PHOTOREALIST ART

1960 - 2006

While much of the art world was busy becoming more abstract and interpretive, the craftsmanship of art never went away. Photorealists often used typical American icons and scenes as subjects. Many interpreted these works as social commentary, but the artists often denied any link. What is undeniable, though, is their preference for the typical rather than the exceptional. Photorealists rarely, if ever, painted famous cathedrals, celebrated landmarks or beautiful people. Rather they were more likely to paint a local McDonald’s restaurant, or a typical suburban family standing in front of their station wagon.

But, as much as their subject matter was banal, their techniques were extraordinary. Using projected photographs as their guide and new painting techniques including air-brushing the Photorealists demonstrated their craftsmanship on oversized canvases as to appear unreal. Although the images were realistic, Photorealistic art shared an impersonal viewpoint with Pop Art and Minimalism.

Photorealism was a movement that relied on deliberate planning, the polar opposite of the on-the-spot improvisation and abstraction seen in other modern art movements. Famed Photorealist, Peter Maier, once designed Cadillacs for General Motors before pursuing his fine art career. In love with the idea of automobiles as art, he created colossal images of automobiles using a special environmentally-friendly automotive paint from DuPont.