Bridget Riley
Bridget Riley: A Pioneering British Artist of Op Art
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Bridget Riley (born April 24, 1931) is a renowned British artist known for her contributions to the development of Op Art (Optical Art). She is often referred to by her full name or simply as Bridget Riley.
Birth and Death Dates
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Riley was born in London, England, on April 24, 1931. As of this writing, she is still alive.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: British
Profession(s): Artist (painter), educator
Early Life and Background
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Born to a family of modest means, Bridget Riley spent her early years in London. Her father, Norman Patrick Riley, was an officer in the Indian Civil Service, while her mother, Margaret Bridget Riley, was a homemaker. The family moved frequently during Riley's childhood due to her father's work assignments. This mobility had a lasting impact on Riley's perception of color and movement.
Riley's interest in art began at an early age. She attended Goldsmiths College in London, where she studied painting under the tutelage of artists such as Victor Pasmore. Her academic pursuits were interrupted by World War II, during which she worked as an ambulance driver.
Major Accomplishments
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Bridget Riley's artistic breakthrough came with her participation in the influential "Young Contemporaries" exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery in 1953. This event marked the beginning of a successful career that would span over six decades. Her contributions to Op Art, an art movement emphasizing optical illusions and geometric patterns, have left an indelible mark on modern art.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Riley's most notable works include:
"Movement in Squares" (1961): A seminal work that exemplifies the principles of Op Art. The painting's grid-like structure creates a sense of movement and tension.
"Fall" (1989-1990): A larger-than-life composition featuring a waterfall-like pattern. This piece showcases Riley's continued experimentation with color and form.
* "Pools" (1977): A series of paintings that explore the relationship between color, shape, and space.
Impact and Legacy
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Bridget Riley's influence extends beyond the art world. Her innovative use of color and geometric patterns has inspired designers, architects, and musicians. The Op Art movement, in which she played a key role, paved the way for subsequent art movements such as Minimalism and Conceptual Art.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Bridget Riley is widely quoted and remembered for her groundbreaking contributions to modern art. Her innovative approach to color and form has inspired generations of artists, designers, and thinkers.
Quotes by Bridget Riley
Painters have always needed a sort of veil upon which they can focus their attention. It's as though the more fully the consciousness is absorbed, the greater the freedom of the spirit behind.
An artist's early work is inevitably made up of a mixture of tendencies and interests, some of which are compatible and some of which are in conflict.
I think this lack of a center has something to do with the loss of certainties that Christianity had to offer.
An artist’s early work is inevitably made up of a mixture of tendencies and interests, some of which are compatible and some of which are in conflict.
I used to build up to sensation, accumulating tension until it released a perceptual experience.
I learned from Seurat this important thing about colour and light, that ‘a light’ can be built from colour. I learned a great deal about interaction, that ‘a blue’ in different parts will play all sorts of different roles.
In general, my paintings are multifocal. You can’t call it unfocused space, but not being fixed to a single focus is very much of our time.
In my earlier paintings, I wanted the space between the picture plane and the spectator to be active.
It is important that the painting can be inhabited, so that the mind’s eye, or the eye’s mind, can move about it credibly.