Tag Archives: op art

Julian Stanczak, The Life of The Surface, Paintings 1970 – 1975 at Mitchell-Innes & Nash

Filtration- Opposing to Red
Filtration – Opposing to Red (All Photos By Gail)

We were very sad to learn of the passing of groundbreaking painter and Op Art pioneer, Julian Stanczak on March 25th of this year. He had good, long life! As a last hurrah, Mitchell-Innes & Nash is currently hosting The Life of the Surface, Paintings, 1970 – 1975, an exhibition of Stanczak’s paintings exclusively from the years 1970 to 1975. This long-planned exhibition is Mitchell-Innes & Nash’s second solo exhibition with the artist, and the first since his recent passing.

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Eye On Design: Cabinet Inspired By The Art of Bridget Riley

Bridget Riley Cabinet
Photo By Gail

I had the most amazing time at the Architectural Digest Design Show a few weeks back, and photographed so many great pieces that will eventually end up in this blog. Here’s one of them: a liquor cabinet designed by Zelouf + Bell that was inspired by the fabulous Op Art of painter Bridget Riley — and you know how much we love her here at The Gig.

Bridget Riley Cabinet

Here’s the reveal…wait for it…

Bridget Riley Cabinet

OMG, so cool! Zelouf + Bells specializes in bespoke art furniture. Visit them online at Zelouf and Bell Dot Com.

Modern Art Monday Presents: François Morellet, Random Distribution of 40,000 Squares…

Random Distribution of 40000 Squares
All Photos By Gail

French artist François Morellet (b. 1926) began making abstract work in the 1950s. Together with Sérgio Camargo, Jesús Rafael Soto, and Julio Le Parc, Morellet founded the Groupe de Recherche d’Art Visuel (Visual art research group), which experimented with collective authorship and with art based on kinetic and optical experiments. In their application of science and technology, the group created new types of optical experience.
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Bridget Riley at David Zwirner Gallery

Bridget Riley Black and White Square
All Photos By Gail

Do you enjoy the fabulous Op Art images of legendary British painter Bridget Riley? I sure do. Bridget Riley is so cool, the retro-pop project Death By Chocolate even wrote a song about her. Fabulous. Bridget is 84 now, but still rocking a paintbrush, and I got to meet her recently at the opening reception for her current exhibit over at David Zwirner. You need to check it out.

Continue reading Bridget Riley at David Zwirner Gallery

Modern Art Monday Presents: Victor Vasarely, Ondho

Victor Vasarely, Ondho
Photo By Gail

Victor Vasarely (April 9th, 1906 – March 15th, 1997), was a Hungarian–French artist, who is widely accepted as a leader of the Op Art movement. During the 1960s and ’70s, his optical images became part of the popular culture, having a deep impact on architecture, computer science, fashion, and the way we now look at things in general. Even though he achieved great fame, he insisted on making his art accessible to everyone. His motto was “Art for all”.

The breakthrough brought by his kinetic visual experiments transformed the flat surface into a world of unending possibilities, book marking an era in the history of art and foreshadowing a new global reality shaped by programming and the Internet. Ondho (oil on canvas, 1956 – 60) was painted during a span of time when he worked on serveral different series including Folklore Planétaire, Permutations and Serial Art.

You can learn more about the fascinating life and groundbreaking career of Victor Vasarely by visiting his official website, Vasarely Dot Com, and be sure to watch the very trippy intro!

Victor Vasarely’s Ondho is part of the Permanent Collection at the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown Manhattan.