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Bridget
Riley

United Kingdom • born in 1931

Biography and information

Bridget Riley (Bridget Louise Riley, April 24, 1931, Norwood, London, UK) - English artist, one of the most prominent representatives of the op-art style. Bridget's father was a printer, and she has been interested in visual arts since childhood. Professional education Riley received at the Royal College of Art in London. Already then she preferred monochrome images. After graduation, Bridget had to devote two years to caring for his father, who was seriously injured in a car accident. After his death, she began working as an illustrator in an advertising agency. At the same time, the artist began to write in the technique, similar to the work of pointillists. Around 1960, Riley returned to monochrome paintings, but now they consisted of geometric patterns that created the illusion of movement. For several years she taught painting and design in various educational institutions of Great Britain. Bridget Riley became widely known for her black and white work, but in 1967 she began to explore the color effects. The artist's work was influenced by a trip to Africa in the early 80s, after which she came up with her own “Egyptian palette” to convey the spirit of this country in her paintings. Over the course of her career, Riley created several murals for major art institutions, including the Tate Gallery and the National Gallery in London.