In a color image display apparatus, light beams intensity modulated by a green color image signal are deflected by an ocillating mirror, and then focused on a photo-conductive layer (PCL) member of a light-written type spacial light modulation element (SLM) through two focusing lenses for light write operation. Light beams intensity modulated by a time-axis compressed time-divisional image signal of two remaining colors (red and blue) are deflected by another mirror oscillated simultaneously with the ocillating mirror, and then focused on a PCL member of a SLM of the same type through two focusing lenses for light write operation. A read light beam is resolved into the light of the green wave length band and the lights of red and blue wave length bands, respectively, and then given to the SLMs, respectively for light read operation. The two read light beams reflected by the SLMs are synthesizing, and then projected on a screen through a common projection lens.