Description
Richard Gubernick
Geometric Hard-Edge Op Art Painting
Acrylic on Canvas, 1970s
A striking example of 1970s geometric abstraction, this acrylic on canvas by Richard Gubernick explores color vibration and spatial illusion through disciplined hard-edge structure. A radiant field of saturated red surrounds a central grid of subtly modulated squares, where warm oranges and yellows converge around a cool blue core. The carefully calibrated tonal shifts create a sense of pulsation and depth, drawing the eye inward while maintaining a rigorous formal balance.
Gubernick, born in New York, studied at the State University College at Buffalo, Yale University School of Music and Art, and earned his MFA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. A longtime Professor of Fine Arts at SUNY Buffalo, his work reflects a sustained investigation into color relationships, architectural structure, and perceptual movement associated with Op Art and American hard-edge painting.
His paintings have been exhibited widely, including at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and are held in notable public and corporate collections. In addition to his studio practice, Gubernick completed several major public art commissions, further underscoring his commitment to large-scale geometric form in built environments.
This work exemplifies his mature vocabulary: precise edges, luminous color transitions, and a restrained yet powerful compositional logic that rewards sustained viewing.
This work is unsigned by the artist but retains the original gallery tag denoting the date, artist, and title. It can be seen in the images.
