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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
Artist: Roy Ahlgren
"Lineate II", 1969, Op Art Silkscreen by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Lineate II Year: 1969 Medium: Silkscreen, signed, titled and numbered in pencil Edition: 100 Image Size: 17 x 17 inches Size: 20 x ...
Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Sanctuary
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Signed, dated, titled and numbered in pencil Edition: 150 (80/150) 15 color silk screen 12" round Provenance: Estate of the Artist By decent
Category

1980s Op Art

Materials

Screen

"Homage to the Cross I", 1968, Serigraph by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Homage to the Cross I Year: 1968 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 100 Image Size: 17 x 17 inches Size: 20 ...
Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Gull Point, Op Art Silkscreen by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Gull Point Year: 1987 Medium: Silkscreen, signed, numbered, dated, and titled in pencil Edition: 100 Image Size: 25.5 x 18 inches ...
Category

1980s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Safe Harbor, Op Art Serigraph by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Safe Harbor Year: 1988 Medium: Serigraph, signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil Edition: 11/100 Size: 22 x 30 in. (55.88 x ...
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

"Eternal Vigilance", Op Art Serigraph by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Eternal Vigilance Year: 1975 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 60 Size: 26 x 20 in. (66.04 x 50.8 cm)
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Diamond, Op Art Geometric Abstract Screenprint by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Diamond Year: 1970 Edition: AP Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Image Size: 17 x 17 inches Size: 20 x 20 in. (50.8 ...
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

"Desert Icon IV", 1968, Serigraph by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Desert Icon IV Year: 1968 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 25 Image Size: 17 x 17 inches Size: 20 x 20 in....
Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Passage
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Passage Year: 1976 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed and dated verso Size: 30 x 30 in. (76.2 x 76.2 cm)
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Acrylic

Megalopolis, OP Art Painting on Canvas by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Megalopolis Year: 1972 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed and dated verso Size: 34 x 34 inches
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Ikon, Op Art Screenprint by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Ikon Year: 1976 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Image Size: 17 x 17 inches Size: 20 x 20 in. (50.8 x 50.8 cm)
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Tutankhamen, Abstract Screenprint by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Tutankhamen Year: 1983 Edition: 150 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Image Size: 25.5 x 18 inches Size: 30 x 22.5 ...
Category

1980s Op Art

Materials

Screen

"Genesis III", 1969, Silkscreen by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Genesis III Year: 1969 Medium: Silkscreen, Signed and numbered in pencil Edition: AP Image Size: 17 x 17 inches Size: 20 x 20 in. (...
Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Screen

"Ascension", Op Art Serigraph by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Ascension Year: 1978 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 65 Image Size: 24 x 18 inches Size: 26 x 20 in. (66....
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

"Metamorphosis", Op Art Serigraph by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Metamorphosis Year: 1974 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 60 Image Size: 24.5 x 18 inches Size: 26 x 20 i...
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Luna
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Luna Year: 1977 Edition: AP Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Image Size: 17.5 x 17.5 inches Size: 20 x 20 inches
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

"Conceptual Perspective II", 1969, Serigraph by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Conceptual Perspective II Year: 1969 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 100 Image Size: 17 x 17 inches Size:...
Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Screen

"Exatopia", 1970, Silkscreen by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Exatopia Year: 1970 Medium: Silkscreen, signed, titled and numbered in pencil Edition: 49/150 Image Size: 17 x 16 inches Size: 20 ...
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Desert Icon III, Abstract Geometric Screenprint by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
This grid of squares and circles quickly folds in on itself and seems to warp the fabric of space around it. Perfectly symmetrical, this print gives the illusion of diving headfirst into an old computer...
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Environment (Blue), OP Art Serigraph by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Environment (Blue) Year: circa 1970 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: AP Image Size: 18 x 18 inches Size: 2...
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Concatenation" OP Art Silkscreen by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Concatination Year: 1970 Medium: Silkscreen, signed, titled and numbered in pencil Edition: 150 Image Size: 18 x 18 inches Size: 2...
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

"Desert Icon VI", 1969, Silkscreen by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Desert Icon VI Year: 1969 Medium: Silkscreen, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 100 Image Size: 17 x 17 inches Size: 20 x 20 i...
Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Super Star, Op Art Screenprint by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Super Star Year: 1977 Medium: Serigraph, signed in pencil Edition: AP Image Size: 18 x 18 inches Size: 2...
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

"Stereopsis I", 1973, OP Art Silkscreen by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Stereopsis I Year: 1973 Medium: Silkscreen, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 50 Image Size: 18 x 18 inches Size: 20 x 20 in. ...
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Mobius
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Mobius Year: 1978 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 80 Image Size: 18 x 26 inches Size: 22 x 30 in. (...
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Portals, OP Art Painting by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
An acrylic painting by Roy Ahlgren from 1971. A geometric abstract painting utilizing bright contrasting color blocks in a modern form. Signed verso, unframed. Artist: Roy Ahlgre...
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

Aperture, Geometric Abstract Oil Painting by Roy Ahlgren
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Aperture Year: 1976 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed verso Size: 30 x 30 in. (76.2 x 76.2 cm)
Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Oil

Tutankhamon
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Pencil signed, dated, titled and numbered. Image 26" x 18"
Category

1980s Op Art

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.

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