Bidspirit auction | Edna Andrade Layered Silkscreen on

Edna Andrade Layered Silkscreen on Glass 1973 - Edna Andrade (American, 1917-2008). Silkscreen on layers of glass and mirror, 1973. Etched into the lower right corner ”For Steve Lavino, From Edna, 12/24/73.” Depicting an Op-art composition of waves of black, white, and red lines. Lot Essay: Edna Andrade was an American abstract artist and a pioneering figure in the Op Art movement. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, she studied at the Barnes Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where she was influenced by the Bauhaus movement and German modernism. She spent most of her life in Philadelphia, where she taught for three decades at the University of the Arts. Andrade's early career included working on propaganda materials during World War II and creating public artworks for institutions like the Free Library of Philadelphia. Her early artistic output consisted of watercolor collages and abstracted landscapes before she transitioned to geometric abstraction in the 1950s. As a key figure in Op Art, Andrade’s work explored perception through geometric precision, symmetry, and color contrasts. Her paintings, such as Motion 4-64 and Turbo I, create optical illusions that engage the viewer’s visual experience. Influenced by artists like Paul Klee and Piet Mondrian, as well as disciplines like mathematics and philosophy, Andrade’s work was highly structured yet visually dynamic. Though she received significant recognition later in life, including awards for teaching and artistic achievement, her contributions were somewhat overlooked during her lifetime by the dominant New York art scene. Her legacy continues through retrospectives and scholarships, such as the Edna Andrade Emerging Artist Award, which supports female artists in their careers. Height: 12 3/4 in x width: 11 1/4 in x depth: 1 1/4 in. Condition: There are no breaks, losses, or repairs. The back panel is slightly loose in the frame. Light wear to the frame. Some dust gathered throughout.