1978
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.
Rivotril, 1990
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 1990, this original color serigraph is hand signed by Victor Vasarely (Pécs, 1906 - Paris, 1997) in pencil in the lower right margin. Numbered 270/300, this piece was prin...
Screen
Majus II
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Victor Vasarely Majus II, 1974 is a screenprint on polyester on metal that is hand-signed by Victor Vasarely (Hungary, 1906 – France, 1997) in pen and ink the lower right margin and...
Metal
Untitled Sculpture, 1987
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 1987, this original acrylic on wood sculpture is hand signed by Victor Vasarely (Pécs, 1906 - Paris, 1997)in black ink in the lower centerand numbered from the edition of ...
Wood, Acrylic
Untitled
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Combining patterns reminiscent of tessellation and a large grid-like system, Vasarely turns a plain hexagon into a concave surface. Shades of light and dark play across the 'facets' ...
Wood, Acrylic
Kettes, 1984
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 1984, this hand painted acrylic on wood sculpture is hand signed by Victor Vasarely (Pécs, 1906 - Paris, 1997) in ink in the lower right. This work is also numbered 48/175...
Wood, Acrylic
Linienspiel (Line Game)
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
This original Plexiglas with linen is numbered 5/20 in black pen in the lower left on one side. An unexpected energy is conveyed by the broken black and white lines respectively por...
Lucite, Plexiglass, Screen
Triond, 1970
By Victor Vasarely
Located in PARIS, FR
This beautiful serigraphy is full of color, emblematic from the Vasarely work.
Paper
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
Pixis
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Victor Vasarely Pixis Screenprint 17 3/8 x 14 7/8 in. Edition of 50 annotated F.V. Pencil signed and numbered Condition: This work is in excellent condition....
Screen
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
Nebulus II
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Victor Vasarely Nebulus II c. 1980 Screenprint 32 1/2 x 30 3/4 in. Edition of 50 Pencil signed and numbered Condition: This work is in excellent condition. I...
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
