David Eichholtz
- Jan 9, 2019
- 4 min read

Op Art

Op Art (also known as Optical Art) is a form of non-objective, non-representational, abstract art. It is very precise and exact, highly thought out and meticulously executed, there is no element of chance. Op Art is often rooted in mathematics, using geometric forms as building blocks, including lines and frequently based on a grid organization. The movement was most active during the early 1960s to the early 1970s. The Op Art geometric shapes and compositions are characterized by sharp contrasts and precision, which can be in black and white or in high contrast, high key colors. The strong contrasts in color, geometry and composition excite and activate the eye, making the mind more receptive to illusory images, thus challenging visual perception and making the mind think it is seeing something different. What is often observed includes vibrating shapes, undulating movements, bending of elements and compositions, three-dimensional space and extremes in perspective and depth perception. Due to the activation and excitation of the eye, Op Art is frequently referred to retinal art. Visual perception refers to the brain's ability to make sense of what the eyes see.It is the minds ability to interpret the surrounding environment using light in the visible spectrum reflected by the objects in the environment. Illusory refers to imagery that causes illusions that can fool, deceive or mislead the mind into perceiving something different that what the eye is actually seeing. Op Art is frequently associated with Concrete Art, Kinetic Art and the Constructivist Movement. Some of the earliest artists associated early with the Op Art movement included Victor Vasarely (1908-97), Bridget Riley (b.1931), Julian Stanczak (1928-2017), Richard Anuszkiewicz (b 1930) and Edna Andrade (1917-2008). The exhibition, “The Responsive Eye”, organized by William C. Seitz and presented at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York, February 23 through April 25, 1965, is largely credited with popularizing the Op Art Movement.

Artists who practice Op Art:

Francis Hewitt

Exhibitions that feature Op Art include:

RICHARD ROTH Close Call November 26 - December 22, 2018

ANGELA JOHAL You Hear The Colours October 1 - October 27, 2018

OPTICAL AND PATTERN PAINTINGS Presenting artworks by Beth Radford, Marge Rector and Eric Zammitt October 1 - October 27, 2018

ANDREW HUFFMAN Modulated: Color and Structure August 23 - September 29, 2018

TADASKY Pushing Boundaries August 23 - September 29, 2018

MARGE RECTOR Abstract and Captured Forms, 1967 to 197 5 March 23 - May 26, 2018

LEO VALLEDOR Curved March 7 - April 14, 2018

JULIAN STANCZAK: DYNAMIC FIELDS February 10 - March 17, 2018

OLI SIHVONEN KINETIC ENERGY January 27 - March 3, 2018

DEAN FLEMING Duality October 14 - November 10, 2017

MOKHA LAGET In Shape, In Color September 4 - October 7, 2017

OPTIC RESPONSE - FLASHBACKS: SUMMER OF LOVE 50 YEARS ON August 4 - September 4, 2017

RICHARD ROTH Shocks and Struts May 3 - June 17, 2017

SIZZLE AND CHILL March 9 - April 9, 2017

COLOR: STAINED, BRUSHED AND POURED Featuring: Leon Berkowitz, Thomas Downing, Willem de Looper, Ruth Pastine, Paul Reed and Leo Valledor August 3 - September 3, 2016

RE-OP: ‘THE RESPONSIVE EYE’ FIFTY YEARS AFTER October 2 - December 12, 2015

OP INFINITUM: 'THE RESPONSIVE EYE' FIFTY YEARS AFTER (PART II) AMERICAN OP ART IN THE 60S Curated by David Eichholtz and Peter Frank May 26 - July 12, 2015

BENT PERIMETERS: THE 'SHAPED CANVAS' AND ABSTRACTION, 1960S TO TODAY April 14 - May 17, 2015

POST-OP: 'THE RESPONSIVE EYE' FIFTY YEARS AFTER

JULIAN STANCZAK Lineal Pathways March 14 - April 19, 2014

OLI SIHVONEN In Motion, Rhythmic and Optical Paintings by Oli Sihvonen From 1988 to 1991 January 31 - March 8, 2014

PETER DEMOS 10 Paintings July 30 - September 7, 2013

RICHARD ANUSZKIEWICZ Variations: Evolution of The Artist's Media 1986 - 2012 May 10 - June 15, 2013

DYNAMOS IN PARIS May 8 - May 29, 2013

TOM MARTINELLI OUT OF REGISTER, 1993-1998 March 29 - May 4, 2013

COLORS AND OPTICS Richard Anuszkiewicz, Fred Eversley, Gabriele Evertz, Beverly Fishman, Rakuko Naito, Richard Roth, Julian Stanczak, Robert Swain, and Eric Zammitt February 13 - March 23, 2013