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.
1970s Op Art
Polystyrene, Wood
20th Century Op Art
Lithograph
2010s Op Art
Ceramic
1970s Op Art
Polystyrene, Wood
1960s Op Art
Archival Paper, Giclée
1980s Op Art
Paper, Screen
1970s Op Art
Lucite, Plexiglass, Screen
1960s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset, Board
1980s Op Art
Lithograph, Offset
2010s Op Art
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Op Art
Paper, Watercolor
1960s Op Art
Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
1960s Op Art
Screen
2010s Op Art
Screen
2010s Op Art
Ceramic
1960s Op Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Op Art
Ceramic
20th Century Op Art
Screen
Late 20th Century Op Art
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Screen
1960s Op Art
Metal
1970s Op Art
Offset, Lithograph
1970s Op Art
Screen
1980s Op Art
Screen
1960s Op Art
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Op Art
Screen
1990s Op Art
Lithograph
1980s Op Art
Screen
1980s Op Art
Mixed Media
20th Century Op Art
Screen
2010s Op Art
Canvas, Acrylic
1970s Op Art
Color
1970s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Screen
1960s Op Art
Porcelain
1990s Op Art
Screen
1970s Op Art
Screen
1990s Op Art
Paper, Screen
1970s Op Art
Steel
1960s Op Art
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Canvas
1970s Op Art
Metal, Enamel
1970s Op Art
Mixed Media
1970s Op Art
Screen
1980s Op Art
Screen
1960s Op Art
Archival Paper, Giclée
1970s Op Art
Screen
20th Century Op Art
Mixed Media
1960s Op Art
Screen
1960s Op Art
Lithograph, Offset
1960s Op Art
Lithograph, Pencil
1970s Op Art
Lithograph
2010s Op Art
Paper, Acrylic, Mylar
1980s Op Art
Screen
1960s Op Art
Oil, Board
1970s Op Art
Lithograph, Offset
2010s Op Art
Paper, Acrylic, Board