2018
For Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez (1923–2019), color was a dazzling, transient effect, which he attempted to capture on canvas and in light installations. The striking compositions he produced over his seven-decade career made him one of Latin America’s greatest postwar artists and a leading figure in the Op art movement.
“I don’t make paintings, nor sculptures. I make platforms for occurrences,” Cruz-Diez once said. “They are platforms where color is being produced, dissolved, generated in a perpetual instant. In it, there’s no notion of past nor future. In it is the notion of the present moment, just like life.”
Building on the chromatic explorations of Sir Isaac Newton, George Seurat and Josef Albers, he created striking paintings comprising lines of contrasting hues that appear to shimmer. He called these works physichromies.
Later in his career, Cruz-Diez shifted his explorations from paint to light. His “chromosaturations” are immersive environments consisting of three chambers, each flooded with a different-color light, which disoriented visitors and altered their perception. He also translated his chromatic illusions to public spaces, like the floor he created at the Simón Bolívar International Airport, near Caracas, and a pedestrian crossing outside the Broad Museum, in Los Angeles.
Cruz-Diez was a successful graphic designer as well, working for artist-clients like Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Rauschenberg. Across all these mediums, his work had the same boldness and immersive quality, engaging the viewer’s eyes, body and mind.
Browse Carlos Cruz-Diez's prints, sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
Three element transchrome
By Carlos Cruz Diez
Located in Miami, FL
Carlos Cruz Diez Three element transchrome 2011 Plexiglass Sculpture Editions La Difference Paris 49 of 75 21 x 5 x 5 in Signed, dated, and numbered at the publisher label at the bot...
Plexiglass
$25,000
H 25 in W 8 in D 6 in
Cromovela A serie 21. Polychrome ceramic stele Ed 2/20
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Miami, FL
“Cromovela A serie 21” 2018 Polychrome ceramic stele Ed 2/20 24 x 8 x 6 in
Ceramic
Physichromie No. 1354”
By Carlos Cruz Diez
Located in Miami, FL
Carlos Cruz Diez (1923-2019) “Physichromie No. 1354” 2002 Plastic inserts and digital print on cardboard Ed. 2/3 11 7/8 x 12 in Provenance: Galerie Mark Hachem, Paris. Private Colle...
Plastic, Cardboard, Digital
Price Upon Request
H 45.625 in W 17 in D 11 in
Cromovela No. 7 - Signed Original Op Art Sculpture on PVC, 1995
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Cromovela No. 7 is an acrylic lacquer on PVC sculpture by Venezuelan artist, Carlos Cruz-Diez. The artwork is signed and dated on the base "Cruz-Diez / Jun 1995" Carlos Cruz-Diez's ...
PVC, Lacquer, Acrylic
Couleur Additive Perseus, Portfolio of 3
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION Carlos Cruz-Diez Couleur Additive Perseus, Portfolio of 3 2017 Screenprint 39 3/8 x 27 9/16 in. each ED'A Pencil signed and numbered Accompanied with COA ...
Screen
Carlos Cruz-Diez, Colonne C 23, 2018
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Miami, FL
Carlos Cruz-Diez Colonne C 23, 2018 Cerámica. Edición Francis Delille, París. Realizada en el atelier de la Tuilerie, Treigny Ed 2 of 8 32 in
Ceramic
Physichromie Panam 87 2012
By Carlos Cruz Diez
Located in Miami, FL
Carlos Cruz Diez Physichromie Panam 87, 2012 Chronographic on Aluminum and Plastic EDA 2 of 2 19 x 19 in Provenance: Private Collection, Miami.
Metal
Price Upon Request
H 11.75 in W 23.5 in
Physichromie 1800 - Limited Edition OP Art Chromography & Pigments on PVC, 2012
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Palm Desert, CA
'Physichromie 1800’ is a limited edition chromography and pigments on PVC by Venezuelan artist, Carlos Cruz-Diez. The artwork is signed and editioned verso, "Cruz-Diez 2/8” Carlos C...
PVC, Pigment
Price Upon Request
H 23.5 in W 31.5 in
Color Aditivo Panam Círculos 9 - Limited Edition Op Art, chromography on PVC
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Palm Desert, CA
'Color Aditivo Panam Círculos 9’ is a limited edition chromography and pigments on PVC work by Venezuelan artist, Carlos Cruz-Diez. The artwork is signed and editioned on the verso, ...
PVC, Pigment
Price Upon Request
H 39 in W 118 in
Physichromie 1530 (Diptych) - Signed Op Art on PVC Painting, 2008
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Palm Desert, CA
'Physichromie 1530’ is a chromography and pigments on PVC work by Venezuelan artist, Carlos Cruz-Diez. The artwork is signed verso, "Cruz-Diez” Carlos Cruz-Diez's 'Physichromie 1530...
PVC, Pigment
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA TRIPTYCH 13. Limited edition sculpture. Op Art
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Madrid, Madrid
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA TRIPTYCH 13 Date of creation: 2018 Medium: Polychrome ceramic Edition: 8 Size: 60 x 50 x 13 cm Condition: In mint condition This beautiful sculpture con...
Ceramic
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA TRIPTYCH 20. Limited edition sculpture. Op Art
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Madrid, Madrid
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA TRIPTYCH 20 Date of creation: 2018 Medium: Polychrome ceramic Edition: 8 Size: 60 x 50 x 13 cm Condition: In mint condition This beautiful sculpture con...
Ceramic
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA TRIPTYCH 18. Limited edition sculpture. Op Art
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Madrid, Madrid
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA TRIPTYCH 18 Date of creation: 2018 Medium: Polychrome ceramic Edition: 8 Size: 60 x 50 x 13 cm Condition: In mint condition This beautiful sculpture con...
Ceramic
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA 12. Limited edition sculpture. Op Art, Modern
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Madrid, Madrid
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA 12 Date of creation: 2018 Medium: Polychrome ceramic Edition: 20 Size: 62 x 21 x 16 cm Condition: In mint condition This beautiful sculpture of 62 cm he...
Ceramic
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA 21. Limited edition sculpture. Op Art, Modern
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Madrid, Madrid
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA 21 Date of creation: 2018 Medium: Polychrome ceramic Edition: 20 Size: 80 x 21 x 16 cm Condition: In mint condition This sculpture belongs to one of the...
Ceramic
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA 17. Limited edition sculpture. Op Art, Modern
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Madrid, Madrid
CARLOS CRUZ-DÍEZ - CROMOVELA 17 Date of creation: 2018 Medium: Polychrome ceramic Edition: 20 Size: 62 x 21 x 16 cm Condition: In mint condition This beautiful sculpture of 62 cm he...
Ceramic
