Photorealism: 27 astounding examples

16. Michael Gaskell 

Michael Gaskell's work is exhibited across the world (Image credit: Michael Gaskell)

Michael Gaskell's photorealism work has been the subject of five solo shows in London. He has won a number of prizes in national painting competitions and been on the shortlist of the BP portrait award at The National Portrait Gallery on five occasions, winning second prize in 2003, 2009 and 2010. His work is represented in private collections all over the world.

17. Jeremy Geddes 

Fall in love with Jeremy Geddes' world

Jeremy Geddes creates otherworldly and abstract photorealistic paintings. His work is entrancing and beautiful, with exquisite attention to detail. We especially love this painting and the incredible detail in the smashed glass.

18. Adolfo Fernandez Rodriguez 

Adolfo Rodriguez uses coloured pencils to create these photorealistic pieces

Focusing on hands, water and sculptures, Adolfo Rodriguez's attention to detail is astonishing. The bubbles, reflections and shadows ensure that each picture is as photorealistic as possible – making for a series unlike any other we've come across.

Other work by Rodriguez mimics oil paintings. He's created an extensive range of these illustrations, so be sure to check out his Facebook page for more.

19. Roberto Bernardi 

Roberto Bernard is incredibly well known across the world

Italian-born Roberto Bernardi is one of the most well-known photorealist artists there is. His work is displayed around the world. Using still life pieces for his subjects, Bernardi paints vivid and unbelievably life-like paintings of fruit, sweets and glass.

20. Doug Bloodworth 

Bloodworth focuses his paintings on the nostalgic aspects of childhood

American artist Doug Bloodworth enjoys evoking the viewer's nostalgic feelings of childhood. His oil paintings often focus on comic books, games and comfort foods, and are available across a number of galleries in America.

21. Alyssa Monks 

We're absolutely gob-smacked with the attention to detail in Alyssa Monks' work

American artist Alyssa Monks creates incredibly realistic paintings of the human form and exhibits her art across the world. Using thick strokes in delicate colour pallets, she creates filters including glass, vinyl, water and steam to distort her subjects, who are often women bathing. The water ripples are mind-blowing.

22. Paul Cadden 

The incredible talents of Paul Cadden (Image credit: Paul Cadden)

When we first saw the work of Paul Cadden, it took a while for us to realise that they were in fact illustrations. Even more unbelievable is the fact that the hyperrealist artist used just graphite and chalk to create these stunning images. Working from photographs and video stills, Cadden's work proves that if you're super-talented, all you need is the simplest of tools.

23. Dan Witz 

Dan Witz triumphs with another photorealistic crowd portrait

Dan Witz specialises in photorealistic portraits of crowds. Mixing paint and pencil with digital aspects, his drawings display an incredible attention to detail. The folds of clothes and expressions on faces are amazing.

24. David Eichenberg 

No, really. This isn't a photo. We can't believe it either!

No, we can't quite believe this one either. There's a vast array of photorealistic work out there and we're continuously dropping our jaw to the floor – but this offering from David Eichenberg is fantastic. The strokes of hair and precision of the patterned jumper is mind-blowing.

25. Ralph Goings 

Ralph Goings has been creating photorealistic paintings for decades

Ralph Goings is a realist painter who has exhibited in the UK, Europe and Japan, and is represented in museums and private collections across the globe. He is recognised as one of the original members of the hyperrealist or photorealist group of the late 1960s.

26. Jason De Graaf 

We love the subtle shadows created in this photorealistic painting

Jason De Graaf explains his photorealistic strategies: "My paintings are about staging an alternate reality, an illusion of verisimilitude on the painted surface. I try to use objects as a vehicle to express myself, tell a story or least hint at something beyond what is actually painted".

27. Keng Lye 

Keng Lye specialises in creating 3D animals painted in layers of resin

Ok, so Singapore-based artist Keng Lye's work is sculptural rather than 2D, but we couldn't do a round-up of the most incredible photorealistic artists and leave his 3D paintings out.

Lye's convincing sculptures are created through an unusual technique of filling bowls, buckets and other vessels with alternating layers of acrylic paint and resin, with parts protruding from the surface to add another level of dimension. Check out his goldfish...

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Beren Neale
Ecom Editor

Beren has worked on creative titles at Future Publishing for over 13 years. Cutting his teeth as Staff Writer on the digital art magazine ImagineFX, he moved on to edit several creative titles, and is currently the Ecommerce Editor on the most effective creative website in the world. When he's not testing and reviewing the best ergonomic office chairs, phones, laptops, TVs, monitors and various types of storage, he can be found finding and comparing the best deals on the tech that creatives value the most.