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.
Price Upon Request
Spatial Order
By Ron Agam
Located in Rye, NY
Born in Paris, painter Ron Agam only took up the paintbrush later in life, following a long and successful career as a fine art photographer. Yet, the robustness and sheer prolificac...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
Price Upon Request
Symphonic Disruption
By Ron Agam
Located in Rye, NY
Born in Paris, painter Ron Agam only took up the paintbrush later in life, following a long and successful career as a fine art photographer. Yet, the robustness and sheer prolificac...
Canvas, Acrylic, Panel
Price Upon Request
Dance in Movement
By Ron Agam
Located in Rye, NY
Born in Paris, painter Ron Agam only took up the paintbrush later in life, following a long and successful career as a fine art photographer. Yet, the robustness and sheer prolificac...
Acrylic, Panel
Price Upon Request
Sous les aster
Located in Rye, NY
This striking kinetic artwork boldly presents the word "LOVE". It displays a distinct yet harmonious background featuring vibrant, butterfly motifs in rich, warm hues. The vivid inte...
Gold Leaf
Price Upon Request
Flamingo Flamenco
Located in Rye, NY
This striking kinetic artwork boldly presents the word "LOVE". It displays a distinct yet harmonious background featuring vibrant, butterfly motifs in rich, warm hues. The vivid inte...
Gold Leaf
Price Upon Request
Birds everywhere
Located in Rye, NY
This striking kinetic artwork boldly presents the word "LOVE". It displays a distinct yet harmonious background featuring vibrant, butterfly motifs in rich, warm hues. The vivid inte...
Gold Leaf
Price Upon Request
Crossed Love
Located in Rye, NY
This striking kinetic artwork boldly presents the word "LOVE". It displays a distinct yet harmonious background featuring vibrant, butterfly motifs in rich, warm hues. The vivid inte...
Gold Leaf
Price Upon Request
Les Papillons D'opale
Located in Rye, NY
This striking kinetic artwork boldly presents the word "LOVE". It displays a distinct yet harmonious background featuring vibrant, butterfly motifs in rich, warm hues. The vivid inte...
Gold Leaf
Price Upon Request
Les Papillons D'automne
Located in Rye, NY
This striking kinetic artwork boldly presents the word "LOVE". It displays a distinct yet harmonious background featuring vibrant, butterfly motifs in rich, warm hues. The vivid inte...
Gold Leaf
Price Upon Request
Face to Face
By Nemo Jantzen
Located in Singapore, SG
Face to Face by Nemo Jantzen is a meticulously handmade artwork, crafted from over 2,000 images of film photography, iconic movie scenes, classic movie posters, and Hollywood legends...
Epoxy Resin, Wood, Photographic Film
Price Upon Request
Song
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Victor Vasarely Song, 1970 is a painted wood relief that is hand-signed by Victor Vasarely (Hungary, 1906 – France, 1997) on verso. Numbered from the edition of 55 on verso.
Wood, Paint
Price Upon Request
Bellatrix
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Victor Vasarely Bellatrix, 1970 is a painted wooden relief on aluminum that is hand-signed by Victor Vasarely (Hungary, 1906 – France, 1997) and is inscribed ' VASARELY E.A. VII' on ...
Wood, Paint
Price Upon Request
Fuji V, Op Art Oil Painting
By Tony Bechara
Located in Long Island City, NY
An abstract painting by Tony Bechara from 2001. An abstract, optical painting representative of the artists conceptual principles of color usage, organization and randomness. Artist...
Canvas, Oil
Price Upon Request
Bianco, Op Art Painting by Victor Vasarely
Located in Long Island City, NY
Victor Vasarely’s Op Art painting generates a sense of movement as it appears to warp into a sphere that is overlaid with stripes in a geometric pattern. Victor Vasarely, Hungarian ...
Oil
Operenccia, Large OP Art Painting by Victor Vasarely
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Victor Vasarely, Hungarian (1908 - 1997) Title: Operenccia Year: 1954/1986 Medium: Acrylic on Board, signed, dated and titled in marker verso Size: 40 in. x 66 in. (101.6 cm ...
Acrylic
Price Upon Request
Electric Tulip II
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Lowell Blair Nesbitt, American (1933 - 1993) Title: Electric Tulip II Year: 1980 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed and dated verso Size: 84 x 60 in....
Oil
Price Upon Request
Struttura
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...
Ink, Acrylic, Cardboard
Price Upon Request
Superficie Rossa
Located in New York, NY
This piece is delicately hand painted with a pen over cardboard. With his unique style and technique, Roberto transfers movement to his art works, making his individual lines connect...
Ink, Acrylic, Cardboard
Price Upon Request
Bianco Nero
Located in New York, NY
This piece is delicately hand painted with a pen over cardboard. With his unique style and technique, Roberto transfers movement to his art works, making his individual lines connect...
Ink, Acrylic, Cardboard
Price Upon Request
Lacerazioni
Located in New York, NY
This piece is delicately hand painted with a pen over cardboard. With his unique style and technique, Roberto transfers movement to his art works, making his individual lines connect...
Cardboard, Ballpoint Pen
Price Upon Request
Light Magenta Square
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Richard Anuszkiewicz Title: Light Magenta Square Year: 1978 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed and dated verso Size: 60 x 60 inches Referenced as 1978.9, pg 184 in "Anuszkiew...
Canvas, Acrylic
Thunder, Abstract OP Art Oil Painting on Canvas by Tony Bechara
By Tony Bechara
Located in Long Island City, NY
An abstract painting by Tony Bechara from 1984. An abstract, optical painting representative of Bechara's conceptual principles of color usage, organization and randomness. Artist...
Canvas, Oil