1. It kicked off in the 1960s
Op-Art was a movement which was pioneered by artists such as Victor Vasarely, Jesus Rafael Soto and Bridget Riley in the 1960s. The movement really gathered pace from 1965 onwards, following an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, titled ‘The Responsive Eye.’ These pioneers of Op-Art set about to challenge the way we view images, creating optical illusions which connected entirely to the shifting politics, philosophies and fashions of the 1960s.
Yvaral, untitled, 1969, available in the Cheffins Art & Design Sale on 28th October, estimate £250 - £350
2. It’s all about movement
Characterised by complex compositions of colour and shape, the aim of Op-Art is to provide the viewer with the illusion of movement or three-dimensional forms, all from a flat surface, using geometric lines and grids. It was born out of ‘Kinetic Art’ and expresses movement all from a framework of colours, creating a sense of vibrations, hidden images, flashes or warping patterns. The founders of Op-Art were fascinated by the behaviour of the eye and how it could be manipulated through changes in perception and perspective.
Yvaral, Interférence B, 1967, available in the Cheffins Art & Design Sale on 28th October, estimate £1,500 - £2,500
3. Op-Art is back in fashion
Whilst Op-Art saw its heyday in the 1960s, it is now capturing the imagination of a number of modern-day artists, whilst the greats of the genre are now making a comeback at auction. Recent sales have seen prices well into the thousands from some of the founders of the movement, with the current auction record being over £4.3m for a work by Bridget Riley at Christie’s in 2016.
Yvaral, Plan Espace, 1967, available in the Cheffins Art & Design Sale on 28th October, estimate £1,500 - £2,500
4. Modern day artists are still practising Op-Art
There are a number of modern-day artists who are practising Op-Art, with Damien Hirst being the most famous. Hirst’s optical illusion ‘Apotryptophanae’ would be the best example, which depicts what appears to be a grid of multi-coloured circles, however the image is actually constructed of thousands of dots printed closely to one another. Other artists to look out for include Susie Rosmarin, Xylor Jane and Gianni Sarcone.
Yvaral, untitled, 1969, available in the Cheffins Art & Design Sale on 28th October, estimate £250 - £350
5. Where to buy Op-Art
A number of auction houses offer Op-Art on a regular basis and there are also specialist dealers for the genre such as at Tanya Baxter Contemporary in London. At the Art & Design Sale on 28th October, Cheffins will be offering a number of original works by Jean-Pierre Vasarely, known as Yvaral, the son of Victor Vasarely, one of the pioneers of Op-art, with estimates ranging from £250 - £2,500.
To view the Yvaral lots click here