op art

American  

Or Op Art

noun

1. a style of abstract art in which lines, forms, and space are organized in such a way as to provide optical illusions of an ambiguous nature, as alternately advancing and receding squares on a flat surface.

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op art British  

/ ɒp /

noun

1. a style of abstract art chiefly concerned with the exploitation of optical effects such as the illusion of movement

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Other Word Forms

• op artist
  noun
• op-art
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of op art

First recorded in 1960–65; op(tical) art

Example Sentences

“I’ve looked at op art, pattern and decoration. I’ve looked at psychedelia, I have taken part in rave culture and queer culture and drag and the whole spectrum,” Gibson said.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 18, 2024

The resulting patterns — tight and hard-edged, yet undulating — combined the eye-teasing qualities of op art with more free-form gestures.

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2018

Mr. Bleckner veered toward romantic metaphor in paintings that recycled decorative emblems and styles regarded as obsolete at the time, like geometric abstraction and op art, into meditations on loss and grief.

From New York Times • Aug. 18, 2016

Director John Waters wore an op art patterned suit by Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2015

Inferno was elaborately storyboarded with endless tests for experimental camerawork using op art and distorted visuals to denote his lead character's obsessive jealousy.

From The Guardian • Apr. 8, 2010