Skip to main content

Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

American

“I’m interested,” Richard Anuszkiewicz (1930–2020) once said, “in making something romantic out of a very, very mechanistic geometry.” Anuszkiewicz sought to achieve this romance through works juxtaposing vibrant colors in geometric configurations. The perceptual effects he created helped define the American Op art movement.

Anuszkiewicz studied color theory at Yale under Josef Albers and was greatly influenced by Albers’s approach. “The image in my work has always been determined by what I wanted the color to do,” Anuszkiewicz explained in a 1974 catalogue. “Color function becomes my subject matter, and its performance is my painting.”

He departed from his mentor, however, in the pulsating, illusory qualities he gave his work. One of his most famous paintings, Deep Magenta Square (1978), although similar in composition to Albers’s “Homage to the Square” series, is distinctly Op art in the way the striations surrounding the central square seem to vibrate and jump off the canvas.

Anuszkiewicz spent his entire career exploring optical effects through the manipulation of line and color, producing spectacular and timeless pieces of art. “Working with basic ideas will always be exciting,” he said in 1977. “And if a color or form is visually exciting in any profound sense, it will be that way in 10 or 20 years from now.”

Browse a variety of paintings and prints by Richard Anuszkiewicz at 1stDibs.

to
2
1
1
3
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
7
1
2
1
2
1
4
2
1
1
1
7
5
5
3
3
41
783
710
702
695
4
1
6
1
Artist: Richard Anuszkiewicz
Temple of Evening Reds, 1983 Acrylic OpArt by Cleveland School Artist
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Beachwood, OH
Richard Anuszkiewicz (American, 1930-2020) Temple of Evening Reds, 1983 Acrylic on canvas Signed verso 36 x 36 inches 36.75 x 36.75 inches, framed Richard Anuszkiewicz was born in E...
Category

1980s Op Art Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

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 Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Watercolor, Gouache

Richard Anuszkiewicz 1963 Original Painting
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in San Francisco, CA
Richard Anuszkiewicz: 1930-2020. Very important and well listed American artist. He has auction results as high as $250,000. He was the leader of what would be called OP Art short fo...
Category

1960s Op Art Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Metallic Water, unique 1960s Op Art painting (signed), Art Institute of Chicago
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in New York, NY
Richard Anuszkiewicz Metallic Water, 1964 Painting with Liquitex on canvas. (1964 Art Institute of Chicago Exhibition and J.L. Hudson Gallery) Signed boldly and dated 1964 on the ver...
Category

1960s Op Art Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media, Acrylic, Canvas

Old Door
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in New York, NY
Richard Anuszkiewicz Old Door, 1953 Watercolor on paper Signed and dated by the artist on the lower right front 20 × 14 inches Unframed This unique and extre...
Category

1950s American Modern Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Soft Blue
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Madrid, ES
RICHARD ANUSZKIEWICZ American, 1930 - 2020 SOFT BLUE signed, dated and numbered “© RICHARD ANUSZKIEWICZ / 1984 / 737” (on the reverse) acrylic on canvas 48 x 60 inches (122 x 152.5 c...
Category

1980s Op Art Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Light Magenta Square
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
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...
Category

1970s Op Art Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Related Items
A Charming 1940s Watercolor of Mexico w/ Cathedral and Rooftops by Rudolph Pen
Located in Chicago, IL
A Charming 1940s Watercolor of Mexico with Cathedral and Rooftops by Noted Chicago Artist, Rudolph T. Pen. Most likely completed during the artist's trip to Mexico in 1944 after rec...
Category

1940s American Modern Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Gouache

Abstract Work on Paper Mid-Century Modernism Greek American Gouache Drawing
By Jean Xceron
Located in New York, NY
Abstract Work on Paper Mid-Century Modernism Greek American Gouache Drawing. A modernist artist who emigrated to America from Greece in 1904, when he was fourteen years old, Jean Xceron is described as having a reputation as an artist that has mysteriously fallen into obscurity---especially since he was reportedly quite prominent during his lifetime. However, a partial explanation of that omission is the fact that many of his papers and early records have been lost. He was a painter of biomorphic abstractions and did collages, which were influenced by Dadaism. Xceron was active in New York City when modernism was gaining influence. Of him during this period, it was written that his artistic role was "a vital link between what is commonly termed as the first-generation (the Stieglitz group, the Synchromists, etc.) and second-generation, the American Abstract Artists, the Transcendental Painting...
Category

1940s American Modern Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Abstract Portrait Painting by Peter Keil - Black & Tan
By Peter Keil
Located in Hudson, NY
A beautiful Peter Keil original painting. Keil's signature style is shown in these Picasso inspired portraits. These portraits are characteristic of Keil's work in the 1980s when the...
Category

Late 20th Century Abstract Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Acrylic, Board

1940s-50s Mid-Century Modern Abstract Acrylic & Watercolor Painting of City Park
By Edward Marecak
Located in Denver, CO
Discover "A Small City Park", a striking mid-century modern abstract painting by renowned Denver artist Edward Marecak (1919-1993). This original acrylic and watercolor on paper show...
Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Watercolor

Art Deco Pastel Mirrors, Turquoise and Pink Geometric Tiles Patterns, Symmetry
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: Art Deco Pastel...
Category

2010s Op Art Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Paper

A Stunning Mid-Century Modern Watercolor, Harbor Scene & Rooftops by Rudolph Pen
Located in Chicago, IL
A Stunning Mid-Century Modern Cubist Watercolor, Harbor Scene & Rooftops by Noted Chicago Artist, Rudolph T. Pen. A vivid European harbor scene, depicting the whitewashed buildings ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Watercolor

Primary Tones Geometric Rainbow, Vertical CMYK and Circles Squares, Red, Yellow
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 Bauhau...
Category

2010s Op Art Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Handmade Paper

My 80's Heart "Token 4" 2019, gouache, acrylic, graphite, panel, yellow, orange
By Catherine Hart
Located in Jersey City, NJ
My 80's Hart "Token 4" 2019, gouache, acrylic, graphite, panel, yellow, orange
Category

2010s Contemporary Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Gouache, Panel, Wood Panel, Graphite

California Lake Landscape Original Watercolor on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
California Lake Landscape in Watercolor on Paper Serene landscape by Donna N. Schuster (American, 1883-1953). The viewer stands at the edge of a lake, under a few trees. At the far ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Laid Paper

A Vibrant Modern Watercolor, "Garden in a City Park" by Noted Artist Rudolph Pen
Located in Chicago, IL
A Vibrant, Colorful Modern Watercolor, "Garden in a City Park" by Noted Chicago Artist, Rudolph T. Pen. Painted in the 1960s, most likely depicting a city garden in Europe, Mexico o...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Watercolor

A Colorful, Panoramic Mid-Century Modern View of Nazaré, Portugal by Rudolph Pen
Located in Chicago, IL
A Colorful, Panoramic Mid-Century Modern View of the famed fishing village (and renowned surfing locale) of Nazaré, Portugal by Rudolph Pen. Painted in the 1960s, this vivid waterco...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Pastel, Watercolor

"New York City Skyline View from the East River, " Lionel Reiss, Jewish Artist
By Lionel Reiss
Located in New York, NY
Lionel S. Reiss (1894 - 1988) New York City Skyline View from the East River Watercolor on paper 13 x 19 inches Signed lower left In describing his own style, Lionel Reiss wrote, “By nature, inclination, and training, I have long since recognized the fact that...I belong to the category of those who can only gladly affirm the reality of the world I live in.” Reiss’s subject matter was wide-ranging, including gritty New York scenes, landscapes of bucolic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and seascapes around Gloucester, Massachusetts. However, it was as a painter of Jewish life—both in Israel and in Europe before World War II—that Reiss excelled. I.B. Singer, the Nobel Prize winner for Literature, noted that Reiss was “essentially an artist of the nineteenth century, and because of this he had the power and the courage to tell visually the story of a people.” Although Reiss was born in Jaroslaw, Poland, his family immigrated to the United States in 1898 when he was four years old. Reiss's family settled on New York City’s Lower East Side and he lived in the city for most of his life. Reiss attended the Art Students League and then worked as a commercial artist for newspapers and publishers. As art director for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he supposedly created the studio’s famous lion logo. After World War I, Reiss became fascinated with Jewish life in the ‘Old World.’ In 1921 he left his advertising work and spent the next ten years traveling in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Like noted Jewish photographers Alter Kacyzne and Roman Vishniac, Reiss depicted Jewish life in Poland prior to World War II. He later wrote, “My trip encompassed three main objectives: to make ethnic studies of Jewish types wherever I traveled; to paint and draw Jewish life, as I saw it and felt it, in all aspects; and to round out my work in Israel.” In Europe, Reiss recorded quotidian scenes in a variety of media and different settings such as Paris, Amsterdam, the Venice ghetto, the Jewish cemetery in Prague, and an array of shops, synagogues, streets, and marketplaces in the Jewish quarters of Warsaw, Lodz, Krakow, Lublin, Vilna, Ternopil, and Kovno. He paid great attention to details of dress, hair, and facial features, and his work became noted for its descriptive quality. A selection of Reiss’s portraits appeared in 1938 in his book My Models Were Jews. In this book, published on the eve of the Holocaust, Reiss argued that there was “no such thing as a ‘Jewish race’.” Instead, he claimed that the Jewish people were a cultural group with a great deal of diversity within and between Jewish communities around the world. Franz Boas...
Category

1940s American Modern Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Previously Available Items
Monumental Richard Anuszkiewicz GRAND INNER YELLOW LIGHT Painting
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Artist/Designer; Manufacturer: Richard Anuszkiewicz (American, 1930-2020) Marking(s); notes: signed, marking(s); 1989 Materials: enamel on wood construction Dimensions (H, W, D): 90"...
Category

1980s Abstract Geometric Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Enamel

Richard Anuszkiewicz "Inner Space"
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Toronto, Ontario
One of our favorite American artists, Richard Anuszkiewicz (b. 1930) is a major player in both Op Art and Hard-Edge Abstraction. His work is typically composed of rich vibrant colors...
Category

1970s Abstract Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Arcade of Verdue
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A painting by Richard Anuazkiewicz. "Arcade of Verdue" is an abstract oil on canvas painting executed in orange and green by Op Artist Richard Anazkiewicz. Signed verso, "Richard Anu...
Category

1960s Op Art Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Translumina with Deep Blue
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Richard Anuszkiewicz Title: Translumina with Deep Blue Year: 1987 Medium: Painted Wood Construction, signed and dated verso Size:...
Category

1980s Op Art Richard Anuszkiewicz Paintings

Materials

Acrylic Polymer, Wood

Richard Anuszkiewicz paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Richard Anuszkiewicz paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of paintings to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of red, blue, orange and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Richard Anuszkiewicz in paint, acrylic paint, synthetic resin paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the abstract style. Not every interior allows for large Richard Anuszkiewicz paintings, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Dan Christensen, Ben Wilson, and Erle Loran. Richard Anuszkiewicz paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $23,500 and tops out at $175,000, while the average work can sell for $65,000.

Recently Viewed

View All