Yaacov Agam, Kinetic Art Pioneer, Dies at 98

Yaacov Agam, a trailblazer in kinetic and op art, passed away at the age of 98 on June 21, 2026, as confirmed by the mayor of Rishon LeZion. Born in 1928 in what was then British Mandate Palestine, Agam pursued his education at the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts and the Zurich School of Applied Arts. He relocated to Paris in 1951, where he formed connections with notable artists such as Constantin Brancusi and Marc Chagall. His inaugural solo exhibition in 1953 showcased "transformable paintings," and he was a participant in the inaugural international kinetic art exhibition in 1955. Agam's art engaged viewers through optical illusions, and he designed the Salon Agam at the Élysée Palace in 1972, along with public fountains in Paris and Tel Aviv. His works are housed in institutions like MoMA, Centre Pompidou, and the Yaacov Agam Museum. In 1996, he was honored with the UNESCO Comenius Medal.