Spectrum Delta II

This op-art work by Francis Celentano is now in the South Esplanade between Dish D'Lish and Hudson News. As a Pacific Northwest “op art” artist, Celentano creates large, vivid, geometric abstract paintings that jolt the sense with their optical illusions. If you stand too long before one of his paintings you will find that they begin to move before your eyes. In "Spectrum Delta II" the vertical stripes move up and down, come forward, and then recede as you pass in front, while the colors blend together to form bands juxtaposed horizontally across the work. At times the colors mix and become another color altogether.

"Spectrum Delta II" was purchased by the Port of Seattle in 1973. It was part of the 1969 Port Commission authorization to acquire permanent artworks for Sea-Tac's terminal building, in conjunction with the terminal renovation. The artwork was originally created for a waiting area very near where you find it today.

Francis Celentano lives in the Northwest and is a retired University of Washington professor. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome and obtained his MA from New York University, Institute of Fine Arts. Celentano has exhibited his work across the USA and Europe.