“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 Op Art Enamel Bowl, Made for the Hirshhorn Museum, 1976
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Downingtown, PA
Richard Anuszkiewicz Op Art Enamel Bowl, Made for the Hirshhorn Museum, American, 1976 Richard Anuszkiewicz (American, 1930–2020), one of ...
Enamel, Metal
California Design Enamel on Copper Bowl by Edward Star for Gumps
By Edward Star, Gumps
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice California design enamel on copper small bowl by Edward Star for Gumps, circa 1970s. Great design and beautiful green, yellow and gold colors o...
Copper, Enamel
$349Sale Price|39% Off
H 4.73 in W 16.93 in D 4.53 in
Richard Glass Saturn Art Glass Bowl, Teign Valley, England, 2000s
Located in Glasgow, GB
This Richard Glass art glass bowl, known as “Saturn”, was handcrafted in England for Teign Valley Glass in the early 2000s. A large, sculptural British studio glass centrepiece, it f...
Art Glass
Miguel Pineda for Los Castillo Mexican Modern Enameled Copper Footed Bowl
By Miguel Pineda, Los Castillo
Located in Minneapolis, MN
This is a beautifully executed enameled copper footed bowl by celebrated Mexican enamel artist Miguel Pineda, created during his association with the fam...
Copper, Enamel
MOMA Sculptural Slice Bowl by Peter Hewitt Museum of Modern Art
Located in Lambertville, NJ
The MoMA Slice Bowl is a clever ceramic fruit dish designed by Peter Hewitt in 2017 for the Museum of Modern Art. It uses an optical illusion to look like the cross-section of a trad...
Ceramic
$661
H 7.88 in Dm 12.6 in
Ceramic Soup Bowl Tureen "Margherita" by Antonia Campi for Richard Ginori, 1965
By Antonia Campi, Richard Ginori
Located in taranto, IT
Very rare tureen in glazed ceramic in relief by Richard Ginori laveno designed in the 1960s by Antonia Campi, archived and cataloged on the site of the cultural heritage of lombardy ...
Ceramic
Art Nouveau A. Delbaux Brass Enameled Bowl, Made in France
By Delvaux Paris
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Art Nouveau A Delbaux brass enameled vide poche, footed bowl. Hand-painted flowers, chased designs, made in France, circa 1940s. Dimensions: 2 in. H x 7.5 in. D
Brass
$235
H 6.89 in Dm 12.6 in
Ceramic Soup Bowl Tureen "Margherita" by Antonia Campi for Richard Ginori, 1965
By Antonia Campi, Richard Ginori
Located in taranto, IT
Splendid laveno ceramic tureen, design antonia campi for richard ginori "margherita" antique pink color, measuring 32 cm in diameter by 17.5 cm i...
Ceramic
Tortoise Shell Art Glass Bowl, Hand Made, 1900s
Located in Norton, MA
Tortoise shell pattern glass bowl 100% hand-made depicting the pattern of tortoise with bent waving shapes. Two handles on each side.
Glass
$351Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.51 in Dm 7.08 in
Finnish art glass design, a “Stellaria” bowl made by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala
By Iittala, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Rare, signed and very beautiful Scandinavian glass design, a rather large footed bowl, suitable for fruit or confectionery made and signed by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala Finland. The ...
Glass
Cuno Fischer Rosenthal Studio-Linie White Relief Op Art Bowl with Lid, 1960s
By Cuno Fischer, Rosenthal
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful white matte relief op-art porcelain vase from the 1960s designed by Cuno Fischer and executed by Rosenthal Studio-Line, Germany. In excellent condition.
Porcelain
$720
H 3.94 in Dm 11.03 in
Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg. Art Deco bowl from the Argenta series, 1940s.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Wilhelm Kåge for Gustavsberg Art Deco bowl from the Argenta series, 1940s. Stoneware with turquoise glaze and inlaid silver decorations, exterior featuring hand-incised female figure...
Ceramic
$351Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.55 in Dm 10.03 in
Finnish art glass design, a bowl “Avanti” made by Tapio Wirkkala for Iittala.
By Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
Rare and very beautiful Scandinavian glass design, a rather large footed bowl or plate, suitable for fruit or confectionery made by Iittala Finland. The bowl is known as "Avanto" (wh...
Glass
Vintage MCM Enamel Bowl
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking Mid-Century Modern enamel bowl is a definitive example of 1960s minimalist design. Featuring a sophisticated interplay of textures and tones, the vessel boasts a sleek ...
Enamel, Metal
$100Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.5 in Dm 7 in
1960s John Prip for Reed & Barton Red Enamel Silverplated Organic Bowl
By John Prip, Reed & Barton
Located in Chula Vista, CA
John Prip for Reed & Barton Ruby Red triangular bowl Silver plated Stamped underneath 2.5. H x 7 diameter Preowned vintage unrestored patina present. Not new, please expect signs of ...
Silver Plate, Enamel
Kaj Franck Red & White Enamel Bowl for Arabia, 1960s
By Kaj Franck
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Fruit, salad or centerpiece bowl in enameled steel. Red exterior and white interior. Beautiful strict esthetic lines and a 'light' appearance. Designed by Kaj Franck and manufactured...
Enamel, Steel
Mid-Century Modern Red Blue Enameled Art Bowl by Richard Anuszkiewicz
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a red and blue art glass bowl, stamped Anuszkiewicz. In excellent condition. The dimensions are 8.5" diameter x Richard ...
Enamel
Enamel Bowl by Richard Anuszkiewicz
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Rare bowl by Richard Anuszkiewicz produced in very limited production for the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC. He was one of the founders and foremost exponents of the Op Art Move...