French maker of optical/kinetic reliefs and painter. Jean-Pierre Vasarely, known as Yvaral, born in Paris. Studied graphic art and publicity at the Ecole des Arts Appliqu-23s in Paris. First experimented with geometrical abstract art in 1954 and made his first works with movement 1955. Co-founder with Le Parc, Morellet, Sobrino and others of the Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuel 1960. Attempted to create a visual language based on simple codifiable and programmed elements and also (in his reliefs) to use moir-23 effects, optical acceleration, etc. to introduce notions of space and time usually through the displacement of the spectator. First one-man exhibition at the Howard Wise Gallery, New York, 1966. From c.1968 made many paintings and screenprints with vigorous colour interactions and geometrical compositions suggesting movement, projection, recession, etc. His works include a number of multiples. Lives in Paris.

Published in:
Ronald Alley, Catalogue of the Tate Gallery's Collection of Modern Art other than Works by British Artists, Tate Gallery and Sotheby Parke-Bernet, London 1981, pp.766-7