Photorealist Painter Meticulously Recreates City Scenes

You could say that French born Bertrand Meniel was destined to be an artist. Though he's a third generation Photorealist, Meniel initially studied to be a physiotherapist and it was only in his early thirties that he started to pursue art as a real career. In the 80s he emerged as one of the leaders in the photorealism movement and today his meticulously created photorealistic paintings are widely regarded as the best in their field.

Meniel primarily focuses on urban landscapes, major metropolitan cities we're all familiar with like New York City, San Francisco and South Beach. He's particularly skilled at painting shadows, color and light, almost tricking the viewer into believing that they're looking at an actual photo rather than a painting.

A new exhibition that consists of 50 paintings by hyperrealist artists opens today in Madrid. The "Hyperrealism 1967-2012" show at the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum takes a look at the evolution of the style from its beginnings in the late 1960s in the United States to near present day (2012). Meniel will be showcasing "The City That Never Sleeps" (2012)," a huge acrylic on linen painting of New York during the coveted "blue hour."

First photo credit: AFP Photo/Pedri Armestre

Images via Louis K. Meisel Gallery