“I’m interested,” Richard Anuszkiewicz (1930–2020) once said, “in making something romantic out of a very, very mechanistic geometry.” Anuszkiewicz sought to achieve this romance through works juxtaposing vibrant colors in geometric configurations. The perceptual effects he created helped define the American Op art movement.
Anuszkiewicz studied color theory at Yale under Josef Albers and was greatly influenced by Albers’s approach. “The image in my work has always been determined by what I wanted the color to do,” Anuszkiewicz explained in a 1974 catalogue. “Color function becomes my subject matter, and its performance is my painting.”
He departed from his mentor, however, in the pulsating, illusory qualities he gave his work. One of his most famous paintings, Deep Magenta Square (1978), although similar in composition to Albers’s “Homage to the Square” series, is distinctly Op art in the way the striations surrounding the central square seem to vibrate and jump off the canvas.
Anuszkiewicz spent his entire career exploring optical effects through the manipulation of line and color, producing spectacular and timeless pieces of art. “Working with basic ideas will always be exciting,” he said in 1977. “And if a color or form is visually exciting in any profound sense, it will be that way in 10 or 20 years from now.”
Browse a variety of paintings and prints by Richard Anuszkiewicz at 1stDibs.
Richard Anuszkiewicz 1963 Original Painting
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in San Francisco, CA
Richard Anuszkiewicz: 1930-2020. Very important and well listed American artist. He has auction results as high as $250,000. He was the leader of what would be called OP Art short fo...
Acrylic
Richard Anuszkiewicz - Near and Far Acuity, Signed Mid Century Modern painting
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in New York, NY
Richard Anuszkiewicz Near and Far Acuity, 1957 Gouache and watercolor painting on board Hand signed and dated 1957 by Richard Anuszkiewicz on the right front Frame included Anuszkie...
Mixed Media, Watercolor, Gouache
Richard Anuszkiewicz Metallic Water 1960s Op Art painting Art Institute Chicago
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in New York, NY
Richard Anuszkiewicz Metallic Water, 1964 Painting with Liquitex on canvas. (1964 Art Institute of Chicago Exhibition and J.L. Hudson Gallery) Signed boldly and dated 1964 on the ver...
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Canvas
Richard Anuszkiewicz, Soft Blue
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Madrid, ES
RICHARD ANUSZKIEWICZ American, 1930 - 2020 SOFT BLUE signed, dated and numbered “© RICHARD ANUSZKIEWICZ / 1984 / 737” (on the reverse) acrylic on canvas 48 x 60 inches (122 x 152.5 c...
Canvas, Acrylic
$16,000
Untitled, 1973, Original Painting on Board, Hand Signed, 24 x 18 in.
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on board. Hand signed and dated 'RICHARD ANUSZKIEWICZ 1973' on verso. Artwork size: 24 x 18 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. About the Artist...
Paper, Screen
Old Door
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in New York, NY
Richard Anuszkiewicz Old Door, 1953 Watercolor on paper Signed and dated by the artist on the lower right front 20 × 14 inches Unframed This unique and extre...
Paper, Watercolor
Translumina - Geometric Op Art Acrylic Painting on Wood, 1988
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Palm Desert, CA
"Translumina" is an abstract Post War acrylic on wood painting by Richard Anuszkiewicz in 1988. The artwork is 48 x 48 in. It is signed verso, "Richard Anuszkiewicz 1988” Provenance...
Wood, Acrylic
Price Upon Request
Light Magenta Square
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Richard Anuszkiewicz Title: Light Magenta Square Year: 1978 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed and dated verso Size: 60 x 60 inches Referenced as 1978.9, pg 184 in "Anuszkiew...
Canvas, Acrylic
A Case of the Blues - Abstract Expressionism
By Ricardo de Silva
Located in Soquel, CA
A Case of the Blues - Abstract Expressionism An abstract expressionist painting in vibrant hues of blue swimming in multiple layers and colors, creating a work that is defined by d...
Paper, Acrylic, Gouache, Latex
$2,500
H 18.75 in W 21.75 in D 1.25 in
Edward Marecak “Small City Park” Mid-Century Abstract Oil Painting
By Edward Marecak
Located in Denver, CO
Vibrant and expressive, “Small City Park” is a compelling mid-century abstract painting by Colorado modernist Edward Marecak. Known for his unique visual language blending abstractio...
Acrylic, Watercolor
In the Cannon's Mouth
By Peter Mack
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Peter Mack Title: In the Cannon's Mouth Year: circa 1980 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed l.r. Size: 60 x 60 in. (152.4 x 152.4 cm)
Acrylic
$1,950
H 36 in W 36 in D 3 in
Sophisticated, Original Op Art Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 36x36 inches
By Stan Slutsky
Located in Aventura, FL
Original painting on canvas. Hand signed on front; signed and titled on verso by the artist. Canvas is stretched. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity in...
Canvas, Acrylic
$532
H 16.54 in W 11.7 in D 0.04 in
Original-Peony Summer-Impasto-British Awarded Artist-Oil, Goldleaf-plein air
By Shizico Yi
Located in London, GB
This Oil impasto and Goldleaf on Paper, named Peony Summer, is a part of Summer Bloom Series by Award winning British artist Shizico Yi. She created the painting in her garden paint...
Gold Leaf
$350
H 6 in W 6 in
"building up" abstract cityscape, geometric, pencil, marker, acrylic on panel
By Miriam Singer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "building up" is original artwork made from pencil, marker, acrylic paint on panel by Miriam Singer. This piece measures 6"h x 6"w. Miriam Singer grew up in Buffalo, New York, In 2000 she received her BA from Brandeis University, and in 2003 her MFA from Massachusetts College of Art. Since moving to Philadelphia in 2004; Miriam Singer has exhibited at James Oliver Gallery. Stanek Gallery, LG Tripp Gallery, Woodmere Art Museum, Space 1026, Friends of the Print and Picture Collection...
Watercolor, Panel, Permanent Marker, Pencil
Tulips Red 3
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Tulips Red 3" bursts with life, a vivid floral painting where passion blooms in every detail. Red tulips take center stage, their vibrant hues energized by touches of blue, yellow, ...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$1,162
H 27.56 in W 39.38 in D 0.12 in
Tulips Blue in the Wind : paper, oil pastel, 70x100cm. Very Thick paper
Located in Zofingen, AG
Capture the fluid elegance of nature with 'Tulips Blue in the Wind,' a large original oil pastel painting by contemporary artist Rakhmet Redzhepov. Executed on heavy, premium-grade p...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$1,162
H 27.56 in W 39.38 in D 0.12 in
Tulips, Touch : paper, oil pastel, 70x100cm. Very Thick paper
Located in Zofingen, AG
A masterpiece exploring tactile intimacy, floral movement, and the infinite. This large-scale 70x100cm paper composition captures a sublime transition from vibrant organic textures i...
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Archival Paper
$6,500
H 28.5 in W 39 in
Interconnections - colorful, contemporary, geometric abstract, paper collage
By Yvonne Lammerich
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This bold contemporary composition by Yvonne Lammerich is an intriguing exploration of colour and form. Origami-like folded shapes inter-connected by fine lines dance across this col...
Mixed Media, Archival Paper, Gouache, Color Pencil
$700
H 14 in W 11 in D 0.1 in
"Chanel Blue Silver & Gold" Figure in Gown Haute Couture Oil Painting on Paper
By Cindy Shaoul
Located in New York, NY
Exploring the purity of the feminine form and the drama of French haute couture, artist Cindy Shaoul creates a dialogue between the figurative and the abstract. Her spirited composit...
Oil, Archival Paper, Mixed Media
$3,360Sale Price|20% Off
H 48 in W 90 in D 1.5 in
Pieces Falling into Place - Geometric Op-Art in Acrylic on Canvas (Triptych)
Located in Soquel, CA
Pieces Falling into Place - Geometric Op-Art in Acrylic on Canvas (Triptych) This geometric triptych by Ralph Berko (American, b. 1950) features vividly colored prisms suspended ove...
Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
Richard Anuszkiewicz "Inner Space"
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Toronto, Ontario
One of our favorite American artists, Richard Anuszkiewicz (b. 1930) is a major player in both Op Art and Hard-Edge Abstraction. His work is typically composed of rich vibrant colors...
Acrylic
Arcade of Verdue
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A painting by Richard Anuazkiewicz. "Arcade of Verdue" is an abstract oil on canvas painting executed in orange and green by Op Artist Richard Anazkiewicz. Signed verso, "Richard Anu...
Canvas, Oil
Translumina with Deep Blue
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Richard Anuszkiewicz Title: Translumina with Deep Blue Year: 1987 Medium: Painted Wood Construction, signed and dated verso Size:...
Acrylic Polymer, Wood