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Bridget Riley Paintings

British, b. 1931

British painter Bridget Riley’s visually spectacular abstractions seem far removed from natural forms. Riley, however, claims she draws inspiration for her paintings and prints largely from nature, which she defines as a “dynamism of visual forces — an event rather than an appearance.”

Indeed, dynamism characterizes her work, which explores how simple geometric forms can create illusions of movement.

Born in 1931, Riley first came to worldwide attention in 1965, when she was included, alongside such other prominent figures as Victor Vasarely and Frank Stella, in the exhibition “The Responsive Eye” at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. The catalogue cover featured one of her paintings, Current (1964), composed of wavy black and white lines that seem to vibrate as they move from the top to the bottom of the canvas.

Since the 1970s, Riley has been experimenting with color, creating works like Nataraja (1993), made up of columns of brightly hued diagonal stripes that seem to pulse rhythmically. By instilling life, movement and energy into flat, geometric forms, she helped pioneer kinetic art.

Browse a collection of Bridget Riley's visionary art at 1stDibs.

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Artist: Bridget Riley
Four Colours, Sequence Part Structured, Part Free

Four Colours, Sequence Part Structured, Part Free

By Bridget Riley

Located in London, GB

1980 Gouache on paper 50 x 49.5cm 19.7 x 19.5 inches Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for her rigorous explorations of percept...

Category

1980s Abstract Bridget Riley Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Untitled

Untitled

By Bridget Riley

Located in London, GB

1969 Gouache and pencil on paper 38 x 66 cm 15 x 26 inches signed lower left Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for her rigorou...

Category

1960s Abstract Bridget Riley Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Pencil

Colour Sharpened and Clarified
Colour Sharpened and Clarified

Colour Sharpened and Clarified

By Bridget Riley

Located in London, GB

Pencil and gouache on graph paper 27.9 x 25.4 cm 11 x 10 inches Hand-signed by the artist Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for...

Category

1980s Abstract Bridget Riley Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Pencil

Short Sequence. Study for Painting

Short Sequence. Study for Painting

By Bridget Riley

Located in London, GB

1983 Gouache and pencil on graph paper 24.7 x 26 cm 9 3/4 x 10 1/4 in Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for her rigorous explor...

Category

1980s Abstract Bridget Riley Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Pencil

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Previously Available Items
Sequence Study, Turquoise, Ochre, Magenta, 1973

Sequence Study, Turquoise, Ochre, Magenta, 1973

By Bridget Riley

Located in London, GB

1973 Gouache on paper 30.5 x 191 cm 12 x 75 inches Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for her rigorous explorations of perceptio...

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1970s Abstract Bridget Riley Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Bridget Riley paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Bridget Riley paintings available for sale on 1stDibs.
Questions About Bridget Riley Paintings
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024
    You can see Bridget Riley paintings in a few locations. Her works are part of the permanent collections of several major museums, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Tate Modern in London. In addition, institutions around the world frequently hold special exhibitions featuring her paintings and drawings. Shop a variety of Bridget Riley art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024
    Opinions on what Bridget Riley's most famous work is differ. One of her best-known works is 1961's Movement in Squares, which had a major impact on the Op art movement. Other notable works by Riley include 1960's Pink Landscape, 1962's Blaze 1, 1985's Cupid's Quiver and 1989's Gaillard. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Bridget Riley art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Bridget Riley's geometric paintings made her famous in the 1960s. Known for their pulsing colors and elaborate patterns that created optical illusions, these paintings became synonymous with the Op Art movement and have inspired psychedelic posters since they were created. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Bridget Riley artwork from top sellers around the world.