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Optical Art Pioneer Alberto Biasi Returns to New York

Alberto Biasi’s cleanly composed, perception-warping designs are on exhibition at the De Buck Gallery in New York
Uno e Trino in nero, 2005, PVC and acrylic on panel, 45 1/4 x 45 1/4 inches, courtesy of the De Buck Gallery

The subtly executed illusions of optical art pioneer, Gruppo N co-founder, and Arte Programmata contributor Alberto Biasi boggle the mind with their simplicity. In the Italian artist’s first solo exhibition in New York since 1971, Unlimited Perception, Biasi’s foundational work is showcased in two multi-decadal series: Torsioni and Rilievi Ottico-Dinamici. In both, Biasi’s flair for the art of the optical illusion emerges through cleanly composed, perception-warping designs.

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Specifically, Unlimited Perception highlights Biasi’s exploration into the “the visual possibilities of utilizing a mixture of traditional and untraditional materials,” as the press release explains. The Torsioni works concentrate on geometric forms, adding impossible depth with lines of PVC strips. In the Rilievi Ottico-Dinamici pieces, parallel rows and closely knit clusters of PVC stratify the brightly painted backgrounds into a multiplex of colorful designs. It's been awhile, and we must say: Mr. Biasi, we're glad to have you back.

Unlimited Perception is on display at the De Buck Gallery in New York from now until May 2nd.

8-8 + celeste, 1992, PVC and acrylic on panel, 59 x 39 1/2 inches, courtesy of the De Buck Gallery

Battibecco tra il cerchio e il quadrato, 2012, PVC and acrylic on panel, 35 1/2 x 77 1/4 inches, courtesy of the De Buck Gallery

Variable round image, 1990, PVC and acrylic on panel, 63 3/4 inches (diameter), courtesy of the De Buck Gallery

In circo, 2000, PVC and acrylic on panel, 49 1/4 x 49 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches, courtesy of the De Buck Gallery

Dinamica ellittica in rosso, 1981, PVC and acrylic on panel, 47 1/4 x 36 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches, courtesy of the De Buck Gallery

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