Arcadia
4 works
Bridget Riley Large Fragment For Sale
Bridget Riley
Large Fragment, 2006
Screen print on wove paper Signed
109 x 128 in 276.9 x 325.1 cm
Edition
Edition of 50
About this work
Bridget Riley’s Large Fragment (2006) is a vivid exploration of movement, rhythm, and perception, capturing the essence of her lifelong engagement with optical abstraction. Known for her pioneering role in the Op Art movement, Riley’s work transcends static geometry by creating a dynamic interplay of color and form, turning the surface into a vibrating field of visual sensation.In Large Fragment, sweeping arcs of red, blue, and light blue slice across the composition in bold, rhythmic gestures. These forms, curved yet sharply defined, suggest both energy and fluidity. The diagonal tensions between the arcs generate a sense of perpetual motion, as though the composition is alive and shifting before the viewer’s eyes. This visual instability, a hallmark of Riley’s practice, encourages an active form of looking, where perception itself becomes the subject of the work.Color plays a central role in the impact of this piece. Riley contrasts vibrant reds with cooler tones of blue and violet, introducing a push-and-pull dynamic that alternates between advancing and receding planes. The use of cream in the corner provides a moment of calm amid the intensity, preventing the eye from settling too comfortably and maintaining the work’s overall sense of tension. This careful calibration of color reflects Riley’s deep study of the effects of hue and value on the human eye, a field she approached with the rigor of both an artist and a visual scientist.The title Large Fragment reflects Riley’s tendency to frame her compositions as segments of a potentially infinite visual field. Rather than presenting a self-contained image, she implies that what the viewer sees is part of something larger, extending beyond the picture plane. This approach resonates with her understanding of perception as continuous and expansive, never fully fixed or complete.Created in 2006, the work belongs to Riley’s later period, when her focus shifted from the stark black-and-white optical patterns of the 1960s to the more complex, color-driven investigations that defined her mature practice. While her early works relied on contrasting forms to destabilize vision, her later works such as *Large Fragment* reveal a nuanced harmony between color and shape. The result is a composition that is simultaneously disorienting and deeply balanced, demonstrating Riley’s mastery of visual rhythm.Large Fragment embodies Riley’s ability to collapse the distinction between order and chaos, structure and sensation. The arcs seem meticulously calculated yet retain an organic, almost musical flow, underscoring her belief that abstraction can evoke sensory experience as powerfully as representation. This print highlights her continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of visual art well into the 21st century, reinforcing her legacy as one of the most important figures in contemporary abstraction.
Price on Application
Auction History
Large Fragment 2 · Bridget Riley · Phillips · 2026-03 · $39,398
Large Fragment · Bridget Riley · Sotheby's · 2024-03 · $34,200
Large Fragment (Tommasini & Gubay 64; Schubert 64) · Bridget Riley · Bonhams · 2023-12 · $34,619
Large Fragment 2 (Not in Schubert) · Bridget Riley · Sotheby's · 2023-10 · $21,590
Large Fragment · Bridget Riley · Christie's · 2023-09 · $33,931
More series by Bridget Riley
About the Large Fragment Series
Discover Bridget Riley's Large Fragment series, a defining collection from one of contemporary art's most influential abstract artists. Riley's precise optical abstraction and kinetic colour theory reach remarkable sophistication in this body of work, where monumental scale amplifies the viewer's perceptual experience.
Large Fragment exemplifies Riley's mastery of geometric composition and colour relationships, employing her signature systematic approach to create works that shimmer and vibrate before the eye. Created during a period of significant artistic maturation, these pieces demonstrate her commitment to pure visual sensation and the mathematical principles underlying perception.
Riley's market presence remains exceptionally strong among serious collectors, with her works consistently performing well at auction and in institutional acquisitions. The Large Fragment series represents an accessible entry point to her oeuvre while maintaining substantial investment potential.
These seminal works continue to captivate collectors seeking authentic abstract art with historical significance and proven longevity. Enquire for current availability and acquisition details.
About Bridget Riley
Bridget Riley
Life and Practice
Bridget Riley (b. 1931, Norwood, London) is one of the foremost figures in twentieth-century abstract painting, internationally celebrated as a pioneer of Op Art. Educated at Goldsmiths College and the Royal College of Art, Riley spent time teaching before dedicating herself fully to painting in the early 1960s. Her early work — strict geometric compositions in black and white that induce powerful perceptual effects of motion, vibration, and depth — established her as a key innovator in art's engagement with visual perception. Movement in Squares (1961) and Fall (1963) are among the most celebrated works of the period, and remain among the defining images of British postwar art.Riley was awarded the International Prize for Painting at the 1968 Venice Biennale, cementing her international reputation. From the late 1960s, she began introducing colour into her work, working first with carefully limited Egyptian palettes and later a full range of hues, exploring stripe-based and diagonal compositions in which colour interaction becomes the primary subject. Her series including Orphean Elegy, The Seasons, and Rajasthan demonstrate the sustained rigour and beauty of this investigation. She continues to work from studios in London and Cornwall.