“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.
Richard Anuszkiewicz Metallic Water 1960s Op Art painting Art Institute 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...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
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...
Acrylic
$16,000
Untitled, 1973, Original Painting on Board, Hand Signed, 24 x 18 in.
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on board. Hand signed and dated 'RICHARD ANUSZKIEWICZ 1973' on verso. Artwork size: 24 x 18 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. About the Artist...
Paper, Screen
Richard Anuszkiewicz - Near and Far Acuity, Signed Mid Century Modern painting
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...
Mixed Media, Watercolor, Gouache
Richard Anuszkiewicz, 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...
Canvas, Acrylic
Light Peach Square
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Austin, TX
Richard Anuszkiewicz, "Light Peach Square" (1978). Acrylic on canvas. Signed, titled, and inscribed verso. 48 x 48 in. 50 x 50 in. (framed) Custom framed in a solid maple floater with an heirloom white finish. Provenance ACA Galleries, New York Abante Fine Art, Portland, OR Collection of the Family of Richard Anuszkiewicz Waterline Fine Art, Austin Richard Anuszkiewicz was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1930, to Polish immigrant parents. He began studying art in high school under the teacher Joseph Plavcan...
Canvas, Acrylic
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...
Paper, Watercolor
Translumina - Geometric Op Art Acrylic Painting on Wood, 1988
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Palm Desert, CA
"Translumina" is an abstract Post War acrylic on wood painting by Richard Anuszkiewicz in 1988. The artwork is 48 x 48 in. It is signed verso, "Richard Anuszkiewicz 1988” Provenance...
Wood, Acrylic
Price Upon Request
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...
Canvas, Acrylic
$1,950
H 36 in W 36 in D 3 in
Sophisticated, Original Op Art Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 36x36 inches
By Stan Slutsky
Located in Aventura, FL
Original painting on canvas. Hand signed on front; signed and titled on verso by the artist. Canvas is stretched. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity in...
Canvas, Acrylic
$17,668
H 14.18 in W 14.18 in D 0.79 in
Topaze Noir Négatif, Op Art Mixed Media Relief, Signed, Edition 37/50
By Victor Vasarely
Located in PARIS, FR
Matt acrylic-painted wood relief Éditions Denise Rene Paris Edition n° 37/50, Signed. Presented at the exhibition “Vasarely - Le partage des Formes”, in 2019 at the Centre Pompidou. ...
Wood, Acrylic
$930
H 40 in W 28 in
The Harlequin, Bauhaus Painting Grid, Op Art Modern Geometry on Paper, 2026
By Natalia Roman
Located in Barcelona, ES
Details: Title: The Harlequin III Medium: Acrylic Painting on Watercolor Paper Size: 40x28 inches total, (100x70 cm) Year: 2026 Signature: Right Corner and Reverse Artist: Natalia Ro...
Acrylic
$6,500
H 37.5 in W 37.5 in D 2 in
Sitting with the Shadows: Mixed Media Painting by Black African-American Artist
Located in Bryn Mawr, PA
This is a large, framed acrylic painting with collaged photographs, gold leaf, metallic paint, burn marks, and other mixed media. Is it by artist Lavett Ballard, who is the first Bla...
Gold Leaf
Untitled 2305 (Abstract Drawing)
By Fieroza Doorsen
Located in London, GB
Untitled 2305 (Abstract Drawing) Gouache and paper on paper - Unframed. In her abstract drawings, collages and paintings, Fieroza Doorsen brings to life the tensions and harmonies ...
Paper, Gouache
$985
H 17.75 in W 21.75 in D 1.75 in
Abstract Expressionism Painting Eclipse Color Shifting Metamorphic Modernist
Located in Buffalo, NY
A one of a kind signed original painting . Now you see it ... Now you don't! Excellent condition as pictured and framed ..Signed on the verso and monogram initials on the front by ...
Canvas, Paint, Acrylic
Acid-Wave
By Omar Rayo
Located in New York, NY
Striking 3-dimensional acrylic and wood on canvas sculpture by renowned Colombian painter an sculptor, Omar Rayo. Signed, titled, inscribed "New Yo...
Canvas, Wood, Acrylic
$475
H 15.5 in W 11 in
Mixed Media Painting, Gouache Pastel Figurative, 1960s, 11"x15.\"
By Gloria Dudfield
Located in Arp, TX
Gloria Dudfield (1922-2015) Untitled c.1960s Mixed media: gouache, pastel and encaustic on newsprint 11"x15.5" unframed Unsigned Gloria (Fischer) Dudfield July 12, 1922 – May 27, 20...
Paper, Pastel, Gouache
Horizon Original Op Art Painting
By Marko Spalatin
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Horizon Original Op Art Painting 1978 Artist signed and dated. Marko Spalatin (American, Born 1945). An original Modern Abstract Op-Art oil painting on canvas. Titled "Horizon". Featuring colors of white, yellow, orange, green, purple, and blue. Signed and dated 1978 with title on verso. Mounted on wood stretcher. Provenance: 11/10/2007 Ivey-Selkirk Auction, LOT 775. PERMANENT COLLECTIONS Musée d'Art Moderne — Paris, France Museum of Modern Art — New York, New York Tate Gallery — London, England Bibliothèque National — Paris, France Victoria & Albert Museum — London, England Library of Congress — Washington, D.C. Museum of Contemporary Art — Chicago, Illinois Metropolitan Museum — Manila, Philippines Philadelphia Museum of Art — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Butler Institute of American Art — Youngstown, Ohio Museum of Modern Art — Belgrade, Yugoslavia Milwaukee Art Museum...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$6,000
H 30 in W 30 in
Passage, Geometric Abstract Acrylic Op Art Painting by Roy Ahlgren
By Roy Ahlgren
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)
Acrylic
$650
H 28 in W 40 in
Space Gray Terrazzo Diptych, Abstract Forms in Purple, Yellow Pastel Tones Tiles
By Natalia Roman
Located in Barcelona, ES
This series of hand painted acrylic paintings by Natalia Roman are inspired by the colors and textures of Italian terrazzo tiling. The patterns created combine a variety of vivid col...
Acrylic, Paper
$6,250
H 34 in W 34 in
Megalopolis, Geometric OP Art Painting on Canvas by Roy Ahlgren
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
Canvas, Acrylic
$136,787
H 37.41 in W 37.41 in D 0.6 in
Atmosphère Chromoplastique N.246 - Acrylic on Wood by L. Tomasello -
Located in Roma, IT
This great work is a part of the Collection ‘Atmosphères chromoplastiques’ which was realized by Tomasello in the mid-1970s, during his stay in Paris and at the very center of the OP...
Wood, Acrylic
Neige (Abstract painting)
By Marie de Lignerolles
Located in London, GB
Neige (Abstract painting) Collage, Gouache, acrylic and oil pastel on Arches paper — Unframed Marie de Lignerolles is an artist, designer, illust...
Paper, Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Gouache
$706
H 19.3 in W 24.81 in D 1.78 in
Assemblées, Abstract Impressionist Oil on Paper on Board, Signed, 1996
Located in Cotignac, FR
Abstract impressionist oil on paper on board by French artist Chantal Payet. Signed and dated April '96 to the reverse. An interesting and challenging Abstract Impressionist work in...
Paper, Oil, Board
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...
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...
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:...
Acrylic Polymer, Wood