Bridget RILEY Print for Chicago 8  (1971)

An original screenprint in colours on thick wove paper, an untitled composition from the portfolio Conspiracy: The Artist as Witness donated by various artists to help fund the legal defence of the Chicago Eight in the USA in 1971. Signed Bridget Riley in pencil lower left, dated '71 and numbered from the limited edition of 150. Printed at Kelpra studio, London, with their ink stamp to the reverse and published by David R Godine Publishers and the Center for Constitutional Rights, New York. Referenced in Schubert, 15 and Tommasini & Gubay, 16. In very good condition with strong, bright colours and never framed. There is a tiny dent to the top right corner - hardly noticeable. Provenance: from The Center for Consitutional Rights New York, art collection liquidation. (we have the Frank Stella print from the same portfolio and provenance).

This is a beautiful, immediately recognisable and hugely sought-after Bridget Riley Op Art print. 

Prominent anti-war artists campaigned against the convictions of the Chicago 8 (who became the Chicago 7 after one acquittal) with the publication of a portfolio of 12 lithographs and screenprints. Contributors included Alexander Calder, Sol LeWitt, Claes Oldenberg and Frank Stella. Eventually in November 1972 the imprisoned members of the Chicago Seven were released after an appeal found evidence of cultural and racial bias throughout the trial.