1990
Venezuelan Op and kinetic painter and sculptor Jesús Rafael Soto (1923–2007) is perhaps best known for his immersive installations, which respond to their environments and physically absorb the viewer in a dynamic sensory experience.
The exploration of space is central to Soto’s work. This is evident in his early paintings, of the 1950s, which create the illusion of movement through simple compositions and a limited palette. During the same period, he integrated industrial materials like nylon and steel into linear constructions that were part painting, part sculpture.
But Rafael Soto’s grandest and most enigmatic creations are his “Pénétrables.” Made up of thousands of long clear or colored plastic strands suspended from the ceiling or from free-standing steel or PVC frames, these geometric sculptures play with the perception of space, inviting viewers to act as participants by moving within and through them.
The strips of some of the installations were partly painted, forming shapes when seen from a distance. The Houston Penetrable (2014), at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, for instance, appears to hold a floating yellow ellipse.
Rafael Soto created 25 “Pénétrables” over the course of his career. Each further blurred the line between reality and illusion and established viewers as not just spectators but as integral parts of the artwork itself.
Shop Jesús Rafael Soto's art now at 1stDibs.
Composition 1996
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Composition 1996 Silkscreen in colors on Arches paper 21.7 x 29.5 in (55 x 75 cm) Editioned upper left and signed upper right Edition of 99 Jesús Rafael Soto was born on June 5, 19...
Lithograph
Untitled (From the Sotomagie Portfolio), 1967
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Untitled (From the Sotomagie Portfolio), 1967 Denise Rene Editeur, Paris (Based on Soto's Work Répétition et Progression, 1951, Oil on Plywood) Silkscreen 23 7/8 x 23 7/8 in (60.5 x ...
Lithograph
Untitled (From the Sotomagie Portfolio), 1967
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Untitled (From the Sotomagie Portfolio), 1967 Denise Rene Editeur, Paris Based on Soto's Work Rotation, 1952, Oil on Plywood Silkscreen 23 7/8 x 23 7/8 in (60.5 x 60.5 cm) Editioned ...
Lithograph
Untitled, 1959/84
By Carlos Cruz-Diez
Located in Miami, FL
Carlos Cruz-Diez (1923-2019) Original silkscreen print, signed and numbered Title: Untitled, 1959/84 From: Exacta. Dal Costruttivismo all'arte sistematica 1918-1985 Media: Silksc...
Lithograph
Midi
By Auguste Herbin
Located in Miami, FL
Midi - Plate 3 from the 12 plate Portfolio, 1959 Published by Denise Rene, Paris Lithograph in colors on heavy paper 26 x 20 inches Signed, dated and numbered in ink, edition of 150 ...
Lithograph
Untitled from El Circulo de Piedra portfolio
By Agustín Cárdenas
Located in Miami, FL
Agustin Cardenas (1927-2003) Untitled from El Circulo de Piedra, 1971 One of fifteen original lithographs, signed and numbered by the artist, commissioned t...
Lithograph
Composition 1
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Paris, FR
Silksreen, 1973 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and numbered 69/95 Publisher : Malbotough Graphics, New York 80.00 cm. x 80.00 cm. 31.5 in. x 31.5 in. (paper) 65.00 cm. x 65.00...
Silk
Untitled
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Jesus Rafael Soto “Untitled” Lithograph Ed. 63 of 120 29 x 23 in
Lithograph
Negro y Color (Black and Color) - Abstract Op Art, 1995
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Jesús Rafael Soto's Negro y Color (Black and Color) (1995) extends the principles of his Ambivalencias series into the artist's mature late work. Begun in the late 1970s as an evolut...
Metal
Ambivalencia - Signed Kinetic Op Art Painting, Acrylic Painted Wood, 1981
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Palm Desert, CA
‘Ambivalencia’ is an assemblage made of acrylic painted wood by Venezuelan artist, Jesus Rafael Soto. The artwork is signed verso, "Soto 1981” ‘Ambivalencia’ is one of Soto's best-d...
Wood, Acrylic
Expo 60 - ARC Musee D'Art Moderne Ville De Paris
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION Jesus Rafael Soto Expo 60 - ARC Musee D'Art Moderne Ville De Paris 1969 Screenprint on Cardboard 27 1/2 x 18 1/2 in. Edition of 1000 Signed on bottom right, si...
Mixed Media, Cardboard, Screen
Untitled
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Paris, FR
Silksreen, 1970 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and numbered 63/145 70.00 cm. x 50.00 cm. 27.56 in. x 19.69 in. (paper) 44.30 cm. x 44.50 cm. 17.44 in. x 17.52 in. (image) The V...
Silk
