April 9, 2011 to February 26, 2012 East wing, Cleveland gallery During the 1960s, Cleveland emerged as a vital center for Op Art, a style of geometric abstraction that tackles issues of visual perception. The city operated as both training ground and residence to several artists who became renowned for their Op work. Cleveland also witnessed the birth of the Anonima Group, the only artist collaborative in the United States devoted to the movement.

An abbreviation for "Optical Art," Op Art arose out of desire on the part of artists to stimulate vision. Taking cues from theories in perceptual psychology, Op artists manipulate figure-ground relationships and orchestrate color interactions-or stark contrasts of black and white-in order to enhance the act of seeing or investigate ambiguities that are inherent in the process. Ultimately, Op artists seek to heighten art viewing experiences for their audiences.

Drawn primarily from the Cleveland Museum of Art's permanent collection, CLE OP: Cleveland Op Art Pioneers celebrates important contributions made by these artists in the local, national, and international art scenes.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this exhibition with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.