" Op Art Revisited " exhibited at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery

Written by Ferdinand Quarrel Tuesday, 03 April 2012 22:13

BUFFALO, NY - Organized by Albright-Knox Art Gallery Associate Curator Holly E. Hughes, the exhibition includes 43 paintings and sculptures from artists central to the Op Art or Optical Art movement, such as Josef Albers, Richard Anuskiewicz, Bridget Riley, Julian Stanczak, and Victor Vasarely. Through the use of parallel lines, concentric circles and electric colors, these artists manipulated depth, perspective, space, and color to create an “optical illusion.”

Op Art Revisited, comprised entirely of works acquired by the Albright-Knox over the last 50 years, will be on view at the Gallery from July 18 through January 25, 2009. Most of the works in this presentation entered the collection shortly after their creation, exemplifying the Gallery’s tradition of buying artwork “while the paint was still wet.” Victor Vasarely’s Vega Nor, created in 1969 was the gift of Gallery patron Seymour H. Knox Jr. in 1969.

 The Op Art movement began in the 1950s only to peak in the mid-1960s and fade from the scene due to a lack of critical interest. More recent works by contemporary artists Tim Bavington, Olafur Eliasson, and Susie Rosmarin are also included in the exhibition to illustrate a resurgence of interest in Op Art. Olafur Eliasson’s work Triple ripple, 2004, a spectacular and elegant installation that uses reflective light to interact with both architectural space and the viewer is being exhibited for the first time.

This exhibition debuted as part of the Bank of America Great Art Series, in April 2006 at the New York State Museum in Albany, NY and subsequently traveled to the San Jose Museum of Art, CA.

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is recognized as one of the world’s leading collections of modern and contemporary art. With more than 6,500 works in its collection and a dynamic series of exhibitions and public programs, the AKAG continues to grow and fulfill its mission to acquire, exhibit, and preserve modern and contemporary art in an enriching, dynamic, and vibrant environment.

Visit The Albright-Knox Art Gallery at : www.albrightknox.org/

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