Victor Vasarely (April 9, 1906 – March 15, 1997) was a French-Hungarian artist known as the “grandfather” and leader of the Optical Art movement. Vasarely used geometric shapes and color graphics to create illusions of spatial depth. Born in Hungary, Vasarely briefly studied medicine for two years prior to attending the Muhely Academy, the center of the Bauhaus movement in Germany. He also studied traditional painting at the private Podolini-Volkmann Academy. In 1930, Vasarely settled in Paris, where he married fellow art student Claire Spinner. Throughout the 1940s, Vasarely experimented with style until he found his signature style in 1951, which was a combination of science and art. Vasarely’s artistic formula draws parallels with modern computer programming and computer art. Contributing to his legacy, Vasarely established and donated works to the Vasarely Museum in his hometown of Pécs, Hungary. Other museums have also been opened in his honor. Vasarely’s work is held in collections such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Tate Gallery in London, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice.
Artist: Victor Vasarely
Date: 1970c
Edition: 108/240
Medium: Screen Print
Collection: Fine Art
Dimensions: H. 36.5 x L. 28
Copyright Status: Artist Right Society
Credit: Gift of Larry Smith
Accession Number: 1983.0004.0002