Op Art
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.
Mid-20th Century Op Art
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1970s Op Art
Polystyrene, Wood
1970s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
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1970s Op Art
Etching, Aquatint, Intaglio
1970s Op Art
Marble
1970s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Polystyrene, Wood
1960s Op Art
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
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1970s Op Art
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1990s Op Art
Wood, Acrylic
1970s Op Art
Screen
Mid-20th Century Op Art
Screen
2010s Op Art
Spray Paint, Wood Panel
1970s Op Art
Screen
2010s Op Art
Board, Pins
1970s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Oil, Tempera, Cardboard
1970s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Paper, Screen
1970s Op Art
Screen
Late 20th Century Op Art
Paper, Screen
Mid-20th Century Op Art
Screen
Early 2000s Op Art
Wood, Acrylic
1970s Op Art
Screen
Early 2000s Op Art
Lenticular
1980s Op Art
Screen
2010s Op Art
Board, Pins
1980s Op Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Op Art
Resin, Plaster, Acrylic, Wood Panel, Digital
Late 20th Century Op Art
Wood, Acrylic
Late 20th Century Op Art
Wood, Acrylic
Early 2000s Op Art
Wood, Acrylic
1960s Op Art
Screen
2010s Op Art
Spray Paint, Wood Panel
2010s Op Art
Paint, Archival Ink, Inkjet
2010s Op Art
Canvas, Archival Ink, Pigment
1970s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Screen
Early 2000s Op Art
Lenticular
1980s Op Art
Screen
1980s Op Art
Screen
2010s Op Art
Board, Oil
2010s Op Art
Paint, Archival Ink, Inkjet
1980s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Screen
1960s Op Art
Screen
2010s Op Art
Archival Paper, Ink, Linocut
Late 20th Century Op Art
Ink, Watercolor
Mid-20th Century Op Art
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1960s Op Art
Acrylic
2010s Op Art
Gouache, Archival Paper
1980s Op Art
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1980s Op Art
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1970s Op Art
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