What is Hyperrealism?

Hyperrealism is a genre of painting and sculpture that achieves detail beyond photographic realism, emphasizing subtle details invisible to casual observation. Artists like Chuck Close and Ron Mueck create works of extraordinary technical precision. While hyperrealism emerged after historical Surrealism, the movements share interests in making the ordinary strange through intense scrutiny. Some contemporary artists combine hyperrealistic technique with Surrealist content, rendering impossible scenes with convincing, almost hallucinatory detail. The hyperreal surface lends dreamlike imagery unsettling presence, as if documenting actual visions. This approach continues traditions from Dali’s meticulous technique applied to impossible subjects.