1968
Widely considered the grandfather of Op art, the French-Hungarian painter Victor Vasarely (1906–97) created eye-popping geometric abstractions that play with the viewer’s perception of depth, perspective and motion. A classic example is the 1937 Zebra, which consists of undulating black and white stripes that suggest the form of the titular animal through optical trickery. The work is often credited as the earliest Op art painting.
Such illusions were more than pleasing tricks for Vasarely, who insisted that “pure form and pure color can signify the world.” He wanted to “democratize” art by producing works in large editions at reasonable prices that were understandable across national and cultural boundaries. In the 1960s, he developed an alphabet plastique, or fine art alphabet, consisting of elementary visual building blocks that could be used in endless combinations to create original compositions. By employing this universal visual vocabulary and stripping away topical references, he sought to create what he called a “Planetary Folklore.”
Embodying Vasarely’s singular belief that art should serve a social function, accessible to all, these innovations may perhaps be his greatest contribution to 20th-century art.
Find a collection of Victor Vasarely prints, paintings, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
Teke
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Victor Vasarely Teke c. 1970 Screenprint 34 1/2 x 30 1/2 in. Edition of 250 Pencil signed and numbered Accompanied with COA by Gregg Shienbaum Fine Art. C...
Screen
Koskota
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Victor Vasarely Koskota 1976 Silkscreen 24 1/2 x 24 1/2 in. 28/250 Pencil signed and numbered Condition: This work is in excellent condition. It has never be...
Color
Zeng
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION Victor Vasarely Zeng c. 1975-1980 Silkscreen 30 3/4 x 30 3/4 in. Edition of 250 Pencil signed & numbered Accompanied with COA by Gregg Shienbaum Fin...
Screen
TallerOr
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Fairlawn, OH
TallerOr Screen print printed on "card board" (cream poster board), 1968 Signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 150 (54/150), plus 11 for the Vasarely Fou...
Screen
Okta-2
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Miami, FL
Victor Vasarely "Okta-2" 1985 Lithograph 31 x 25 1/2 in Ed 192 of 250 Perfect Condition Frame included
Lithograph
Our M.C.-2
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Our M.C.-2 Screen print, 1970 Signed in pencil lower right Chop stamp: Denise Rene Editeur, on lower left margin From: Album Charities Edition: 300 (35/300) Catalog raisonne states e...
Screen
Oltar-Zoeld
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Miami, FL
Victor Vasarely “Oltar-Zoeld” 1985/86 Silkscreen on paper Edition 57 of 295 42 x 68 in Victor Vasarely (9 April 1906 – 15 March 1997), was a Hungarian-French artist, who is widely a...
Lithograph
Ionau
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Miami, FL
Victor Vasarely Ionau, 1987 Serigraph Ed. 145 of 300 40 x 72 in Signed and numbered in pencil. Victor Vasarely (9 April 1906 – 15 March 1997), was a Hungarian-French artist, who is ...
Screen
Ilile D
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Ilile D Screen print, 1990 Signed lower right (see photo) Numbered lower left (see photo) Edition: 300 plus 50 EA Published by Circle Art Gallery Reference: Benavides 1116 Condition:...
Screen
Untitled (from the Meta series)
By Victor Vasarely
Located in New York, NY
Color screenprint. Signed by the artist in pencil, lower right. Numbered 225/225 in pencil, lower left. Published by Editions Denise René, Paris, with the blind stamp. Sheet siz...
Screen, Color
Our MC, Abstract Geometric OP Art Screenprint by Vasarely
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Long Island City, NY
This optical screenprint was created by Hungarian artist Victor Vasarely. Vasarely is by far one of the world's most influential Optical artists, pushing the boundaries of art and pl...
Screen
Bianco, Op Art Painting by Victor Vasarely
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Long Island City, NY
Victor Vasarely’s Op Art painting generates a sense of movement as it appears to warp into a sphere that is overlaid with stripes in a geometric pattern. Victor Vasarely, Hungarian ...
Oil
Operenccia, Large OP Art Painting by Victor Vasarely
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Victor Vasarely, Hungarian (1908 - 1997) Title: Operenccia Year: 1954/1986 Medium: Acrylic on Board, signed, dated and titled in marker verso Size: 40 in. x 66 in. (101.6 cm ...
Acrylic
Structure Cubique, OP Art Screenprint by Yvaral Vasarely
By Yvaral (Jean-Pierre Vasarely)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Jean-Pierre Vasarely Yvaral, French (1934 - 2002) Title: 50 Shades of Blue Year: circa 1970 Medium: Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 200 Image Size: 24.5 x...
Screen
Markab, from Album I, OP Art Serigraph by Vasarely 1955
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Long Island City, NY
Victor Vasarely, Hungarian (1908–1997) Date: 1955 Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil Edition of 124/150 Image Size: 16 x 22 inches Size: 20 x 25.75 in. (50.8 x 65.41 cm)
Screen
Geometric Screenprint Poster by Victor Vasarely 1975
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Long Island City, NY
An original silkscreen poster "avant le lettre" by Victor Vasarely for an exhbition at Editions Lahumiere, Paris.
Screen
In the 1960s and '70s, the hypnotic creations of Op artists went mainstream and influenced the look of pop culture.
Through collage, painting and printmaking, the artist foregrounded Black life in America in revolutionary new ways.
