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Op Art

OP ART STYLE

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.

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Style: Op Art
Rear Window View, Purple Pastel Tones, Mauve Hue Abstract Diptych, Aurora Print
Rear Window View, Purple Pastel Tones, Mauve Hue Abstract Diptych, Aurora Print

Rear Window View, Purple Pastel Tones, Mauve Hue Abstract Diptych, Aurora Print

By Ryan Rivadeneyra

Located in Barcelona, ES

Cyd Fontaine (Lausanne, 1992) is a contemporary artist renowned for her captivating use of dreamy atmospheric gradients, which has helped her carve a distinctive niche in the world o...

Category

2010s Op Art

Materials

Photographic Paper, C Print, Giclée, Archival Pigment

Curved Dimensions, Abstract OpArt Geometrical, Mid-Century Cleveland Artist
Curved Dimensions, Abstract OpArt Geometrical, Mid-Century Cleveland Artist

Curved Dimensions, Abstract OpArt Geometrical, Mid-Century Cleveland Artist

By Edwin Mieczkowski

Located in Beachwood, OH

Edwin Mieczkowski (American, 1929-2017) Curved Dimensions, 1965 Acrylic on board Signed, dated and titled verso 30 x 29.75 inches Edwin Mieczkowski, born in Pittsburgh, was a leader of geometric and perceptual abstraction during the latter part of the 20th century. Mieczkowski's work first came to prominence in "The Responsive Eye" exhibition, the nation's first major exhibition of perceptual art, held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1965. Mieczkowski was also featured in the 1964 article in Timemagazine that first used the term "Op Art" to describe paintings that manipulated visual cues in order to reorder and excite viewers' perceptual responses. With a complex aesthetic that over time has transcended mere tricks of optical art, Mieczkowski has spent nearly four decades producing geometrically paintings, drawings and sculptures, a genre of modern art that is known broadly as perceptual abstraction. His output of static and dynamic forms create a body of work, still largely intact, that uses visually disorienting, meticulously arranged lines, dazzling kaleidoscopic colors, and alluring juxtapositions of hue and tone, to playfully and seductively present new challenges for the viewer's eyes. The desired result is an optical effect of perpetual motion, harmonics and rhythm. . . . Along with Frank Hewitt and Ernst Benkert, Mieczkowski was a co-founder in 1959 of the Anonima* group that worked together in Cleveland and New York and declared itself free from the pressures of the art market and the pursuit of personal fame. Members of Anonima often left their works unsigned and vowed to shun the usual art market venues such as commercial galleries, biennials and competitions. Instead, they engaged in a rigorous, self-imposed program of painting exercises to explore the effects of geometry and color on visual perception. Although Mieczkowski's work hung side-by-side in the MOMA "Responsive Eye" exhibition with such colleagues as Josef Albers, Victor Vasarely, Richard Anuszkiewicz, Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Carlos Cruz...

Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Acrylic

Original Op Art Abstract Color Screenprint "Planetary Folklore" Signed #2/250
Original Op Art Abstract Color Screenprint "Planetary Folklore" Signed #2/250

Original Op Art Abstract Color Screenprint "Planetary Folklore" Signed #2/250

By Victor Vasarely

Located in Portland, OR

A Op Art abstract color screenprint, "Planetary Folklore" 1968, by Victor Vasarely (1906-1997). This very striking work by Vasarely is comprised of various colorful geometric shapes, the work is signed lower right "Vasarely" and numbered lower left "2/250. This is an early and crisp impression in excellent condition and housed under glass in a gilt & silvered hardwood frame. This very eye-catching work by one of the 20th century's leading Op artists is ready to hang on your wall. 14" x 14.50" at sight without frame Numered 2/250 A Franco-Hungarian painter, Victor Vasarely (1906-1997) first studied medicine before turning to art. In Budapest, he frequented artists from the Hungarian Bauhaus...

Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Lithograph, Handmade Paper, Color, Screen

Line Study For Angles and Curves, Duo of Art Deco Shapes, Pastel Palette Rouge
Line Study For Angles and Curves, Duo of Art Deco Shapes, Pastel Palette Rouge

Line Study For Angles and Curves, Duo of Art Deco Shapes, Pastel Palette Rouge

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 emphasis on Art Deco shapes of the 30's, 40's and 50's. The subtle but chic color combinations will combine beautifully with both vintage and modern furniture without overtaking spaces that are carefully crafted by designers. Natalia Roman was born in 1984 in Girona, Spain. She has exhibited in galleries across Europe and her colorful, abstract paintings are part of private collections all over the world. Details: Title: Line Study...

Category

2010s Op Art

Materials

Acrylic, Paper, Oil Crayon

Untitled Mod Op Art 1967 Painting on Silk
Untitled Mod Op Art 1967 Painting on Silk

Untitled Mod Op Art 1967 Painting on Silk

By Henry Pearson

Located in Surfside, FL

Label from Obelisk Gallery verso. Henry C. Pearson (October 8, 1914 – December 3, 2006) was an American abstract and modernist painter. Pearson was born in Kinston, North Carolina, ...

Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Silk, Paper, Mixed Media

Untitled 8, Abstract Geometric Screenprint by David Roth
Untitled 8, Abstract Geometric Screenprint by David Roth

Untitled 8, Abstract Geometric Screenprint by David Roth

By David Roth

Located in Long Island City, NY

This screenprint was created by American artist David Roth. Roth's images are proportioned according to a strict mathematical formula - the pictures are composed according to horizon...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Warm Gradient Lights Diptych, Ethereal Glow Limited Edition Giclée, Abstract Art
Warm Gradient Lights Diptych, Ethereal Glow Limited Edition Giclée, Abstract Art

Warm Gradient Lights Diptych, Ethereal Glow Limited Edition Giclée, Abstract Art

By Ryan Rivadeneyra

Located in Barcelona, ES

Warm Gradient Lights is a vibrant Giclée print that explores the emotional resonance of color through soft, seamless transitions of pink, peach, lavender, and coral tones. This abstr...

Category

2010s Op Art

Materials

Photographic Paper, C Print, Giclée, Archival Pigment

BI-RHOMBS, Victor Vasarely
BI-RHOMBS, Victor Vasarely

BI-RHOMBS, Victor Vasarely

By Victor Vasarely

Located in Fairfield, CT

Artist: Victor Vasarely (1908-1997) Title: BI-RHOMBS Year: 1977 Medium: Silkscreen on Arches paper Edition: 91/250, plus proofs Size: 43.5 x 26 inches Condition: Good Inscription: Si...

Category

1980s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Soft Lime, Signed/N 1970s geometric abstraction by renowned Op Artist  38" x 46"
Soft Lime, Signed/N 1970s geometric abstraction by renowned Op Artist  38" x 46"

Soft Lime, Signed/N 1970s geometric abstraction by renowned Op Artist 38" x 46"

By Richard Anuszkiewicz

Located in New York, NY

Richard Anuszkiewicz Soft Lime, 1976 8 Color silkscreen on Lenox 100% Cotton paper 38 × 46 inches Pencil signed and numbered 41/75 on the front; bears printers blind stamp from NYIT (New York Institute of Technology) Unframed We have not seen another example of this gorgeous mid century silkscreen...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen, Pencil

Ailho
Ailho

Ailho

By Victor Vasarely

Located in OPOLE, PL

Victor Vasarely (1906-1997) - Ailho Lithograph from 1971. Dimensions of work: 48 x 40 cm. Reference: Catalogue Raisonné Vol I par Pedro Benavides n°185. The work is in Excellent ...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Lithograph

Enterieur (Outside)
Enterieur (Outside)

Enterieur (Outside)

By Jurgen Peters

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Enterieur (Outside) Screen print, 1973 Signed lower right in pencil (see photo) Edition: A.P., annotated lower left corner Published by Edition Ltd., Indianapolis Image size: 21 3/4 ...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Untitled (from the Meta series)
Untitled (from the Meta series)

Untitled (from the Meta series)

By Victor Vasarely

Located in New York, NY

Color screenprint. Signed by the artist in pencil, lower right. Numbered 225/225 in pencil, lower left. Published by Editions Denise René, Paris, with the blind stamp. Sheet siz...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen, Color

Jewel coloured vibrant op art abstract geometric painting French 1960s
Jewel coloured vibrant op art abstract geometric painting French 1960s

Jewel coloured vibrant op art abstract geometric painting French 1960s

Located in Norwich, GB

A fabulous example of 1960s geometric/op art, displaying all the fun, playfulness and vibrancy of the style. Op art, short for optical art, is a style of visual art that uses optical illusions. Typically, they give the viewer the impression of movement, hidden images and vibrating patterns. Its roots can be traced back to Cubism, Futurism, Constructivism and Dada. The maker of this stunning piece is Tony Gonnet (1909-2004) an artist close to those who shaped modern art and its history. Working in Casablanca in 1940 he met André Breton and Saint-Exupéry, who were both on their way to America. Unable to obtain a visa for himself, Gonnet returned to Paris in January of 1942. Living on Rue de Seine, he became one of the figures of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and numbered amongst his many friends Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Jean Genet – who prefaced his first Parisian exhibition in 1952 – as well as Albert Camus, Simone Signoret, Boris Vian, Jacques and Pierre Prévert and many others. In 1941, in the ennui of Casablanca, Tony Gonnet had started to draw, and then paint, in a Surrealist style. In 1946 he abandoned figurative surrealism in favour of abstraction, making sole use from then on of geometric forms and shaded tones, in his own unique style. His works aim to achieve harmony of shapes and colours, and thus to bring joy. Tony Gonnet loved life, and said that each of his works was an offering made to it. With solo shows in major Paris galleries...

Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Yaacov Agam, Color Composition, from XXe siecle, 1978
Yaacov Agam, Color Composition, from XXe siecle, 1978

Yaacov Agam, Color Composition, from XXe siecle, 1978

By Yaacov Agam

Located in Southampton, NY

This exquisite lithograph by Yaacov Agam (born 1928), titled Composition coloree (Color Composition), from the album XXe siecle, Nouvelle serie, XL Annee, No. 51, originates from the...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Lithograph

Ménerbes

Ménerbes

By Victor Vasarely

Located in OPOLE, PL

Victor Vasarely (1906-1997) - Ménerbes Lithograph from 1971. Dimensions of work: 48 x 40 cm. The work is in Excellent condition.

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Lithograph

physichromie № 1.021
physichromie № 1.021

physichromie № 1.021

By Carlos Cruz-Diez

Located in Miami, FL

The Physichromie is a structure designed to reveal certain circumstances and conditions related to color, changing according to the movement of the viewer and the intensity of the li...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Metal

VICTOR VASARELY - OEUVRES PROFONDES CINETIQUES I - 1973
VICTOR VASARELY - OEUVRES PROFONDES CINETIQUES I - 1973

VICTOR VASARELY - OEUVRES PROFONDES CINETIQUES I - 1973

By Victor Vasarely

Located in Pembroke Pines, FL

Artist: Victor Vasarely Title: Profound Works I Year: 1973 Not signed or numbered, as published Dimensions: 12 in. by 12 in. Framed Edition: From the Rare Limited Edition Publisher: Editions du Griffon Neuchatel Suite: Profound Works Medium: 3D, Serigraph on Acitate Over Serigraph on Paper Condition: Excellent Victor Vasarely (French/Hungarian, 1906–1997) is known as the father of the Op Art movement. As a painter, he created intricate abstractions that suggested depth and dimensionality using a variety of optical illusions, with surfaces seeming to bulge out of the canvas. His works present color, form, and pattern as a single interconnected element—a concept that was critical to the foundation of the Op Art movement and the focus of his mature works. Vasarely initially studied medicine at the Budapest University in his early 20s, only to abandon his medical studies to attend to the Muhely Academy, the center of the Bauhaus movement in Budapest. While there, he was profoundly influenced by the work of color theorist and artist Josef Albers, as well as the Constructivist methods promoted by artists such as Wassily Kandinsky. While Vasarely’s earlier work was concerned more with color theory, during the 1950s and 1960s his work became more focused on the optical potential of the two-dimensional surface. He began to use complex and colorful patterns to actively engage the viewer’s eye, and to convey a sense of kinetic energy across the two-dimensional surface. Vasarely’s work was heavily influenced by his time spent at Breton Beach of Belle Isle...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

TallerOr
TallerOr

TallerOr

By Victor Vasarely

Located in Fairlawn, OH

TallerOr Screen print printed on "card board" (cream poster board), 1968 Signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 150 (54/150), plus 11 for the Vasarely Fou...

Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Hat-VI Op Art Print
Hat-VI Op Art Print

Hat-VI Op Art Print

By Victor Vasarely

Located in Austin, TX

Victor Vasarely offset lithograph print 16 ⅛ x 16 inches About the Artist: Victor Vasarely (1906-1997) stands as a pioneering force in the realm of Op Art, heralded for his groundb...

Category

20th Century Op Art

Materials

Offset

Op Art 1971 Kinetic Oil Painting Pop Art Artist
Op Art 1971 Kinetic Oil Painting Pop Art Artist

Op Art 1971 Kinetic Oil Painting Pop Art Artist

By Josef Levi

Located in Surfside, FL

Josef Alan Levi (1938) is an American artist whose works range over a number of different styles, but which are unified by certain themes consistently present among them. Josef Levi began his artistic career in the 1960s and early '70s, producing highly abstract and very modernist pieces: these employing exotic materials such as light fixtures and metallic parts. By 1975, Levy had transitioned to painting and drawing still lifes. At first these were, traditionally, of mundane subjects. Later, he would depict images from art history, including figures originally created by the Old Masters. Around 1980, he made another important shift, this time toward creating highly precise, though subtly altered reproductions of pairs of female faces which were originally produced by other artists. It is perhaps this work for which he is most well known. Since around 2000, Josef Levi has changed the style of his work yet again: now he works entirely with computers, using digital techniques to abstract greatly from art history, and also from other sources. Levi's works of art in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, NYC, the National Gallery of Art, and the Albright-Knox Museum, among many others. Levi's art has been featured on the cover of Harper's Magazine twice, once in June 1987, and once in May 1997. Josef Levi received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959 from the University of Connecticut, where he majored in fine arts and minored in literature. From 1959 to 1960, he served to a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and from 1960 through 1967 he was in the U.S. Army Reserves. In 1966, he received the Purchase Award from the University of Illinois in 1966, and he was featured in New Talent U.S.A. by Art in America. He was an artist in residence at Appalachian State University in 1969, taught at Farleigh Dickenson University in 1971 and was a visiting professor of art at Pennsylvania State University in 1977. From 1975 to 2007, Levi resided in New York City. He now lives in an apartment in Rome, where he is able to paint with natural light as he was unable in New York. From 1959 to 1960, Josef took some courses of Howard McParlin Davis and Meyer Schapiro at Columbia University which initiated him into the techniques of reproducing the works of the Old Masters. His first works, created in the 1960s, were wood and stone sculptures of women. His first mature works were abstract pieces, constructed of electric lights and steel. In 1970, Levi's materials included fluorescent light bulbs, Rust-Oleum and perforated metal in addition to paint and canvas. By 1980, Josef Levi's art had transformed into a very specific form: a combination of reproductions of female faces which were originally depicted by other artists. The faces which he reproduces may be derived from either portraits or from small portions of much larger works; they are taken from paintings of the Old Masters, Japanese ukiyo-e, and 20th-century art. Artists from whom he has borrowed include: Vermeer, Rembrandt, Piero della Francesca, Botero, Matisse, Utamaro, Correggio, Da Vinci, Picasso, Chuck Close, Max Beckmann, Pisanello, Lichtenstein. The creation of these works is informed by Levi's knowledge and study of art history. Josef Levi's paintings from this period are drawn, then painted on fine linen canvas on wooden stretchers. The canvas is coated with twenty-five layers of gesso in order to produce a smooth surface on which to work. The drawing phase takes at least one month. Levi seals the drawing with acrylic varnish, and then he may apply layers of transparent acrylic in order to approximate the look of old paintings. After the last paint is applied, another layer of acrylic varnish is sprayed on to protect the work. Most of the figures in his contemporary pieces are not paired with any others. SELECTED COLLECTIONS MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK, NY ALBRIGHT- KNOX GALLERY, BUFFALO, NY ALDRICH MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, RIDGEFIELD, CT NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, WASHINGTON, DC BROOKLYN MUSEUM OF ART, BROOKLYN, NY SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY, WASHINGTON, DC CORCORAN GALLERY, WASHINGTON, DC UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME ART...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Near and Far Acuity, Signed Mid Century Modern Op Art painting, historic exhibit
Near and Far Acuity, Signed Mid Century Modern Op Art painting, historic exhibit

Near and Far Acuity, Signed Mid Century Modern Op Art painting, historic exhibit

By Richard Anuszkiewicz

Located in New York, NY

Richard Anuszkiewicz Near and Far Acuity, 1957 Gouache and watercolor painting on board Hand signed and dated 1957 by Richard Anuszkiewicz on the right front Frame included Anuszkie...

Category

Mid-20th Century Op Art

Materials

Mixed Media, Watercolor, Gouache

Classic Blue Silk Movement, Abstract Fabric Gestures, Contemporary Cyanotype
Classic Blue Silk Movement, Abstract Fabric Gestures, Contemporary Cyanotype

Classic Blue Silk Movement, Abstract Fabric Gestures, Contemporary Cyanotype

By Kind of Cyan

Located in Barcelona, ES

This is an exclusive handprinted limited edition cyanotype. Details: + Title: Classic Blue Silk Movement nº1 + Year: 2024 + Edition Size: 100 + Medium: Cyanotype Print on Watercolor Paper + Stamped and Certificate of Authenticity provided + Measurements : 70x100 cm (28x 40 in.), a standard frame size + All cyanotype prints are made on high-quality Italian watercolor paper WHAT IS A CYANOTYPE? The cyanotype (a.k.a. sun-print) process is one of the oldest in the history of photography, dating back to the 1840's. Cyanotypes were then made famous by Anna Atkins...

Category

2010s Op Art

Materials

Lithograph

Autoportrait
Autoportrait

Autoportrait

By Victor Vasarely

Located in OPOLE, PL

Victor Vasarely (1906-1997) - Autoportrait Silkscreen / Serigraph from 1989. Edition of 250. Dimensions of work: 47 x 37.5 cm The work is in Excellent condition. Fast and secure...

Category

1980s Op Art

Materials

Lithograph

Op Art art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Op art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Victor Vasarely, Roy Ahlgren, Victor Debach, and Yaacov Agam. Frequently made by artists working with Screen Print, and Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Op Art, so small editions measuring 2 inches across are also available. Prices for art made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $66 and tops out at $350,000, while the average work sells for $1,616.