1988
“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.
Ambivalencia - Signed Kinetic Op Art Painting, Acrylic Painted Wood, 1981
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Palm Desert, CA
‘Ambivalencia’ is an assemblage made of acrylic painted wood by Venezuelan artist, Jesus Rafael Soto. The artwork is signed verso, "Soto 1981” ‘Ambivalencia’ is one of Soto's best-d...
Wood, Acrylic
Physichromie 250 - Unique Signed Op Art Painting, 1966
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Palm Desert, CA
‘Physichromie 250’ is an acrylic and plastic elements on wooden panel with wood frame by Venezuelan artist, Carlos Cruz-Diez. The artwork is signed verso, "Cruz-Diez” Carlos Cruz-Di...
Plastic, Wood, Acrylic, Wood Panel
Physichromie Panam 106 - Original Aluminum Op Art Painting, Signed, 2013
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Palm Desert, CA
'Physichromie Panam 106’ is a chromography and pigments on aluminum Op Art work by Venezuelan art, Carlos Cruz-Diez. The artwork is signed verso, "Cruz-Diez" 'Physichromie Panam 10...
Metal
Cromovela No. 7 - Signed Original Op Art Sculpture on PVC, 1995
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Cromovela No. 7 is an acrylic lacquer on PVC sculpture by Venezuelan artist, Carlos Cruz-Diez. The artwork is signed and dated on the base "Cruz-Diez / Jun 1995" Carlos Cruz-Diez's ...
PVC, Lacquer, Acrylic
CV294 - Unique Signed Op Art Cut & Shaped Polymer Work, 2013
Located in Palm Desert, CA
‘CV294’ is a cut and shaped high density polymer artwork by Argentinan artist, Abel Ventoso. It is signed verso, "Ventoso 2013” Along with Héctor and Jorge Ventoso (engineers), Abel...
Polymer
Physichromie 1800 - Limited Edition OP Art Chromography & Pigments on PVC, 2012
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Palm Desert, CA
'Physichromie 1800’ is a limited edition chromography and pigments on PVC by Venezuelan artist, Carlos Cruz-Diez. The artwork is signed and editioned verso, "Cruz-Diez 2/8” Carlos C...
PVC, Pigment
1987 Geometric Op Art Acrylic on Canvas by John W. Batista
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vibrant 1980s Op Art Acrylic on Canvas in bold yellow, red, and blue. Signed "John W. Batista '87." Very nice, vintage condition.
Acrylic
Radiance, Large Original Dimensional Hand Painted Wood, Wall Sculpture, Op Art
By Stan Slutsky
Located in Aventura, FL
Original dimensional hand painted, custom cut and mounted wood. Hand signed on front and verso. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity included. All reason...
Wood, Acrylic
Luminance Flux - Geometric Oil Painting in Op Art and Hard-Edge Tradition
By Piicasa
Located in Manchester, GB
Piicasa, Luminance Flux, 2023 Spray Paint on Wood Oil on Canvas 100 x 100 cm (39.37 x 39.37 in) Unsigned Callum Simmons, aka Piicasa creates a series of paintings with contrasti...
Canvas, Oil
Monumental Geometric Op Art Oil Painting c.1970s
Located in San Francisco, CA
Monumental Geometric Op Art Oil Painting c.1970s Fantastic original Op Art oil painting. The large size will ensure it's the centerpiece of any r...
Oil
Faith, Huge Op Art Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Signed, 1989, 72x48 in
By Stan Slutsky
Located in Aventura, FL
Original painting on canvas. Hand signed and titled on verso by the artist. Canvas is stretched. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity included. All reas...
Canvas, Acrylic
Untitled, Geometric Abstract Acrylic Painting by David Shapiro
By David Shapiro
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: David Shapiro (American, b. 1944) Title: Untitled Year: 1978 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed and dated l.l. Size: 12 in. x 95 in. (30.48 cm x 241.3 cm)
Canvas, Acrylic
In the 1960s and '70s, the hypnotic creations of Op artists went mainstream and influenced the look of pop culture.
This piece may look like Pop art fun, but embedded within is a message of a planet on the brink.
