Elysium by Bridget Riley: History of the Work

Elysium, in brief

Title: Elysium
Artist: Bridget Riley (1931)
Artist born in: South Norwood, United Kingdom
Date: 2003
Dimensions: 261 × 236 cm

What does Elysium depict?

Riley is often associated with the Op Art movement of the mid-1960s, characterized by simple lines and forms, usually in repetitive patterns, that create illusion of movement. She arrived at Elysium’s optical effect by doing rigorous work in 1973 with exquisite small-scale maquettes to explore the interplay of red, blue, and green alternating with white. Personal circumstances forestalled for three decades her exact translation of these studies into the final large-scale painting, in which vertical stripes in a perfectly calibrated sequence emanate a rolling but controlled vibration of colored light. Elysium is a modern evocation of the paradise invoked by its title, an abstract interpretation of the pastoral.

Colours

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Credit line

Bridget Riley, Elysium (2003).

Questions on Elysium, answered

In what year was "Elysium" by Bridget Riley created?

The creation of "Elysium" by Bridget Riley is dated 2003.

What size is "Elysium" by Bridget Riley in real life?

The recorded dimensions of "Elysium" by Bridget Riley are 261 x 236 cm. Reproductions can be ordered in other sizes while keeping the same proportions.

Is "Elysium" by Bridget Riley in the public domain?

Regarding copyright, "Elysium" is still protected by copyright.

Who created "Elysium"?

The artist behind "Elysium" is Bridget Riley. The work is catalogued under Bridget Riley's name.

How old was Bridget Riley when creating "Elysium" in 2003?

Bridget Riley was 72 years old when creating "Elysium" in 2003. The age is computed from the artist's birth year, 1931.

About the artist, Bridget Riley

1931, United Kingdom

Bridget Riley

A Life Illuminated by Perception: The World of Bridget Riley Bridget Louise Riley, born in Norwood, London, in 1931, stands as a pivotal figure in the history of modern art, renowned for her pioneering contributions to Op Art. Her journey began amidst the shifting landscapes of pre-war Britain, with a childhood marked by relocation from London to Lincolnshire and then Cornwall during the Second World War. These early experiences, spent observing the interplay of light and shadow on the Cornish coast, instilled in her a profound visual sensitivity that would become the cornerstone of her artistic practice. Her father’s profession as a printer subtly foreshadowed Riley's later fascination with pattern and precision, while an unconventional education—supplemented by talks from visiting teachers during wartime—fostered an independent spirit crucial to her innovative approach.

About Bridget Riley Notable works by Bridget Riley