Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California, in 1949. In the 1950s, his family moved from California to Pennsylvania, where he has lived and worked ever since.
In the 1960s, Bertoia studied mechanical engineering at Indiana Institute of Technology in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. In 1969, he was awarded “Speaker of the Year” at Indiana Tech. In 1971, he was released from Ft. Dix, New Jersey, from the US Army to return back to Pennsylvania.
Bertoia started working at a farm near his home, and soon afterward, his father, Harry Bertoia, asked him to work at Bertoia Studio with him. He worked with his father from 1972–78. The “sound sculpture” environment, which Harry continued to focus on for 10 years beginning in 1968, is trademarked “Sonambient.” Harry and Val installed large-scale commissioned metal sculptures, and Harry was amazed with his son’s level of precision and engineering abilities and often asked his advice.
In the late 1970s, Harry and Val made Bertoia sound sculptures for distribution worldwide. During those six years, Val worked on his own projects, which included wind-electric systems as derivatives of kinetic sculpture models. Harry was an intuitive engineer, and Val's wind systems, the heights of which reached over 90 feet, were refined by Harry and became well-balanced with a U.S. patent.
In 1978, continuing where Harry left off — and with the encouragement of his mother, Brigitta Bertoia — Val proceeded with the sculpture business of his father's legacy. Val Bertoia sculptures made after November 1978, when Harry died, are numbered, starting with “B-01.”
Find authentic Val Bertoia sculptures and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Mid Century Abstract Modern Sound Sculpture by Val Bertoia in Copper & Brass
By Val Bertoia
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A stunning sound sculpture made by Val Bertoia. Makes a beautiful chime when played. Comprised of 39 beryllium copper rods silvered to brass base. Stamped and numbered with COA from ...
Brass, Copper, Silver
Bertoia Sonambient Sculpture Beryllium Rod
By Val Bertoia
Located in Wilmington, DE
Bertoia Sonambient sculpture. Offered is a beautifully unique sculpture by Bertoia studios (Val). Titled "4 Love Clover of Sound". The piece is made of Beryllium Copper...
Brass, Copper
Large Bertoia Studios 10-Rod 'B-2700' Brass, Copper & Silver Sound Sculpture
By Val Bertoia, Harry Bertoia
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Bertoia Studios 10-Rod 'B-2700' Brass, Copper & Silver Sound Sculpture. A lyrical and musical sound sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed b...
Silver, Brass, Copper
Mid Century Modern Floor Sound Sculpture by Val Bertoia in Copper & Brass
By Val Bertoia
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A stunning sound sculpture made by Val Bertoia. Makes a beautiful chime when played. Comprised of brass and beryllium copper. Gorgeous patina and comes with COA from the Bertoia Studio.
Brass, Copper
Val Bertoia ""Sounds Fine from 6 in Line" B-2702 Sculpture
By Val Bertoia
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Bertoia Studios B-2702 6 Rod "Sounds Fine From 6 In Line" sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed by Val, the artist and son of the original designer, Harry Bertoia. ...
Bronze, Copper
Val Bertoia Double Vertical Spray Sculpture, Steel Wires with Brass Base, 2014
By Harry Bertoia, Val Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's Double Vertical Spray Sculpture made in 2014. This Kinetic sculpture was made by cutting one grouping of stainless-steel wires that were made by Har...
Brass, Stainless Steel
$62,500 / set
Val Bertoia Sound Sculptures, 2012
By Val Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's pair of Sound Sculptures made in 2012 are part of the Bertoia Sonambient series. The full circle piece is made of 10 ...
Brass, Copper
Val Bertoia Relaxing Spray Sculpture, 2014
By Val Bertoia, Harry Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's Relaxing Spray Sculpture made in 2014. This kinetic sculpture is made of two groupings of stainless-steel wires that were made by Harry Bertoia (cir...
Steel
Val Bertoia Sonambient Kinetic Sculpture Titled "Sound of V" in Bronze
By Val Bertoia
Located in Dallas, TX
This sculpture is titled "Sound of V" and is crafted from 60 silicon-bronze rods affixed with silver to a solid brass base. The work was created in 2014 by Val Bertoia at the Bertoia...
Brass, Bronze
"Strum to Hum the Boomerang of Sound" Sonambient Sculpture by Val Bertoia
By Val Bertoia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"Strum to Hum the Boomerang of Sound" is a sonambient sculpture by Val Bertoia consisting of 50 beryllium copper rods which strike together and chime when touched by hand or by the w...
Brass, Copper
"Array of Steel Rods with Brass Chimes"
By Val Bertoia
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949. In the 1950s, his family moved from California to Pennsylvania where he has lived and worked here ever since. In the1960s, V...
Brass, Steel
"Steel Rods with Brass Cylinder Chimes"
By Val Bertoia
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949. In the 1950s, his family moved from California to Pennsylvania where he has lived and worked here ever since. In the1960s, V...
Brass, Steel
Large Bertoia Studios 32-Rod 'Sounding Chess / B-2466' Copper & Brass Sculpture
By Val Bertoia, Harry Bertoia
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Bertoia Studios 32-Rod 'Sounding Chess / B-2466' copper & brass sculpture. A lyrical and musical sound sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed by Val, the artist and son of the original designer, Harry Bertoia. Hand made at the original Bertoia...
Silver, Brass, Copper
Bronze Fountain Sculpture
By Val Bertoia
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Jim’s of Lambertville is proud to offer this artwork by: Val Bertoia (born 1949) Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949. In the 1950s, his family moved from Cali...
Bronze
"Tube Shape Array with Steel Spokes"
By Val Bertoia
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949. In the 1950s, his family moved from California to Pennsylvania where he has lived and worked here ever since. In the1960s, V...
Brass, Steel
Large Bertoia Studios 24-Rod 'Star of Sound / B-2482' Copper & Brass Sculpture
By Val Bertoia, Harry Bertoia
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Bertoia Studios 24-rod 'Star of Sound B-2482' copper & brass sculpture. A lyrical and musical sound sculpture with certificate of authenticity signed by Val, the artist and son of the original designer, Harry Bertoia. Hand made at the original Bertoia...
Silver, Brass, Copper
Val Bertoia Sonambient Sculpture "Buffalo Shaped Sound"
By Val Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
"Buffalo Shaped Sound" A kinetic Sonambient sculpture by Val Bertoia composed of 122 Beryllium rods silvered to solid brass mounted on wood stand. The 122 purple tipped beryllium ro...
Brass
2022 Val Bertoia Sonambient Wire Sculpture with 11 Brass Rods 11x11x49 Inches
By Val Bertoia
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Sonambient Wire Sculpture, created by Val Bertoia. This particular example was produced in 2022. The design features eleven brass rods arranged in a sculptural wire composi...
Brass, Bronze
Bertoia Sonambient Tabletop Sound Sculpture
By Val Bertoia
Located in Toronto, CA
In the late 1950s, Italian artist, sculptor, and furniture designer Harry Bertoia had a revelation. By stretching, bending, and moving metal, his sculptures could create sound. He called them Sonambient and over the next decade he created thousands, each one unique. Late in the 1970s, Harry and his son Val together made Bertoia Sound Sculptures...
Brass, Copper
Suspended Brass Gong Titled "Orion" Depicting the Constellation By Val Bertoia
By Val Bertoia
Located in Dallas, TX
Orion Gong, an early work by Val Bertoia, 24" in diameter. It was constructed of brass with an applied patina. The brass is pierced with a depiction of the constellation of Orion.
Brass
Val Bertoia Mid Century Aluminum Racing Tortoise Sculpture
By Val Bertoia
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Val Bertoia Mid Century Aluminum Racing Tortoise Sculpture This sculpture measures: 10.5 wide x 10 deep x 5 inches high Excellent Vintage Condition. We take our photos in a contro...
Aluminum
$15,000
Large Val Bertoia Sonambient Sculpture Titled "2 Walking Squares for Sounds"
By Val Bertoia
Located in Dallas, TX
This sculpture is titled "2 Walking Squares for Sounds" and is crafted from 60 beryllium-copper rods affixed with silver to a solid brass base in two columns. The work was created in...
Brass, Bronze
Large-Scale Val Bertoia Sonambient 'Sound Screen' Sculpture, Signed and Numbered
By Val Bertoia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A monumental four foot tall Sonambient sound sculpture titled 'Sound Screen' by Val Bertoia, dated 2013 and signed, stamped, and documented by the artist. This large-scale example, n...
Copper, Nickel
Val Bertoia Sonambient Sound Sculpture Titled "Sounds Like a Tall Tower"
By Val Bertoia
Located in Dallas, TX
This sculpture is titled "Sounds Like A Tall Tower" and is crafted from 49 silicon-bronze rods affixed with silver to a solid brass base. The work was created in 2014 by Val Bertoia ...
Brass, Bronze
Val Bertoia Corner Sound Sculpture, 2008
By Harry Bertoia, Val Bertoia
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary artist Val Bertoia's Corner Sound Sculpture made in 2008 is part of the Bertoia Sonambient series. It's made of 11 copper tops silvered to monel rods then silvered to a ...
Brass, Copper
2021 Val Bertoia Sonambient Wire Sculpture with 12 Brass Rods 9x12x48 Inches
By Val Bertoia
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Sonambient Wire Sculpture, created by Val Bertoia. This particular example was produced in 2021. The design features twelve brass rods arranged in a sculptural wire composi...
Brass, Bronze
23" Sound Sculpture
By Val Bertoia
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Inscribed with artist's number on base
Metal
50 Rods on a Curve
By Val Bertoia
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Inscribed with artist's number on base
Metal
$15,650
Small 2 Rods
By Val Bertoia
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Inscribed with artist's number on base
Metal
Copper Wall Relief
By Val Bertoia
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Val Bertoia (b. 1949) Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949 to the artist, Harry Bertoia and his wife, Brigitta Valentiner. The family relocated to Pennsylvania i...
Copper
Spray Sound Sculpture
By Val Bertoia
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Val Bertoia (b. 1949) Val Bertoia was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949 to the artist, Harry Bertoia and his wife, Brigitta Valentiner. The family relocated to Pennsylvania in the 1950s where Bertoia has lived and worked since. In the1960s, Bertoia attended the Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After his release from the US Army in Fort Dix, NJ, Bertoia returned to Pennsylvania and began to work at Bertoia Studio with his father. Val worked extensively with his father from 1972 to 1978. The two primarily worked on his father’s Sound Sculpture...
Metal