Yaacov Agam

Yaacov Agam, a world-renowned kinetic artist represented by Park West Gallery, pioneered a revolutionary form of art that contemplates progress, time, and the role of the viewer. Born in 1928 in Rishon LeZion, Israel, to an Orthodox family, Agam studied at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem before moving to Zurich, Switzerland in 1949. There he studied color theory under Johannes Itten and Max Bill, and took courses at ETH Zurich University, where architecture critic Sigfried Giedion inspired him to transform the concept of static paintings.
After moving to Paris in 1951, Agam held his first solo exhibition at the Galerie Craven in 1953, quickly gaining fame for his innovative approach that encouraged spectators to participate in art. He established himself as a pioneer of the kinetic art movement, experimenting with diverse media including painting, sculpture, spatial installation, and digital technology. In 1971, he created the groundbreaking “Agamograph,” which uses a lenticular lens to cause imagery to change when viewed from different angles.
Agam’s nonrepresentational style integrates formalist art with Kabbalah, relying on geometric shapes, sculpted lines, and bright colors rather than figurative imagery. His works are in permanent collections at major museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. In 2010, he became the highest-selling living Israeli artist when his artwork “Growth” sold for $698,000 at auction.