Bridget Riley is a British painter who found fame and notoriety in the 60's having been included in a now famous exhibition in New York titled "The Responsive Eye". The artworks in this show were labelled "Op art" and derided unfairly by many critics for what was seen as novelty and gimmickry. This art challenged the viewers perception and was difficult to understand because of it's more scientific nature and the questions it raised about human perception and the function of sight and the brain. Following the large, mysterious and often austere abstract canvasses of the "Abstract Expressionists" in the 50's this new art required thought and attention.
Bridget's work was bought and promptly reduced to patterns on high end women's fashion garments in the USA producing a strong reaction from the art community. Her art had been misunderstood and denigrated being reduced to mass produced factory commodities. Few people understood clearly her rigorous program of inquiry into human perception and the operation of colour in painting. Bridget keeps extending knowledge based on the the work of Seurat, Bonnard, the Impressionists and earlier painters such as Poussin and their interest in the operation of colour and light on a constructed surface.
Even though my art isn't directly linked to such an intense scientific interest in vision and perception nevertheless her work has influenced me greatly. Her use of composition, line and colour challenge the eye and inspire me to extend my work using reduced means. I think Bridget is one of the most intelligent and articulate arts practitioners i've ever come across in my research.
I've included a 3 part documentary here on Bridget which is a bit dated but very informative as she explains her painting methodology.
There are many good books written by her and other authors including "The Eye's Mind" and "Bridget Riley: Dialogues On Art" which i use as a regular reference. I hope you'll take time to investigate her art further.
Bridget's work was bought and promptly reduced to patterns on high end women's fashion garments in the USA producing a strong reaction from the art community. Her art had been misunderstood and denigrated being reduced to mass produced factory commodities. Few people understood clearly her rigorous program of inquiry into human perception and the operation of colour in painting. Bridget keeps extending knowledge based on the the work of Seurat, Bonnard, the Impressionists and earlier painters such as Poussin and their interest in the operation of colour and light on a constructed surface.
Even though my art isn't directly linked to such an intense scientific interest in vision and perception nevertheless her work has influenced me greatly. Her use of composition, line and colour challenge the eye and inspire me to extend my work using reduced means. I think Bridget is one of the most intelligent and articulate arts practitioners i've ever come across in my research.
I've included a 3 part documentary here on Bridget which is a bit dated but very informative as she explains her painting methodology.
There are many good books written by her and other authors including "The Eye's Mind" and "Bridget Riley: Dialogues On Art" which i use as a regular reference. I hope you'll take time to investigate her art further.
