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Bridget Riley Abstract Paintings

British, b. 1931

British painter Bridget Riley’s visually spectacular abstractions seem far removed from natural forms. Riley, however, claims she draws inspiration for her paintings and prints largely from nature, which she defines as a “dynamism of visual forces — an event rather than an appearance.”

Indeed, dynamism characterizes her work, which explores how simple geometric forms can create illusions of movement.

Born in 1931, Riley first came to worldwide attention in 1965, when she was included, alongside such other prominent figures as Victor Vasarely and Frank Stella, in the exhibition “The Responsive Eye” at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. The catalogue cover featured one of her paintings, Current (1964), composed of wavy black and white lines that seem to vibrate as they move from the top to the bottom of the canvas.

Since the 1970s, Riley has been experimenting with color, creating works like Nataraja (1993), made up of columns of brightly hued diagonal stripes that seem to pulse rhythmically. By instilling life, movement and energy into flat, geometric forms, she helped pioneer kinetic art.

Browse a collection of Bridget Riley's visionary art at 1stDibs.

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Artist: Bridget Riley
Short Sequence. Study for Painting
By Bridget Riley
Located in London, GB
1983 Gouache and pencil on graph paper 24.7 x 26 cm 9 3/4 x 10 1/4 in Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for her rigorous explor...
Category

1980s Abstract Bridget Riley Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Pencil

Egyptian Stripes [Revision of April 7th]
By Bridget Riley
Located in London, GB
1984 Pencil and gouache on graph paper 70.3 x 60.3 cm 27.6 x 23.8 inches Hand-signed by the artist Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celeb...
Category

1980s Abstract Bridget Riley Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Pencil

Series 41, Two Colour Twist, Yellow Violet, Three Colour Twist, Red, Green B
By Bridget Riley
Located in London, GB
1979 Gouache on paper 96.5 x 62.2 cm 38 x 24.5 inches Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for her rigorous explorations of percep...
Category

1970s Abstract Bridget Riley Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Untitled
By Bridget Riley
Located in London, GB
1969 Gouache and pencil on paper 38 x 66 cm 15 x 26 inches Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for her rigorous explorations of p...
Category

1960s Abstract Bridget Riley Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Pencil

Four Colours, Sequence Part Structured, Part Free
By Bridget Riley
Located in London, GB
1980 Gouache on paper 50 x 49.5cm 19.7 x 19.5 inches Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for her rigorous explorations of percept...
Category

1980s Abstract Bridget Riley Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Sequence Study, Turquoise, Ochre, Magenta, 1973
By Bridget Riley
Located in London, GB
1973 Gouache on paper 30.5 x 191 cm 12 x 75 inches Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for her rigorous explorations of perceptio...
Category

1970s Abstract Bridget Riley Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Colour Sharpened and Clarified
By Bridget Riley
Located in London, GB
Pencil and gouache on graph paper 27.9 x 25.4 cm 11 x 10 inches Hand-signed by the artist Bridget Riley is one of the most influential figures in postwar British art, celebrated for...
Category

1980s Abstract Bridget Riley Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Pencil

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Untitled Geometric Abstraction - unique signed and inscribed work -framed
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