Julio Le Parc, the Argentine artist known for his pioneering work in kinetic and Op Art, has died at age 98. Le Parc moved to Paris in 1958, where he developed a systematic, machine-like approach to abstraction, creating grid-based paintings and later sculptures using Plexiglas. He introduced light into his work in 1968 and became known for installations involving distorted mirrors and labyrinths that disoriented viewers. A founding member of the activist Groupe de Recherche d’Art Visuel (GRAV), he was briefly expelled from France after the 1968 social unrest. He received the International Grand Prize for Painting at the 1966 Venice Biennale and had major retrospectives at the Serpentine Galleries (2025), Palais de Tokyo (2013), and Daros Foundation (2014).
Le Parc’s death marks the loss of a key figure in kinetic and Op Art who used movement, light, and spectator participation to challenge passivity and ideological conditioning. His work bridged art and political activism, and his influence continues to be felt in contemporary installation and participatory art. A retrospective at Tate Modern opening this month underscores his enduring relevance and the art world’s recognition of his contributions to redefining the viewer’s role.