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.
JESUS SOTO 1979 Edition 100/110 Op-Art Sculpture Silkscreen Plexiglass & Steel
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Limited edition sculpture by Jesus Rafael Soto, (Venezuelan, 1923–2005). Cuadrados Vibrantes by the artist Rafael Jesús Soto, is a wall-desk sculpture created in a limited edition, ...
Stainless Steel
Red virtual square on the right
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Paris, FR
Silksreen, 1981 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and numbered 83/190 Catalog : [Prent 190] 60.00 cm. x 60.00 cm. 23.62 in. x 23.62 in. (paper) 46.00 cm. x 53.00 cm. 18.11 in. x 2...
Silk
$750Sale Price|25% Off
Jesus Rafael Soto Book Inscribed to Dore Ashton
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in New York, NY
Large format first edition monograph on blue-chip Kinetic artist Jesus Rafael Soto, published by Editions du Griffon in 1984. Inscribed in a bold han...
Paper
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
Serie Madrid B, 1990
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Jesus Soto (1923-2005) Serie Madrid B, 1990 Denise Rene Editeur, Paris (with Denise Rene's blind-stamp) Screen print in heavy paper 59 x 45.3 in (150 x 115 cm) Professionally framed...
Screen
Mirroire d'Artiste
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Jesus Rafael Soto, Venezuelan (1923 - 2005) Title: Mirroire d'Artiste Year: 2005 Medium: Mirrored Glass and Silkscreened Plexiglass Wall Sculpture, signature and number ...
Metal
JESUS SOTO 1977 Sotomagie La Huella Spirals Silkscreen Print On Paper UV Framed
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Limited edition silkscreen by Jesus Rafael Soto, (Venezuelan, 1923–2005). Spiral by the artist Rafael Jesús Soto, is a silkscreen print created in a limited edition between 1955 and...
Paper, Glass, Wood
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
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
Ovalo Verde, OP Art Kinetic Screenprint by Jesus Rafael Soto
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Jesus Rafael Soto, Venezuelan (1923 - 2005) Title: Ovalo Verde Year: 1980 Medium: Screenprint on Arches, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 150, AP 25 Paper Size: 22 in. ...
Screen
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
Quadrato
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Jesus Rafael Soto (1923-2005) Quadrato 1974 Editions Denise Rene 46 of 75 Acrylic/aluminum with painted metal rods 17,5 x 15,7 x 12,5 in Signed and dated Provenance: Editions Galeri...
Metal
Caroni
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in New York, NY
Color screenprint on heavy white wove paper, 1971. Signed by the artist in pencil, lower right. Numbered 146/175 in pencil, lower left. Published by Denise René and Hans Meyer, Pa...
Screen, Color
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
Hannover
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Jesus Rafael Soto "Hannover" 1970 Color silkscreen on transparent plexiglass panel, metal rods on nylon threads. It has the original box. 7 x 21 x 5 in Ed. 170 of 200 Provenance: Va...
Metal
$14,625Sale Price|25% Off
MIROIRS D'ARTISTE (3D WALL SCULPTURE)
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Aventura, FL
Mirrored glass and silkscreened plexiglass wall sculpture. Incised artist signature and edition on verso. From the EA edition of 20 (there is also the main edition of 99). Artwork...
Mirror, Plexiglass, Screen
Jesús Rafael Soto (1923–2005) - Spiral - Silkscreen on paper - 1980
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Varese, IT
Silkscreen on paper, edited in 1980. Limited edition of 125 pieces, numbered as 34/125 in lower left corner. Signed in pencil by artist in lower right corner. Paper size: 68 x 68 cm...
Screen
Jai Alai Suite
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
JESUS RAFAEL SOTO Jai-Alai Suite: Multiple I, 1969 Plexiglass in white, blue, yellow, screen-print in black, nylon thread and steel. 25 1/8 x 21 1/2 x 7 3/4 in Ed. 15 / 300 Provenan...
Steel
Petite Vibration Brique et Noir
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Petite Vibration Brique et Noir (1966) Painted wood with a painted metal rod and nylon thread Edition Galerie Bischofberger, Zurich Ed. 16 / 35 20 x 18 x 18 in Provenance: Galerie Elke Dröscher, Hamburg Galerie Meißner, Hamburg (1976) Private collection, Baden-Württemberg Lempertz Auction. Contemporary Art...
Metal
Vibrations Metalliques
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Jesus Rafael Soto (June 5, 1923 - January 14, 2005, Venezuelan) Vibrations Metalliques 1969 painted metal with metal rod with nylon string 10 3/4 x 11 3/4 x 5...
Metal
Untitled
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Jesus Rafael Soto “Untitled” Lithograph Ed. 63 of 120 29 x 23 in
Lithograph
La Escalera Azul, de la serie Sintesis
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
La Escalera Azul, de la serie Sintesis 1979 Plexiglas and metal Ed 37 of 110 20 x 14 x 5 in Literature: Museo Guggenheim Bilbao. “Soto. The Fourth dimension”. Catalogue published on...
Metal
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
Ovalo en el Rojo Edition 78/110
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Jesús Rafael Soto was a Venezuelan artist known for his kinetic sculptures and large-scale installations. Like Alexander Calder and George Rickey, Soto’s delicate and responsive constructions react to external stimuli and changes in the atmosphere, as seen in his work Penetrable (1990). “Artistic creation is a force which should preferably be directed towards the exploration of space, of the universe, of the infinite realities which surround us, but of which we are hardly conscious,” Soto once mused. Born on June 5, 1923 in Cuidad Bolívar, Venezuela, he studied at the Escuela des artes plásticas in Caracas from 1942–1947 and later served as the director of the Escuela de bellas artes in Maracaibo, Venezuela until his move to Europe in 1950. Settling in Paris, he associated with the Op Art artists Victor Vasarely and Yaacov Agam, as well as members of the ZERO group such as Otto Piene, Jean Tinguely, and Heinz Mack. In 1973, the Museo de arte modern Jesús...
Metal
Untitled (from the Jai-Alai Series) 1969
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Untitled (from the Jai-Alai Series) 1969 wood, paint, metal and nylon thread signed and numbered ‘SOTO, 31/300’ (on the base) published by Marlborough Gallery, New York. Jesús Rafael Soto was a Venezuelan artist known for his kinetic sculptures and large-scale installations. Like Alexander Calder and George Rickey, Soto’s delicate and responsive constructions react to external stimuli and changes in the atmosphere, as seen in his work Penetrable (1990). “Artistic creation is a force which should preferably be directed towards the exploration of space, of the universe, of the infinite realities which surround us, but of which we are hardly conscious,” Soto once mused. Born on June 5, 1923 in Cuidad Bolívar, Venezuela, he studied at the Escuela des artes plásticas in Caracas from 1942–1947 and later served as the director of the Escuela de bellas artes in Maracaibo, Venezuela until his move to Europe in 1950. Settling in Paris, he associated with the Op Art artists Victor Vasarely and Yaacov Agam, as well as members of the ZERO group such as Otto Piene, Jean Tinguely, and Heinz Mack. In 1973, the Museo de arte modern Jesús...
Metal
$800
H 21.25 in W 32.28 in
Spanish artist original 1975 lithograph on canvas book cover for Rafael Alberti
By Joan Miró
Located in Miami, FL
Joan Miro (Spain, 1893-1983) 'Maravillas con variaciones acrósticas en el jardín de Miró (cobertura para el estuche)', 1975 lithograph on canvas 21.5 x 32.25 x 21 in. (54 x 82 cm.) Edition of 1500 Unframed ID: MIR2001-014 It is documented in Cramer, P (1992). Miró Litographer V (1972-1975). Maeght Éditeur, pp 162-163. No. 1051. Artwork history: At the end of 1971 Rafael Alberti wrote from Rome to Joan Miró in the following terms “(…) I think I have news that you liked my folder...
Lithograph, Canvas, Ink
America (Limited Edition Print)
By Mauro Oliveira
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
**ANNUAL SUPER SALE UNTIL MAY 15TH ONLY** THIS PRICE WON'T BE REPEATED AGAIN THIS YEAR - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT** "America" is a unique eagle design by Mauro Oliveira. This exquisite...
Cotton Canvas
Edvard Munch (1863-1944) "Spring Ploughing" Blueprint, No. 834, Limited Edition
Located in København, Copenhagen
Edvard Munch (1863-1944) "Spring Ploughing" Blueprint, No. 834. Limited edition of 1000 blueprints. 87 x 68 cm. The frame is 6 cm. wide. In good condition.
$452
H 25.2 in W 18.9 in D 0.04 in
Green - Original Lithograph by Lorenzo Indrimi - 1970 ca.
By Lorenzo Indrimi
Located in Roma, IT
Hand signed and numbered. Edition of 150 prints. Very good conditions.
Lithograph
Untitled #1
By Ian Tyson
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork "Untitled #1" 1970 is an original silkscreen on Wove paper by noted British artist Ian Tyson, born 1933. It is hand signed, dated and numbered 60/75 in pencil by the art...
Screen
$1,680
H 21 in W 11.5 in D 12 in
NYC Artist MARGARET LAYTON, PAINTING AND Iron SCULPTURE "WINDOW WASHER"
By Margaret Layton
Located in Buffalo, NY
Margaret Layton (American, 20th century)"Parker Street" New York City Gouache on board, Iron Sculpture "window washer " circa 1950s Amazing Greenwich Village Building by artist Ma...
Metal, Iron
Where Chefs Eat Book - A Guide to Chefs' Favorite Restaurants
Located in New York, NY
Eat around the world with 650 of the world's best chefs. Wherever you are, you’ll never miss the best local diner for breakfast, the best restaurant for a business dinner, or the best place for a late night snack - and everything in between. This all-new, completely revised, third edition of the global restaurant guidebook that has sold more than 250,000 copies features more than 7,000 recommendations for more than 4,500 restaurants in more than 70 countries. Wherever you are, you'll never miss the best local diner for breakfast, the best restaurant for a business dinner, or the best place for a late night snack – and everything in-between. With city maps, key information, reviews and recommendations from the chefs themselves, this is the guide for savvy restaurant-goers and armchair foodies in major cities and towns worldwide. Where: With recommendations in more than 70 countries - from the United States to Buenos Aires from Ireland to Estonia from Greece to South Africa, discover the best eateries for your destination. Chefs: Find out where and what the world's best chefs eat including: Jason Atherton, Shannon Bennett, Helena Rizzo, Stephen Harris, Yotam Ottolenghi, Yoshihiro Narisawa, and hundreds more. Eat: From breakfast to late night, bargain to high end - discover the best places to eat for just the right occasion. Joe Warwick is a London-based food writer and critic who started the World's 50 Best...
Paper
$1,350
H 39 in W 27 in D 0.25 in
"Night Views" Silkscreen Print by The Skyscape Artist, 25/100
Located in Soquel, CA
"Night Views" Silkscreen Print by The Skyscape Artist, 25/100. By Tetsuro Sawada ( Japanese, 1933-1998) This raven black geometric abstraction focuses on hard-edged horizontal lines, color, and light, giving the impression of dusk through the "bokashi," or shading, technique, which is most difficult in the silkscreen medium, a good example of Sawada's theme of the infinite beyond, the silent emptiness of the universe. Signature in the bottom right corner reads, "T. Sawada '87," titled in the bottom center, "Night Views," and numbered, "25/100," in the bottom left corner. Presented in a new white mat. Paper size: 34"H x 22"W, Mat size: 39"H x 27"W Born in Hokkaido, Tetsuro Sawada (1933-1998, Japanese) graduated from Musashimo Art University where he majored in Western painting. In 1960, he began painting abstract oils...
Paper, Screen
$43Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.04 in W 0.04 in D 0.04 in
Reference Book Chinese - Chinese Furniture: A Guide to Collecting Antiques, 2006
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Chinese Furniture: A Guide to Collecting Antiques Hardcover - November 15, 2006 by Karen Mazurkewich(Author), A. Chester Ong(Author) The international market for antique Chinese fur...
Paper
Fanciful Folk art Village Painting
Located in Branford, CT
Interesting fanciful folk art village painting. American, 19th century. Original frame. H 18" W 24" Frame H 21-3/4" W 28". Inspected under UV light...
Paint
$575
H 23.63 in W 15.75 in D 0.16 in
Hand painted Artist's Proof#1 of the only 3-Golden Summer-British Awarded Artist
Located in London, GB
This painting [Golden Summer: Sunlit - Rosa Albertines] was painted Plein Air, in Shizico's own garden of the memorial roses she planted. This is Rosa Albertine, the first Old Engli...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil, Acrylic, Giclée
$2,495
H 15 in W 12 in D 0.75 in
Russian Icon Painting Theotokos Vladimir Madonna Mother Mary Child Jesus Christ
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautifully engaging, darkly nuanced Theotokos of Vladimir Russian icon (or possibly Our Lady of Kazan Icon/Mother of God of Kazan) tempera painting (and possibly gold leaf) on a wooden panel featuring the Madonna (Mother Mary) and infant child (a baby Jesus Christ) in her arms. Theotokos is the term for an Eastern icon...
Wood, Paint
Vibrations Metalliques
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Jesús Rafael Soto (1923-2005) was a Venezuelan artist and key figure of Kinetic Art and Op Art, best known for his large-scale sculptures. After completing his artistic training at...
Metal
Sold
H 11.8 in W 27.5 in D 5 in
Serie Sintesis, Mixed Media Op Art Sculpture by Jesus Rafael Soto
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Long Island City, NY
Serie Sintesis Jesus Rafael Soto, Venezuelan (1923–2005) Date: 1979 Screenprint on Plexiglass and Metal Rods Edition of 36/110 Size: 11.8 x 27.5 x 5 in. (29.97 x 69.85 x 12.7 cm) Pub...
Metal
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
Sold
H 23.63 in W 23.63 in
Jesús Rafael Soto ( 1923 – 2005 ) – Composition – hand-signed serigraphy – 1970
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Varese, IT
color serigraphy on paper, edited in 1970 limited edition signed in pencil by artist and numbered as: 169/190 in lower right paper size: 60 x 60 cm very good conditions, with strong ...
Paper, Screen
Sold
H 23.63 in W 23.63 in
Jesús Rafael Soto ( 1923 – 2005 ) – Composition – hand-signed serigraphy – 1970
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Varese, IT
color serigraphy on paper, edited in 1970 limited edition signed in pencil by artist and numbered as: 154/190 in lower right paper size: 60 x 60 cm very good conditions, with strong ...
Paper, Screen
Kinetic OP Art Silkscreen by Jesús Rafael Soto
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Jesus Rafael Soto, Venezuelan (1923 - 2005) Title: Expo 60 - ARC Musee D'Art Moderne Ville De Paris Year: 1969 Medium: Screenprint, signed ...
Screen
Sold
H 24 in W 24 in D 1 in
Jesus Rafael Soto Untitled from the Sotomagie Series Signed 1967 Op Art Framed
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
An outstanding example of Op Art – a color serigraph with rhodoid screen by Jesus Rafael Soto. Hand signed in pencil on the bottom right corner. This artwork is from the artist’s Sot...
Paper
Sold
H 24 in W 24 in D 1 in
Jesus Rafael Soto Untitled from the Sotomagie Series 'Yellow' Signed 1967 Op Art
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
An outstanding example of Op Art – a color serigraph with rhodoid screen by Jesus Rafael Soto. Created in 1967. Hand signed in pencil on the bottom right corner. This artwork is from...
Paper
Untitled (Olympic Centennial)
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this color screenprint on Arches. Signed and numbered 58/250 in pencil. Published by Puma Trading, Paris, or Editiones Catalanes, Barcelona, for the Interna...
Color, Screen
Untitled
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this color screenprint on heavy white wove paper. Signed and numbered 8/100 in pencil. Published by Edition Domberger, Stuttgart, and Artists United for Nat...
Color, Screen
Sold
H 31.5 in W 23.63 in
Jesús Rafael Soto - Composition - Hand-Signed Serigraphy, 1978
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Varese, IT
Jesús Rafael Soto ( 1923 - 2005 ) - Composition - Hand-Signed Serigraphy, 1978 Additional Information: Material: Serigraphy on paper Limited edition...
Paper
Sold
H 26.78 in W 26.78 in
Jesús Rafael Soto - Hand-Signed Relief Screenprint, 1985
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Varese, IT
Jesús Rafael Soto ( 1923 - 2005 ) - Hand-Signed Relief Screenprint, 1985 Additional Information: Material: Relief Screenprint on Fabriano paper Edit...
Screen