Artist 14: Bridget Riley

Bridget Riley is an English painter born in 1931.  Growing up she was educated at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and then studied at Goldsmiths College followed by the Royal College of Art.  Her early art was made up of a figurative, semi-impressionist style.  It wasn’t until around 1960 that Riley really developed her Op Art style.  Her work is characterized by black and white geometric patterns that create a disorienting effect on the eye.  In 1962 she had her first solo show in London in which many of her pieces were felt to be connected to issues of the time; participation by the viewer, separation of mind and body, tension with the scientific community, and the fear of the loss of individualism.  It wasn’t till after her first international show that she began investigating color in Op Art.  Riley was a motivating force in the Op Art movement.  Once her black and white paintings where shown worldwide, her work in color caused her to expand her talents in painting and in design.  During her years of color exploration, Riley actually employed other people to paint her pieces so that she would be able to focus solely on the design of each piece.