Richard Anuszkiewicz was a prodigy of color theory and one of the leaders of American Optical (Op) Art, which depicts optical illusions. He experimented with an unprecedented range of color contrasts and combined them with the shifting, illusory effects of Op Art. Composed between 1981 and 1984, Anuszkiewicz’s Temple Painting series was inspired by a trip the artist took to Egypt, specifically the Valley of the Kings. While inspired by the geometries of sacred temples, these paintings do not make direct reference to individual structures but use the geometric framework as a space in which to experiment with juxtaposed complimentary colors.