Pop Art That Really Pops

Some very entertaining paintings, plus a Lukas graffiti update!

I don’t keep up with the latest developments on the modern art scene. But if my recent visit to the annual Art on Paper show is any indication, I’d say that one of the big trends these days is lenticular-style art.

You may not recognize the word lenticular, but you’re probably familiar with lenticular design, even if you don’t know it by that name. Here are some examples:

So now you get it, right? Lenticular design creates an animation effect by allowing the viewer to see multiple images depending on the viewing angle. The process, which involves a special kind of lens, was popularized by the Vari-Vue company, which made lots of lenticular toys and novelties in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s.

As you can see in those videos, Vari-Vue items are usually enjoyed by tilting them back and forth. But as everyone learns in grade school, all motion is relative, so you can get the same effect if the item remains stationary and the viewer moves — say, like this: