Bridget Riley (b. 1931) is an influential British abstract painter who came to prominence in the 1960's as the Op Art movement emerged.
Riley first gained international recognition in 1965 when her work was exhibited in the MoMA group-exhibition "The Responsive Eye." Her artwork creates illusions of movement from strict graphic patterns. She was one of the only women working in this genre and her practice evolved alongsideVictor Vasarely, Richard Anuszkiewicz, Frank Stella, and Ellsworth Kelly to mention a few.
Working with purely abstract, geometric forms, Op artists developed visual patterns designed to stimulate the optic nerves, generating the illusion of complex three-dimensional space on an otherwise flat surface. In her early work, Riley often relied on black and white or restricted monochrome palettes to achieve these effects, frequently producing series focused on a single motif.
In Coloured Greys, color is restrained and subtle, yet essential to the play of light and movement, suggesting rhythms and shifts reminiscent of the sea.
In 1968, Riley represented Great Britain at the Venice Biennale where she became the first woman to win the International Prize for painting.
"Coloured Greys" is held in the permanent collections of the Tate, London; the Buffalo AKG Art Museum; the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; among others.
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"Coloured Greys I"
England, 1972
Colored screenprint on wove paper
Printed by Kelpra Studio, London
Titled and numbered in pencil, lower left
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
From an edition of 125
29.25"H 27.5"W (sheet)
Very good condition.
Artwork is framed in a period plexi-box. Minor wear to plexi typical of age.
Reference: KS 16
