Artwork copyright Francis Celentano. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2024.

Alternate Curve of Isis in Pink and Lime, 1984

Francis Celentano
American (born 1928, died 2016)

Location: Pierce College - Fort Steilacoom, Lakewood

About the Artwork

Alternate Curve of Isis in Pink and Lime is an energetic and vibrant painting by artist Francis Celentano. It features prismatic colors in curved strips. The repeating gradient of colors generates an optical illusion. This illusion causes a unique visual response in each viewer. The artist noted, "The painting can be experienced aesthetically and logically in terms of itself alone without metaphoric reference."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Pierce College District.

About the Artist

Francis Celentano (1928-2016) was one of the pioneers of Op Art and a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle for thirty years. He created paintings and sculptures that investigate perception and color theory. Op Art explores how vision functions and the effect on our viewing experience as a result.