Label Type
Artist BioLabel
Julian Stanczak was a Polish-born artist who suffered hardships as a result of World War II, during which he and his family were sent to a Siberian labor camp. While imprisoned, he suffered abuse and illness resulting in the loss of function of his right arm. His family was released from the camp in 1942, ending up in a Polish refugee camp in Uganda, where Stanczak made art and was inspired by his surroundings. His family moved around for a few years, eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended the Cleveland Institute of Art. In 1954, he started his Masters degree at Yale University, where he studied under Josef Albers, an influential figure in Modern Art. Stanczak spent much of his career teaching at the Cleveland Institute of Art (from 1964 to 1995). As a leader of the Optical Art (Op-Art) movement, he produced many paintings and prints in this style, even after the short-lived movement had ended. Following his retirement from teaching, Stanczak continued to produce art and influence up and coming artists. Label Type
Object LabelLabel
Op-Art is an art movement that was popular during the 1960s and 1970s. It focused on the use of geometric forms, color theory, and the psychology of perception to create optical effects. Julian Stanczak’s solo exhibition titled Optical Paintings, held at the Martha Jackson Gallery in New York, was the source of inspiration for the name “Op-Art” coined by an art critic. Stanczak was commissioned by the Martha Jackson Gallery to create a series of prints in the 1970s. This series was titled Variations and included 6 serigraphs–a type of silk screen printing–one of which was Emerging Orange. His works show his dedication to the study of light waves, and the effects of colors and their arrangement.