“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 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
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
$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 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...
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Canvas
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
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
$2,500
H 18.75 in W 21.75 in D 1.25 in
Edward Marecak “Small City Park” Mid-Century Abstract Oil Painting
By Edward Marecak
Located in Denver, CO
Vibrant and expressive, “Small City Park” is a compelling mid-century abstract painting by Colorado modernist Edward Marecak. Known for his unique visual language blending abstractio...
Acrylic, Watercolor
$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
$358Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.7 in W 8.27 in D 0.04 in
Original-Summer Lilies-Impasto-British Awarded Artist-Oil on paper-plein air
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This Oil impasto on Georgian Paper board, named Summer Lilies, is a part of Summer Bloom Series by British artist Shizico Yi. She created the painting in her garden painted plein a...
Gesso, Oil, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$2,078Sale Price|25% Off
H 35.08 in W 24.81 in D 0.04 in
Original Set of 9 Garden Story-Le Bleu-British Awarded Artist-Gold leaf on Oil
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This rare offer, Set of 9 latest collection of Garden Story in gold leaf and oil on oil paper board are a part of Le Bleu Series by award winning British artist Shizico Yi. She crea...
Gold Leaf
$20,000
H 19 in W 15 in
Italian Abstract Work on Paper Color Field Non-Objective European Mid-Century
By Piero Dorazio
Located in New York, NY
Italian Modern Abstract Work on Paper Color Field Non-Objective European Mid-Century - "Gonage" Dorazio completed "Gonage" in 1949 when just after the artist had been awarded a stipend by the French government and admission to the Academy Beaux Arts. There he met George Braque who became great friends but also an influence on Dorazio, of which "Gonage" is a living testament. "Gonage" actual size of the drawing measures 12 x 9 1/2 inches. It is signed on the lower right. The work is affixed to a 19 x 15 inch board which includes the artist's signature and date. There is a torn table on the lower left entitling the piece "Gonage". Provenance follows this piece as a gift in 1950 to the artist-colleague Luigi Lucioni, who then gifted it in 1955 to his friend, the uncle of the current owner who has owned the work since 1988. Bio Born in Italy, Piero Dorazio studied architecture in Rome. At the same time his first abstract works were executed. In 1947 he received a scholarship from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts in Paris, where he contacted Modern artists, who lived in Paris. He founded the galleries "Age d'Or" in Florence and Rome to represent avant-garde arts in Italy. During a one year stay in the USA he got acquainted with leading artists of Abstract Expressionism such as Marc Rothko...
Gouache, Board
$511
H 16.54 in W 11.7 in D 0.04 in
Original-Peony Summer-Green-Awarded Woman Artist-Oil, Gesso on paper-Impasto
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This Oil on Paper, named Peony Summer in Green is a part of Summer Bloom Series by Award winning British artist Shizico Yi. She created the painting in her garden painted plein air ...
Gesso, Oil, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$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
$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
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
$1,250
H 40 in W 55.2 in
Purple Ribbon, Op Art Geometric Patterns in Soft Tones, Diptych Painting, Paper
By Ryan Rivadeneyra
Located in Barcelona, ES
Details: Title: Purple Ribbon Medium: Acrylic on Watercolor Paper Size: 100x140 cm total (40x55.3 inches); each panel measures 100x70 cm (40x28 inches) Year: 2026 * Frame is for il...
Oil Crayon, Paper, Acrylic
$1,950
H 20 in W 28 in
"Let" Arabic Calligraphy Painting 20" x 28" inch by Mohamed Hassan
By Mohamed Hassan
Located in Culver City, CA
"Let" Arabic Calligraphy Painting 20" x 28" inch by Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Hassan is a traditional Arabic calligraphist, he obtained his official license to practice this art from t...
Gold Leaf
$774
H 15.75 in W 19.69 in
Pierre Montheillet, Composition in green and yellow, monotype on paper
By Pierre Montheillet
Located in PARIS, FR
Pierre MONTHEILLET (1923-2011) Composition in green and yellow Mixed media on paper - monotype Signed and dedicated “pour mes amis Sallaz” lower right Dimensions of the work: 28.5 x ...
Watercolor, Gouache, Monotype
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