Circa 1967
Widely considered the grandfather of Op art, the French-Hungarian painter Victor Vasarely (1906–97) created eye-popping geometric abstractions that play with the viewer’s perception of depth, perspective and motion. A classic example is the 1937 Zebra, which consists of undulating black and white stripes that suggest the form of the titular animal through optical trickery. The work is often credited as the earliest Op art painting.
Such illusions were more than pleasing tricks for Vasarely, who insisted that “pure form and pure color can signify the world.” He wanted to “democratize” art by producing works in large editions at reasonable prices that were understandable across national and cultural boundaries. In the 1960s, he developed an alphabet plastique, or fine art alphabet, consisting of elementary visual building blocks that could be used in endless combinations to create original compositions. By employing this universal visual vocabulary and stripping away topical references, he sought to create what he called a “Planetary Folklore.”
Embodying Vasarely’s singular belief that art should serve a social function, accessible to all, these innovations may perhaps be his greatest contribution to 20th-century art.
Find a collection of Victor Vasarely prints, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
Hidden Luminosity
Located in Rye, NY
This artwork is a masterful exploration of texture and color, presenting a striking square canvas dominated by shades of blue. The surface features a meticulously crafted mosaic of t...
Resin, Latex, Paper, Acrylic
Breath of the Earth
Located in Rye, NY
This artwork is a masterful exploration of texture and color, presenting a striking square canvas dominated by shades of blue. The surface features a meticulously crafted mosaic of t...
Resin, Latex, Paper, Acrylic
Fragments of Serenity
Located in Rye, NY
This artwork is a masterful exploration of texture and color, presenting a striking square canvas dominated by shades of blue. The surface features a meticulously crafted mosaic of t...
Resin, Latex, Paper, Acrylic
Barack Obama
Located in Rye, NY
Bret Reilly’s “Crumpled” series seamlessly intertwines the ethereal essence of Impressionism with the dreamlike distortion of surrealism, blurring the line between canvas and sculpt...
Acrylic, Paper
In the Quiet of Becoming
Located in Rye, NY
This artwork is a masterful exploration of texture and color, presenting a striking square canvas dominated by shades of blue. The surface features a meticulously crafted mosaic of t...
Resin, Latex, Paper, Acrylic
Rubin
Located in Rye, NY
Bret Reilly’s “Crumpled” series seamlessly intertwines the ethereal essence of Impressionism with the dreamlike distortion of surrealism, blurring the line between canvas and sculp...
Paper, Acrylic
$820
H 28 in W 40 in
Eclipse Reflection on a Building, Primary Tones Diptych, Fibonacci Maths, Blue
By Natalia Roman
Located in Barcelona, ES
These series of paintings by Natalia Roman gather their inspiration from geometric, minimalist shapes and paintings from the beginning of Modernism, with a special enthusiasm on astr...
Acrylic, Paper
$120,000
H 17.72 in W 17.72 in D 1.19 in
Yaacov Agam, Small EA nd, Original kinetic work, Acrylic on aluminium
By Yaacov Agam
Located in Tel Aviv, IL
Yaacov Agam, Original work, Acrylic on aluminium, 1989, Kinetic art, kinetic work, hand-painted, Israeli afrtist, Israeli art Dimensions (no frame): Height: 22 cm (8.66 in), Width: 2...
Acrylic
Modulation 866
By Julio Le Parc
Located in Miami, FL
Julio Le Parc Modulation 866, 1986 Acrylic on canvas 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 in Signed on verso Provenance: Galleria Rotta, Genova. Private Collection. Finarte, Auction 243, Lot #243 COA by ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Prochromatique No.1117
Located in PARIS, FR
In the middle of the eighties Perez-Flores started the creation of a large series of pictures and reliefs called "Prochromatiques", in which the vertical elements are dominating. The...
Wood, Acrylic, Wood Panel
Moons - kinetic art
By Yaacov Agam
Located in New York, NY
This is an authentic Polymorph kinetic art work by world-renowned Israeli artist Yaacov Agam (b. 1928), one of the leading figures in Op Art and Kinetic Art. It is hand singed on bot...
Canvas, Acrylic Polymer, Cardboard
Golden Texture 2021 - geometric abstract painting
By Roberto Lucchetta
Located in New York, NY
This hand-painted piece by Lucchetta is part of the op art series where he is able to catch movement with his unique technique. Lucchetta is challenging himself. His precise stable h...
Wood, Ink, Acrylic, Cardboard
Fabric Texture 2020 - geometric abstract painting
By Roberto Lucchetta
Located in New York, NY
This hand-painted piece by Lucchetta is part of the op art series where he is able to catch movement with his unique technique. Lucchetta is challenging himself. His precise stable h...
Wood, Ink, Acrylic, Cardboard
Inner Dimension I - figurative painting, street art
Located in New York, NY
This body of work explores the movement between inner and outer states — a continuous passage between internal and external dimensions. The figures do not settle in either space; the...
Chalk, Acrylic, Cardboard, Pencil
White Fabric - geometric abstract painting
By Roberto Lucchetta
Located in New York, NY
This hand-painted piece by Lucchetta is part of the op art series where he is able to catch movement with his unique technique. Lucchetta is challenging himself. His precise stable h...
Wood, Ink, Acrylic, Cardboard
Gold Fabric 2020 - geometric abstract painting
By Roberto Lucchetta
Located in New York, NY
This hand-painted piece by Lucchetta is part of the op art series where he is able to catch movement with his unique technique. Lucchetta is challenging himself. His precise stable h...
Wood, Ink, Acrylic, Cardboard
