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.
Caroni
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Color screenprint, color pencil on heavy white wove paper, 1971. 840x595 mm; 33 1/4×23 1/2 inches (sheet), full margins. Signed and numbered 47/175 in pencil, lower margin. Publishe...
Color Pencil, Screen
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
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
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
Mirroire d'Artiste
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Long Island City, NY
Miroir d’Artistes by Jesus Rafael Soto, Venezuelan (1923–2005) Date: 2005 Screenprint on Plexiglas and Mirror, signed and numbered, verso Edition of 99 Size: 19.75 in. x 19.75 in. x ...
Metal
$20,000Sale Price|20% Off
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
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
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
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
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
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
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
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
Jesus Rafael Soto Serigraph: Composition, 1969
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Jesus Rafael Soto Composition, 1969 Serigraph Ed. 677 of 1000 28 x 18 in Signed and numbered on verso
Serigraph
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
Untitled
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Jesus Rafael Soto “Untitled” Lithograph Ed. 63 of 120 29 x 23 in
Lithograph
Untitled
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Miami, FL
Jesus Rafael Soto Untitled Serigraph Ed. 15 of 200 34 x 34 in
Screen
$14,625
MIROIRS D'ARTISTE 3D Wall Sculpture, Mirror & Plexiglass, 20th Century
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
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
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
Anillo Edition Denisse Rene 33 pieces
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...
Stainless Steel
Price Upon Request
Vibrations Metalliques - Limited Edition Signed Kinetic Op Art Wall Sculpture
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Palm Desert, CA
‘Vibrations Métalliques’ is a mixed media on aluminum, kinetic work by Venezuelan artist, Jesus Rafael Soto. The artwork is signed verso, “Soto” and is a multiple published by Éditio...
Metal
Price Upon Request
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
$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
Untitled #1, 1964 from New York Ten
By Mon Levinson
Located in New York, NY
This dynamic work was realized by the esteemed 20th Century modern artist Mon Levinson in 1964. The work was realized in 1964, and printed in 1965 by Chiron Press in New York- the same year that Levinson was included in the seminal Op-Art exhibition "The Responsive Eye", alongside contemporary luminaries such as Bridget Riley. An identical work from this edition resides in the permanent collection of the New York MoMA. This mixed media work consists of an translucent vinyl sheet layered over a print- part etching, part lithograph. The clear vinyl sheet is embossed with a tight pattern of sinuously curved repeating black lines and is subtly raised in places- creating a subtle three dimensionality and dynamic sense of movement. The paper is inscribed with the same recurring pattern of snaking black lines, like a fine filigree, with two weighty black geometric forms that appear to crowd the composition. Smaller geometric forms reside within creating the apparition of negative space in the bone hued paper. The juxtaposition of the delicate texture and colossal feeling forms imbues the piece with a stunning dynamism and tension, helping to explain why Levinson is among the most influential and important artist to come out of the Op Art movement. His work is in the permanent collections of important institutions around the world including the Museum of Modern Art as well as the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Signed by the artist and marked 18/200. The work comes presented in a custom walnut and white gilt frame...
Mixed Media
$3,000
H 17.07 in W 17 in
Variant I /// Josef Albers Abstract Geometric Screenprint Minimalism Bauhaus Art
By Josef Albers
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Josef Albers (German-American, 1888-1976) Title: "Variant I" Portfolio: Ten Variants *Unsigned edition Year: 1967 Medium: Original Screenprint on Rives BFK paper Limited edit...
Screen
$2,800
H 15.25 in W 14.25 in D 2 in
Bridget Riley - broadside of "Final Study for Halcyon" 1972 (Hand Signed) Framed
By Bridget Riley
Located in New York, NY
Bridget Riley - magazine page (broadside) of "Final Study for Halcyon", 1972 (Hand signed by Bridget Riley), ca. 1988 Magazine page on paper (Hand Signed by Bridget Riley) Provenance...
Magazine Paper
$2,358
H 29.93 in W 22.84 in
Untitled from "Kinderstern" - Max Bill, Hard Edge, Color Field, Bright Colors
By Max Bill
Located in Köln, DE
Screenprint by Max Bill. From the portfolio "Kinderstern". No Title, 1989 76 x 58 cm Copy 61/100 Edition of 100 (approx.)
Screen
$1,950
H 36 in W 36 in D 3 in
Sophisticated, Original Op Art Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 36x36 inches
By Stan Slutsky
Located in Aventura, FL
Original painting on canvas. Hand signed on front; signed and titled on verso by the artist. Canvas is stretched. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity in...
Canvas, Acrylic
Guardian X, Geometric Abstract Screenprint by Budd Hopkins
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Budd Hopkins Title: Guardian X Year: 1979 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: AP 45 Paper Size: 40 x 26 inches (101.6 x 66...
Screen
$595
H 0.2 in Dm 8.25 in
Basquiat Estate Authorized Silkscreen on Porcelain Plate, Presentation Gift Box
By Jean-Michel Basquiat
Located in New York, NY
Limoges x Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate Authorized Porcelain Plate in Box, 2014 Porcelain Plate in Blue Presentation Box with Estate Logo This plate is in excellent condition and comes in an elegant blue gift box...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Screen
$2,800
H 27.25 in W 27.25 in D 2 in
Richard Paul Lohse - Geometric Abstraction Silkscreen on velin Signed/N, Framed
Located in New York, NY
RICHARD PAUL LOHSE Penetration of Four Interlaced Colour Groups (Durchdringung von vier verschränkten Farbgruppen), 1970 Color Silkscreen on velincarton (thin board) Edition 32/50 P...
Screen
$500
H 30 in W 22.5 in D 1 in
Life Forces - 1978 Signed Limited Edition Screen Print
By Kyohei Inukai
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Artist: Kyohei Inukai Title: Life Forces Year: 1978 Print - Silkscreen Size: 30'' x 22½'' in Edition: signed in pencil and marked 70/200 Kyohei Inukai (1913–1985) was a Japanese...
Screen
Richard Anuszkiewicz 1963 Original Painting
By Richard Anuszkiewicz
Located in San Francisco, CA
Richard Anuszkiewicz: 1930-2020. Very important and well listed American artist. He has auction results as high as $250,000. He was the leader of what would be called OP Art short fo...
Acrylic
$10,000Sale Price|33% Off
H 18.13 in W 15.75 in
Image-miroir (Mirror Image), 1965
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 1965, this sculpture is hand signed by Victor Vasarely (1906 – 1997) in black ink on one of the aluminum panels in the lower right (nearest to the center cross-section); f...
Metal
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
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
Sold
H 19.69 in W 19.69 in D 4.73 in
Jesús-Rafael Soto - Tes Azules Y Negras - Kinetic Sculpture, 1979
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Varese, IT
Jesús-Rafael Soto ( 1923 - 2005 ) - Tes Azules Y Negras - kinetic sculpture, 1979 Additional information: Material: Kinetic sculpture, edited in 1979, made with Screen printing on t...
Metal
Composition, circa 1980
By Jesús Rafael Soto
Located in Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de México
Composition, circa 1980 Signed Serigraphy E. A.
Screen