Skip to main content

Op Art

OP ART STYLE

The Op art movement emerged in the 1960s, mirroring the counterculture of the time in its embrace of visual trickery, graphic shapes and bright colors.

Spreading across Europe and the Americas, the style — whose name is short for “optical art” — influenced advertising, fashion and interior design before fading in the early ’70s.

Op art remained significant, however, for artists and scientists interested in the nature of perception. And today, it’s seeing a resurgence of interest from collectors and interior designers.

Op artists played with the principles of perception, manipulating line, shape, patterns and color to create the illusion of depth and movement. They drew on and evolved methods developed by past movements, from Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism, to produce intense visual experiences.

All the Op artists shared a focus on the gap between what is and what we perceive. Each, however, had a distinct approach to the issue and a unique visual style.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Op art that includes works by Josef Albers, Bridget Riley, Jesús Rafael Soto and more.

to
78
102
124
318
146
97
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
1
663
123
1
6
78
328
152
31
117,876
64,514
56,618
28,646
14,584
9,627
6,895
6,034
4,183
3,158
2,548
2,314
2,145
600
305
232
196
40
23
15
10
8
7
7
6
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
478
124
96
96
75
148
69
47
44
36
124
314
594
175
Style: Op Art
Inward Eye
Inward Eye

Inward Eye

By Richard Anuszkiewicz

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork titled "Inward Eye" 1970, is an original colors screen print by renown artist Richard Anuszkiewicz, 1930-2020. It is hand signed in pencil by the artist. The image size ...

Category

Late 20th Century Op Art

Materials

Screen

Relation Couleur
Relation Couleur

Relation Couleur

By Hugo Demarco

Located in New York, NY

Hugo Demarco Relation Couleur, 1973 Silkscreen on velincarton Hand signed and numbered 63/200 on lower front. Bears the publisher's blind stamp on the fro...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Ilile D
Ilile D

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:...

Category

1990s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Acid-Wave
Acid-Wave

Acid-Wave

By Omar Rayo

Located in New York, NY

Striking 3-dimensional acrylic and wood on canvas sculpture by renowned Colombian painter an sculptor, Omar Rayo. Signed, titled, inscribed "New Yo...

Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Acrylic

Fiesta
Fiesta

Fiesta

By Roy Ahlgren

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork titled "Fiesta" 1982 is a color serigraph on Wove paper by noted American artist Roy Ahlgren, 1927-2011 It is hand signed, titled, dated and numbered 66/130 in pencil by...

Category

Mid-20th Century Op Art

Materials

Screen

K-BYMR, Orange OP Art Screenprint by Josef Levi
K-BYMR, Orange OP Art Screenprint by Josef Levi

K-BYMR, Orange OP Art Screenprint by Josef Levi

By Josef Levi

Located in Long Island City, NY

This screenprint was created by American artist Josef Levi. Levi is especially known for his interest in the visual similarities that transcend cultures, like the pattern shown here....

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

In the Cannon's Mouth
In the Cannon's Mouth

In the Cannon's Mouth

By Peter Mack

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Peter Mack Title: In the Cannon's Mouth Year: circa 1980 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed l.r. Size: 60 x 60 in. (152.4 x 152.4 cm)

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Acrylic

Richard Anuszkiewicz - Soft Lime, Signed/N 1970s geometric abstraction Op Art
Richard Anuszkiewicz - Soft Lime, Signed/N 1970s geometric abstraction Op Art

Richard Anuszkiewicz - Soft Lime, Signed/N 1970s geometric abstraction Op Art

By Richard Anuszkiewicz

Located in New York, NY

Richard Anuszkiewicz Soft Lime, 1976 8 Color silkscreen on Lenox 100% Cotton paper 38 × 46 inches Pencil signed and numbered 41/75 on the front; bears printers blind stamp from NYIT (New York Institute of Technology) Unframed We have not seen another example of this gorgeous mid century silkscreen...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Pencil, Screen

Annual Edition, 1994
Annual Edition, 1994

Annual Edition, 1994

By Richard Anuszkiewicz

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Annual Edition, 1994 Screen print, 1994 Signed and dated in pencil by the artist. Small edition Dedicated in pencil by the artist "For Bart and Ann" Created as a gift to the artist'...

Category

1990s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Countessian, 1983, Etching with Aquatint by Barry Nelson
Countessian, 1983, Etching with Aquatint by Barry Nelson

Countessian, 1983, Etching with Aquatint by Barry Nelson

By Barry Nelson

Located in Long Island City, NY

Countessian Barry Nelson, British/American (1937) Date: 1983 Etching with Aquatint on Arches, signed, titled, numbered and dated in pencil Edition of AP Image Size: 29.5 x 20.25 inch...

Category

1980s Op Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Inca, Op Art Screenprint by Roy Ahlgren
Inca, Op Art Screenprint by Roy Ahlgren

Inca, Op Art Screenprint by Roy Ahlgren

By Roy Ahlgren

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Inca Year: 1984 Medium: Screenprint, signed, numbered, titled, and dated in pencil Edition: 150 Size: 30 x 22 in. (76.2 x 55.88 cm)

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Oscillation
Oscillation

Oscillation

By Roy Ahlgren

Located in Fairlawn, OH

11 color screen print Signed, dated, titled and numberedin pencil Edition: 150 (9/150) Provenance: Estate of the Artist By Decent

Category

1980s Op Art

Materials

Screen

K-GRGB, Op Art Screen Print by Josef Levi
K-GRGB, Op Art Screen Print by Josef Levi

K-GRGB, Op Art Screen Print by Josef Levi

By Josef Levi

Located in Long Island City, NY

Josef Levi, American (1938 - ) - K-GRGB, Year: 1971, Medium: Screenprint, signed, numbered, titled and dated, Edition: 6, Image Size: 28 x 28 inches, Size: 32 x 32 in. (81.28 x 81.28...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

"VAAR" Op Art Offset Lithograph Print
"VAAR" Op Art Offset Lithograph Print

"VAAR" Op Art Offset Lithograph Print

By Victor Vasarely

Located in Austin, TX

Offset lithograph print by Victor Vasarely 16 ⅛ x 16 inches About the Artist: Victor Vasarely (1906-1997) stands as a pioneering force in the realm of Op Art, heralded for his grou...

Category

20th Century Op Art

Materials

Offset

Paralax VI, 1980, Etching with Aquatint by Barry Nelson
Paralax VI, 1980, Etching with Aquatint by Barry Nelson

Paralax VI, 1980, Etching with Aquatint by Barry Nelson

By Barry Nelson

Located in Long Island City, NY

Paralax VI Barry Nelson, British/American (1937) Date: 1980 Etching with Aquatint on Arches, signed, titled, numbered and dated in pencil Edition of 28/30 Image Size: 20.25 x 29.5 in...

Category

1980s Op Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Untitled #1, 1964 from New York Ten
Untitled #1, 1964 from New York Ten

Untitled #1, 1964 from New York Ten

By Mon Levinson

Located in New York, NY

This dynamic work was realized by the esteemed 20th Century modern artist Mon Levinson in 1964. The work was realized in 1964, and printed in 1965 by Chiron Press in New York- the same year that Levinson was included in the seminal Op-Art exhibition "The Responsive Eye", alongside contemporary luminaries such as Bridget Riley. An identical work from this edition resides in the permanent collection of the New York MoMA. This mixed media work consists of an translucent vinyl sheet layered over a print- part etching, part lithograph. The clear vinyl sheet is embossed with a tight pattern of sinuously curved repeating black lines and is subtly raised in places- creating a subtle three dimensionality and dynamic sense of movement. The paper is inscribed with the same recurring pattern of snaking black lines, like a fine filigree, with two weighty black geometric forms that appear to crowd the composition. Smaller geometric forms reside within creating the apparition of negative space in the bone hued paper. The juxtaposition of the delicate texture and colossal feeling forms imbues the piece with a stunning dynamism and tension, helping to explain why Levinson is among the most influential and important artist to come out of the Op Art movement. His work is in the permanent collections of important institutions around the world including the Museum of Modern Art as well as the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Signed by the artist and marked 18/200. The work comes presented in a custom walnut and white gilt frame...

Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Roy Ahlgren 'Embryo' Signed, Limited Edition Op-Art Serigraph Print
Roy Ahlgren 'Embryo' Signed, Limited Edition Op-Art Serigraph Print

Roy Ahlgren 'Embryo' Signed, Limited Edition Op-Art Serigraph Print

By Roy Ahlgren

Located in San Rafael, CA

Roy Ahlgren (American, 1927 - 2011) Embryo, 1982 Serigraph on wove paper Signed, title and edition in pencil in lower margin Edition 8/130 Sheet: 22 1/4in H x 29 3/4in L (unframed) ...

Category

Late 20th Century Op Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Screen

Victor Vasarely, Door, 1982
Victor Vasarely, Door, 1982

Victor Vasarely, Door, 1982

By Victor Vasarely

Located in Petworth, West Sussex

Victor Vasarely (Hungarian / French 1906 – 1997) Door, 1982 Numbered ‘E.A. 7/9’ (lower left) and signed Vasarely (lower right) Artist’s proof Silkscreen print 43 x 23.1/2 in. (109.3 ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Op Art

Materials

Screen

Victor Vasarely "Tewek" Screenprint, 1978
Victor Vasarely "Tewek" Screenprint, 1978

Victor Vasarely "Tewek" Screenprint, 1978

By Victor Vasarely

Located in Astoria, NY

Victor Vasarely (Hungarian/French, 1906-1997), "Tewek", Screenprint in Colors, 1978, signed in pencil lower right, numbered edition "57/250" lower left, black frame. Image: 21.25" H...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Paper, Screen

Hexagone

Hexagone

Located in Miami, FL

Victor Vasarely (9 April 1906 – 15 March 1997), was a Hungarian-French artist, who is widely accepted as a grandfather and leader of the Op art movement. In 1928, he enrolled at Sán...

Category

1980s Op Art

Materials

Plexiglass

Space Sounds no.3
Space Sounds no.3

Space Sounds no.3

By Evelyn B. Johnson

Located in Long Island City, NY

Space Sounds no.3 Evelyn B. Johnson Date: circa 1980 Screenprint, signed, numbered, and titled in pencil Edition of 7/25 Image Size: 28 x 21 inches Size: 30 x 22 in. (76.2 x 55.88 cm)

Category

1980s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Mesa, OP Art Silkscreen by Roy Ahlgren
Mesa, OP Art Silkscreen by Roy Ahlgren

Mesa, OP Art Silkscreen by Roy Ahlgren

By Roy Ahlgren

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Mesa Year: 1986 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 150 Image Size: 18 x 26 inches Size: 22 x 30 in. (55.88 x...

Category

1980s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Centered Rings
Centered Rings

Centered Rings

By Julian Stanczak

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Centered Rings Screen print, 1971 Signed and numbered in pencil From: Twelve Progressions Commissioned by Martha Jackson Graphics Printer: Domberger, Stuttgart, Germany Their drystam...

Category

1970s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Energia 1, Op Art Screenprint by Roy Ahlgren
Energia 1, Op Art Screenprint by Roy Ahlgren

Energia 1, Op Art Screenprint by Roy Ahlgren

By Roy Ahlgren

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Roy Ahlgren, American (1927 - 2011) Title: Energia I Year: 1969 Medium: Silkscreen, Signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 100, AP Image Size: 17 x 17 inches Size: 20 x 20 in...

Category

1960s Op Art

Materials

Screen

Op Art art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Op art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Victor Vasarely, Roy Ahlgren, Victor Debach, and Yaacov Agam. Frequently made by artists working with Screen Print, and Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Op Art, so small editions measuring 2 inches across are also available. Prices for art made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $66 and tops out at $350,000, while the average work sells for $1,616.