“Where Light Lives: The Art of Julian and Barbara Stanczak” will open March 21 at the Medici Museum of Art, bringing international attention to the Howland, Ohio, museum with a rare presentation of masterworks by the Op Art pioneer and sculptor.
Julian Stanczak (1928–2017) was a defining figure in the Op Art movement. Born in Poland, his early life was marked by war, displacement, and time spent in a refugee camp in Africa – experiences that profoundly shaped his sensitivity to light and perception.
After immigrating to the United States, he studied under Josef Albers at Yale University, absorbing the theory that color is relational and perception is active. In 1964, his exhibition Optical Paintings in New York helped give Op Art its name, and his inclusion in the Museum of Modern Art’s landmark 1965 exhibition “The Responsive Eye” cemented his international reputation.
Several paintings in “Where Light Lives” exceed 10 feet in height – the first time in nearly two decades that works of this scale have been exhibited together.
Julian’s paintings do not depict light; they generate it through rhythmic color relationships and optical vibration, requiring viewers to slow down and truly see.
Barbara Stanczak’s alabaster sculptures offer a striking counterpoint. Carved from translucent stone, her works absorb and emit light from within, transforming solid material into glowing, tactile forms.
Executive Director Katelyn Amendolara-Russo called the exhibition “a remarkable moment for Medici,” adding, “We invite our community to experience these internationally celebrated works.”
With growing global interest, the exhibition positions Medici as a destination for world-class art.
