Op Art and Lithuanian roots: The legacy of Kazys Varnelis

While M. K. Čiurlionis (1875-1911) is Lithuania’s most iconic painter, Kazys Varnelis (1917-2010) is no less a world-renowned Lithuanian painter.

Recognised as a master of Op Art (optical art based on and creating optical illusions), Kazys Varnelis has something in common with Čiurlionis, considered the founder of modern Lithuanian art: they both found inspiration in their country’s folklore.

Kazys Varnelis. Azora, 1971
Acrylic on canvas, 173 x 173 cm
National Museum of Lithuania

Kazys Varnelis. Vibrato, 1972
Acrylic on canvas, 204 x 224 cm
National Museum of Lithuania

Kazys Varnelis. Cascada Cristalina, 1969
Acrylic on canvas, 200 x 426 cm
National Museum of Lithuania

The influence of Lithuanian folk art on Kazys Varnelis

As part of Lithuanian Season in France in 2024, the Vasarely Foundation in Aix-en-Provence hosted the exhibition Ethnographic Op Art, revealing the deep influence of Lithuanian folk art on the work of Kazys Varnelis.

This influence came through the painter’s mother: a weaver and seamstress, she taught her son the science of geometric patterns that adorn bedspreads and other traditional Lithuanian textiles.

Fabrics made in the 20th century by unknown Lithuanian weavers such as Bronislava Kulšienė and Cikanavičienė.

Magdelena Bagdonaitė
Bedspread, ~ 1913
Cotton, linen, wool, overshot weaving
188 x 154 cm
National Museum of Lithuania

Kazys Varnelis. Pulsating Elements, 1967
Acrylic on canvas, 173 x 173 cm
National Museum of Lithuania

As a child, Kazys Varnelis already assisted his father, who painted churches, but it was his mother’s influence that was decisive in enriching the global Op Art movement of the 20th century with Kazys Varnelis’ Lithuanian roots.

As an adult, Kazys Varnelis invited another form of art into his studio: he enjoyed painting while listening to classical music (Beethoven, Giuseppe Verdi) and jazz (Frank Sinatra). His habit of painting while listening to the world’s most famous crooner suggests that he remained in the mindset of appreciating popular culture for its true value, regardless of its origin, without ever despising the influence it could have on his work.

Main photo of the article:
Preview of the exhibition Kazys Varnelis, The Op Classicist from Lithuania, presented by the Centre Pompidou, Paris, as part of the Season of Lithuania in France in 2024.

Left painting:
Kazys Varnelis
Lotos, 1976
Acrylic on canvas, 221 x 222 cm
National Museum of Lithuania

Right painting:
Kazys Varnelis
Idiom, 1975
Acrylic on canvas, 174 x 248 cm
National Museum of Lithuania

All photos were taken by the blog’s author.