About the Artwork

Bridget Riley’s Firebird (1971) is a striking example of the artist’s pioneering exploration of colour, perception and optical movement. Created during a pivotal period in her practice, this vibrant colour screenprint demonstrates Riley’s ability to transform simple geometric forms into a dynamic visual experience.

Through the rhythmic interplay of colour and line, Firebird creates a compelling sense of movement across the picture plane. Its carefully orchestrated composition challenges the eye, revealing the complexity of visual perception and the subtle relationships between colour, form and space.

An important work in Riley’s printmaking practice, Firebird marks a significant moment in her exploration of colour. Printed by Kelpra Studio in London, the work reflects the precision and technical sophistication that underpin her celebrated Op Art compositions.

Bridget Riley and the Art of Optical Movement

One of the leading figures in Op Art, British artist Bridget Riley is internationally recognised for her investigations into the relationship between art and visual perception. Her compositions use carefully controlled arrangements of shapes, lines and colours to create sensations of movement, rhythm and depth.

In Firebird, Riley extends these investigations through an expressive interplay of colour and pattern. The work demonstrates how seemingly simple visual elements can produce a remarkably complex optical experience, inviting sustained engagement from the viewer.

Created in 1971, Firebird occupies an important place in Riley’s artistic development, representing her early experiments with colour screenprinting. Today, the work remains a compelling example of her distinctive approach to abstraction and a noteworthy addition to collections of modern and contemporary prints.

Artwork Details

• Artist: Bridget Riley
• Title: Firebird (S. 9, T. & G. 10)
• Date: 1971
• Medium: Screenprint in colours on wove paper
• Edition: Artist’s proof from an edition of 15 artist’s proofs, aside from the main edition of 75
• Dimensions: 76.3 × 101.1 cm (30 × 39.8 in)
• Framed dimensions: 105.5 × 80.5 × 4.5 cm
• Signature: Signed, editioned, dated and titled on the front
• Condition: Excellent overall presentation, with strong colours and clean print edges. Minor condition details are noted in the gallery’s condition report.
• Framing: Float-mounted in a steel frame with UV-protective acrylic glazing

Collect Bridget Riley’s Firebird

Discover Firebird (1971) at Lougher Contemporary, a significant colour screenprint by one of the most influential artists associated with Op Art. Combining visual intensity with historical importance, this work offers collectors an opportunity to acquire an early example of Riley’s exploration of colour, pattern and perception.

For further information about the artwork, its condition or the acquisition process, contact Lougher Contemporary to speak with our team.