Richard Estes Survey at Schoelkopf Gallery Highlights Photorealism's Depth

Schoelkopf Gallery in New York presents "Richard Estes: My Camera Is My Sketchbook," a solo exhibition of the nonagenarian Photorealist, on view through August 21, 2026. The show brings together new paintings and works from the last four decades, focusing on New York and Maine scenes. For the first time, Estes's photographs are exhibited as artworks, not just reference material. The exhibition reexamines Photorealism's place in 20th-century American art, a movement that emerged in the 1960s alongside Pop and Minimalism as a reaction against Abstract Expressionism. Louis K. Meisel coined the term "Photorealism" in 1969, defining criteria including the use of photographs as source material and exhibition by 1972 for first-generation artists. Estes, along with Audrey Flack, Chuck Close, and Charles Bell, is among the originators. Estes emphasizes that his work is constructed, not exact replication, stating he prioritizes a good painting over authenticity. The exhibition includes works like "Holland Hotel" (1980) and "Sailing" (1999), highlighting his depiction of glass and water. Estes notes that painting can guide the viewer's eye, unlike a camera. The show argues for Photorealism's critical reappraisal, noting its sustained but under-the-radar presence, supported by galleries like Louis K. Meisel Gallery.