Kinetic Art – A Tribute to Vasarely by Ferruccio Gard is an exhibition born from a significant coincidence: 2026 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Victor Vasarely, the father of Op Art, and the 50th anniversary of the Vasarely Foundation, an institution that continues to preserve and disseminate his legacy. At the same time, Ferruccio Gard celebrates his 85th birthday by choosing to pay homage to the Hungarian master with whom he shares a passion for perception, color, and movement.

Ferruccio Gard, “Dinamiche strutturali 4”, 1969, acrilici su tela, cm 40 x 50, courtesy dell’Artista

Vasarely defined a new visual grammar, based on geometric modules, systematic variations, and a concept of universal, accessible art, integrated into everyday life. His works transform space into a dynamic field, where the eye becomes the protagonist and form becomes energy. Gard, one of the leading Italian exponents of kinetic art, takes up this legacy and reinterprets it through a personal sensibility, built on chromatic vibration and rhythmic pulsation. His compositions, articulated in luminous sequences and moving geometries, amplify the perceptual dimension of the image, transforming it into an immersive experience. The dialogue between the two artists is not merely formal, but intergenerational and symbolic. On the one hand, Vasarely represents the original matrix of a language that revolutionized the relationship between art and perception. On the other, Gard embodies the continuity and metamorphosis of that vision, bringing it into the present with a vitality that spans five decades of research, through geometric textures, chromatic intersections, optical illusions, and compositional rigor.

Ferruccio Gard, “Omaggio a Victor Vasarely nel quadro del mio 85° compleanno”, 2025/2026, acrilici su tela, cm 100 x 100 x 4, courtesy dell’Artista

The exhibition thus becomes a dual tribute: to the history of Op Art and its relevance today, to the figure of Vasarely, and to Gard’s long career. In this intertwining of anniversaries, the exhibition invites the public to rediscover the power of a language that continues to speak to our time, transforming the gaze into experience and perception into movement. The exhibition focuses on THE ROOTS AND THE MASTER, from the origins of Optical Art to the dialogue with Vasarely, to whom is referred this thought: “The movement is not in the work, but in the gaze of the viewer”.Ferruccio Gard’s adventure in kinetic art began in 1969 with Perceptive Structures 3, where rhythm, modular variation, and visual instability define a new way of looking. This work marks the beginning of a journey that will span over five decades. The comparison with Victor Vasarely, the father of Op Art, soon becomes a point of reference: an ideal dialogue that spans many decades and culminates in the homages of 1994 and 2025. Vasarely’s two original works, presented in a dedicated space, highlight the continuity between the master and his contemporary interpreter, demonstrating how the optical lesson can be transformed and renewed.

Ferruccio Gard, “La poesia del colore”, 2025, acrilici su tela, cm 50 x 50 x 4,5, courtesy dell’Artista

Ferruccio Gard (of ancient Franco-Provençal origins, born in 1940 and living in Venice since 1970) is one of the protagonists of Italian kinetic and Op Art. After his debut in the 1960s, he developed a research based on geometric modules, rhythmic variations and chromatic vibrations, transforming color into an ever-expanding energy field. Gard has exhibited in numerous Italian and international institutions, participating in seven editions of the Venice Biennale (since 1982) and in exhibitions dedicated to programmed art and Op Art in Europe, the United States, and Latin America. His work is distinguished by his rigorous use of geometry and a sensitivity to light that transforms the image into an active perceptual experience.

Ferruccio Gard, “The eye at play in optical art”, 2022, acrilici su tela, cm 100 x 100 x 4,5, courtesy dell’Artista

Alongside his paintings, Gard creates plexiglass sculptures and installations that amplify the dynamic dimension of light and space. His work engages with the tradition of international kinetic art – from Vasarely to Soto, from Alviani to the N and T groups – reinterpreting it through a personal, vibrant, and contemporary vision. In 2025, on the occasion of his 85th birthday, Gard continues to explore the relationship between color, movement, and perception, confirming the vitality of a research that remains faithful to the principles of Op Art while simultaneously open to new visual possibilities. We asked the author two questions at the opening.

Ferruccio Gard, “The poetry of color 5”, 2025, acrilici su tela, cm 40 x 40 x 3,5, courtesy dell’Artista

Sarah Mongelli: Maestro, are your works essentially based on movement?
Ferruccio Gard: “Not only that. Unlike many other followers of kinetic art, there’s also painting, true painting. With many colors inspired by Venice, the lagoon, the Dolomites, and the immense forests of our mountains. But there are also references to poetry and music. It’s no coincidence that some of the captions are… musical”.

Ferruccio Gard, “Omaggio a Victor Vasarely”, 1994, acrilici su tela, cm 80 x 80, courtesy dell’Artista

You’re celebrating your 85th birthday with four exhibitions, the first of which is this one in Marseille. Congratulations! Any plans for the future?
“Many, at least I hope so. In any case, I thank heaven for the energy I still have… sometimes I’m even tempted to go back to playing soccer, even if only for a quarter of an hour…”The exhibition, which will remain open at the Italian Cultural Institute in Marseille until May 15th, was created in collaboration with the Vasarely Foundation, based in Aix-en-Provence.

Sarah Mongelli

Info:

Ferruccio Gard, Arte cinetica
curated by Sarah Mongelli
24/3 – 15/5/2026
Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Marsiglia
6, rue Fernand Pauriol
Orari: lun/gio: 9.30-12.30 / 14.00-17.00 ven: 9.30-12.30
iicmarsiglia@esteri.it
https://iicmarsiglia.esteri.it/it
IG/FB @iicmarsiglia
Tel. +33 04 91485194

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