Kezdi, Victor Vasarely (~1990). Photo ©Jonathan Turton, 2026
Loved this mind-bending deep-cuts retrospective from the godfather of op-art. From black & white abstract studies, to 3D works playing tricks with light and shadow, through to geometric optical illusions, you’d be curmudgeonly not to at least respect the vision and execution, even if the aesthetics weren’t your thing.
What made the exhibition most compelling was how fresh it looked – a tribute to the outsized influence Vasarely and his fellow op-art exponents have had on pop culture and marketing (he worked for an ad agency early in his career). It certainly made a lot of sense that a Hungarian was responsible for the Rubik’s Cube.
Was great to see children enjoying the gallery space; despite the complex theoretical underpinnings of much of Vasarely’s work, they remain very accessible with the bright colours and apparently simple compositions. Although the exhibition is temporary, Vasarely has his own whole museum in Budapest, where most of these works are set to return. Go visit.
Recommended 8/10