Bridget Riley (born in London in 1931) is one of the most important living British artists. From her earliest period, her work has been heralded in Britain and internationally for her devotion to a specifically geometric abstraction, often described as “optical.”
Riley studied at the Royal College of Art from 1952 to 1955, painting figure subjects in a semi-impressionist manner before turning to pointillism and landscapes. In 1960 her style moved to full abstraction.
Conceived by the artist, this exhibition is the first survey of works by Riley in the United States in over two decades. The display includes art dating from her earliest paintings to more recent objects and explores her formal interest in stripes, curves, light, and tonality. Riley also sees this exhibition as a kind of visual dialogue with the Center’s building, designed by Louis I. Kahn. Her geometric references resonate with Kahn’s grid and structural features.
Credits
Bridget Riley is curated by the artist, working with Maryam Ohadi-Hamadani, Postdoctoral Research Associate, with the assistance of Charlotte Lefland, Senior Curatorial Assistant in Prints and Drawings, and Rachel Stratton, former Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Center.