Bridget Riley (British, b.1931)

Paintings

Bridget Riley is a British painter who is perhaps the definitive artist of the Op Art Movement. That’s not to say she’s a one trick pony, Riley’s career spans multiple genres, a move to color, and an intensive study of Seurat.  After working jobs in advertising and illustration, Riley rose to prominence in the 1950s with her figurative semi-impressionist and pointilist paintings. In the 1960s, Riley was inspired by Seurat’s The Bridge at Courbevoie and incorporated some of the master’s techniques and general approach to her own practice. 

Riley spent the first half of the 1960s experimenting with geometric forms in black and white, which would produce some of her best-known work. She explored color in the 1960s and 1970s, finally culminating in a series inspired by the ancient Egyptians entitled Ka and Ra (1981). Riley continues to reinvent herself and exhibit paintings at galleries all over the world. No matter the movement, a Riley piece is always bold, smart, and inventive -- much like the artist herself. 

How many paintings has Bridget Riley created?

Bridget Riley has a large body of work that bridges many different distinct styles. As such, it’s hard to put an exact number on the number of paintings she’s produced over the course of such a long and varied career. Her scope ranges from pointillism to impressionism to being one of the definitive members of the Op-Art movement. 

How often do Bridget Riley paintings come up for auction?

Bridget Riley pieces are extremely valuable to collectors and museum curators alike. While she has a relatively large body of work, having a Riley piece is not only an investment but a status symbol. As such, Riley pieces are in high demand. A quick perusal will find several Riley pieces either at auction or in a lot for a future auction, but potential buyers would be advised to 

How much is Bridget Riley’s art worth?

Bridget Riley frequently appears on most expensive female artists lists, with the asking price for her paintings going up year after year. As of this publication date, she has had 15 paintings sell for over a million dollars and of those two sell for over five million. Even lesser known works typically sell in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

What Bridget Riley painting is the most valuable?

Bridget Riley’s most valuable painting is Chant 2 (1967) which sold for over $5 mil USD in 2008. She had previously sold another Op-Art painting entitled Untitled (Diagonal Curve) (1966) for 5.7 mil USD.  She has had 15 paintings sell for over a million dollars at auction, making her one of the most expensive living female artists in 2019. 

What are the most famous paintings by Bridget Riley?

Because her art is so in demand with collectors and because she’s had such a long and prolific career, there are several paintings that are extremely famous in the art community. Some of these include Movement in Squares (1961), Fragment 2 (1965), Cataract 3 (1967), Chant 2 (1967), Untitled (Diagonal Curve) (1966).