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.
Geometric Abstract Original Oil on Canvas 1980s
Located in Soquel, CA
Geometric Abstract Original Oil on Canvas 1980s This unknown artist expertly explores the tension between bold physical presence and quiet, open space. Dominated by deep, matte black...
Canvas, Oil
$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
$90,553
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
Epicentrum Quantinum U/G/W, Acrylic on Canvas, Op Art, Signed, 120 cm
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
$346
H 23.23 in W 16.54 in D 0.08 in
"Fantasy with Flowers 228" 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. For sale and sent unframe...
Paper, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Watercolor
Sea. Sailboat.
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this piece, I sought to capture the serene dance between sky and sea, interspersed with the graceful ballet of a sailboat. Infused with the essence of expressionism and the delica...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard, Giclée
$587
H 27.56 in W 39.38 in
CLOTO TESSE IL FILO DELLA VITA - Oil on canvas painting, Antonio Minopoli
By Antonio Minopoli
Located in Napoli, IT
CLOTO TESSE IL FILO DELLA VITA - Oil on canvas painting cm.70x100, Antonio Minopoli Italia 2009 Frame available on request from our workshop.
Canvas, Oil
Monet's Water Lily Pond
By Elena Lukina
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I've sought to capture the essence of tranquility and the ephemeral nature of light dancing on water. Through bold, impressionistic strokes and a soothing palette o...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
$980
H 44 in W 36 in D 1 in
Landscape, Oil on Canvas, Grey, Blue by Contemporary Indian Artist "In Stock"
By Amit Kalla
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Amit Kalla - Landscape - 36 x 28 inches (unframed size) Oil on Canvas, 2019 ** Free Shipment ...... will be delivered in rolled form. Style : Kalla’s work can be represented by his ...
Canvas, Oil
Window8, Original Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
"In my eyes, a window is by no means just part of a structure in a house but is something with remarkable meaning," shares artist Wenjie Jin. Each opening pla...
Acrylic
$340
H 16.54 in W 23.23 in D 0.08 in
"Fantasy with Flowers 234" 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. For sale and sent unframe...
Paper, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Watercolor
$1,799
H 42 in W 54 in D 1 in
Benaras, Landscape, Acrylic, Pastel, Pigment on Canvas, Brown, Blue "In Stock"
By Tapas Ghosal
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Tapas Ghoshal - Untitled - 42 x 54 inches ( without framing ) Acrylic, dry Pastel & Pigment on Canvas Style : In Hindu philosophy, the 'Antahkaran' refers to the totality of two l...
Canvas, Acrylic, Pigment
$1,909
H 68 in W 44 in D 1 in
Abstract Painting, Acrylic on Canvas by Contemporary Artist "In Stock"
By Amit Kalla
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Amit Kalla - Untitled - 60 x 36 inches (unframed size) Acrylic on canvas ** Free Shipment ...... will be delivered in rolled form. Style : Kalla’s work can be represented by his com...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
$1,092
H 9.85 in W 11.82 in D 0.12 in
The Forest Brook - original sunny landscape, winter painting
Located in Zofingen, AG
The impressionist winter painting is a beautiful wall decor, the painting is full of different colours, combinations of warm and cold shades are professionally captured by the artist...
Canvas, Oil, Board
$411
H 16.54 in W 23.23 in D 0.08 in
"Fantasy with Flowers 221" Mixed , paper, 59x42cm, Unframed
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Fantasy with Flowers" (series of 300+ pictures) paper 59x42cm For sale and sent unframed -VIRTUAL FRAME. The painting is NOT STRETCHED. You will receive it rolled up in a tube.The...
Paper, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Watercolor
The Road, Original Painting
By Ruth LaGue
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A road carves through vividly-colored farmland, leading the eye past clustered buildings and telephone poles. The sharp lines, flat colors, and overhead perspec...
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