Jesús Rafael Soto Paintings
1923-2005
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.
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Artist: Jesús Rafael Soto
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 is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity included. All reasonable offers will be considered.
About the Artist: Jesús Rafael Soto (Venezuelan, 1923–2005) was an 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 Soto...
Category
Late 20th Century Contemporary Jesús Rafael Soto Paintings
Materials
Mirror, Plexiglass, Screen
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“My painting and artistic expression opens the doorway into an unconscious and creative world, where an uninhibited expression can take place, as one becomes immersed without the perception of time.
Painting and design started it. From the beginning the process of transforming materials into art has struck me as a magical alchemy and, over the years, that mysterious process has had its hold on me, leading me from hobby to art. The creative process fills me with a sense of wonder and has proven a most amenable vehicle for transforming inner vision to outer reality.
I paint from the inside out. Though I work quite deliberately, consciously employing both traditional and innovative techniques, my unconscious is the region of the most fertile of creative soil.
I love working with a full complement of colors but often find my design direction working within the narrow spectrum of black and white, shadow and light. Some of my early inspiration comes from the New York School and artists such as Franz Kline and Jackson Pollock. Their ideas and techniques have helped to free my mind to explore areas of the unconscious that aren’t restricted by the world of right and wrong, good and bad. The journey continues and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to explore this exquisite world of the creative process.”
Education:
University of Oklahoma: 1966-1967
Canada College, AA Degree: 1972-1974
University of California: 1974-1975
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2010 - Dubai (UAI) Animal rights show; Gallery 10, Washington, DC
2008, 2009 - Jia Salon & Gallery, Fresno, CA
2007 - Studio Exhibition
2006 - Cabrillo College
2004 - Studio Exhibition
2000, 2001, 2002 - Rollf's Gallery, Fresno, CA
2000 - Studio show; Bridgeport Gallery, CT
1999 - Tercera Gallery, Los Gatos, CA; Matt Miller Design, SF, CA
1998 - Robin Hutchins Gallery, NJ; Teroera Gallery Los Gatos, CA; Verve Gallery Los Angeles, CA; Open Studio Aptos, CA; Brigitte Bohlem, Hamburg, Germany
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1995 - Abrahamsen Design; Teroera Gallery Los Gatos, CA; Verve Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; The Pope Gallery Santa Cruz, CA; Hanson Art Source, Tennessee; Barlett Fine Arts, Pleasant, CA; Birchstone, Gallery, Wisconsin; l&I Gallery, NJ; Gillen Design, London Ontario Canada...
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Jesús Rafael Soto paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Jesús Rafael Soto paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Jesús Rafael Soto in glass, mirror, plastic and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Jesús Rafael Soto paintings, so small editions measuring 20 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jason Middlebrook, Randall Berndt, and Mark Kostabi. Jesús Rafael Soto paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $25,000 and tops out at $25,000, while the average work can sell for $25,000.