Mesmerizing “Portals” Made from Multi-Layered Colors Mimic Our Beautifully Mystifying World

Op Art by Jen Stark

“30 Cubed”
Image courtesy of the artist and Joshua Liner Gallery

Artist Jen Stark creates sculptures and paintings that delight the eyes with their visual effects. Using elements of optical illusions and Op art, her electrifying works appear in motion as they lead us down a dizzying tunnel or take over an entire wall. While it’s natural to assume they are otherworldly forms, the pieces are wholly inspired by our planet. The works recall molecular structures and organic forms that we’ve seen in nature—even if we aren’t able to put our finger on what they are.

This duality—of being intrigued by the unknown yet comforted by its odd familiarity—is what helps to make Stark’s work so mesmerizing. Breaking down her influences, you can see how they correlate to her manufactured portals. The vibrant colors, for instance, are inspired by the “attractant/repellent properties of flowers encouraging pollination or insects warning birds of their poisonous traits, and the luminous mystery of phosphorescent sea creatures.” The materials she uses, including wood, paper, and metal, are placed atop one another in descending order of size. These fractal configurations are the same that “simulate plant growth, evolution, infinity, fractals, mimetic topographies, and sacred geometries.”

On July 19, 2019, Stark concluded a solo exhibition called Dimensionality at the Joshua Liner Gallery in New York. Scroll down to see her awe-inspiring works from the show.

Artist Jen Stark creates optical illusion artwork that highlights the mesmerizing and mystifying elements in our natural world.

Optical Illusion Art by Jen Stark

“Squared”
Image courtesy of the artist and Joshua Liner Gallery

Optical Illusion Art by Jen Stark

“Ethereal Vortex”
Image courtesy of the artist and Joshua Liner Gallery

Op Art by Jen Stark

“Spirit Molecule #1”
Image courtesy of the artist and Joshua Liner Gallery

Optical Illusion Art by Jen Stark

“Ember”
Image courtesy of the artist and Joshua Liner Gallery

Optical Illusion Art by Jen Stark

“30 Cubed” (back)
Image courtesy of the artist and Joshua Liner Gallery

Illusion Artwork by Jen Stark

“Gradial Continuum”
Image courtesy of the artist and Joshua Liner Gallery

Illusion Artwork by Jen Stark

“Gradial Continuum” (back)
Image courtesy of the artist and Joshua Liner Gallery

Stark recently concluded a solo exhibition called Dimensionality at the Joshua Liner Gallery in New York.

Op Art by Jen Stark

Image courtesy of the artist and Joshua Liner Gallery

Optical Illusion Art by Jen Stark

Image courtesy of the artist and Joshua Liner Gallery

Optical Illusion Art by Jen Stark

Image courtesy of the artist and Joshua Liner Gallery

Jen Stark: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Joshua Liner Gallery.

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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