Color Theory, in art and design, refers to a set of principles and guidelines for working with color that includes pure colors (hues), their values, mixing and the perceptual effects of color. A complex topic with many different theories and the earliest color wheel from Sir Issac Newton. Most of the impact on Post War contemporary art is that derived from theorists and educators such as Johannes Itten (1888-1967) and his and publication of The Art of Color; Hans Hofmann (1880-1966) and his “push and pull” technique to use color and shapes to create the illusion of space, depth and motion in a two-dimensional picture plane; and Josef Albers (1988-1976) and the Interaction of Colors (Yale University Press).
There is a group of contemporary color theorists from Hunter College in New York City who have dedicated their careers to categorizing thousands of colors and developing their own color systems for understanding the affect of color on the human psyche and the sensations that color in terms of human emotions. These artists include Sanford Wurmfeld, Robert Swain and Gabriele Evertz.
Some basic terms and definitions:
Color - The property of an object based on the light it reflects or emits and that the eye receives.
Color wheel - color spectrum from light bent into a circle.
Primary colors - The most basic colors on the color wheel, red, yellow and blue. These colors cannot be made by mixing.
Secondary colors - colors that are made by mixing two primary colors together. Orange, green and violet.
Tertiary colors - colors that are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color.
Hue - the name of a pure color.
Chroma - a color's purity, intensity or saturation, the brightness or dullness of a color.
Value - the darkness or lightness of a color.
Tints - are created by adding white to a color.
Shades - are created by adding black to a color.
Additive color theory - a school of thought that refers to the behavior of color as it pertains to light - primary colors mix to create white light.
Subtractive color theory - refers to the behavior of color as it pertains to the mixing of pigments like ink, paint, or dye - primary colors mix to create black.
Source Link: More information
Associated Artist
Associated Exhibitions
- Mokha Laget Polychrome Polygons
June 10, 2019 - July 13, 2019
- Mark Dagley Neo Op
March 1, 2019 - March 31, 2019
- Christian Haub Like A Butterfly
October 19, 2018 - November 24, 2018
- Matthew Kluber No Place Like Utopia
October 19, 2018 - November 24, 2018
- Optical and Pattern Paintings Presenting artworks by Beth Radford, Marge Rector and Eric Zammitt
October 1, 2018 - October 27, 2018
- Angela Johal You Hear The Colours
October 1, 2018 - October 27, 2018
- TADASKY Pushing Boundaries
August 23, 2018 - September 29, 2018
- Andrew Huffman Modulated: Color and Structure
August 23, 2018 - September 29, 2018
- Julian Stanczak: Dynamic Fields
February 10, 2018 - March 17, 2018
- OLI SIHVONEN
Kinetic Energy
January 27, 2018 - March 3, 2018
- Robert Swain Color: Theory and Affect
December 9, 2017 - January 20, 2018
- Mokha Laget In Shape, In Color
September 4, 2017 - October 7, 2017
- SENSATION Featuring: Richard Anuszkiewicz, Leon Berkowitz, Gabrielle Evertz, Fred Eversley, Beverly Fishman, Ted Larsen, Tom Martinelli, Matthew Penkala, Richard Roth, Julian Stanczak, Oli Sihvonen, Robert Swain, Leo Valledor, Sanford Wurmfeld
April 4, 2014 - May 24, 2014
- OLI SIHVONEN In Motion, Rhythmic and Optical Paintings by Oli Sihvonen From 1988 to 1991
January 31, 2014 - March 8, 2014
- THOMAS DOWNING Paintings from the 1970s
January 31, 2014 - February 28, 2014
- LEON BERKOWITZ Unity
December 2, 2013 - January 25, 2014
- PAUL REED A Career Exploring Color and Visual Perception
June 21, 2013 - July 27, 2013
- RICHARD ANUSZKIEWICZ Variations: Evolution of The Artist's Media 1986 - 2012
May 10, 2013 - June 15, 2013
- DYNAMOS IN PARIS
May 8, 2013 - May 29, 2013
- PAUL REED Stained and Unstretched
February 14, 2013 - March 23, 2013
- COLORS AND OPTICS Richard Anuszkiewicz, Fred Eversley, Gabriele Evertz, Beverly Fishman, Rakuko Naito, Richard Roth, Julian Stanczak, Robert Swain, and Eric Zammitt
February 13, 2013 - March 23, 2013
- SANFORD WURMFELD
November 9, 2012 - December 22, 2012
- GABRIELE EVERTZ Optic Drive
November 9, 2012 - December 22, 2012
- MATTHEW KLUBER Color Interference
November 8, 2012 - December 22, 2012
- FRED EVERSLEY Light Lens
September 21, 2012 - November 3, 2012
- TADASKY The Circle ReViewed: 1964 to 2012
August 17, 2012 - September 22, 2012
- JULIAN STANCZAK Grids and Planes
August 17, 2012 - September 15, 2012
- ROBERT SWAIN Color Affect
May 18, 2012 - June 23, 2012
- SEEING RED A Group Exhibition Featuring artwork by:
Gabriele Evertz, Beverly Fishman, Harmony Hammond, Maxwell Hendler, Tim Jag, Matsumi Kanemitsu, Tom Martinelli, Scott Malbaurn, Julian Stanczak, Yozo Suzuki, Robert Swain, Leo Valledor
May 18, 2012 - June 23, 2012
- JAY DAVIS Mirage
March 2, 2012 - March 31, 2012
- JULIAN STANCZAK Elusive Transparencies
September 1, 2011 - September 30, 2011
Associated News
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March 15, 2024
Sanford Wurmfeld Investigates How We Perceive Color
HyperAllergic
by John Yau
March 14, 2024
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February 12, 2024
Sanford Wurmfeld: Corona Variations
Galleries Now
February 12, 2024
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February 11, 2024
Press Release - Sanford Wurmfeld Corona Variations
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September 10, 2023
Isaac Aden
Yale University Radio
Brainard Carey
September 10, 2023
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September 6, 2023
Isaac Aden: Pursuing the Sublime Experience
XIBT Magazine
By Chunbum Park
September 6, 2023
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September 5, 2023
Isaac Aden The Numinous Sublime - Part ll
GalleriesNow
September 5, 2023
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September 3, 2023
Press Release - Issac Aden The Numinous Sublime - Part ll
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July 24, 2023
Press Release - Isaac Aden The Numinous Sublime - Part l
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July 24, 2023
Five Things to Do in New York’s Art Scene July 24-28
Observer
Dan Duray
July 24, 2023
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May 12, 2023
Mokha Laget’s Visual Paradoxes
Hyperallergic
Amy Ellingson
May 12, 2023
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April 1, 2023
Robert Swain: The Perception of Color
The Brooklyn Rail
By Alfred Mac Adam
March 31, 2023
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February 27, 2023
Robert Swain: The Perception of Color
GalleriesNow
February 27, 2023
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February 26, 2023
Press Release - Robert Swain The Perception of Color
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December 13, 2022
Mokha Laget: Hot Axis at David Richard Gallery
Whitehot Magazine
December 13, 2022
by Cori Hutchinson
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November 14, 2022
Mokha Laget: Hot Axis
GalleriesNow
November 14, 2022
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November 7, 2022
Press Release - Mokha Laget Hot Axis
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September 29, 2022
Inaugural exhibit of 'Landfall Press: Five Decades Exhibition'
Hays Post
Cristina Janney
September 28, 2022
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June 3, 2022
Mokha Laget: Perceptualism
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center
June 11 - August 7, 2022
Curated by Kristen Hileman
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April 6, 2022
2 Artists Showcased
Jackson Hole News and Guide
Rich Anderson
April 6, 2022
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February 21, 2022
Some sweet geometric art
DEVIN NEALY
9:41 AM MON FEB 21, 2022
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February 2, 2022
Isaac Aden
The Numinous Sublime
GalleriesNow
February 2, 2022
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December 8, 2021
The Unknown Work of Rakuko Naito
HyperAllegric
John Yau
December 8, 2021
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May 15, 2021
Press Release - Isaac Aden
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April 15, 2021
Off the Grid: Print Portfolio by Mokha Laget
University of Richmond Museums
April 14, 2021
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April 12, 2021
Andrew Huffman
Revel in Art 2021
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March 20, 2021
New ethereal and atmospheric color paintings by Isaac Aden on view at David Richard Gallery
ArtDaily
March 20, 2021
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March 16, 2021
Isaac Aden Immersion
GalleriesNow
March 16, 2021
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March 11, 2021
Robert Swain's scaled color studies for monumental series on view at David Richard Gallery
ArtDaily
March 11, 2021
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October 28, 2020
Isaac Aden at David Richard Gallery
WhiteHot Magazine
October 28, 2020
Mark Bloch
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September 23, 2020
Isaac Aden: Vespers and Auroras
The Brooklyn Rail
David Carrier
September 23, 2020
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September 21, 2020
Andrew Huffman's first New York solo exhibition opens at David Richard Gallery
ArtDaily.com
September 21, 2020
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September 15, 2020
Andrew Huffman: Hued Vibrations
GalleriesNow.net
September 15, 2020
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September 8, 2020
Isaac Aden: Vespers and Auroras
GalleriesNow.net
September 8, 2020
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September 1, 2020
Press Release - Andrew Huffman - "Hued Vibrations"
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August 21, 2020
Press Release - Isaac Aden - Vespers and Auroras
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June 23, 2020
Andrew Huffman, In Installation
Young Space
June 23, 2020
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May 23, 2020
Richard Anuszkiewicz (1930–2020)
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January 30, 2020
SCALING UP: Translating paintings into large scale architectural elements
Public Art Services Blog
January 30, 2020
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September 9, 2019
Landfall Press: Five Decades of Printmaking
Milwaukee Art Museum
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August 21, 2019
Mokha Laget at David Richard Gallery in East Harlem: Testing Spatial Reality
ArtBeat Santa Fe
August 21, 2019
Kathryn M Davis
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August 9, 2019
Find Your Niche Alcoves 20/20
Pasatiempo
August 9, 2019
Michael Abatemarco
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August 5, 2019
Alcoves 20/20 #1
August 9, 2019
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August 5, 2019
‘Optical Art’ to be shown at Fort Wayne Museum of Art
Wane.com
August 5, 2019
Dirk Rowley
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July 6, 2019
Mokha Laget at David Richard Gallery
White Hot Magazine
July 6, 2019
Jonathan Goodman
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June 18, 2019
Mokha Laget: Polychrome Polygons at David Richard Gallery
Arte Fuse
June 18, 2019
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June 15, 2019
Mokha Laget
12 Jun — 13 Jul 2019
at the David Richard Gallery in New York, United States
Wall Street International Magazine
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June 12, 2019
Mokha Laget: Polychrome Polygons
GalleriesNow.net
June 12, 2019
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June 12, 2019
Color Theory explores math and visual at GOCA, plus more events this week
Colorado Spring Independent
June 12, 2019
Alissa Smith
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June 5, 2019
Harlem: Manhattan’s Newest Art Zone
Where Traveler
June 5, 2019
Jean Lawlor Cohen
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May 30, 2019
Press Release - Mokha Laget "Polychrome Polygons" at David Richard Gallery
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May 16, 2019
The Forgotten Female Artist Who May Have Been Murdered by the CIA
Artsy.net
Alina Cohen
May 16, 2019
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April 8, 2019
JULIAN STANCZAK
The Lobby Gallery, 499 Park Avenue, New York
On view through September 2019
Reception: Tuesday, April 9, 5-7 pm
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March 28, 2019
Mark Dagley: Neo-Op at David Richard Gallery
WhiteHot Magazine, 03/28/2019
Mark Bloch
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March 27, 2019
White Box
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March 26, 2019
Rhythm, Rhythm, Everywhere
Toledo City Paper, 03/26/2019
Thena Cocoves
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March 11, 2019
Mark Dagley
Wall Street International Magazine, 03/11/2019
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March 4, 2019
Mark Dagley
ArtDaily.org, 03/04/2019
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March 1, 2019
Mark Dagley Neo Op
NY Art Beat, 03/01/2019
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March 1, 2019
The Weekender
Mark Dagley Neo Op
GalleriesNow.Net, 03/01/2019
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February 26, 2019
Mark Dagley Neo Op
GalleriesNow.Net, 02/26/2019
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February 24, 2019
The North Sydney Art Prize 2019
Visual Arts Hub, 02/24/2019
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February 14, 2019
Press Release - Mark Dagley Neo Op
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November 2, 2018
Matthew Kluber No Place Like Utopia
GalleriesNow.Net, 11/02/2018
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November 2, 2018
Christian Haub: Like A Butterfly, Recent Floats
GalleriesNow.Net, 11/02/2018
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October 29, 2018
Christian Haub
Wall Street International Magazine, 10/29/2018
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October 29, 2018
Matthew Kluber
Wall Street International Magazine, 10/29/2018
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October 19, 2018
Matthew Kluber - No Place Like Utopia
NY Art Beat, 10/19/2018
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October 16, 2018
Press Release - Matthew Kluber 'No Place Like Utopia'
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October 12, 2018
Angela Johal at David Richard Gallery
Santa Fe New Mexican
Pasatiempo, 10/12/2018
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October 10, 2018
Press Release - Christian Haub 'Like A Butterfly'
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October 1, 2018
Andrew Huffman
Modulated: Color and Structure
International Art Exhibitions 2018
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August 27, 2018
Andrew Huffman's debut exhibition opens at David Richard Gallery
ArtDaly.org, 08/27/2019
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August 14, 2018
Press Release - Andrew Huffman 'Modulated: Color and Structure'
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July 28, 2018
Unique art 'treasure hunt' spans dozens of Ohio venues
The Blade, 07/28/2018
Roberta Gedert
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July 12, 2018
Cleveland Hopes to Become the Next Venice
The Wall Street Journal, 07/12/2018
Kelly Crow
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March 26, 2018
Check out Matthew Kluber's artwork
VoyageLA.com, 03/26/2018
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February 17, 2018
Julian Stanczak
Visual Art Source, 02/17/2018
Amanda Malloy
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February 9, 2018
Julian Stanczak at David Richard Gallery
Santa Fe New Mexican
Pasatiempo, 02/09/2018
Michael Abatemarco
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February 8, 2018
Love is in the Art
Santa Fe Arts Journal, 02/08/2018
Emily Van Cleve
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January 31, 2018
Press Release - Julian Stanczak "Dynamic Fields"
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January 28, 2018
Barrick Museum's Spring Exhibitions Open Feb. 9
University of Nevada Las Vegas, 01/27/2018
Jennifer Vaughan
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January 26, 2018
Oli Sihvonen, Kinetic Energy
Wall Street International Magazine, 01/26/2018
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January 24, 2018
Painting exhibition to showcase wide-ranging survey of contemporary painting
Business North, 01/24/2018
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January 22, 2018
Mokha Laget
Vasari21.com, 01/22/2018
Ann Landi
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January 17, 2018
Press Release - Oli Sihvonen "Kinetic Energy"
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November 20, 2017
Press Release - Robert Swain "Color: Theory and Affect"
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November 12, 2017
Artist discovers ‘Sounds of Silence’ in new watercolor show
Las Vegas Review Journal, 11/11/2017
Carol Cling
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October 3, 2017
Oklahoma City Museum of Art receives major gift of Paul Reed works
ArtDaily.org, 10/03/2017
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September 5, 2017
VIRTUAL VIEWS: DIGITAL ART FROM THE THOMA FOUNDATION
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September 4, 2017
Unmoored Geographies: Works from the Permanent Collection
Ulrich Museum of Art
Beren and Amsden Galleries
Wichita State University, 09/04/2017
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September 4, 2017
Visually Displaced
Santa Fe Arts Journal, 09/04/2017
Emily Van Cleve
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August 28, 2017
Mokha Laget’s ‘In Shape, In Color’ at David Richard Gallery, Santa Fe
Blouin ArtInfo, 08/28/2017
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August 12, 2017
Press Release - Mokha Laget "In Shape, In Color"
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July 22, 2017
FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art
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July 20, 2017
Artist Tim Bavington joins the roster at David Richard Gallery
ArtDaily.org
July 20, 2017
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July 20, 2017
Tim Bavington Joins David Richard Gallery
ArtNet News, 07/20/2017
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July 17, 2017
Press Release - Tim Bavington "Sunshine Maker"
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June 14, 2017
Systematic Paper, a group exhibition of Kwon Young-woo, Rakuko Naito, and Dorothea Rockburne.
ThisIsPaper.com, 06/14/2017
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April 19, 2017
Julian Stanczak’s Contribution to Cincinnati Art
City Beat, 04/19/2017
Steven Rosen
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April 11, 2017
Julian Stanczak, Abstract Painter, Dies at 88
New York Times, 04/11/2017
Roberta Smith
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March 31, 2017
Julian Stanczak on the Power of Red
ArtInfo, 03/31/2017
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March 28, 2017
Op Art Loses One of Its Leading Figures With Death of Julian Stanczak
ArtNet News, 03/29/2017
Perwana Nazif
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March 28, 2017
Julian Stanczak, Central Figure of Op Art Movement, Dies at 88
ArtNet News, 03/28/2017
Alex Greenberger
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March 28, 2017
Julian Stanczak (1928–2017)
Artforum, 03/28/2017
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March 27, 2017
Julian Stanczak, globally renowned Op artist based in Cleveland, has died at age 88
Cleveland.com, 03/25/2017
Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer
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January 25, 2017
Line Forms Here
The Reader, 01/25/2017
Janet L. Farber
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April 21, 2016
Art + World | Dallas Art Fair
Pin + Stripe, 04/21/2016
Christi
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January 8, 2016
Tech Art steals the show at Miami Art Week 2015
Cartwheel Art
January 8, 2016
Michelle Berc
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December 16, 2015
Julian Stanczak Op Art paintings smash local price ceiling and rocket nationally
Cleveland.com, 12/16/2015
Steven Litt
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December 4, 2015
13 Best finds at Art Basel - Christian Haub
New York Post, 12/04/2015
By Carrie Seim and Melissa Feldman
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October 1, 2015
Gabriel Evertz - Breaking Pattern
Schneider Museum of Art, 10/01/2015
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July 13, 2015
Robert Swain Color Energy
The Brooklyn Rail, 07/13/2015
Hovey Brock
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May 28, 2015
Giant video to light up Ingersoll building
Des Moines Register, 05/28/2015
Michael Morain
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February 25, 2015
Op Art pioneer Richard Anuszkiewicz’s dancing colors are like Red Bull for your retinas
Orlando Weekly, 02/25/2015
Richard Reep
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January 29, 2015
Color Color' evokes harmony between two disparate mediums
The New Record, 01/29/2015
Christina Drobney
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December 15, 2014
'Color Color' at the Cincinnati Art Museum showcases digital prints and poetry
ArtDaily.org, 12/15/2014
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June 6, 2014
At Bergamot Station: Great paintingsfor every taste
Huffington Post, 06/05/2014
John Seed
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June 6, 2014
Robert Swain presents "Color as a Transfer of Energy
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May 22, 2014
Culture Watch: Looking forward
Santa Monica Daily Press, 05/22/2014
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May 18, 2014
Santa Monica Art Events. The Form of Color by Robert Swain (45 Years of Research!!)
Yareah Magazine, 05/18/2014
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March 19, 2014
Oli Sihvonen: In Motion
Art Ltd, March/April 2014
Matthew Irwin
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March 4, 2014
Leon Berkowitz - Review
Art In America, March 2014
Mary Proenza
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March 3, 2014
Press Release - Julian Stanczak "Lineal Pathways"
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March 1, 2014
Oli Sihvonen
David Richard Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Visual Art Source, 03/01/2014
Iris McLister
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February 23, 2014
1969 Cleveland Arts Prize for Visual Arts
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January 31, 2014
Capturing chance and time
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January 30, 2014
Rhythmic and optical paintings by Oli Sihvonen from 1988 to 1991 presented at David Richard Gallery
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January 10, 2014
Press Release - Oli Sihvonen "In Motion"
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December 13, 2013
Subtle and misty transitions: Leon Berkowitz’s ‘Unity’ paintings
Albuquerque Journal North, 12/13/2013
Kate McGraw
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November 26, 2013
Press Release - Leon Berkowitz "Unity"
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November 15, 2013
Richard Anuszkiewicz featrured in the exhibition "Optic Nerve" at the Tacoma Art Museum.
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November 3, 2013
Press Release - Christian Haub "Float"
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April 30, 2013
JULIAN STANCZAK
COLOR WONDER
Cleveland Magazine, May 2013
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April 14, 2013
COLOR VISIONS: THE SANFORD WURMFELD EXPERIENCE
Hyperallergic, 04/14/2013
John Yau
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April 13, 2013
Press Release - RICHARD ANUSZKIEWICZ Variations: Evolution of The Artist's Media 1986 - 2012
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April 8, 2013
AKRON ART MUSEUM
Line Color Illusion: 40 Years of Julian Stanczak
Apr 13, 2013 - Nov 3, 2013
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November 11, 2012
Press Release - Gabriele Evertz "Optic Drive"
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November 11, 2012
Press Release - Sanford Wurmfeld
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October 16, 2012
THE MARKET'S HOTTEST ARTISTS
Bloomberg.com, 10/16/2012
Ben Steverman
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May 14, 2012
ROBERT SWAIN "COLOR AFFECT" AT DAVID RICHARD GALLERY
Eyes In, 05/14/2012
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May 11, 2012
Press Release - Robert Swain "Color Affect"
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May 1, 2012
An Interview with Artist Julian Stanczak
GeoForm, May 2012
Julie Karabenick
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May 1, 2012
An Interview with Artist Julian Stanczak
GeoForm, May 2012
Julie Karabenick
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December 13, 2011
JULIAN STANCZAK: GREAT COLORIST OF THE 20TH CENTURY
Cleveland Institute of Art, 12/13/2011
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November 6, 2011
Cleveland Institute of Art touts its own history in shows on Robert Mangold, Julian Stanczak and Ed Mieczkowski
Cleveland.com, 11/06/2011
Steven Litt
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September 21, 2011
CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART OPTICAL ART EXHIBIT A TEST FOR THE EYES
WEWS, 09/21/2011
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August 23, 2011
Press Release - Julian Stanczak "Tactile See Through"
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November 1, 2010
The New Criterion review of "Julian Stanczak: Color - Grid"
Gallery Chronicle, November 2010
James Panero
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July 1, 2017
Color Theory