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ArtReview Archives Revisit Bridget Riley's 1962 Debut and 2014 Stripe Paintings Exhibition

publication · 2026-04-20

To mark its 65th anniversary, ArtReview delved into its archives to showcase Bridget Riley, featuring reviews and interviews spanning from 1962 to 2010. This retrospective coincided with the exhibition "Bridget Riley: The Stripe Paintings 1961–2014," held at David Zwirner in London from June 13 to July 25, 2014. The earliest piece is a 1962 critique by Michael Shepherd, focusing on Riley's inaugural solo exhibition at Gallery One. He praised her ability to merge optical effects with painting, describing a visually vibrating herringbone-patterned work. Shepherd highlighted her significant impact on fellow artists and her acute perception of reality, underscoring the themes of artistic freedom and enjoyment that characterized her career.

Key facts

  • ArtReview published an archival feature on Bridget Riley to mark its 65th anniversary.
  • The feature coincided with "Bridget Riley: The Stripe Paintings 1961–2014" at David Zwirner, London.
  • The exhibition ran from June 13 through July 25, 2014.
  • The archives included reviews and interviews published between 1962 and 2010.
  • The earliest piece was a 1962 review by Michael Shepherd of Riley's first solo show at Gallery One.
  • Shepherd described Riley's work as integrating optical, scientific effects into painting.
  • He noted her use of black and white grids to create illusionary stresses and directional lines.
  • One painting featured a herringbone pattern with shifting colors that constantly vibrated.

Entities

Artists

  • Bridget Riley
  • Michael Shepherd
  • Vasarely

Institutions

  • ArtReview
  • David Zwirner
  • Gallery One

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom

Sources