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.
$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
$91,043
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
$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
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
$402
H 23.23 in W 16.54 in D 0.08 in
"Fantasy with Flowers 218" Mixed , paper, 59x42cm, Unframed
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Fantasy with Flowers" (series of 300+ pictures) paper 59x42cm On the paper acrylic, oil pastel, felt-tip pen, ink, gold leaf, pencils, silver,mixed media. Sold and sent unframed -V...
Paper, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Watercolor
$2,069
H 111 in W 9 in D 1.5 in
The garden calls. Modern acrylic painting on panel signed and framed
Located in Sandwich, GB
A leaded light window is at the centre of this painting. The garden outsdie shows that it is spring and it would seem to be the time for going out to do some gardening in the spring...
Acrylic
$2,069
H 13 in W 11 in D 1 in
Sunlit sill Acrylic painting Modern interior Framed signed
Located in Sandwich, GB
Sunlight pours through a leaded light window set within a stone casement. The deep stone sill is bathed in bright sunlight and beyond the glass, clustered building seen be in the br...
Acrylic
$7,586
H 16 in W 12 in D 1.5 in
Fire dogsModern Acrylic painting on panel Framed and Signed
Located in Sandwich, GB
Historic 1700's tranquility. The viewer is in a different room as the sun shines in from an unseen window in the next room. The scene is of an historic fireplace with all the accou...
Acrylic
$888
H 13.78 in W 27.56 in D 1.19 in
The Energy Within Nature. Diptych Abstract paintings in the wood gold frame
Located in Zofingen, AG
Diptych of The paintings was created alongside my tropical series and does not depict a specific scene, but rather abstract forms and shades of nature. Contemplating these natural mo...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,069
H 13.5 in W 11.5 in D 1 in
Two Bowls and a Pot, Modern Acrylic Painting, 21st Century, Framed
Located in Sandwich, GB
The day is done and tranquility reigns supreme. The evening sun beams through the window . Two bowls and a pot remain on the table - perhaps to be used again tomorrow.
Acrylic
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
$1,116
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
Fanasy with Flowers 177
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Fantasy with Flowers" (series of 300+ pictures) paper 59x42cm On the paper acrylic, oil pastel, felt-tip pen, ink, gold leaf, pencils, silver,mixed media. Sold and sent unframed -V...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$2,069
H 13 in W 11 in D 1 in
Tea time. Acrylic painting Modern interior Framed signed
Located in Sandwich, GB
Simplicity is the key word in this painting by Michael John Hunt. A small tripod table in an otherwise empty room, set for tea. What can possibly be the answer to the many question...
Acrylic
$3,199
H 30 in W 24 in D 1.5 in
Textured Acrylic Painting 'Black & Blu', Contemporary, Unframed
Located in Woodstock, GA
“Black & Blu” is a powerful, emotionally charged figurative painting by contemporary artist Michelle Thomas—a visual testament to the resilience, beauty, and complexity of Black ...
Acrylic, Canvas
$632Sale Price|20% Off
H 20 in W 16 in D 0.125 in
Dancing With The Sun: Contemporary Acrylic Painting on Canvas Panel
Located in Woodstock, GA
"Dancing With The Sun” is a luminous jewel of a painting. Vivid warm, Spring colors dance this canvas creating a visual harmony that feels both regal and refreshing. This contempor...
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