Click here for the full article.
NEW YORK — Leapfrogging off the techniques he first learned as a commercial graphic designer in Paris in the 1930s, Victor Vasarely (Hungarian-French, 1906-1997) became one of the most renowned artists associated with the Op Art movement. His artworks incorporating optical illusions and geometric elements are almost a marriage between fine art and architecture.
Throughout his career, Vasarely continually subverted conventions, taking inspiration from Constructivism and the art of Wassily Kandinsky as well as Bauhaus design principles. His paintings and sculptures challenge viewers to stretch their perceptions.
“His work has nice movement to it and is very relatable to collectors,” said Bill Roland, co-owner of Roland NY in Glen Cove, New York. “He’s a great artist for visual effects.”
Roland, who said his house mostly deals in the artist’s prints, described the auction market for Vasarely as steady: “They [the prints] are not losing any steam, and I think they will continue to remain a good investment.” Demand for Vasarely’s paintings and sculpture also remains high, he said, adding, “It’s as strong as it has ever been.”
Vasarely began with black-and-white paintings of optical illusions in the 1950s and evolved his distinctive style from there, becoming increasingly sophisticated as time passed. A painting from 1988, Poltar, shows his skill in balancing simple shapes with color to achieve a design that depicts three sides of a cube seemingly bending inward. Set against a black background, the cube is broken up by smaller shapes having colors in an ombre-like pattern. The painting achieved $55,000 plus the buyer’s premium in December 2021 at Le Shoppe Auction House...
