Bridget Riley

A pioneer of the Op Art movement of the 1960s, Bridget Riley’s compelling geometric abstractions are yielded by the artist’s formative encounters with Old Masters, Impressionist paintings, as well as her early experiences with nature. Inducing vibrating sensations across the canvas; such optical effects gave Op Art its name, Riley destabilises the visual field, in turn reflecting several perceptions of the era, including a search for new ways to engage the viewer with art, amidst an age of hallucinogenic drugs, Psychedelic spiritualism and the threats of nuclear war.

Born in London in 1931, Riley studied art at Goldsmiths College and later at the Royal College of Art, inspiring her early impressionist aesthetic. During her time working at an advertising agency, she adopted a pointillist style of painting, directing her towards her abstract style of painting. She began developing her signature Op Art style, consisting of black and white geometric forms that explored the dynamism of sight and rhythm. Works of this monochrome nature comprised her first 1962 solo show at Musgrave’s Gallery One.

During 1967, her monochromatic works slowly transitioned into colour, creating works that freed colour and form from their illustrative state. Following a major retrospective show, Riley began travelling extensively, journeying to Egypt where she was enticed by the ancient Hieroglyphs play with colour and decoration. She began incorporating a broader palette of colour and contrast into her visual vocabulary. Her works from the 21st century took on a more lyrical quality, inspired by the rhythmic linear qualities of the arabesque. Bridget Riley has also delved into the art of mural production, painting temporary murals including the Tate.

Grounded in a utopian practice, Bridget Riley has remained one of the most important British contemporary artists of our time. She is the first woman to win the painting prize at the Venice Biennale and continues to provoke the abstract art scene.