Optical Painting

Optical painting or "Op Art" is the physical characteristics of certain formal elements-particularly line and color-are subtly manipulated to stimulate the nervous system into thinking it perceives movement.


In this piece, when one looks at it, it appears to be moving around, in and out. It can look like it is coming out at you or like it is going inward and continuing forever.

In this piece to the right by Bridget Riley, it appears as though the waves are moving. It looks like the waves are moving down and flowing cleanly.