Arcadia
4 works
Bridget Riley To Midsummer For Sale
Bridget Riley
To Midsummer, 1989
Screenprint
36 1/4 x 36 5/8 in 92 x 93 cm
Edition
Edition of 100
About this work
Bridget Riley’s Zig / Rhomboid series represents a significant evolution in her approach to optical art, introducing the rhomboid shape into her visual language. Building on her earlier Stripes compositions, this series adds diagonal angles and new geometric relationships that enhance the dynamism of each piece. The rhomboid shape breaks up the linear repetition of stripes, creating a more complex and layered experience for the viewer. By interweaving these shapes in various orientations, Riley generates a lively interplay of direction and movement that engages the eye, making the compositions feel simultaneously structured and spontaneous.In this series, Riley uses a vivid color palette to accentuate the optical effects created by the zigzagging shapes. Bold colors like yellow, pink, blue, and green contrast with stark black and white, intensifying the illusion of depth and motion. The rhythmic arrangement of colors within each rhomboid shape produces an almost vibrating effect, as the eye is drawn along the angled lines in a zigzagging motion across the canvas. These color relationships create dynamic visual tension, where certain colors seem to advance while others recede, adding to the series' three-dimensional quality. The result is an engaging optical experience that feels immersive and expansive.The Zig / Rhomboid series highlights Riley’s ongoing commitment to exploring perception through geometric abstraction, pushing the boundaries of how shapes and colors can interact on a two-dimensional surface. Each piece encourages viewers to lose themselves in the complex networks of shapes, colors, and movement, inviting a prolonged and active engagement with the work. This series exemplifies Riley’s skill in transforming simple forms into intricate compositions that challenge and expand the viewer’s understanding of visual space. By introducing the rhomboid, Riley created a new layer of visual complexity that redefined her approach to optical art and expanded the possibilities of geometric abstraction.
Price on Application
Auction History
To Midsummer (Schubert 34) · Bridget Riley · Bonhams · 2021-09 · $14,051
“To Midsummer” · Bridget Riley · Dorotheum · 2021-05 · $23,689
To Midsummer (S. 34) · Bridget Riley · Sotheby's · 2021-03 · $21,080
To Midsummer · Bridget Riley · Christie's · 2020-09 · $11,756
To Midsummer · Bridget Riley · Christie's · 2014-12 · $0
More from this series
More series by Bridget Riley
About the Zig / Rhomboid Series
Explore Bridget Riley's iconic Zig/Rhomboid series, a landmark collection showcasing the British artist's mastery of optical abstraction. Featuring seminal works including June, New Day, Early Light, Shade, and To Midsummer, this series demonstrates Riley's pioneering use of precise geometric forms and dynamic colour relationships to create works that engage the viewer's perception in real time.
Created during a pivotal period in Riley's career, these acrylic paintings exemplify her rigorous methodology and intellectual approach to abstract art. The Zig/Rhomboid series established her as a leading figure in kinetic and Op art movements, with works recognised for their technical sophistication and lasting influence on contemporary practice.
Collectors value Riley's works for their conceptual depth, historical significance, and enduring visual impact. These pieces remain highly sought after in the contemporary art market, representing a significant investment in post-war British abstraction.
Each work in this series is available for purchase. Enquire for current availability and provenance 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.