Late Modern & Contemporary · c. 1960–1975
Optical illusion as pure sensation
A movement in which abstract geometric patterns were engineered to create powerful visual effects — the illusion of movement, vibration, warping, and depth in flat works. Vasarely, Riley, and Albers exploited the perceptual limits of the human eye to produce work that seemed to pulse or shimmer. Op Art declared that sensation itself could be the subject of a painting.
Explore 2 Op Art exhibitions on now and 0 coming soon.
Until Sep 6
Over 150 original works: illusions, impossible buildings and tessellations
"Escher, this utterly traditional artist, makes you see that we walk a world we don't understand. We are his funny little people, going up and down the stairs, thinking we ascend or descend when we're on the flat, propping up our everyday lives with cosy assumptions to hide from the infinite, the impossible real."
Until May 3, 2027
Immersive retrospective of kinetic sculptures, op art and interactive installations by Le Parc
"That's the trouble with art. It may set out to change the world, as Le Parc and his pals in GRAV did, but ends up as entertainment. This is a very enjoyable exhibition but its revolutionary impulse gets lost in the light."
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