An image display includes the following components. A display panel has a plurality of pixels arrayed in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. A light source emits light toward the display panel. A polarization-axis control unit separates the light emitted from the light source into light having a first polarization axis and light having a second polarization axis. An optical element allows the light emitted from the light source to travel in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The polarization-axis control unit includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode. The third electrode is superposed over the first electrode and the second electrode in a region corresponding to a pixel array area of the display panel.