Stephen Tarantal (Born 1943) American, Acrylic on Canvas Three-Dimensional Painting. Made to create an optical illusion, with square areas in the middle added to extend the image out from the original painting and reinforce the illusion. Signed on the side and dated 1981. Extensive information written in pencil and attached to tags on the back, including the medium and title: "Counter Move II." 

Condition: Excellent. 

Size: 45 x 45 3/4 x 8 1/4 in. 

Stephen Tarantal was born in New York City in 1943. As a child he was introduced to art and first sought traditional styles before uncovering the abstract movement while studying at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. He graduated with his BFA in 1965, and a year later he wed Elsa Johnson, a fellow art student, before moving them to Philadelphia where he pursued his MFA at Temple University, focused on painting. After graduating in 1968 he became a professor at the University of the Arts there in Philadelphia, eventually becoming Dean of the college and devoting over four decades to teaching art to blossoming students. During his years as a tenured professor he frequently did freelance work in graphic design for major corporations, including AT&T, Time/Life, NBC News, and Xerox. His large, three-dimensional paintings were exhibited around the world, and towards the end of his academic career he served as the Founding Dean of the College of Arts and Creating Enterprises at Zayed University in Dubai. After finally retiring as Emeritus in 2018, he began to divide his time between Philadelphia and a home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he is instrumental in supporting the local arts scene on the board of the Truro Arts Center, and his eclectic work is highly sought by collectors throughout New England and across the globe.

Excellent.