Larry Poons
United States
b. 1937

"The Wadsworth Antheneum: Ten Works
by Ten Artists," 1964
Silkscreen
24 x 20 in.
Sweeney Art Gallery Permanent Collection
64.1.8

Lawrence Poons is among the earliest artists to be identified with the optical or "op" art movement. Op art designated a group of American artists who experimented with elements of design and color to create optical illusions. The title "Op" is a play on the preceding "Pop" art movement. Both Pop and Op react against the dominant modern American style Abstract Expressionism. Additionally, Op art was particularly influenced by scientific research in perceptual psychology and ocular physiology. Specifically, Poons' work is designed to create the visual effect commonly referred to as afterimages. If one focuses intensely on the picture surface for twenty seconds the cones in the retina of ones eye retain the image and one will continue to see the compliment of the image for a short time following. As Poons' dots are elliptical they will appear to move across the canvas so that no two viewers have the same visual experience.



© UC Regents and the artist.