikas
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #18/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Canyon Princess
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #24/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
Above All
Located in Colorado Springs, US
Edition #28/45 - Original bronze sculpture by Gerald Balciar.
Signed on bronze sculpture.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Bronze
The Place for Secrets
By Jie Wei Zhou
Located in Colorado Springs, US
One of a kind, original oil painting on linen by Jie Wei Zhou.
Signed lower right.
Framed Size: 17.5 X 17.5
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil
Preparing the Meal
By Jie Wei Zhou
Located in Colorado Springs, US
One of a kind, original oil painting on linen by Jie Wei Zhou.
Signed lower right.
Framed Size: 37 X 31
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil
The Letter
By Jie Wei Zhou
Located in Colorado Springs, US
One of a kind, original oil painting on linen by Jie Wei Zhou.
Signed lower right.
Framed Size: 37 X 31
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil
Portrait of Nude Man
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Victor Arimondi (1942-2001). Portrait, ca. 1975. Period print measures 11 x 14 inches. Artist studio stamp on verso.
Victor Arimondi (November 8, 1942 – July 24, 2001) was an Itali...
Category
1970s Realist Art
Materials
Photographic Paper
Early Morning
Located in Colorado Springs, US
One of a kind, original oil painting on canvas by Benjamin Wu.
Signed lower left.
Framed Dimensions: 29.5 X 33.5
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil
"Pear Wrapped in Plastic" Oil Painting by Kelly Birkenruth
Located in Denver, CO
Kelly Birkenruth's "Pear Wrapped in Plastic" (2023) is an original oil painting on panel, measuring 5 x 5 x 1 inches. This exquisite still life features a pear enveloped in a delicat...
Category
2010s Realist Art
Materials
Oil, Panel
Roadside - Hyperrealistic landscape oil painting
Located in East Quogue, NY
Hyperrealist oil painting of a lush country landscape with gold arrow by Anthony Adcock.
Medium: Oil and gold leaf on aluminum
Size: 15 x 10 inches.
Anthony Adcock is a superb ex...
Category
2010s Realist Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Portrait of a Lady Arranging Flowers - British 1940's art oil painting
By Sir Gerald Festus Kelly
Located in London, GB
This superb British portrait oil painting is attributed to circle of Festus Kelly. Painted circa 1940 it is a half length portrait of an elegant lady in a light blue dress, pearls an...
Category
1940s Realist Art
Materials
Oil
Golden Hour, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
The sea exudes an atmosphere of comfort and peace at sunset. The water mirrors the glorious colors of the sky, creating a captivating display of light. The real...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil
"Pomegranates and Earthenware" 2013 Sarah Lamb oil painting still life
By Sarah Lamb
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Pomegranates and Earthenware" is a 2013 Sarah Lamb oil painting still life.
Sarah Lamb is a talented and dynamic realist painter. With classical skill—and through transparency, de...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Rose & Thorns No.1, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A rose blooms quietly, its petals glowing softly in the light. The branches in the distance stretch out, piercing the night sky like steel knives. Painted with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art
Materials
Oil
"Echoes of Childhood" by Irene Georgopoulou, Still Life with Marbles and Origami
Located in Denver, CO
Irene Georgopoulou's "Echoes of Childhood" (2024) is an original soft pastels on paper artwork, measuring 9 x 12 inches. Part of her solo exhibition "Nostalgic Treasures: A Journey T...
Category
2010s Realist Art
Materials
Pastel, Paper
Sunny day in Old Riga. Paper, watercolor, 42x30, 5 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Sunny day in Old Riga
Paper, watercolor, 42x30,5 cm
The central focus of the artwork is on an old town, a historic district known for its antiquated architecture, cobbled streets, ...
Category
1970s Realist Art
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
Realist art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Realist art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Slim Aarons, Michael Budden, Daniel Pollera, and Su Yu. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Realist art, so small editions measuring 0.1 inches across are also available.