The Op art movement emerged in the 1960s, mirroring the counterculture of the time in its embrace of visual trickery, graphic shapes and bright colors.
Spreading across Europe and the Americas, the style — whose name is short for “optical art” — influenced advertising, fashion and interior design before fading in the early ’70s.
Op art remained significant, however, for artists and scientists interested in the nature of perception. And today, it’s seeing a resurgence of interest from collectors and interior designers.
Op artists played with the principles of perception, manipulating line, shape, patterns and color to create the illusion of depth and movement. They drew on and evolved methods developed by past movements, from Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism, to produce intense visual experiences.
All the Op artists shared a focus on the gap between what is and what we perceive. Each, however, had a distinct approach to the issue and a unique visual style.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Op art that includes works by Josef Albers, Bridget Riley, Jesús Rafael Soto and more.
Epicentrum Quantinum U/G/W
Located in OPOLE, PL
Jaremi Picz (1955) - Epicentrum Quantinum U/G/W Acrylic on canvas from 2024. The work is enhanced with UV paint. Dimensions of work: 120 x 120 cm. Hand signed and titled on the ba...
Acrylic
$27,200Sale Price|20% Off
Twist & the Rain Mid-Century OpArt Geometric Painting by Cleveland School artist
Located in Beachwood, OH
Julian Stanczak (American, 1928-2017) Twist and the Rain, 1975 acrylic on canvas signed verso 30 x 24 inches Julian Stanczak (American, b. November 5, 1928) was an American painter...
Acrylic
$32,000Sale Price|20% Off
Double Focus II Mid-Century OpArt Abstract Geometric painting, Cleveland school
Located in Beachwood, OH
Julian Stanczak (American, 1928-2017) Double Focus II, 1963 acrylic on canvas signed and dated verso 33 x 40 inches Julian Stanczak (American, b. November 5, 1928) was an American ...
Acrylic
$89,346
Patrick Hughes - Walls Have Ears, optical art, reverspective, op art, illusion
Located in London, GB
Patrick Hughes (b.1939) Walls have ears 2020 oil on board construction 66.5 x 80.5 x 16 cm Price: £66,000 GBP (inc. 20% UK VAT) Provenance: Direct from the artist's studio Notes: ...
Oil, Board
Revelation
Located in Zofingen, AG
In "Revelation," I capture the moment where sky and earth meet in a delicate dance of nature. Clouds spill across the sky's canvas, creating a visual poetry that breathes with light ...
Acrylic
$1,092
H 13.78 in W 9.85 in D 0.12 in
The Winter Sun - winter landscape painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
The winter sunny painting with a fir forest is a wonderful wall decor, the painting is created en plein air, the artwork is full of different bright colours, combinations of warm and...
Oil, Board
$902Sale Price|20% Off
H 17.72 in W 23.63 in D 0.08 in
Birches. 1957, oil on cardboard, 45x60 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Birches. 1957, oil on board, 45x60 cm Edgars Vinters (1919-2014) Edgars Vinters is working in oil, watercolor and monotype techniques. He paints landsc...
Oil, Cardboard
$902Sale Price|20% Off
H 17.72 in W 22.84 in D 0.04 in
Sunny winter landscape. 1985, cardboard, oil, 45x58 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Sunny winter landscape. 1985, cardboard, oil, 45x58 cm Edgars Vinters (1919-2014) Edgars Vinters is working in oil, watercolor and monotype techniques. He paints landscapes in diffe...
Oil, Cardboard
$2,750
H 40 in W 30 in D 2 in
Jozza Original Acrylic on Canvas "Siri - Yours forever" 40 x 30
By Jozza
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Jozza Title: "Siri - Yours forever" Year: 2024 Media: Original acrylic on canvas Size: 40x30 Inches Hand signed on the recto and signed "Jozza", Titled, Dated, and ID numbere...
Acrylic, Canvas
Listen, Original Painting
By Ruth LaGue
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Red-roofed barns sit quietly under a pale blue sky. Snow covers the ground, creating a calm and quiet scene. Power lines stretch overhead, adding a stark stilln...
Acrylic
$1,092
H 8.47 in W 13.78 in D 0.12 in
The sunny February day - winter landscape painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
Nikolay paints winter paintings very seldom. But if there is the opportunity he tries to do his best to go painting in winter. Nikolay especially likes winter sunny days. He's always...
Oil, Board
$1,092
H 9.85 in W 11.82 in D 0.12 in
November Sunlight - original sunny landscape, painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
The impressionist sunny painting with the river and the Sun is a beautiful wall decor, the bright painting is full of different colours, combinations of warm and cold shades are prof...
Canvas, Oil, Board
Sunset over the river - sunset landscape painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
The sunny summer painting with sunset is a beautiful wall decor, the painting is created en plein air, the artwork is full of different bright co...
Oil, Board
$1,092
H 13.78 in W 11.03 in D 0.12 in
Forest of stones - forest landscape painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
The plein air painting with stones and pine forest is a wonderful and lively wall decor. The picture is author's and original. It is signed on the front and also titled and signed o...
Oil, Board
$488Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in W 20 in
Geometric Bloom in Pastel Tones, Constructivist Symmetry in Gray, Pink and Blue
Located in Barcelona, ES
"Geometric Bloom" is a hand-painted acrylic painting on high-quality 300g paper by artist Ryan Rivadeneyra. This series focuses on geometric patterns and combinations of shapes to f...
Oil Pastel, Ink, Sumi Ink, Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Archival Paper
"SPRAY_01" Abstract Painting 40" x 65" by DOT
Located in Culver City, CA
"SPRAY_01" Abstract Painting 40" x 65" by DOT ABOUT THE ARTIST: By compiling concepts from multiple philosophies, DOT’s Art seeks to explore an idea that has developed from different roots. Through the use of repeating geometric patterns enhanced by different color theories. A hallucinatory visual field is created. Thus forcing the viewer's perspective to be pushed into a moment of visual confusion. According to theories in Neuroplasticity, these perspective shifts are catalysts that have the potential to rewire neural pathways and ultimately affect thinking and behavior. Being self-taught DOT leaned into his understanding of scientific concepts and techniques to develop his artistic explorations. In his most recent body of work, a surgical repetition of shifting color fields reflects his curiosities in the space of visual perception. These lines tend to create a static movement...
Canvas, Acrylic
Sold
H 37 in W 23 in
Large Storm Op-Art Geometric Oil Painting on Board 'Cibotium' 1972
Located in Hudson, NY
Stunning Op-Art geometric oil on board by Larue Storm. Original stainless steel frame
Paint, Board
The Long Hallway
Located in Buffalo, NY
A fantastic Op Art oil on canvas painting. This unsigned mystery has fantastic color and depth.
Canvas, Oil
Ladronzuelos y Ladroncielos
Located in Long Island City, NY
An acrylic painting by Pedro Friedeberg circa 1990. A optical abstract painting of a surrealist interior. Artist: Pedro Friedeberg, Mexican (1936 - ) Year: circa 1990 Title: La...
Acrylic, Board