In the late 1960s, a fascinating art movement emerged in America: Photorealism. Young artists rebelled against the prevailing fashion for abstract and conceptual art. They depicted everyday objects and scenes in the minutest detail, usually working in extremely large formats. Using photographs as the source for their enormous canvases, they were among the first artists to explore the impact of visual culture as the subject of their works. Paintings of urban scenes reflected in shop windows, close-ups of glistening cars, neon signs and typically American interiors: these and many more intriguing works can be admired in a major exhibition on Photorealism, opening in February 2024.

Critical Eye
Paintings so detailed and lifelike that you almost think they are photographs: that is the magic of Photorealism, also known as Hyperrealism. But what stories lie behind these astonishing works? And how do contemporary artists relate to this art movement’s visual language? The exhibition In Focus looks at Photorealism with a critical eye. We look beyond the established canon of white, male, American artists to highlight works by women artists, African-American artists, and artists from Western and Eastern Europe. Like the first generation of Photorealists, they use the Photorealist style to express their vision of the world. In Focus celebrates the beauty and craftsmanship of Photorealism and challenges visitors to take a closer look and to question old and new boundaries between illusion and reality.

The collection of Centraal Museum
The core of the exhibition draws upon the Centraal Museum’s own extensive collection of American Photorealism, which features iconic works by Don Eddy, Malcolm Morley, Chuck Close, Richard Estes and many others. Around thirty works from this unique and fascinating collection will soon be on display.