Victor Vasarely

*1908 im Pécs, Hungary

The founder of OpArt

As early as 1944, Vasarely was already working with abstract, constructivist and early kinetic art, including works by Duchamp, Calder, Man Ray and Tinguely. From 1947 onwards, he created geometric-abstract compositions based on projections of square, diamond, triangular, circular and rod-shaped constructions. He also developed a color canon comprising 220 colors, with which he achieved ever stronger 3-dimensional pictorial effects. In the 1950s, Victor Vasarely became the initiator of the new art form Op Art, which focused on optical movement effects and perceptual phenomena.

“A work of art must be created to which the magician of time can add nothing and take nothing away.” – Victor Vasarely, 1954.

Represented in leading museums and collections worldwide

In the 1960s and early 1970s, Victor Vasarely became the most exhibited and collected artist of his time. Vasarely was represented at Documenta I-III (1955/ 1959/ 1964) as well as in numerous solo museum exhibitions worldwide. The Vasarely Museum at Château de Gordes was opened in 1970, the Vasarely Foundation in Aix-en-Provence in 1976 and the Vasarely Museum in the artist’s birthplace in Pécs, Hungary. Finally, in 1987, the Vasarely Museum opened in Zichy Castle in Budapest.

Vasarely also made his mark as a designer. In 1972, he designed the diamond emblem for Renault and the spiral-shaped logo for the Olympic Games in Munich.

An insider tip for art investors

For some years now, Vasarely’s works have experienced a boom on the art market. Originals are constantly fetching record sums and renowned museums are dedicating extensive retrospectives to the artist, such as the Museum Folkwang (2008), the Städelmuseum Frankfurt (2018/2019) and the Centre Pompidou Paris (2019).

Exhibitions

2009/2010:

– Victor Vasarely + 50 years of constructive art in Paris, Kunsthalle messmer, Riegel am Kaiserstuhl, Germany

2018/2019:

– Victor Vasarely. In the Labyrinth of Modernism, Städel, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

2019:

– Vasarely. Le Partage des Formes, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France

2020:

– From Delacroix to Vasarely. Masterpieces from the 19th century, Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
– Back to the present. New perspectives, new works – collection from 1945 to today, Städelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

2020/2021:

– Exhibition of works by Victor Vasarely, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada

2021:

– Series. Printed Graphics from Andy Warhol to Christopher Wool, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany

Biography

Victor Vasarely, born on April 9, 1906 in Pécs, Hungary, is considered one of the founders of Op Art, an art movement dealing with optical illusions and visual effects. He initially studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest and later moved to Paris, where he began experimenting with geometric shapes and colors in the 1930s.

Vasarely developed a unique style characterized by the use of simple geometric shapes and vibrant colors. His works often create the impression of movement and depth, which makes them particularly fascinating. His best-known works include the “Zebras” and the “Vega” series.

In addition to his painting, Vasarely was also active in graphic design and architecture and was committed to the integration of art into public spaces. He died in Paris on March 15, 1997. Vasarely’s influence on modern art is undeniable, and his legacy lives on in the contemporary art scene.