Photorealist Portrait Photography
PHOTOREALISM
A direct challenge to Abstract Expressionism’s subjectivity and gestural vigor, Photorealism was informed by the Pop predilection for representational imagery, popular iconography and tools, like projectors and airbrushes, borrowed from the worlds of commercial art and design.
Whether gritty or gleaming, the subject matter favored by Photorealists is instantly, if vaguely, familiar. It’s the stuff of yellowing snapshots and fugitive memories. The bland and the garish alike flicker between crystal-clear reality and dreamy illusion, inviting the viewer to contemplate a single moment rather than igniting a story.
The virtues of the “photo” in Photorealist art — infused as they are with dazzling qualities that are easily blurred in reproduction — are as elusive as they are allusive. “Much Photorealist painting has the vacuity of proportion and intent of an idiot-savant, long on look and short on personal timbre,” John Arthur wrote (rather admiringly) in the catalogue essay for Realism/Photorealism, a 1980 exhibition at the Philbrook Museum of Art, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At its best, Photorealism is a perpetually paused tug-of-war between the sacred and the profane, the general and the specific, the record and the object.
“Robert Bechtle invented Photorealism, in 1963,” says veteran art dealer Louis Meisel. “He took a picture of himself in the mirror with the car outside and then painted it. That was the first one.”
The meaning of the term, which began for Meisel as “a superficial way of defining and promoting a group of painters,” evolved with time, and the core group of Photorealists slowly expanded to include younger artists who traded Rolleiflexes for 60-megapixel cameras, using advanced digital technology to create paintings that transcend the detail of conventional photographs.
On 1stDibs, the collection of Photorealist art includes work by Richard Estes, Ralph Goings, Chuck Close, Audrey Flack, Charles Bell and others.
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Style: Photorealist
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor by Terry O'Neill - rare signed artist proof
Located in Austin, US
Rare, signed artist proof print of David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor by Terry O'Neill
David Bowie and actress Elizabeth Taylor meet for the first time at George Cukor’s house in Beve...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
David Bowie Smoking Clown contact sheet by Duffy, with silver frame
By Brian Duffy
Located in Austin, US
Museum quality contact sheet print of David Bowie smoking a cigarette in the Scary Monsters Clown costume from the official Duffy Archive.
Taken from the original negatives, these o...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
C Print
RARE 40x60" Rolling Stones by Terry O'Neill. Signed ONE OF A KIND
Located in Austin, US
An early portrait of the Rolling Stones outside the Donmar rehearsal theatre, London, 1964
Rare, one of a kind 40x60" signed silver gelatin print of The Rolling Stones by Terry O'Ne...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Rolling Stones "Mick Feeding Goat" Beggars Banquet by Michael Joseph framed
Located in Austin, US
The Rolling Stones "Mick Feeding Goat" - Outtake from the famous photo shoot of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album at Sarum Chase mansion, Hampstead, London, 1968, si...
Category
1960s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie Ohio 1976 by Janet Macoska
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of David Bowie, photographed performing live on stage in Ohio, 1976 by Janet Macoska
Available in various sizes:
16x20" Lambda C-Type Edition: 25
20x24...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
C Print
Steve Martin, “Let’s Get Small Sequence”, framed 24x48" print by Norman Seeff
By Norman Seeff
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition 24" x 48" print, edition number 24/50. Custom frames with 8 ply matte and non-glare museum glass
Frame dimensions:
56” wide x 30” high x 1” deep
As a renowne...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Devo "Chili Dog Mac" Akron 1978
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Devo photographed outside Chili Dog Mac restaurant in Akron, Ohio on August 14, 1978 by Janet Macoska
16x20" signed limited edition, number 6/25
Ava...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie Smoking Clown contact sheet by Duffy, with silver frame
By Brian Duffy
Located in Austin, US
Museum quality contact sheet print of David Bowie smoking a cigarette in the Scary Monsters Clown costume from the official Duffy Archive.
Taken from the original negatives, these o...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
C Print
John Lennon Portrait by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the Beatles at the Westwood Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska, 27th-28th June 1966. En route for the Japanese leg of their final world tour, the group made...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie and William Burroughs, framed signed print by Terry O'Neill
Located in Austin, US
Ready to ship immediately. Free domestic US shipping.
David Bowie and William Burroughs in Los Angeles, February 1974, signed Terry O'Neill, 8x10" print, custom framed with non-glar...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Giclée
The Beatles In White "Yesterday and Today" album cover shot by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
The Beatles In White by Robert Whitaker.
On March 25, 1966, The Beatles visited 1 The Vale, Chelsea, London, a top-floor studio leased by Oluf Nilssen and frequently used by renow...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
C Print
Portrait of Nikita Khrushchev in Profile, Mid Century Black & White Photograph
By Yousuf Karsh
Located in Soquel, CA
Exquisite black and white photograph of Nikita Khrushchev, a portrait in profile of the former Premier of the Soviet Union, by Yousuf Karsh from his ...
Category
1960s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper
Frank Zappa by Lynn Goldsmith
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Frank Zappa taken in 1978 by Lynn Goldsmith
Signed limited edition #2/20 - signed, numbered and titled by Lynn Goldsmith
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beastie Boys 1987 by Lynn Goldsmith
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of The Beastie Boys taken in 1987 by Lynn Goldsmith
Signed limited edition #7/20 - signed, numbered and titled by Lynn Goldsmith
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beastie Boys by Lynn Goldsmith
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of The Beastie Boys taken in 1987 by Lynn Goldsmith
Signed limited edition #5/20 - signed, numbered and titled by Lynn Goldsmith
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beatles "Yesterday and Today" contact sheet print by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
The Beatles contact sheet by Robert Whitaker from the photo session that ended up being the controversial cover for the 1966 release "Yesterday and Today".
On March 25, 1966, The ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
C Print
Chapa 100
Located in MADRID, ES
Chapa 100, 2013. Photography, printed on Luster paper, glued to Dibond aluminium. 12 Photographs. 11 Photographs 40 x 34,3cm + 1 Photography 40 x 42 cm. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Luster
The Beatles Dolls 1966 contact sheet print by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
The Beatles "Dolls" contact sheet by Robert Whitaker from the photo session that ended up giving the band the controversial cover for the 1966 release "Yesterday and Today".
On Mar...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
C Print
John Lennon and Paul McCartney The Beatles by Robert Whitaker
Located in Austin, US
Paul McCartney and John Lennon of The Beatles pictured during the recording of their annual Christmas message to the groups’ fan club at the Marquee St...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
C Print
David Bowie and William Burroughs by Terry O'Neill signed print
Located in Austin, US
Signed open edition, 8” x 10” archival print of David Bowie and William Burroughs by Terry O'Neill, featuring Terry O’Neill’s embossed studio stamp
On 28 February 1974, Rolling Ston...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor, framed signed print by Terry O'Neill
Located in Austin, US
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor at director George Cukor’s home in Los Angeles, 1975, signed Terry O'Neill, 8x10" print, custom framed with non-glare museum glass, 8ply matting and ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Giclée
David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor by Terry O'Neill - signed print
Located in Austin, US
Signed open edition, 8” x 10” archival print of David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor by Terry O'Neill, featuring Terry O’Neill’s official embossed studio stamp.
David Bowie and actress ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
David Bowie The Archer - New special edition
Located in Austin, US
NEW - Special limited edition series produced for the 2023 David Bowie Worldwide Fan Convention in June 2023.
This iconic image of David Bowie as The Thin White Duke was taken by re...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Patti Smith portrait by Lynn Goldsmith signed limited edition 16x20" print
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition 16x20"" print of Patti Smith taken in 1978 by Lynn Goldsmith.
Limited edition number 3/20
Modern C-type print. Available for immediate shipping.
Lynn Goldsm...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
C Print
Eric Clapton "Shangri La"
By Ed Caraeff
Located in Austin, US
Guitar legend, Eric Clapton, taking a break from recording his album ‘No Reason To Cry’ at Shangri La recording studio in Malibu, CA, US, November 21, 1975. Limited edition number 2/...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Ann Richards and Dolly Parton in Austin Texas by Scott Newton
Located in Austin, US
Texan politician and former Texas governor, Ann Richards with Dolly Parton taken at the Driskill Hotel, Austin Texas in 1982 by photographer Scott Newton
Photographers notes: We wer...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bob Dylan portrait by Guido Harari
By Guido Harari
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Bob Dylan by Guido Harari, taken in Sirmione, Italy, 1984.
Available in the following sizes:
A. 11” x 16” - Edition 50
B. 16” x 20” - Edition 50
C. ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 1
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 7
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 8
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 5
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 2
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 3
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 4
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Digital
Bilhete de identidade, Untitled 6
Located in MADRID, ES
Analogue photo. Photography, printed on Aluminium Dibond. Edition of 3 + 1 artist proof. Walnut wood frame, 35 mm depth, 4 mm thickness.
Bilhete de Identidade series
In this series, Félix Mula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Digital
Tori Amos Vintage Print 12"x16" by Jake Chessum
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Original hand-printed vintage 12x16” darkroom print from photographer Jake Chessum of Tori Amos. Printed by Jake in the 90's, at the time of the photo shoot.
Jake recalls the sessio...
Category
1990s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Red Hot Chili Peppers by Ebet Roberts
By Ebet Roberts
Located in Austin, US
A classic, stunning shot of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1985 by celebrated photographer, Ebet Roberts.
Signed limited edition, hand printed sil...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Tori Amos 1994 Vintage 12"x16" Darkroom Print by Jake Chessum
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Oginal hand-printed 12x16” darkroom vintage print from photographer Jake Chessum of Tori Amos. Printed by Jake in the 90's, at the time of the photo shoot.
Jake recalls the session...
Category
1990s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Black Keys "Red Vision 2" Phoenix AZ 2022 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys “Red Vision 2” Phoenix AZ 2022, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relatio...
Category
2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Black Keys "Tour Life, somewhere on the road 2022" by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys, “Tour Life”, somewhere on the road 2022, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with Larry...
Category
2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Black Keys Recording with Beck Los Angeles 2023 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys, Recording with Beck, Los Angeles 2023, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with Larry N...
Category
2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Black Keys Dan Auerbach "Mirror" by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys “Mirror” taken on the Dropout Boogie Tour 2022, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with...
Category
2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Black Keys "Shadow" by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys “Shadow” taken in Tel Aviv Israel 2023, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with Larry N...
Category
2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Black Keys "Double Dan" by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys, “Double Dan” print taken in Kansas City, KS, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with L...
Category
2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Dan Auerbach "Ride" San Francisco 2022 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
Dan Auerbach “Ride”, San Francisco 2022, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with Larry Niehues began t...
Category
2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film
The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, Glasgow Scotland 2023 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, Glasgow Scotland 2023, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black Keys relationship with Larry Nie...
Category
2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Black Keys, Iowa State Fair, Des Moines IA 2023 by Larry Niehues
Located in Austin, US
The Black Keys, Iowa State Fair, Des Moines IA 2023, signed limited edition prints by The Black Keys official photographer Larry Niehues.
The Black K...
Category
2010s Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Photographic Film
Gwen Stefani No Doubt 1997 vintage print by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, US
Gwen Stefani and Ska band No Doubt, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1997, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment.
The print is ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Ian Curtis of Joy Division by Kevin Cummins
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition silver gelatin print of Ian Curtis by Kevin Cummins. Edition number 38/75
This iconic shot of the Joy Division singer was taken at T...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Gwen Stefani and No Doubt 1997 vintage print by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, US
Gwen Stefani with Ska band No Doubt, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1997, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment.
The print is...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Fiona Apple 1996 vintage print by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, US
Singer Fiona Apple, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1996, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment.
Th...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix 1967 silver gelatin print
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition, silver gelatin print of Mick Jagger with Jimi Hendrix by Alec Byrne, taken at the Top Of The Pops TV studios, London, May 1967.
Alec recalls, “I got a late p...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Kate Moss at 16
By Jake Chessum
Located in Austin, US
Signed limited edition print of Kate Moss by Jake Chessum, taken when she was an unknown 16 year old model, just starting her career.
Jake recalls, "I had heard of Kate as she was...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth vintage silver gelatin print by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, US
Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1994, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment.
The print is in perfec...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Andy Warhol on roller skates vintage silver gelatin print by Allan Tannenbaum
Located in Austin, US
Vintage darkroom print of Andy Warhol on roller stakes at The Roxy in New York City in March 1980. This print is an original, hand printed darkroom pr...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Fiona Apple vintage silver gelatin print by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, US
Fiona Apple, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1996, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment.
The print...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Morrissey 1994 vintage silver gelatin print by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, US
Morrissey, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1994, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment.
The print is in perfect new condition ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Morrissey vintage silver gelatin print by Chris Cuffaro
Located in Austin, US
Morrissey, 8”x10” Hand-printed darkroom print, made at the time of the shoot in 1994, and stored flat in a temperature-controlled environment.
The print is in perfect new condition ...
Category
Late 20th Century Photorealist Portrait Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Photorealist portrait photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Photorealist portrait photography 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 portrait photography created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, red, pink, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Lynn Goldsmith, Jake Chessum, Drew Tal, and Kevin Cummins. Frequently made by artists working with C Print, and Pigment Print and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Photorealist portrait photography, so small editions measuring 6.25 inches across are also available. Prices for portrait photography made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $210 and tops out at $28,800, while the average work sells for $2,250.
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