Victor Vasarely

Victor Vasarely was a Hungarian-French artist who is recognized as having pioneered the Op Art movement, cultivating a highly individual style of painting and sculpting in which he created mesmerizing illusions. His works often included the juxtaposition of geometric and fluid shapes, and monochromatic and colorful graphics to enhance the illusional effects. Seminal works include his Zebra (1937), which is regarded as one of the earliest examples of Op Art. Other instantly recognizable pieces include the chequerboard paintings that became a key focus for the artist.

Born in Pecs, Hungary, Vasarely originally chose to study medicine but switched to painting, enrolling at the Muhely Academy in Budapest. He settled in Paris in 1930, taking on roles in advertising agencies to support his work.

Vasarely’s work reveals several influences, including the Bauhaus design principles from his study days, and the painting methods of Kandinsky, alongside his early interest in scientific methodology.

His work was featured in many exhibitions during his lifetime across key cultural hubs worldwide. Today, it can be found in several prestigious private and public collections, including MOMA, the Tate Gallery, London, and the Centres Georges Pompidou, Paris, and the Vasarely Museum, Château de Gourdes, southern France.