The Art of Deception IV: The Op Art Movement

Op Art, short for Optical Art, is a 1960s art movement that uses geometric shapes, patterns, and contrasting colors to create the illusion of movement and optical effects, exploring how our eyes perceive images. Artists used visual tricks and illusions to make images seem to vibrate, move, or warp, frequently utilizing stark contrasts, such as black and white or complementary colors, to intensify the optical effects. Op Art explored the relationship between visual stimuli and the human perception of them, investigating how the brain interprets what the eye sees. Op Art’s geometric patterns and visual effects influenced design, media, and fashion in the 1960s. We’ll see how they influence our students!

Instructor: Melora Cann